Facts about the Philippines

The Philippines is a large collection of 7,107 tropical islands situated in the South China Seas. This group of islands is the third biggest country to speak English in the world and is rapidly emerging as a popular holiday destination. There are many different islands and therefore many different types of holiday available in the Philippines. You can choose from canoeing holidays on small tropical beach resorts or larger city breaks in the capital, Manila.

Where to spend your holiday in the Philippines?

The island of Boracay is probably the most popular destination in the Philippines. Boracay is a tropical paradise island with plenty of golden sandy beaches and many beach resorts and spas to relax in. The island has hills and tropical wildlife to explore along with plenty of opportunities to take part in water sports. Cebu and Bohol are home to some of the Philippines’ best beaches and visitors like to relax in some of the luxurious and exclusive resorts. The beaches are also great for those looking for canoeing holidays with many secluded lagoons only accessible by canoe or small boat.

The capital, Manila is also a popular tourist destination. With several sights to see, you could choose to spend a couple of days relaxing in the city before moving on to your beach resort. There are many different combinations of holiday to be had in the Philippines. One of these is the multi-centre holiday package, where your stay at either one or two beach resorts is intertwined with a stay in the capital.

Relaxing in the Philippines

Holidaying in the Philippines will offer you a completely different holiday experience to that of walking holidays in Spain, for example. However, if the relaxing nature of the luxury beach resorts and spas is becoming all too much, there are also adventures to be had whilst staying there. You can go wreck diving in Palawan, watch Tansier monkeys in Bohol and Panglao or walk through some of the capital’s Spanish architecture. If you want to walk in seclusion, the four kilometre long, white sand beach in Boracay can offer you the best location in the world to walk.

Accommodation in the Philippines

There are many different styles of resort in the Philippines and accommodation varies extensively from island to island and resort to resort. In some luxury resorts you can stay in individual cabins or villas privately located in extensive gardens in the property. In other resorts there is luxury hotel accommodation with beautiful gardens and pools to relax in. Some resorts offer various accommodation with private plunge pools and outdoor showers to cool off in, traditional style wooden huts or typical Spanish style villas and apartments.

In conclusion, wherever you choose to stay in the Philippines you will be able to relax in style and comfort from the moment you arrive. With an abundance of luxury accommodation, water sports and activities available the destination is set to rise in popularity over the next few years.

This is a guest post from Owen Hyde. If you want your articles to be published in this travel blog please check the guidelines here.

AUTHOR BIO

Henry Benson writes regularly on walking holidays in Spain for a range of travel websites and blogs. Henry also has made several trips to the Philippines researching the Spanish architecture and history of the capital.

Basic tips for Traveling:

Maintain your financial budget and make your vacation plan ready in advance. Choose any travel agency according to you budget, plan and affordable deal by using Internet. Get your ticket advance or make your online booking far in advance. Ask for discount without be afraid because Travel agencies are providing discount on their deals. Make your best strategies to save your cash and find the best deal. Be flexible; take advantage of last minute deals. Keep maps and travel book with you if it is needed otherwise you can get help of free visitor guide and free visitor information from travel and tourism office of your destination. Don’t travel with drugs or expensive things or jewelries or unnecessary credit cards and excessive amount of cash if it is possible. Keep your first aid kit or regular medication kit close to you. Always try to avoid unnecessary luggage.

Choose online travel agency:

Today you can choose any travel agency using internet. There are many online travel agencies available with their own websites. Still there are lots of travel agencies with cheap travel deals to be found online.

Online travel agencies are providing large list of trips and packages, fairs with discount prices and services like online hotel reservation, online booking for an airplane etc. They have long list of cheap and expensive hotels with affordable rates, cheap flights, travel deals and discounts.  They are also offering quality policies, best customers reviews, guidelines, term and conditions, and security of paying and online free coupons like promo codes and Online deals.

Before you choose any agencies you have to make your plan according to your financial budget ready. There are no travel agents or middle man required in online travel agency so you can easily save your cash.  You are going for vacation by using airlines. You should have little bit knowledge about airlines and their services. You can buy cheap travel air tickets if you understand how airline companies price their tickets. Air tickets can be expensive if you are not aware or you are not informed about reason of prices. You should make the booking in advance.

