Philippines — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“7,000 islands, paradise beaches, and Filipino smiles”
The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world — the limestone lagoons of El Nido and Coron, the white sands of Boracay, the clear waters of Palawan, the Banaue rice terraces, and old Manila, paired with English-speaking, smiling, friendly people.
Philippines at a glance
Choose a city in Philippines
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Manila
Cebu City
Makati, Manila
Oslob
Boracay
El Nido, Palawan
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Bohol & Panglao
Baguio
SiargaoDecide — is Philippines right for you?
Why people love Philippines, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
World-class beaches
El Nido, Coron, Boracay — limestone lagoons, clear water and fine white sand.
Excellent diving
Coral, shipwrecks, and swimming with whale sharks at Oslob.
English-speaking
Filipinos widely speak English, making it very easy to communicate and travel.
Varied nature
The 2,000-year-old Banaue rice terraces and Taal volcano in the middle of a lake.
Friendly people
Filipino smiles and a warm culture make for relaxed, easy travel.
Philippines vs its neighbors
| Philippines | Indonesia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $30–70 | $30–70 | $25–55 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Free 30 days | Free 30 days | Home country |
| Getting around cities | Grab + jeepneys · no MRT outside Manila | Grab / scooter rental · no MRT in Bali | BTS/MRT in Bangkok · traffic upcountry |
| English | Very good · official language, former US colony | Good in Bali's tourist areas · less so elsewhere | Decent in tourist areas |
| Known for | Clear seas · diving · whale sharks · island paradise | Bali-Hindu culture · rice terraces | Food · beaches · temples · spas |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
Diving and clear seas
Cebu and the Visayas have world-class reefs — dive with whale sharks at Oslob and explore tiny clear-water islands off the beaten path.
See this plan → 🏝️Paradise beaches
Palawan-El Nido and Boracay have world-ranked white-sand, clear-water beaches, made easier to reach by domestic flights.
See this plan → ⏱️Short trip to Cebu
Cebu, the second-largest city, is the most convenient base in the Philippines, with direct flights from Bangkok and attractions both in the city and just outside.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
10 ranked reviews
Reviewed12 Best Hotels in Baguio, Philippines for 2026
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Reviewed12 Best Hotels in Bohol & Panglao, Philippines (2026)
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ReviewedThe 12 Best Boracay Hotels for 2026 — Reviews, Prices Compared
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Reviewed11 Best El Nido Hotels in Palawan for 2026 — Reviews & Price Comparison
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ReviewedManila Hotels: 10 Best Stays in Makati, BGC & Bay City (2026)
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Reviewed10 Best Puerto Princesa Hotels, Palawan (2026)
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Reviewed12 Best Hotels in Siargao, Philippines for 2026
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Reviewed10 Best Hotels in Oslob, Cebu — Whale Sharks + Sumilon (2026)
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Reviewed10 Best Cebu Hotels — SM City, Ayala & Port Area (2026)
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Reviewed10 Best Makati Hotels — Ayala, Greenbelt & MRT (2026)
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City-by-city food guides — standout dishes and places to try, with real photos
🍜 EatBaguio Food Guide
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🍜 EatBohol Panglao Food Guide
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🍜 EatBoracay Food Guide
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🍜 EatCebu City Food Guide
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🍜 EatEl Nido Food Guide
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🍜 EatMakati Food Guide
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🍜 EatOslob Food Guide
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🍜 EatPuerto Princesa Food Guide
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🍜 EatSiargao Food Guide
Read the guide →Signature dishes across Philippines
- 1🍖
Lechon
A whole roast pig with crispy skin — the star dish at celebrations.
📍 Nationwide - 2🍲
Adobo
Pork or chicken braised in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic — the national dish.
📍 Nationwide - 3🍜
Sinigang
A sour tamarind soup with pork or prawns and vegetables — bold and refreshing.
📍 Nationwide - 4🍧
Halo-Halo
Shaved ice piled with beans, taro and ice cream — a dessert to beat the heat.
