Sri Lanka or The Philippines with girlfriend

Me and my girlfriend plan on going travelling in September to either the Philippines or Sri Lanka for 3 weeks. I'm 22, she's 21, I've travelled to SEA twice (5 months and 2 months) but never Sri Lanka nor the Philippines.

Which would be best based on our requirements:
3 weeks at the start of September
Manageable weather - not so hot it is impossible to do anything!
Reasonably priced (taking into account all costs - flights, food, activity costs etc). we will be budget travelers for accommodation and eating however we may if some activities are expensive (eg diving) but we feel they are worth it we may splash the cash once or twice.
Stunning scenery
Hospitable and accommodating people
Stress-free - by this i mean from my travelling experiences I found Laos (during monsoon season) stressful to travel anywhere while I found in Vietnam the people do not always understand our own personal space and can be a bit loud and in your face
Easy to travel - If we anted to go to go on a day tourt is nice to not have to go on a 3+ hour journey to get there
Lots to do - We are quite active (although can get a bit lazy in the heat)

What appeals to us about Sri Lanka is the:
- Rich culture - Very different from here (the UK). Having said this, we aren't so bothered by temples, history and museums
- The diversity in landscape - there's the jungle full of wildlife,, beaches for relaxing, surfing and a big range in terrain
- Food and herbal tea - We like healthy Asian cuisine. We also like our health herbal teas

what appeals to use about the Philippines is:
- The best beaches in the world
- Mixed terrain. Mountains/hills in the north as well as beaches. All of this is perfect for outdoor activities
- No language barrier therefore making communication easier and stress free
- More romantic. Having said that we are worried about the dirtiness and pollution

which do you think would be better for us? Also does £30 a day each for Sri Lanka and £40 a day each for the Philippines seem doable if we go for the cheapest accommodation & food?

Dear friend,
Thank you so much for your message.I think you can have cheap accommodation in sri Lanka for your budget.you will be enough 30 pound per day in sri Lanka.this is the best climate to visit to sri lanka.My hope that will have nice time if you come to spend your holiday in sri lanaka.if you need any assistance please contact me.

samathasiri

You have done your research. Philippines has nice beaches and wonderful places. But If I were you, I would decide to go for Sri Lanka. I liked Lanka and its natural beauty. 30 GBP is doable for a foreigner in Lanka.

Hello, @dylantombides. Voting for the Philippines! I've got a bunch of places to mention but the mountainous regions in Cavite are great for outdoor activities. Then, you can go down to Coron then down to El Nido for a nice beach experience. The beaches in Boracay has always been a remarkable place for both local and international tourists, so I guess it's perfect for couples like you. I believe Filipinos are well-tongued in speaking in English so I am seeing no problem when it comes to communication. If you want less pollution you should refrain from staying long in Manila (if in case you're bound to it). The month of September I believe is a great time to spend your vacation since it's not that rainy during that time (but still weather disturbances are unexpected).

I cannot guarantee ease of travel to the Philippines. I understand how stress-free the travel time of no more than 3 hours is, but the Philippines does not have an advanced transportation system around the country so expect a longer period of travel time.

Let me know if you have already a definite list of itineraries in the Philippines and I'll help you go through it. Cheers!

Having been to both I think they are both good choices. That said, I'd say the Philippines were one of my favorite places in SE Asia. I'd head back there anytime. So much to see and do.

Don't forget that September still rainy season in Philippines. I'm originally from there

I 've been to Sri lanka a couple of years ago, in my opinion Sri Lanka is easy to travel around and it has nature and beach

Philippines consist with many islands which required time travelling. And yes there are plenty of beautiful sandy beaches

Comparing the price: Sri Lanka is cheaper than Philippines