Girlies in the Phillipines

Hi all, I`m planning to go to the Phillipines just after xmas with some girlie friends one of which has a 5yr old daughter who will be with us too, but there`s so many places there, it`s all a bit confusing, can anyone recommend nice, chilled places to go but still with stuff to do if we wanted..although quite happy to chill on the beach :O) Is there anything really making the effort to go & see, is it easy to get around?? We will hopefully be there for about 3 weeks!

Well there are a lot of things to do here... well you can spend around 3 days in Manila to check the metro, Intramuros, Manila Ocean Park, and its malls and its nightlilfe.. you can take a day trip too to Corregidor.

then you can spend 4-5 days in Puerto Princesa city to check the Subterranean River and spend time in the islands of Honda Bay... then you can spend another 3-4 days to Boracay or fly to check out the Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers of Bohol island...

From manila you can drive to Subic to check the Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure.. this may be something a 5 yr old would appreciate. Or you can take a day trip to Tagaytay to have lunch on its restaurants that offer the scenic view of the Taal Lake. Tagaytay also has a number of spa facilities.

For Puerto Princesa (Palawan) there are travel packages that offer nature tours there which I am taking with 12 other friends 2 weeks from now. It includes a trip to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, which is the Philippines' entry to the New 7 Wonders of the World. Also it includes island hopping on Honda Bay. You may opt to see El Nido which lies also on the island of Palawan, they've got very good dive sites and resorts.

For Bohol, the Philippine tourism authority has a package that includes spending time in a dive resort, touring the island, cruise on Loboc River, and viewing the Chocolate Hills. You may also have a side trip to Cebu.

For Boracay, it is famous for its sugary-soft white sand beach and lively nightlife along the beach.

Since you're from the UK you would probably fly in through Manila. And from Manila you can take domestic flights to Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Bohol, or Cebu, while you can rent a car or take a bus from Manila to Tagaytay or Subic.

Wow! thanks for that...what a FAB answer!!! loads of info in there, cheers

Not really into bustling cities & busy places, much rather have the peace & quiet!! but like culture at the same time so would those places still count for that??

Manila and Cebu are the busiest metros of the country and may be very congested and polluted... but I'd assume Manila would be your entry point so might want to check out the city also... Manila has places of historical values as it was the capital since the country's colonization under Spain in the 16th Century... Cebu is a bustling city but it also has world-class beach resorts in it's island of Mactan. So if you'd check these cities just spend about a couple days and stay longer in Palawan, Boracay, or Bohol. A newer beach destination that is very off the common track is Caramoan.

Hi, as far as i can work out, we can actually fly straight into Cebu from the uk so could avoid Manila, this might be a better option for us!

Quoting beckish

Hi, as far as i can work out, we can actually fly straight into Cebu from the uk so could avoid Manila, this might be a better option for us!

That is a far better option. Cebu is much nicer than manila and you are right in the Western Visayas and so close to hundreds of amazing beaches.

well.. that is nice that you've a flight straight to Cebu and connecting through Manila... and being in Cebu you may be able to connect to a lot of beautiful islands in Visayas.. and Palawan...