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Does your family like taking things to the limit? How about experiencing out-of-this-world activities? Do the kids like to try too-good-to-be-true kinds of foods? From the biggest pizzas to the tallest tower drops, take your family to a place of unique experiences during your trip to the Philippines. This list of crazy activities gets better: the father you read through the list, the crazier it gets! How adventurous will your family be? Read on and witness the beauty of this world crazy Filipino style!

 

Giant Pizza

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It’s always nice to start the day with a nice meal, but it’s even better to start it with a huge meal! At Pizzaville, in Manila, your family can snarf down a whopping 70-inch (175 centimeter) pizza (about $160 USD). Yes, that’s right, even those eaters with bottomless stomachs might get full! Your pizza’s diameter is even wider than than Tom Cruise and Daniel Radcliffe are tall! Now, you might think that eating this big pizza will tire out your taste buds. Don’t worry though, because you can choose different toppings for each enormous slice. Does one kid like anchovies while another can’t stand them? No problem! They also serve 50-, 30-, 20-, 14-, and 10-inch pizzas for more reasonable appetites.

 

Manta Ray Diving

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Have you ever dreamt of being a fish? Are any of the kids mermaid enthusiasts?  Do you like experiencing the beauty of the underwater world? Try manta ray diving while you are journeying around the Philippines. The mechanics of this activity are simple: there’s a Jet Ski, there’s a rope, and there’s you! The rope is attached to a plank-like apparatus that determines your swimming direction: tilt it upwards and you’ll go up, or tilt it downwards and you’ll go down. You don’t have to bother moving your feet in order to swim or move underwater. Just let yourself be carried away and experience the ocean world around you. Pay $9 USD per person for the first fifteen minutes of diving, and then pay $1 USD for each additional five minutes. Journey with the kids to Anilao, Batangas (Manila → Buendia Bus Terminal → Batangas City Bus Terminal → Mabini → Anilao), to visit the manta rays yourselves.

 

Waterfall Restaurant

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Do you think that going to eat at a run-of-the-mill restaurant is boring and mainstream? Have you ever eaten whilst inside a waterfall? Sometimes the kids need a little mealtime excitement! This restaurant in Villa Escudero plantation resort is literally in a river. Imagine the scenery of waterfalls unveiling its beauty right in front of you while you eat. You’ll be enjoying traditional Filipino fare while your feet prune in a clear stream! The kids will enjoy frolicking around the water features and tasting local delights.

 

Boil an Egg… in a Volcano!

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Do you like exploring? Do you like a wonderful view? Do you like volcanoes? Taal is the best option! It is one of the world’s smallest volcanoes, and it has been inactive since 1977 (and it is expected to stay in that state!). You and the kids can hike right up to the crater, and little kids or those who aren’t fond on hiking can ride horses that locals rent at the trailhead. The funny part is that after you take photos and enjoy with your family through the journey, you can boil an egg! There are geothermal waters on the way to the volcano’s crater that are boiling–just don’t forget to bring your egg! Visit this volcano in Taal, Batangas!

 

EKstreme Tower Fall

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Do you like heights? Do you like an adrenaline rush? Then this tower is for you! It is called the Ekstreme Tower in the Enchanted Kingdom. The tower is one of the best rides in the amusement park. The slow, upward movement will fill riders with anticipation as the ride approaches its full height of 40 meters (minimum height to ride is 4 feet/122 centimeters), before you’ll drop at about 76 kilometers/hour. There are some restrictions for tourists having health issues, so be sure your family is fit to ride. Otherwise, the staff will assist and attend to everyone before starting the ride. The higher it gets, the more beautiful the view is! Enchanted Kingdom’s totality will be seen on one side while the busy city of San Pablo will come into view on the other side. If the children don’t like this level of a rush, other rides in the park are also available. And you can rest easy–the park is internationally certified for the safety of their rides. Tickets cost $17 USD per adult and $11 USD for kids. Visit the park on a weekday for an extra discount!

