Tuesday 31 July 2018

Holidays in the Philippines on a Budget

The Philippines is a perfect destination to visit if you're on a relatively tight budget. The cost of living is low, as wages generally are not high.

If you shop at the places that locals use, you'll find goods to be inexpensive. Take a look at the small "sari-sari" stores, (small convenience stores that are often a part of people's homes), and which are in abundance all over the country.


Typical Sari-Sari Store


Dining

There are also eateries (like sari-sari stores, but serving freshly cooked meals), that are aimed at locals, and are therefore low priced. Filipinos are renowned for the fact that they love their food, and all kinds of cuisine are available! Even fast-food chains like MacDonalds, or the Philippines equivalent, Jollibee, and other similar networks, offer meals at lower prices than you would find in the west.


A break on a bus journey from El Nido

Getting Around

Getting around is also cheap if you use buses to get from town to town. The modern ones are comfortable and air-conditioned. Bus stations are busy places, and services are frequent. Vendors will sell you cheap snacks to munch on during your journey.
Tricycles in Palawan

Even cheaper transport are the colourful jeepneys, and tricycles found throughout the country. Be sure to carry low denomination coins and notes to make payment.


Cebu Pacific Flight at Puerto Princesa Airport


Flights & Ferries

Travelling between islands won't break the bank either, particularly if you look out for domestic airline "Promos" (Filipinos love to get a good deal), or take local ferries.


Budget Accommodation


Accommodation

For low price accommodation, head away from the big hotel names or luxury resorts. Go for the smaller providers, or local home-stays. Locals will always point you in the right direction. Be aware that you won't normally get the standards you may be used to in the west. What you will be assured of is a warm welcome, reflecting the nature of Filipinos generally.




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Tuesday 1 May 2018

We Can Take You to the Philippines Rice Terraces...

The Philippines Rice Terraces

It takes a few hours to reach the Philippines Rice Terraces, travelling north from Manila, but the spectacle that awaits is well worth the long journey.

One guest described it as "AMAZING", and "Right up there with Machu Picchu. For me, MORE impressive".

At Philippine Trails we arrange private tours, (as well as for small groups), and our driver and guide will make ideal companions to show you around the various sites including Banaue, Banga-an, Batad, and Sagada, (where you'll also see the famous caves and hanging-coffins!).

We recommend that you allow 4 days minimum for this excursion, and be sure to take a camera to capture the sights, (as well as perhaps a jumper for the cooler mountain air). Tweet this...

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Monday 30 April 2018

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines


In the Philippines, Bohol's famous Chocolate Hills are a major attraction for tourists. Tweet this...

The unusual mounds are actually grass covered limestone, and they turn a chocolate brown in the dry season, hence the name.

Visitors can enjoy seeing this unique geological formation as part of a wider Countryside Tour of Bohol.

Other attractions that make Bohol an must-see island include the Loboc River, Alona Beach, and the Tarsier Sanctuary.

There is also a nature park, the Rajah Sikatuna National Park, that is perfect for trekking or birdwatching. We include this on the Bird Tours that incorporate this region of the Central Visayas.

You can fly to Tagbilaran, Bohol from Manila, or take a Fast Ferry from Cebu.



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Saturday 28 April 2018

Play Golf on the Best Philippines Courses...

Enjoy a Golfing Holiday centred on Manila, Tagaytay, or Clark, incorporating the finest nearby golf courses.

Or consider playing the golf courses of Cebu, based in a resort on Mactan Island. Tweet this...

Read more...





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Saturday 7 April 2018

Philippines Diving Just Got Better with these 3 Great Liveaboard Options

Diver Training in Puerto Galera, Philippines
The waters around the Philippine Islands are teeming with marine life, and amongst the most diverse on the planet. No wonder then that the country is a magnet for divers looking to explore what lies beneath the waves!

There are already numerous coastal resorts that cater for diving enthusiasts, offering land-based boat trips. These resorts also often provide training for the novice.

For the wishing to explore further afield, we recommend Philippines Liveaboard Cruises. Tweet this...

Liveaboard Dive Cruises

There are a number of liveaboard ships in the Philippines  that offer exciting dive cruises, usually of around 7 days - sometimes longer. Here, we highlight three such ships.


Palawan Discovery
The Palawan Discovery

The Palawan Discovery is unique in the Philippines as it offers cruises for both divers and non-divers, with the ship being fitted to a high standard. There are separate activities for those guests that don't dive, making this a perfect trip for couples within which only one dives. View Itinerary.


The Resolute Liveaboard Dive Ship, Philippines
Resolute
The Resolute

The Resolute is a Philippines registered Dive and Pleasure Yacht. She has been cruising in the Philippine waters since 1998 and is currently one of the longest running liveaboard ships in the country with a highly experienced crew. View Itinerary.


