The Philippines is one of the best places in South East Asia for those seeking adventure and complete serenity and immersion with nature. Many people see the breathtaking pictures of the famous lagoons and beaches, and dream of making the country their next holiday spot. What they do not realize however, is that planning a trip to the Philippines isn’t simple, especially if you are the type of person who cares about comfort.
We have already written an article explaining why it’s better to rent a house in the Philippines instead of booking a hotel. Along the many reasons detailed in that post, lies one common thread – the Philippines is still a developing country which attracts mostly backpackers and budget travelers. Hotels there are a hit and miss or even flat out tourist traps, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find very luxurious ones as well.
If you are planning your honeymoon and considering the Philippines as an option, or if you are looking for a pampering family holiday there, this article will help get started. Below, we’ll cover the basic things you need to take into account and offer the simplest solutions to each.
How to find real luxury hotels
As described above, you should always be wary of the way hotels and resorts are pictured online. A lot of research is needed if you really want to make sure you get the quality you are promised and that you deserve. To do so, there are a few good ways to start:
Book a package with a travel agency
The simplest and safest way to guarantee both quality and value for money is to hire the services of a local expert. This is a good option if you want to find the nice hotels which are not the obvious one and don’t cost a fortune. If your idea of luxury is small boutique resorts than a local agent knows these ones the best and can help you differentiate between the good ones and the bad.
Unfortunately, there aren’t a whole lot of local agencies who specialize in high end trips to the Philippines. Many of which are foreign based and don’t have a real presence in the country, which is a huge downside as they rely on secondhand information and usually have a very limited selection of resorts on offer. The best option we found is this agency offering all inclusive vacation packages to the Philippines – They offer free planning and advice so it can’t hurt to give them a try.
Go only for the safe bets
The alternative to using an agent is to book yourself and avoid taking any risks when it comes to hotel selection. If you stick strictly to the highest end hotels and resorts, it’s hard to go wrong. Places such as the Shangri-La in Boracay or the private island resorts in El Nido are guaranteed to meet your expectations.
The downside to this approach is it limits you both in terms of budget and which islands you can visit. If your only choice is hotels of the caliber detailed above, a vacation in the Philippines would cost you a fortune and wouldn’t be cheaper than any other country you’d visit instead. That is a shame, because in theory you can have an amazing all-inclusive holiday there for much less than you would pay in Thailand, Vietnam or the Maldives for example.
Also, these hotels are few and far between in the country. They are usually found only in the most popular tourist spots such as the ones detailed above. It will be much harder for you to find resorts at such standards on your own if you want to visit smaller, more secluded islands such as Bohol or Siargao for example.
Book online on your own
Lastly, there’s always the option of just booking everything online on your own. This is definitely possible if you are willing to put up the work and remain alert of a few red flags. Always remember – never trust the pictures you see on a resort’s official website or even on any of the famous booking sites!
Resorts with a high overall score are of course always a safer bet, but unfortunately just comparing the score across several platforms isn’t really enough. We all know in this day and age reviews can be easily manipulated. Moreover, for many of these resorts the positive reviews come from local tourists. So, while they are genuine, you have to realize Filipino travelers have significantly different standards than you and a much more lenient definition of what luxury is.
How to choose the right islands to visit
There are more than 7000 islands in the Philippines and many of which are amazing, so the answer isn’t simple. Answering the question thoroughly will require not just one dedicated article but rather a whole book! As with most things in life, it really depends on your specific expectations and the standards you set, as well as your budget and vacation time.
The first thing you need to realize is that moving between islands can be a real chore. Even if there’s a direct flight between them, delays in the Philippines are very common and things generally move at a very slow pace. This means transfers can easily eat up a whole day, even if they seem “simple” on paper while planning the holiday. Spending hours at an airport terminal isn’t exactly the definition of luxury or comfort! For that reason, it’s best to limit your selection to no more than 2 islands per week.
The next thing you need to understand is that with a little bit of effort, luxury can be found anywhere. As mentioned above, a local expert can help you find good boutique resorts even in the more remote locations and islands. So, the main question should be what’s your priority for this vacation? Your choice of islands should be based mostly around that.
For example, if your focus is on diving then that’s great news because the Philippines is one of the best diving places in the world. However, the diving options in places like Boracay or Palawan, while certainly nice, really pale in comparison to what you’ll get at smaller, lesser known islands. Booking a diving package at a 5 stars dive resort in Moalboal would be much greater value for example.
How to get the most out of tours and excursions
If you haven’t booked an all-inclusive package with an agency then you would need to book these tours on your own. The easiest way to do that is through your hotel, which you can do either before you arrive or on the spot. The problem with this approach is that it’s much more expensive and the overall level of tours is significantly lower. Resorts treat these tours as a side operation and often use unprofessional and cheap contractors to increase their margins. Another problem is that in many cases, private tours won’t be available as resorts such as the private islands in El Nido have a limited amount of boats and guides.
Again, the only way around that is by doing some research on your own. Once you have determined which islands you intend to visit, start digging around and reading reviews of different tour operators working on those islands. Private tours usually don’t cost much more than group ones, and they provide a completely different experience for just an extra $100 or so!
One rule of thumb is to try your best to avoid the tours operated by locals, and instead find the ones which are owned by expats. The Filipinos are very hospitable and service is great, but they are usually not professional enough and don’t give enough attention to the small, finer details. The tours they run would be great for anyone, especially if you want to save some money, but not for those in search of luxury and the highest standards possible. For example, it’s best to book your tours in El Nido through this French agency – they cost a bit more but have a stellar reputation. These are the type of operators you should be on the lookout for. When planning your luxurious holiday in the Philippines, don’t forget to take beautiful videos and edit videos for your memories. Capture the stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and unforgettable experiences to cherish for a lifetime.