 

Roller Coaster Slides

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Do you like slides? Do you like an adrenaline rush? Well, a visit to Splash Island in Biñan, Laguna will be perfect for your family! These slides are not the normal pool slides–they are extremely long, curvy, and steep. Riding in one will feel like riding a rollercoaster. For less adventurous water lovers, there are varieties of activities to choose from, like lazy rivers and beach pools. Family slides are also available where the whole brood can go together while riding in a giant inflatable apparatus. It is truly an extreme experience for the whole family, and it won’t break the bank, either! A mere $9 USD per person will grant you access to this waterslide heaven.

 

Bike on a Zipline!

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Does one kid love heights? Is another a biking enthusiast? Do you like ziplines? Then cycling on a zipline at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park will tickle everyone’s fancy! Unlike a normal zipline, the rider can actually control his or her speed. Speed up if you like that roller coaster experience, or slow down to enjoy the moment and indulge in the beautiful surroundings. Anxious about safety? The ride is complete with safety features, and orientations are held before you embark on the journey. The entrance fee for the adventure park costs a mere $1 USD per person, while the bike-zipline costs $8 USD per person. Other activities include a surf-zipline (what?!), a collection of ropes courses, and a petting zoo for the tiniest tots.

 

Dive with a Whale Shark!

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Do you like the sea? Do you like giants? Do you like whale sharks? Go diving at Donsol Bay, Sorsogon, and be with gigantic friendly ocean life! Needless to say, this is an absolutely incredible experience. Imagine bobbing in the sea with creatures who are about 30 times bigger than you! You’ll see whale sharks, manta rays, and maybe even a hammerhead shark if you’re lucky. And it’s perfectly safe! The diving instructors are fully-equipped with all the necessary gear and ensure that you are acquainted with all safety procedures. Try a “Discover SCUBA Diving” course for an introduction to the activity, which will certify you to dive up to 40 feet for one year ($86 USD per person). For an open-water diving certification, expect to pay around $300 USD. Even though it is much more expensive, this option might suit your family best if you’re looking to dive around different Philippine islands, as the certification gained through this course lasts for life! Make sure you do not skimp in this department–the last thing you want while SCUBA diving is faulty, unreliable gear.

 

Flyboarding

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Being in the Philippines is all about water activities, and if you and the kids haven’t had enough yet, then try flyboarding! While the less adventurous family members go swimming near the shore, the craziest children can try this exciting activity. A piece of equipment attached to your feet shoots out a strong stream of water, and the high pressure of water enables the rider fly over the sea. Feet movements determine where you are going and if you’re going to fall or not. Some professionals can actually do tricks while riding this apparatus! Experience it at Subic Bay for around $80 USD and we guarantee you to have the best time of your life.

 

Skydiving

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Riding on an airplane is thrilling, and you and the kids have certainly done a lot of that during your international travels… but what if you were going to jump out of it?  We don’t need to say anything–you know skydiving is crazily awesome! Visit Cebu to try skydiving, but the experience is only available for those 18 and up, and an ID or passport is required. This one won’t be cheap. The price runs about $350 USD per person–but again, you don’t want to go on a cheap skydiving expedition, do you? You and your brood will remember this experience for the rest of your lives, so if you have the funds, go for it!

 

Need some more ideas for fun family destinations? Check out our article on more amazing Philippine locales here!

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An extended trip to the Philippines is never going to be your traditional family vacation. The topography–islands, islands, islands as far as the eye can see–means that any itinerary will involve a different type of planning than most family trips. Those who get their head around the logistics of family nature breaks in the Philippines will be richly rewarded for their efforts, though: As well as gorgeous beaches and uninhabited islands, the archipelago offers everything from mysterious mountain towns to some of the most spectacular beaches on the planet.

There’s a lot to pack in, but our 30-day itinerary for a nature-packed trip to the Philippines with kids allows plenty of time for R&R as well as action-packed adventures, and can be adapted to suit everybody from toddlers to teens.

