Gregory Smyth asked:


Philippines is one of the most compelling and attracting tourist destinations not only in Asia but the whole world. It is an archipelago nation located in Southeast Asia and it is as charming a destination you can ever imagine.

The Philippine archipelago consists of 7,107 beautiful islands, spreading a total area of 300,000 sq km with Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao constituting the main island groups in the country. Known for its scenic islands, exotic beaches, fascinating volcanoes, fantastic diving spots and elusive wildlife among many more attractions, the Philippines is a lovable place to visit. Philippines boasts of hundreds of seductive tourist destinations, making it a popular choice for nature lovers, honeymooners and adventure seekers from across the world.

Philippines is home to some of the most enchanting beaches in the world comprising the famous White Beach on Boracay Island, which is conferred the tag of the most beautiful tropical beach in the world. Cebu, which comes after the capital Manila for its popularity, possesses some of the most excellent diving spots in the world, making it a favorite destination for adventure seekers.

The islands of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan in Bohol also have world-class diving spots. Bohol also has beautiful beaches which includes the famous Alona Beach at Panglao. The highly sought after Tall Volcano and the amazing Tall Lake at Tagaytay never fail to quench the thirst of its visitors for natural beauty.

Besides its unbelievable scenic beauty, Philippines has a lot more to fascinate its visitors. The cultural, historical and architectural heritages of the Philippines are set to enchant those who are interested in exploring the historical background of the nation. The beautiful colonial structures of Vigan in Ilocos and World War II markers of Manila are ever lasting heritage sites.

The Filipinos are generally energetic and relaxed people and choose to enjoy almost every occasion with great flourish. The lively and colorful festivals are major tourist interests in the Philippines. Philippines conducts numerous colorful festivals, celebrated across the year in all parts of the country.

Those who want to flex their muscles a bit will never leave Philippines disappointed. Philippines offers a compelling range of leisure and adventure activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, trekking, and a rich diversity of water sports. The lovely beaches of Philippines gives you the perfect ambience to relax, sunbath, and numerous other exciting beach activities.

Filipinos are extremely hospitable people. Guests are often considered like royalty in Philippine households. This is revealed noticeably during fiestas when even absolute strangers are accepted and permitted to partake of the feast that most, if not all, households within the town arrange during the occasion. Quite often, this hospitality is mistaken. Some households allocate their complete savings on their fiesta offerings and sometimes are even indebted just to provide splendid food on their table. They use the next year compensating these debts and readying themselves for the next fiesta.

The country features an excellent blend of cultures; in the Philippines, you can witness the jelling of East and West cultures. The roots of the people in this nation mainly lie in Indonesia and Malaysia. You can also find tints of Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The American rule of the past and indulging with merchants and traders resulted in a rare blend of East and West. You will be able to find this in the appearance and character of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.

There is no question about the artistic versatility and scenic beauty of Philippines. You are now familiar with the diverse attractions available as well. It is up to you to ensure that your next trip is to this majestic country.

Ritu Raj Mishra asked:


Configuring 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Philippines, officially known as Republic of the Philippines, is an Asian beauty that captivates every traveler with its natural charm and magnetism. This archipelago beauty is the only Southeast Asian nation that shares no land boundaries with its neighboring countries. From the rich history that has a combined influence of Asian, European and American cultures to the eye-catching landscapes and from thriving cities that reveals the vibrancy of modern world to the relaxed and pleasant environment of beaches, Philippines is a land of themes and regions that ultimately rocks you. Besides, the cheap transportation, wonderful gourmet delights, and plentiful accommodation choices make it a dream destination for your vacation. Serving all sorts of travelers, hotels in Philippines are a major contributor in the tourism sector of the country.

Philippines has a colorful history of hundreds of ethnic groups and showcase a blend of its art and culture. The country has a sum of 79 provinces divided among three main island groups namely Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon comprises the northernmost island groups, Visayas has the central island groups and Mindanao features the southernmost island groups. Manila is the most popular city and the capital of the country lying in Luzon group of Islands. Other important cities include Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Bohol and Vigan.

Getting in Philippines is very easy as tourists from most foreign countries get a free 3-week tourist visa. Besides, you can even apply for a visa extension valid for 59 days. But, it is better to apply for longer visa before traveling here, to avoid any kind of hassle. To reach this country, international travelers can fly to the capital city or any of the major cities having an international airport like Cebu, Davao, Laoag and so on. Most tourists, though, prefer to travel to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. Getting around Philippines is also very easy as there are a lot many domestic airlines available to serve tourists who want to travel to different destinations within the country. Trains, cars, taxi, bus, boat, jeep are other modes of transportation that can be used here for commuting.

There are various things to see in Philippines including its beautiful beaches. Boracay Island is popular for its lovely white sand beach. Some of the other beautiful beaches are in Mactan Island, Pagudpud, Panglao, and Puerto Galera amongst others. With its innumerable water bodies, this island provides a good option for scuba diving. As far as food is concerned, the cuisine of Philippines is influenced by different cultures that flourished here. The food available here is a mélange of Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, American, and Spanish tastes. Rice is the staple food of the people of this country.

Most of the reputed chains of hotels in Philippines are situated in its popular cities and main tourist attractions like Manila, Cebu, Boracay, and Davao etc. Bayview Park, Dusit thani Manila, Best Western Astor, and Oxford suites are a few good hotels in Manila. Similarly, Cebu also has some popular hotels namely, Maribago Blue water, Midtown, White Sands, Waterfront etc. To book a hotel in any of the cities in Philippines, you can take the help of the online internet reservation facility. You can directly visit the official website of the hotel and make the booking or can use the help of any other available websites that offer complete information. So, go ahead and enjoy a fabulous vacation in Philippines.

