Any plans yet what should be your next destination? If you haven’t picked what country to visit next, try adding Philippines to your list! It is not a typical vacation detination, where most of the people go. But no matter what you are up to or what your idea of a perfect holiday is, the Philippines will probably have it..
- AMAZING PEOPLE
The Filipinos are some of the happiest people in the world, as reported by many reports including on by the Business Insider. Filipinos are very friendly, open toward foreigners, helpful and very curious and also respectful. They always seem to be happy and smiling. They love to sing and to dance whenever there is an occasion to celebrate.
- GOOD FOOD
Philippian cuisine is not that famous around the globe, and I also have never seen a Filipino restaurant outside of the country. But that doesn’t mean that the food tastes bad! It’s quite different from other Southeast Asian cuisines. Rice has always been the staple food in Filipino cuisine. Even McDonald’s serves rice with some of their value meals. Filipinos are meat lovers so almost everything contains either pork or chicken. If you love fresh seafood, from lobster to crabs or tiger prawns, you will find it all for very low prices. If you are into juicy mangoes and pineapples, the Philippines are the place for you. You can have them everywhere fresh and cheap. Filipino food is a diverse blend of Oriental, European and American culinary tastes.
- PARADISE BEACHES AND LANDSCAPE
Being one of the largest archipelagos in the world, it’s not surprising that the Philippines have an incredible amount of awesome beaches. If you are into white sandy beaches and turquoise crystal-clear waters, you’re in the right country. The queen of all the beaches is probably the White Beach in Boracay, constantly rated as one of the Top 10 beaches in the world. It’s not hard to find your dream beach or a pristine island over there and having it all for yourself.
- EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH
A big advantage compared to other Asian countries is that in the Philippines over 90% of the population speaks English. It’s the language of the government and the preference for written communication, be it in school or business. It really makes travelling through the country a lot easier, and it will allow you to interact with the locals who will be able to recommend things and places you would have never otherwise heard of.
5.CLIMATE AND WEATHER
With average daily temperatures ranging from 25 to 28 degrees the Philippines have a very pleasant tropical climate. November to April is the peak season there and promises the best, driest weather. They also have a monsoon season over there and loads of rain between June and October. This doesn’t mean it rains all day though – most days it will just pour down pretty hard for an hour or two while the rest of the day it could be clear skies.
- AMAZING NATURAL BEAUTY
Philippines have one of the most diverse wildlife in the world. It is home to a diverse range of birds, plants, animals and sea creatures. There are nearly 200 mammal species in the Philippines. They boat more than 600 species of birds, 300 species of reptiles and amphibians and at least 400 coral species.
The Philippines have some stunning surroundings, the fantastic and probably weirdest landscape you will ever see: the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. But also the Rice Terraces in Banaue and the incredible Archipelago of El Nido. You can climb on one oft he 37 volcanoes, for example the Mount Pinatubo, or see the world’s smallest volcano of Taal and also discover caves, lakes and waterfalls.
- IT’S CHEAP
There in the Philippines, your money will go a long, long way! Budget travellers will definitely have no problem making their way through here. Taxi rides around town cost approximately 3€, a decent meal costs 1.50€ and a bucket of beers will barely run you 5€. Not to mention the country’s budget airlines offer some of the cheapest fares in Asia.
- SHOPPING, SHOPPING, SHOPPING!
Out of the largest shopping malls in the world, five of them are in Manila. Shopping in the Philippines can be quite a worthwhile experience. There are a lot of places where you can go, it just depends on what you intend to buy or on how much is your budget. Even if you spend a whole day walking through there you will probably not be able to see it all.
Author: Maike Schüssele