Day 1-5 Cebu and surrounds

Many international visitors heading to the Philippines with kids fly straight to the capital, Manila. It’s not the best place to touch down though, and here’s why: Manila’s a traffic-choked, noisy and cramped city, and can be too much too soon for younger family members. For a gentler introduction to the Filipino pace of life, fly into Cebu, and use it as a base for exploring the islands. With some good value places to stay, eat and drink, it’s worth spending a day or so in the Philippines’ laid-back second city (it’s also the oldest, and as such has plenty of historic attractions), but the real draws for nature-loving families in Cebu lie outside the city proper, in the coral reefs and white sand beaches of nearby Mactan and Oslob (whale watching is an option here, but does raise a few ethical issues and families may want to think twice before signing up).

here is our favorite, family feindly hotel in cebu.


?Boxout: Surfing in Siargao

The Philippines rarely gets a mention as a top surfing destination, but the island of Siargao, some 400km from Cebu (one daily flight, with Cebu Pacific prices from around $100 pp if booked in advance) is beginning to make headlines for its world class waves. There are lessons for everybody from experienced surfers to absolute beginners, and what kid wouldn’t want to return from their break to the Philippines boasting that they’ve learned to ride the waves? If you want to see some stellar surfers at play in this still under-the-radar destination (for now) this is your chance.


Day 7-12 Bohol

Boats leave Cebu’s port for the gorgeous island of Bohol, and it’s well worth setting up camp here (possibly literally–should you feel like sleeping under the stars, there are some good family campsites here as well as guest houses and hotels) for at least five or six days in order to make the most of the magnificent natural attractions. Landing at Tagbilaran, the island’s colorful capital, you’ll be well placed for treks through the Chocolate Hills (maybe pre-warn younger kids that these perfectly-round humps are named for their brown hue, and are not actually edible hills!) and boat trips (or kayaking) along the Abatan River, as well as zip-lining through the jungle canopy and other high-energy kid-pleasing pursuits.


? Box Out: Tiny Tarsiers: No nature-based family trip to Bohol is complete without checking out the teeny Tarsier monkeys at the dedicated sanctuary here (Tarsier Sanctuary Rd, Corella). These titchy, tree-inhabiting primates are endemic to the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, and for a few dollars entry visitors can watch them napping in their natural habitat (they’re nocturnal animals, so don’t expect to catch them up and about).


Day 13-16 Boracay

You’ll need to head back to Cebu for the next leg of your trip, up to the northern islands around Boracay. Inexpensive flights (from around $40 pp) leave Cebu for Boracay’s airport at Caticlan and the journey takes less than an hour. Once here, families can check out the famous (and aptly-named) White Beach, try windsurfing or kite surfing at the Bulabog Beach, or goggle at colorful sea creatures on a snorkeling (or scuba diving, there are several PADI schools here) adventure around the coral reefs.

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Day 17-22 El Nido, Palawan

While there’s plenty to do on Boracay it’s a little too popular with partiers for some families’ tastes, so nature-loving families are likely to appreciate the more under-the-radar vibe at El Nido.

As of 2017 there are direct 45-minute flights between Boracay and Palawan islands, and while El Nido town itself is a little underwhelming, there is enormous joy to be had in exploring the 40-plus small islands that surround it. Here are pristine dive spots, mangrove rivers, caverns and caves, and an awful lot more elbow room on the picture-perfect beaches than you’ll find at more celebrated spots.


? Box out: A Giant Adventure Playground

The island of Palawan has been the subject of something of a buzz in the international travel press of late, but El Nido remains largely off the beaten tourist trail. It’s unspoilt beaches are like a giant adventure playground for kids, and prices are still among the cheapest in the area. From a base at Coron Coron or Orange Pearl beach (interconnected and dazzlingly beautiful strands) visitors can take to the waters on paddle board or kayak, or for more leisurely days, jump aboard a beach hopping cruise. Backed by enormous rocky mountains and with monkey-filled jungle spilling right down to the town it’s a wild adventure that will linger long in the memory.


Day 23-25: Manilla

Ok, after some serious chilling on the beaches, families in the Philippines should be ready for the sensory assault that is Manilla. There are direct flights to the capital from El Nido, with AirSwift making the 70-minute journey (prices from $100 pp) around five times per day.