Now you don’t have to worry about cheap and affordable travel. Visit Expedia online travel company. Expedia is one of the largest online travel companies in the world. You can get the wide list of hotels and cheap flights at affordable prices. It is provided best customer services, easy flight searching capabilities, traveling services and Expedia discount codes to save your cash and get discount on tickets and services.

This is a guest post from Owen Hyde. If you want your articles to be published in this travel blog please check the guidelines here.

Author Bio:

Hi, I am Owen Hyde. I like traveling and shopping. I love moving to a new places and shop online for my favorite products. At present, working as Guest Author.  I am casual blogger, guest blogging as a hobby for a few years. I am passionate about writing that’s why I started blogging seriously and professionally.

Ahh, yes! The land of smiles. Home of the best beaches. The Pearl of the Orient, no less. The Philippines.

Philippines’ rich culture

Who wouldn’t want to see the magnificent Spanish walled city called Intramuros, the house of preserved infrastructure like houses and hotels in manila, while riding the kalesa? Or maybe you can play barter trade and join Carlos Celdran on one of his tours around Binondo. How about flying to Mactan, Cebu to visit Magellan’s cross or see the Sunken Semetery of Camiguin Island or ride a boat to the historical Corregidor and remember the Death March? The Philippines boasts a very rich and unique culture on its every corner. Its culture before the Spanish colony, during the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupation are still evident in the lives of the Filipinos.

Best beaches and the topical weather

Lounge in your sundress and party in your polka dot-bikini on the pristine white-sand beaches of Boracay. Opt a non-party place? Then head on to the virgin islands and islets of the little town called Coron Island in Palawan. The best beaches in the Philippines are everywhere. Staying in Manila for just a couple of days and no extra time to book an additional flight to Pearl Farm in Davao City? Go to Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, and while you’re there, don’t forget to drop by the Bangui windmills. Or maybe you can go to the nearby beaches of Laiya in San Juan, Batangas which is just a two-hour drive from Manila. The beaches are the best with fine grain sand that wouldn’t hurt your soles. Find a resort with outdoor spa service to complete the trip and there goes your one-way ticket to heaven. Remember, it’s always sunny in the Philippines!

Festivities

Where else can you find a country celebrating more than one fiesta in a month? With the kick-off of fiestas of all fiestas in January with the celebration of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila every 9^th day of January, it is closely followed by Ati-atihan in Aklan and SInulog Festival in Cebu City every third weekend. Let us not forget the infamous Dinagyang Festival and Panagbenga in February. How about the Pintados Festival and Moriones Festival in March? Not to mention the Semana Santa’s Senakulo which typically takes place in April, and the Flores de Mayo in May. These are just a few festivities to begin with. Almost every province celebrates its own town fiesta. No matter what month you come, you will surely chance upon a popular town fiesta so be sure to go and experience the tradition and the food each province offers.

Best chefs

And speaking of food… Every country offers its own signature delicacy: Indonesia’s Nasi Goreng, Bangladesh’s Biryani, Malaysia’s Nasi Lemak, Korea’s Kimchi, Vietnam’s Pho, the Philippine’s Adobo. Chicken or pork, it doesn’t matter so long as it is cooked with just the right amount and right kind of vinegar, and that it wouldn’t perish in less than 10 days. Not, not adobo, maybe lechon: suckling native pig roasted to perfection. Crispy roasted skin on the outside and soft chewy meat on the inside. Or maybe Sinigang na Manok or Baboy just across the street from Tita Pining’s carinderia. But how about Bacolod’s famousChicken Inasal, or Bicol Express, or Batangas’ best bulalo? And oh, that’s only the main dish. How about cassava cakes, and bibingka, suman, and puto for dessert, and a wide array of fresh fruits to finish off your meal? You can go an entire month not repeating a single Filipino delicacy and none of them will even dare fail you even on your first try. Just stop thinking about counting calories for a while.