Seadoors Liveaboard Ship sails in the Philippines.
Seadoors
Seadoors

Seadoors is a dive boat with an experienced and very friendly crew of nine, that moves around the Philippines, specifically in the Visayas Region. Seadoors accommodates 14-16 guests with comfortable cabins - 6 Standard rooms and 2 Deluxe rooms. The cabins are all equipped with air conditioning, and have their own private bathrooms, each with a hot & cold shower, lavatory, mirror, and fresh towels. View Itinerary.

Philippines Liveaboard Itineraries

Further information on cruise itineraries, dates and prices can all be found on our website Here >>

For a complete package, to include airport meet and greet, plus pre and post cruise accommodation and transfers, as well as your cruise of choice, send us your details. By return we will let you have a tailored itinerary and quotation, with absolutely no obligation to proceed.



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Wednesday 4 April 2018

Boracay Island, Philippines, is Open Again for Business!


UPDATE OF THE BELOW UPDATE (April 2020)... With the current pandemic, Boracay is once again sadly closed to visiting tourists, as indeed is the Philippines as a whole. We all look forward to things improving, sooner rather than later we hope, and for this wonderful island to be welcoming visitors again. Until then, don't stop making your future plans, and get in touch with us if we can assist in any way.

UPDATE: Boracay island is once again "Open for Business"!
The island, one of the most popular Philippines destinations for tourists, has benefitted from improvements to infrastructure, and special attention to the standards of hotels and resorts. At Philippine Trails, we arrange many tours and vacations that include Boracay, and its popularity is as high as ever. Indeed, our webpage about the island is one of the most visited.

Boracay, described as "the jewel in the crown of Philippines tourism", was closed to tourists for a period of six months in 2018.

The closure was ordered by Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines' president, and it took effect from 26 April 2018, and didn't reopen until October of that year.

The massive surge in popularity for the island, in a relatively short period of time, had brought about a strain on its services. During the period of its closure, work was undertaken by various public bodies on areas such as waste-management, in a concerted effort to improve Boracay's infrastructure.

Three agencies - the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Tourism jointly recommended the shutdown of Boracay, which was timed to coincide with the "low season".

During the shut-down, alternative destinations within the Philippines gained popularity, including Puerto Galera, Bohol, Cebu, Ilocos, and El Nido



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Saturday 31 March 2018

Luxury Holidays at Pangulasian Island, El Nido, Philippines

Pangulasian Island, Palawan, Philippines

Pangulasian Island will appeal to the discerning traveller who is looking for exclusivity and a special kind of pampering.

Take a private sunset cruise, indulge in a romantic dinner by the beach, or relax at the spa with a choice of luxurious treatments.

At Philippines Trails, whichever luxury resort you choose, we look after all pick-ups, accommodation, and return transfers from your entry airport. Tweet this...

Pangulasian Island Resort...



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Friday 2 March 2018

Take a Look at Our New Video...

Guests, Tito and Pilar, who we assisted in planning their Philippines holiday, presented us with this stunning video recording their adventures travelling around the islands.

Hope you like it as much as we do! Tweet this...





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Thursday 15 February 2018

5 Great Reasons to Visit Pangulasian Island, Philippines

Pangulasian Island, Palawan, Philippines

1. Pangulasian Island is an eco-luxury award-winning island resort & spa with activities including diving.


2. Pangulasian Island has a pristine beach and tropical forest backdrop.


3. Nicknamed “Island of the Sun”, Pangulasian Island has fabulous views of both sunrise and sunset.


4. Fantastic selection of accommodation options, with contemporary filipino-style architecture.


5. Fly directly to El Nido every day from either Manila or Cebu.

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At Philippine Trails, we’ll arrange your Pangulasian Island Package including...

• Airport Meet & Greet

• Manila, or Cebu, Hotel Accommodation if required

• Luxury Accommodation in Pangulasian Island, Palawan

• Internal Return Flights

• All Private Airport, Hotel, Island & Resort Transfers

• Financial Protection under our TTA Scheme

See more on our website HERE >>


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Wednesday 24 January 2018

Mount Mayon Volcano Eruption...

We've had the latest update from our representatives in the Bicol area of the Philippines, Donsol Eco Tours, following the eruption of the Mt Mayon Volcano:

"Following recent eruptions, Mayon Volcano is now on Level 4 alert. It has been continuously erupting since 1200H 22 January."

"Mayon's eruption is not dangerous but precautionary measures need to be taken to ensure zero casualty and for everyone’s safety. Mayon is the most active volcano of the Philippines and erupts every 3 to 5 years (latest eruptions were in 2010, 2013-2014, and now in 2018). Mayon eruptions can last for several weeks to a few months. Compared to volcanoes that do not erupt for hundreds of years (and hence builds a lot of pressure), Mayon erupts so often that the eruptions are not devastating. Life goes on like normal but with minor limitations."

"Flights in and out of Legazpi and Naga airports are suspended until further notice. The possibility of the ash entering the engine of the airplane could pose a threat to passenger safety."

- Donsol Eco Tours

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