This smog-filled city isn’t the ideal spot for families looking to explore wild nature, so spend just a day or two exploring the scenic Old Town, with a side trip to the wonderful volcanic hot springs Hidden Valley Springs Resort. The naturally heated pools sit amid tropical jungle, and are an easy day trip from Manila (around one hour’s drive) at idden Valley Springs Resort. Take in the natural beauty and lush vegetation of this tropical region. Explore the resort’s massive crater, believed to have been formed by a violent volcanic upheaval thousands of years ago. Take a refreshing dip in one of the naturally heated, volcanic water pools. Visitors can stay overnight at the resort, or head back to the big city.

Day 26-30 North of Manilla

North of the capital, Luzon Island (the Philippines’ largest) the big city gives way to pristine nature, and families can board overnight buses up to the beautiful Mountain Province of Benguet, where treks through centuries’ old rice terraces at Banaue offer magnificent views and the freshest of fresh air, as well as the impressive Tapia Falls where the mighty rush of water feeds into freshwater pools that make for incredibly refreshing dips – bring your swimwear.. Sagada, a beautiful mountain town, is a kid-pleaser thanks to its famous hanging coffins, creepy caves, natural swimming pools and the chance to mingle with the Igarot tribes people that inhabit the region.


? Boxout: The Hanging Coffins of Sagada

For some 2,000 years, the Igarot people have been burying their dead in coffins that are tied or nailed to the sides of cliffs. The bodies are placed in the foetal position, wrapped in blankets and carried in a procession to the burial place, resulting in an unusual tourist attraction that will thrill kids with a taste for the macabre.


Day 30-Manila, and home

Take another overnight bus back to Manila, where you might want to overnight, take a direct flight home, or take a connection back to the starting point at Cebu.

Here is another route for families going to the Philippines.

Food-loving families, get set for an island-hopping culinary adventure like no other. The islands’ eclectic, zingy cuisine is currently being spoken of in reverential tones among foodie movers and shakers–Bizarre Foods presenter has been citing it as the next big foodie trend for years, and others are starting to cotton on. But while Zimmerman famously chowed down on all manner of gag-worthy grubs during his televised trip around the island, families on a foodie trip to the Philippines can rest safe in the knowledge that there’s much more to local dishes than the bird embryos of foodie legend.

A nation made up of over 7,000 impossibly scenic islands, visitors will find enormous variations in the style and substance of dishes as they travel around the Philippines, but one constant theme is the warm welcome extended to families–the local culture firmly embraces family dining, and children will be enthusiastically catered for, rather than stiffly tolerated, at the overwhelming majority of restaurants and cafes.

A relatively safe place for family travel, the Philippines offers such family-pleasing treats as endless soft sandy beaches, plentiful snorkeling opportunities, colorful theme parks, bright and beautiful flora and fauna, and an endless supply of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables (Parents may be interested to know that many of these are whizzed up into delicious and dangerously affordable cocktails).

The nature of the terrain means that a family trip to the Philippines will involved a fair bit of air travel, and visitors should brace themselves for a few bumpy prop plane rides, but puddle-jumping plane rides are neither expensive nor difficult to arrange. Follow our 30-day itinerary for a month-long break that will linger long in the memory as well as on the taste buds.

Tip: The December-April dry season is the best time of year for family travel to the Philippines. Visitors should note, however, that rates soar and rooms get booked up fast around the Christmas and Easter holidays.

Day 1-2 Manila

The busy, bustling capital of the Philippines, Manila is the starting point for adventures on the archipelago. With a skyline dominated by high rise malls and apartment blocks, the noisy, chaotic city sprawls across Luzon, the largest island on the archipelago. It’s no peaceful island paradise, and families will find more enticing adventures elsewhere. However, it’s worth taking a day or so to explore the Spanish-accented historic center, and to try some kid-pleasing treats from the many sidewalk stands (often manned by kids and their parents). For the equivalent of less than a dollar a pop, you can try all manner of weird and wonderful delights. Dodge the Balut, and the chicken feet and intestines on a stick (unless you’re feeling brave), and head for the banana-q (skewered banana covered in sugar and deep fried) or icecream stands. KwekKwek (quial eggs in a bright orange batter) is a good bet for a quick protein fix. You’ll find street stands on literally every corner, but there’s currently a bit of a buzz about those on the Kapitolyo food strip, in Pasig.