Jose Maria Abada asked:

More than the usual- this is how the Philippine is positioned in the tourism block. The country is an archipelago and known officially as the Republic of the Philippines. This archipelago is located in Southeast Asia and holds the distinction of being one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia. The other country is East Timor. There are around 7,107 islands in the country and these islands host around 90 million people. This population based on 2008 estimates makes the country as the 12th most populous country in the world. For the traveler interested to know more about the country, it should be learned that the country has around 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide and these are the Filipinos who work in other country and one of the main reasons why the economy of the country is competitive.

According to 2008 estimates, the gross domestic product or the GDP of the country is pegged at over US$ 327.2 billion and this is considered as the 37th largest in the world. The name ‘Philippine’ traces a long history. This name was derived from the name of King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. It was the initiative of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos to use the name Las Islas Filipinas or the Philippine Islands as his name for the islands Leyte and Samar. And the use of this name was in reference and in honor of the Prince of Spain.  A further examination of the name ‘Philippine’ will reveal that this has Greek roots and according to historians this was the name of the father of Alexander the Great.

The country is divided geographically into three groups:

•    Luzon

•    Visayas

•    Mindanao

And these three major island grouping is then sub-divided into 17 regions, another 81 provinces and 136 cities. The country also plays host to 1,494 municipalities and 41,995 barrios. The government also controls Sabah, North Borneo as asserted by Section 2 of the Republic Act Number 5446. Ecologically, the country is known as one of those countries which feature diverse flora and fauna. This feature of the country is one of the major reasons why the archipelago is one of the favorite places for travelers who seek to experience nature at its best. Another main reason why the country is always part of the list of preferred travel destinations is that the country is rich in natural resources and its scenic spots are panoramic and ready to comfort and to overwhelm the first-time visitors. The natural resources of the country are extensive and this can be seen in many areas like agriculture, forestry and minerals.

Talking about the archipelago is not complete without talking about its fertile and arable lands, the forests that host diverse flora and fauna and the panoramic coastlines. For those travelers willing to sample what the country has to offer over a limited amount of time, it is suggested that the interested traveler should focus on its culture, its beaches and its heritage. The unique Philippine culture will let the traveler experience the many festivals in the country- from Sinulog in Cebu to the Penafrancia Festival in the Bicol Region. The country has a number of festivals and these festivals will usually peak during April and May- the time for the country’s fiestas. Most of these festivals have links to the church and religious in nature.

Visiting the country without visiting some of its finest beaches is not suggested. Since the country boasts of around 7,107 islands and a coastline twice the length of the United States, you can really expect that the country will have some best beaches. Mere mention of the Philippine will evoke images of fine and white beaches of Boracay, Palawan and some of the more not-so commercial yet beautiful sands of other beaches. Some names that should be part of the plans of the traveler include Pagudpud, Mactan Island and Panglao. And speaking of heritage, the country is home to Ifugao Rice Terraces which is now part of the UNESCO Heritage List in 1995. Aside from this rice terraces, Philippine also plays host also to many old churches- baroque churches in Metro Manila and these are all considered as heritage sites that carry the country’s culture and history.

Peter Garant asked:

Bohol is by far one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. With its combined historical and natural sights and a number of high class and budget hotels, this is a must see destination to make your stay in the Philippines complete.

Bohol is as mentioned one of the best tourist destinations that the Philippines has to offer. It is an island located literally in the middle of the Philippines and is part of the Visayas region. It is accessible by boat and by plane. Bohol can be reached from Manila via Cebu which takes about 50 minutes by plane or an overnight boat ride. From Cebu a fast boat to Tagbilaran which is only 1.5 hours, or one of the ferries to either Tubigon or Talibon would be an option too.

The most practical way to reach the island is to catch a ferry boat from Cebu to Tubigoan and take a bus from Tubigon to Tagbilaran. This is a faster and cheaper way to reach the capital compared to a direct boat ride. Bohol belongs to a tropical country prone to typhoons yet its geographical location has helped the island to be shielded from typhoons due to the fact that the surrounding islands blocks the heavy winds prior to reaching Bohol.

Bohol offers a wide range of pristine tourist destinations both natural and historical in category. Beaches, natural parks, wildlife and the famous Chocolate Hills are just a few of the highlights of the island. Bohol is as good as it gets and what better way to spend an unforgettable vacation than to complete it with the right place to stay.

Bohol Hotels offer high quality services and affordable rates. Most of the hotels are resort hotels and are located near white sand beaches. Other hotels are further inland yet are still fashioned out in a nature oriented outlook. Bohol hotels offer comfortable accommodation, recreational and dining services.

These hotels offer tours and transfers around the island so there is no need to worry on how to go about the vacation that has been planned for. There are travel packages offered by most of the Bohol Hotels and lasts for 3 days and 2 nights, but one can always extend if this time frame is not enough. There are a lot of hotels and resorts around the province of Bohol and it is all about choosing the right one and the right place to stay in which suits both your needs and your budget.

when one plans to explore the Philippines in a naturalistic approach , then Bohol is a must see place, especially the world famous Chocolate Hills and the very cute tarsiers only found here.It is one of the best choices amidst all the other islands of the archipelago. Its hotels add up to the beauty of the entire island. Whether you want to stay in a beach resort or in a place near the busy medium sized places like Tagbilaran and Tubigan, Bohol has it all waiting for you.