Dutch management
We used to use our blogs to describe our experiences when we travel around in the Philippines. Most of what we mentioned in our former blogs even though not updated gives you still a good idea about the most popular tourist places. But we dont want to give out too much detailed and updated information in our blogs anymore as we know we are being followed by our competitors.
Through the years things change so do our recommendations: e.g. El Nido become too busy and expensive, accommodations are not well maintained, change of management, policy airlines e.g. Cebu Pacific take advantage of unfortunate events.
We created a new website www.taalvolcanohiking.com as replacement for www.taalvolcano.org and www.trekkingpinatubo.com since we dont own these websites and cannot update but we are the operator for these 2 destinations since 15 years.
To make an itinerary you have to consider the level of accommodations which depends of the wishes of the customer and if available, weather and best time to visit ( south of Philippines has an other -rainy- season), location of hotels/ resorts, how many days in each destination, which tours are recommended, best places/ islands to visit in a certain period, avoid weekends for some destinations, which room standard, superior or the deluxe, location of the room trying to avoid rooms along noisy roads, all possible routings of airline and ferries. So to consider all these elements in an proposed itinerary is not an easy task. And almost impossible to do if you start from scratch and do not have any ready information or experiences. Safety except Mindanao in the south is not a concern more than in other countries in the world. Of course this is different if you are into (girlie) bar hopping.
Being nearly 30 years in operation, we have experienced a lot of things, have travelled to the tourist places many times over to gain knowledge, besides we also received feedback from clients. You cannot trust any reviews from suppliers on platform’s they control. Tripadvisor is still the most reliable though some reviews are also fake. And not to forget these reviews are about the place where the customers have been but they dont know the alternatives and therefore not in the position to compare. On our travels we visit most resorts in a certain area, we do the tours and then make the best choices.
We had our company outing in Bohol and Cebu in August 2024, did all the tours available: Bohol country tour, island hopping, whale-sharks in Oslob, Cebu City tour and in Moalboal canyoneering, swim with turtles and thousand of sardines. I travelled in July from North Palawan (el rio y mar resort) to Puerto Princesa.
We have done all the tours in Palawan, not only on this visit and the highlight for us is the Batak tribe. Surprised how they still live even though their village is close to the “civilised”world. Earlier this year went to Bantayan, Siquior, Siargao and North luzon includes Vigan, Pagudpud, Sagada, La union and Banaue. We are the biggest operator for private North Luzon tours and have our own cars and drivers.
Every year we travel so i dare to say that our information is updated and unrivaled.
PHILIPPINES COMPARE TO OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES
– far less touristy so this has its advantages as its less crowded but during summer time around holyweek Filipino’s will travel and all tourist places will become very crowded and expensive. Filipino’s hold a marketshare of 50 pct of all domestic tourism.
– you can still find many empty beaches but this comes with very basic or no accommodation at all e.g. Subic beach in Bicol. Balabac in Palawan, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao are largely undiscovered.
Filipino’s are very friendly and accomodating people but dont get upset if not all goes well or as expected. Keep in mind whatever happens they still smile unless feel offended. This is really unique aspect. Try to mingle with them, give the staff a drink, food ( if possible and allowed), it will make their day complete and happy.
– keep in mind that life is not easy here for most people in the Philippines low wages and hardly any government support on all levels. The basic infrastructures: roads, internet, water supply and sewage in almost all tourists area’s needs improvement.
– like in many other countries corruption is widely spread on all levels so keep this in mind when dealing with government officials. Overcharging is very common if they feel you dont hackle and/or dont know the price.
– accomodation compare to most other East Asian Countries is more expensive or lacking facilities. Reasonable 3 star accommodation in province starts on average from USD 80.00 but in very popular tourist places it will be more expensive and the sky is the limit.
Philippines stands out when in comes to nature, beaches, friendliness, speaking english and underwater world compare to other southeast asian countries.
Before heading to the Philippines, please complete the form at https://etravel.gov.ph/signin and obtain travel insurance. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of tourist areas, so it’s important to carry cash with you, as internet access can be unreliable. Additionally, be aware that flooding and typhoons, especially from July to December, can occasionally disrupt travel in North Luzon. However, these weather disturbances usually do not last long, and the rainy season typically brings only brief afternoon showers.
Enjoy your travels in the Philippines! If you’d like us to create an itinerary for you, we’d be delighted to help. Our itineraries offer a blend of active experiences and unique sites across the Philippines, tailored to different fitness levels and interests.
We include visits to 2-3 tribes and explore Tondo and the North Cemetery during our city tour. You’ll stay at acclaimed beach destinations like Port Barton and Nacpan Beach, and visit Coron and El Nido, which are renowned for their stunning beauty in Palawan—often hailed as the most beautiful island in the world.
Our tours feature more rice terraces than most other agencies, including Hapao, Batad, Mayoyao, Ducligan, Bayyo, and Maligcong, depending on your route and the number of days. Alternatively, we can include a visit to the mummies in Kabayan. A trip to the Philippines is a must for everyone’s travel list!
My email is hvanweerden@filipinotravel.com.ph and you may request to sent our most recommended itinerary.