Tip: Watch kids’ eyes light up at the sight of Halo Halo – this legendary Manila street snack is a hot (well, actually cool…) mess of purple yam ice cream and shaved ice, topped with any number of sweet treats such as jelly beans, coconut, condensed milk, fresh or jellied fruit, and sometimes sago (tapioca balls). No two Halo Halo stands are alike, and families can have great fun hunting out their favorite. On average, you can expect to pay a little over $0.50 for a Halo Halo on the street.

Day 3-8 Boracay

After a couple of days in the city, it’s time to relax on the beach. And beaches don’t get much better than those of Boracay, so plan to stay at least five days here. There are no direct flights, so plan to fly to either Caticlan (the closest option) or Kalibo (60 km farther from the port but served by cheaper flights), followed by a taxi to the jetty port at Caticlan and a 20-minute boat ride across to Boracay. Expect to pay upwards of around $40 for a one-way trip.
Once on the island, get set for a few days of swimming, snorkeling and surf lessons, while tucking into super-fresh seafood at restaurants where you can dine with your feet (sometimes literally) in the sea. Mangoes, bananas and other kid-pleasing fruits grow in abundance here, and crop up in many street snacks (and are also used to make amazing cocktails at the many many Happy Hours… Juice shacks abound, and picky kids looking for something more familiar will find international fare such as tacos and pasta at Boracay’s modern Food Market at Station 2, where you’ll pay around $2-3 for a plate of food. The fish and seafood market at D’Talipapa, is a feast for the eyes, too, and kids will enjoy goggling at things even if they don’t want to eat them.

Day 9-15 Palawan

Just when you thought your family foodie break in the Philippines couldn’t get any more idyllic, you get to Palawan. Often cited among the best beach islands in the world, this ridiculously picturesque spot offers dolphin-watching, safari parks and other kid-pleasing attractions, but the real appeal will be the pristine waters, boat trips and beach adventures. Fly into Puerto Princesa (2 hr 50, flights from around $100 one way) and spend a day or two tucking into tropical fruit and fresh fish and seafood at simple waterfront restaurants (a main meal can be had for less than $5) (most hotels also serve pasta, pizza and other family favorites) before taking the bus to El Nido, where boat tours lead to hidden beaches, each of which is more beautiful than the next. Most trip operators include food-from fresh fruit to full BBQs-and drinkin the price.

Tip: Don’t miss Baker’s Hill in Puerto Princesa. Visitors can cycle (bikes are big in Palawan) up to the top of a hill where, you guessed it, several bakers sell their delicious wares. There’s a mini theme park, playground and strutting peacocks to up the fun factor even more.

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Day 16-19: Cebu

It’s a flight of around 70 minutes (from around $60 one way pp) from Puerto Princesa, where waterfalls, tiny islands and excellent diving abound, and families visiting Cebu can find crowd-free beaches where coconut palms and fruit trees frame picture-perfect sands. Try trips to Bantayan or Malapascua islands for a true taste of paradise on your family trip to the Philippines. Cebu City itself has lots of international restaurants, some of which are on the pricey side, but for more authentic eats at better prices, check out local spots such as Kusina Uno, which specialises in giant portions of pochero (spicy, meaty stews with a big hunk of beef and bone marrow), where a $2-3 serving satisfies up to 4 hungry tummies.


 

? Box out: Not for the faint hearted, Cebu speciality Tuslob Buwa (rough translation ‘dip’ and ‘froth’ sees pork brain, liver, garlic and seasonings and served with rice wrapped in palm leaves. It’s surprisingly tasty, and very cheap at less than $1 a go from most street sellers.