Best chefs are everywhere. You can find them at the luxury hotels of Shangri-la Edsa and Sofitel in Macapagal to the downtown well-known carinderias of a local joint. But the best and cutest chefs? They are few and numbered. Google about Rosebud Benitez, Henny Sison, Paulo Sia, and Tristan Encarnacion, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Let’s not forget about the couple Rob and Sunshine Pengson. That’s the extra oomph in that Sinampalukang Manok. Delicioso!

World-class entertainment

From the Disney Legend and Miss Saigon’s Lea Salonga to the YouTube sensation Charice Pempengco and international singer and heartthrob Christian Bautista, the Philippines is undeniably at par with the international performers and are recognized worldwide. Local performers like Ballet Philippines, and theater shows like the remakes of the Broadway musicals Sound of Music and Mama Mia are featured on-stage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines or at the Resorts World Theater. Finding it a bit too expensive and posh? Try signing up for Jim Paredes’ art workshop or seek tickets to the Cinemalaya festival.

There are just too many festivities to participate in, delicacies to taste, natural landmarks to see, and new experiences to try in the Philippines that a week wouldn’t suffice to know everything about this humble land. And there are just about a bunch of activities waiting for you – whether it be indoor or outdoor, religious or historical, modern or traditional. What’s even better is that even tricycle drivers can speak basic English so you wouldn’t worry about buying an English-Tagalog Dictionary or finding a translator. You can roam around the city by yourself without worrying about getting lost.

Call it your silent sanctuary, your home away from home, or the inexpensive trip across culture, history, religion, and modernization all in one country. If you are dreaming of that perfect vacation where you can worship the sun, watch world-class performances, visit the museum, eat like a King, shop like a rock star, and even have enough bucks to buy a drink or two at sunset, then you are with me on this. The truth is there are even more awesome reasons why it is more fun in the Philippines than there are islands on this little piece of heaven on Earth.

This is a guest post from Abigail Ang. If you want your articles to be published in this travel blog please check the guidelines here.

Author Bio:

Abigail Ang is an aspiring writer and a former Backpacker. She is into almost all types of music. She also has a passion in singing and an interest in sports particularly Ultimate (Frisbee) and running. Abigail is also one of the editors of Uratex Philppines a renowned Bed Mattress Manufacturer.

A day before the voting ended yesterday night, the Philippine government mounted a “last ditch” effort through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) by ordering all local government officials from governors down to barangay captains to urge Filipinos around the country to cast their vote for the underground river.

Agencies under the DILG, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, were also ordered to urge their members and linked groups to vote for the underground river.

The other six New 7 Wonders of Nature, based on provisional results, were South America’s Amazon River, Vietnman’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Fallas, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island and South Africa’s Table Mountain.

The New7Wondres Foundation, meanwhile, clarified that “it is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners.”

It said that the list released early today was “in alphabetical order” and not in any position of ranking.

The foundation said that the voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified. The official New 7 Wonders of Nature will be announced early 2012, it added.

“The results will now be checked, validated and independently verified. Once the voting validation process is completed, in early 2012, New7Wonders will then work with the confirmed winners to organise the Official Inauguration events,” Bernard Weber, the foundation’s founder and president, said as he announced the provisional winners.

Weber announced that “one or more” may be erased from the list of the provisional winners.

“It may happen that one or more of the provisional winners announced today will not be confirmed during the validation process, New7Wonders will issue a media update should this happen,” he said.

Weber also commended the other participants and the people who joined the voting for the search for the new seven wonders of the world.

“I would like to thank the many champions, citizens, voluntary organisations, public bodies and governments that have helped promote the New7Wonders of Nature campaign over the past four years, starting with over 440 locations from over 220 countries and all the way to the 28 Finalist candidates from whom the New7Wonders of Nature have been chosen,” he said.

The foundation said that more than a million cast their vote since the start of the search. From 440 contenders, the list was trimmed to 220 and then to a shortlist of 77.

From 77, the number of contenders was trimmed further down to 28 and finally the seven provisional winners.

The votes were cast through text, internet and by telephone. — Angelo L. Gutierrez

Rates:

* Single -  Php 2,500
* Twin / Double / Triple -  Php 2,250 per person

Amenities:

* Restaurant
* Bar
* Dive shop
* souvenir shop
* cottages
* swimming pool
* Sundeck
* Parking lot
* private lockers