📍 Nationwide - 5🥖
Pandesal
Soft bread rolls, a popular breakfast, dipped in hot coffee.
📍 Nationwide
City-by-city sightseeing guides — real photos, locations and unmissable highlights
📸 SeeBaguio Things To Do
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📸 SeeBohol Panglao Things To Do
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📸 SeeBoracay Things To Do
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📸 SeeCebu City Things To Do
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📸 SeeEl Nido Things To Do
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📸 SeeMakati Things To Do
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📸 SeeOslob Things To Do
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📸 SeePuerto Princesa Things To Do
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📸 SeeSiargao Things To Do
Read the guide →Top sights across Philippines
- 1🏝️
El Nido
Limestone lagoons, islets and hidden beaches — the legendary island-hopping boat tours.
📍 Palawan - 2🚤
Coron
Kayangan Lake, WWII shipwreck dives, and hot springs.
📍 Palawan - 3🏖️
Boracay
White Beach, the finest white sand, with sunsets and water sports.
📍 Aklan - 4🐋
Oslob
Swim with whale sharks and visit the blue Kawasan Falls.
📍 Cebu - 5🌾
Banaue Rice Terraces
Mountain rice terraces over 2,000 years old, the heritage of the Ifugao people.
📍 Ifugao - 6🏛️
Intramuros
The old Spanish walled city, with churches and Fort Santiago.
📍 Manila
🚆 Getting around Philippines
Domestic flights
The islands are spread far apart; flying between Manila, Cebu and Palawan is both convenient and necessary.
Ferries & bangka
Inter-island ferries and island-hopping tour boats take you to hidden beaches.
Jeepneys & Grab
Jeepneys are the colorful public transport; in big cities, Grab is more convenient.
Tricycles
Sidecar motorbikes in small towns and on islands — agree the price before you board.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Philippines
English everywhere
English is an official language alongside Filipino, making it very easy to communicate in cities and on islands.
A Catholic country
Mostly Christian, with old churches across the country and colorful festivals.
Visa
Thais enter the Philippines visa-free for short stays — check the latest conditions.
Travel by boat or plane
The islands are scattered — plan your inter-island flights and boats carefully.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / guesthouse $9–20
Eat sisig and adobo at local eateries; Cebu works well on a budget, though island resorts add boat costs.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ city hotel / island resort $35–70
Cebu and Mactan have excellent mid-range hotels, cheap domestic flights make hopping to other islands easy.
Premium
🛏️ Private beachfront resort / over-water villa $80+
Palawan-El Nido has luxury resorts on private islands, with limestone-sea views unlike anywhere else in the world.
🗓️ When to visit Philippines
Dry season
Dec – MayGood sun and clear seas — the best time for beaches and islands.
Beach peak
Jan – AprThe best weather for diving and island-hopping (busy around Songkran).
Rainy season
Jun – NovRain and typhoons come and go — check the forecast before heading to the islands.
Avoid typhoons
Aug – OctTyphoons are frequent and inter-island boats may be cancelled — plan flexibly.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Philippines — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.6💑 Great for your trip
★ 9.5💑 Great for your tripCauayan Boutique Private Island (formerly Cauayan Island Resort and Spa)
From ~$108,573,371
See the full ranked review →
★ 9.3👑 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Philippines?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Philippines
Which islands in the Philippines should I visit?+
Palawan (El Nido-Coron) is the most beautiful for limestone lagoons, Boracay for white sand, and Cebu for diving and whale sharks — pick to suit your style.
Do Thais need a visa?+
Thai passport holders enter the Philippines visa-free for short stays — check the latest conditions and length of stay before you travel.
Is the Philippines hard to travel?+
The scattered islands take careful flight and boat planning, but people speak English everywhere, so communicating is easy and it's great fun.
Tips before you go to Philippines
- Book domestic flights in advance — the islands are scattered and require connecting flights.
- Carry cash to the islands — ATMs are limited in El Nido/Coron.
- Check the typhoon forecast before traveling mid-year.
- Always agree the price for tricycles and boats before you board.