 

Day 20-24 Bohol

Regular speedy ferries make the crossing from Cebu to similarly gorgeous Bohol, where the jungle-covered hills make a dramatic backdrop to the beaches, and a trip to Bohol with kids offers a chance to zipline through the trees, and marvel at tiny tarsier monkeys at a hugely popular sanctuary. The famous ‘Chocolate Hills’ are named for their brownish color at certain times of year rather than for anything edible, but a visit to the famous Bee Farm in Panglao (actually a separate island, accessible via bridge) should sugar the pill. This working honey farm sells dishes made from local organic fruit and vegetables, and visitors can see the bees doing their magic. The ice-creams, made with unusual tropical fruits and herbs such as malunggay (a medicinal tea leaf) are unforgettable.

Here is a more in-depth article about Bohol

Day 25-20 The Cordilleros

Time to bid the beaches bye bye and head for the mountains and rice terraces of the Cordilleros.Take a flight to Manilla (regular flights with local airlines make the 80-minute flight), then onwards by plane or car to the north of Luzon island. Families with kids in the Cordilleros won’t be doing too much climbing in the spiny peaks, but there are many foodie adventures to be had in this magnificent part of the Philippines. The rice terraces are often cited as the 8th Wonder of the World, and are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As one might expect, rice features in various forms, including kiddie-pleasing sweet ones such as Sinuman and Patupat rice cakes. Snails harvested from local creeks are among the more adventurous eats.


 

? Box out: If you happen to be here during the summer season, you’ll see ant eggs cropping up on the menu. Abuos are the eggs of large red ants, collected by poking holes in their treetop nests. They’re they fried with garlic, tomatoes and onions to make a famous local speciality much loved by the local Igarot tribespeople, and increasingly enjoyed by out of towners too.


Day 30 Back to Manila –

if you have a long wait for a flight, it’s worth checking out the impressive food courts at many shopping malls – and home to start dreaming of all those delicious foods you’ve just eaten.

For recommended family friendly hotels click here.

The Philippines offer the very best of exotic vacations. It has everything you imagine when you think about a luxurious beach vacation. The soft white sandy beaches, the clear turquoise water, the fresh coconuts, sweet juicy fruits, happy-get-lucky locals (that speak English!), and lots of green jungles. An immense feeling of freedom.

Cheaper than Thailand.

And most importantly- jumping (real life!) dolphins! Free! We saw them while on ferries several times. They just show up, whole pods of them, swimming and jumping right next to the boat.

A few shorts words on the Philippines:

The Philippines are divided to four main districts. North (Luzon), center (Visayas), the south (Mindanao), and the island Palawan which is west of Visayas, towards Malaysia.

The archipelago consists of over 7,000 islands, and the main venues of transportation between them is by using the excellent ferry network (depending on the distance between islands, sometimes it’s a small ferry, sometimes a big one, almost a bus, and sometimes it’s a huge ferry that takes you 24 hours or more on the ocean waves), or by flight. You can also take a bus, I mean- you take the bus, and it goes on a ferry, and continues on another island:-).

The locals are charming, welcoming and hospitable, and always happy to help. But there’s two things they don’t believe in in the Philippines that it’s important you know about: hot water in the shower, and blankets.
Meaning you’ll only have hot water in medium level hotels and above. And the same goes for blankets.

It’s simply too hot there for either anyway.

The capital: is Manila, and she’s not welcoming to families. There’s a lot of traffic and sometimes the city just doesn’t feel safe. There are areas that bunch together strip clubs and gambling establishments. But together with all that- it’s the place to go shopping, there are crazy big malls there, with all the biggest brands. Personally I only go there to freshen up my wardrobe. My favorite place is called ‘Glorietta’ and it’s actually 4 connected malls. There are also some pretty big attractions (which I haven’t visited) like chinatown.

Family vacations- recommended hotels in the philippines

Money: the local currency is called Peso. $1=50 Pesos. You can find ATM mechines, but it’s not always easy, especially if you leave the highly touristic areas. Anyway the feeling is that there aren’t enough of them. Sometimes the line is very long. What they do have there are lots of money changers, and international money transfer. There are everywhere.

Visa: most people get free visa upon arrival of somewhere between 21-30 days but it always pays to check in advance. The most important thing is to have an exist ticket to somewhere.

Best seasons: it’s always hot in the Philippines. They have a rainy season and a typhoon season. December to May is the best time to visit. For vacations- Christmas! But summer vacation can also work, provided you can stay for a longer time, allowing for flexibility.

Food: it’s a tropical country so there’s a wide selection of fruits, dozens of types of Mango and Avocado, Coconuts, Jackfruit, and a lot of other we don’t even know about in the west. Most of their food is rice based, they have different kinds of white and pink and red rice… and a ton of seafood (goes without saying) as well as chicken and pork. They love their barbecue, and grill every type of meat they can find. You’ll see people fanning the flames everywhere. You choose the slice and they grill it for you on the spot. Try the chicken legs, a local favorite.

I will now write a recommendation for a fun route you can go on with the kids, based around central Philippines. I built it around the center on purpose as it’s considered the area best protected from typhoons, and therefore better at summer (and summer vacation). It’s flexible from a days-per-location perspective, so you could twist it to fit however long you have available.

1. Cebu

The route starts in Cebu. The second largest island in the Philippines.

You can stay in Cebu city, of find quieter places. I like recommending this hotel, on Mactan Island that is connected to mainland(ish) Cebu by bridge (the international airport is also on this island). It’s not cheap but will provide an excellent opening to any vacation.

Take two-three days to get over the flight and just have a good family time, then fly from Cebu to the tiny volcanic island “Cameguin”.

2. Cameguin

During the flight the staff entertains the passengers with riddle games. There are even prizes:-).
This tiny island sits on a volcano, which turns some of the beaches black. Beyond that, despite the size of the island it has many fun activities. There are some nice waterfalls (where you can swim), a site with a few hot spring pools, each with a different temperature. There’s a Zipline near the beach that goes above a sweet water lake, kayaking and other sea activities, and a site with giant clams (careful, they swallow everything!). A few museums and even an ostrich farm.

We’ve visited this island twice. Zig-zagged all across it on a bike we rented and discovered some lovely isolated corners. Climbed one of the mountains, and at the top we found a beautiful waterfall and remnants of volcanic ash.

When we went to the Zipline booking office the kids really wanted to go. For me it was enough to just see the cable stretched over the water to give up the pleasure. But the Zipline rules say you have to go in twos, so found myself being launched (twice! It’s a two-leg journey…) together with my youngest daughter.

I recommend to sleep in the hot spring campus called “Ardent”, that way you could go for a swim any time you want (the pools are open 24 hours), even after the kids fell asleep… :-). They have simple rooms with an A/C and a family room. Costs $80 a night.

There’s a restaurant there that’s not fantastic but it’s not bad either and the staff is nice. There are also a few stands just outside the campus. Basically, sausages and corn are readily available.

After three-four days of rest, day trips and being spoiled, take the ferry to Bohol Island. The ferry leaves every day at morning and by noon makes port in the city Jagna at central Bohol.

The journey takes about three-four hours.

My kids like Jagna because you can find the Filipino delicacy Calamay everywhere. Calamay is a sort of a sweet spread/jelly made of coconuts that they sell in a coconut shell packaging.

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3. Bohol

A word about ferries in the Philippines: I recommend that you bring some food with you, because the food on the ferry is expensive and the options are usually very limited.

And another thing- there’s no problem getting tickets in the port. Just make sure to get there some time ahead. Usually, especially before the ferry leaves, there are long lines. You’ll need to pay for the tickets (=first line), harbor tax (=second line), and for your suitcases (=third line). Children under 10 get a discount. Ask for the A/C class (=most expensive), or outside (=cheapest, and there’s a breeze:-))

When you get to Jagna you’ll have two options:

You can take a taxi or a minivan (air conditioned) to the biggest city in Bohol called Tagbilaran. Most tourists on the island go to its most famous beach, which is near Tagbilaran. It’s called “Alona beach” and it really is a nice beach with many nice restaurants, an ATM, agencies offering day trips and island-hopping, stores for beachwear, etc…

Family vacations- recommended hotels in the philippines

If you don’t want to party with all the tourists, you can always look for a guesthouse or a hotel in the city proper (it has a few nice malls, my favorite is ICM that has some video games in the top floor and even a 3D cinema). Or you can look around the road that surrounds the island, and soak in the magnificent ocean view. Another nice area is the town “Anda”, and near it the resort “Peace 1”, that has a private beach frequented by some sea turtles.

A minivan from Jagna to Tagbilaran costs 100 pesos per person.

Bohol is a relatively small island but it has a lot of attractions, and it’s a fun place to spend a few days. You can go on tours and watch dolphins, snorkel in the oceanic nature reserves near the island. There are kayak trips, an Extreme Park, river boating, a beautiful natural phenomenon called “chocolates hills” (yeah yeah) and some incredibly sweet creatures called “Filipino monkey” that became the island’s symbol. Professional name: Tarsier.

You can get almost any tye of food there, from real local food to big fast-food chains like McDonald’s, KFC and domino’s pizza. And of course Dunkin Donuts, that took over the Philippines and apparently conquered them.

We lived in Bohol twice, for a few months each time. We rented a small house with a private beach in a small fishing village and just lived with the locals and the ocean. We would shop at the local market, go for walks in the village, play with the locals, and learn from them about sea life.

We loved going to some nearby islands called Pamilican and Balicasag. On the way to them we usually saw dolphins. Near the islands there are beautiful reserves and we would jump off our little boat and snorkel for hours. We even saw small sharks and sea turtles. The boat’s driver would throw some breadcrumbs to attract the fish to us, to the great joy of my youngest daughter, that didn’t want to go too far from the boat.

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4. Siquijor

After Bohol, take another ferry to Siquijor. This is a small, peaceful island, with incredible quiet beaches. It’s also called the “Isle of Fire”, because of the millions of fireflies that fly near its beaches at night.

The island itself offer a number of activities, most of which are nature related (waterfalls, springs, ancient trees, night walks to see the fireflies).

And of course there’s diving and snorkeling.

We arrived there completely on accident. While visiting Dumaguete, we met at the hotela Filipino friend. After an interesting conversation with him, he told us that he has a resort in Siquijor (a quick boat ride away from Dumaguete) and invited us to stay there. So we found ourselves, a few weeks afterwards, in Siquijor :-).

Most of our time there we spent in the great swimming pool in the resort. It was so fun and relaxed we didn’t even need to leave.

4.5 Optional: Dumaguete

From Siquijor you can go slowly to Cebu Island. Before that take a short ferry to Dumaguete.if you have time you can explore it, it’s another nice island with plenty of activities.

Another article giving details about those four places, including costs, you can find here.

The Philippines have two types of public transport that I haven’t seen anywhere else. The Tricycle, which is a bit like the Thai Tok-Tok or the Indian Rickshaw, meaning, they took a motorbike and added a contraption with seats on it. The Filipinos like stuffing as many people as possible into those. It comes in different sizes, some only fit three people, and others fit six or more. The other vehicle is called a Jeepney and it’s actually a jeep that has been turned into a bus. They make it themselves, so every Jeepney looks a little different. They paint it in screaming colors, add some designs and sometimes even add a few quotes. It’s similar to an open bus, and there too they stuff as many people as they possibly can. Try to ride both those vehicles at least once. It’s an experience of a different type:-).

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5. Cebu

From the city Dumaguete leaves a (air conditioned) bus that goes on the ferry to Cebu with you inside it, and continues until Cebu City. You can also get off halfway there, in south Cebu there is a (debatable) attraction that offers diving/swimming/watching Whale Sharks. These are sharks that feed only on Plankton and, despite their huge size, they’re very gentle creatures. This activity is not cheap at $150 per person.

After you get back to Cebu City, you can finish the journey with some shopping in a few of the huge malls in the city. All the brands you know and then some:-).

More details to help you plan your trip and budget for it you can find here.