Visiting the Philippines is big fun. Perfect beaches. Friendly locals. Beautiful nature.
Plus,it’s a cheap country to travel, you’ll get a great value for your money.

 I’ve been four times to the Philippines and spent in total more than eight months there and hell… This place blew my mind Whenever I meet travelers, I encourage them to go to Philippines, because for some reasons, people are still hesitant and stick to the ordinary “Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam Route”. Don’t miss out on such an amazing country!! In my opinion,Philippines is better than all of these countries together. And I tell you why!

image

      Photo from Just One Way Ticket
HERE ARE MY 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES!
01 | THE PEOPLE

 The hospitality of Filipinos is incomparable to the rest of the world.
In my experience, from all the Asians I have met, Filipinos are the most kind and friendly people, extremely welcoming and curious, but also respectful. They always seem happy and smiling, and they love to sing and to dance whenever there is an occasion to celebrate.

image

       Photo from Just One Way Ticket

 I don’t feel like a walking wallet in the Philippines and getting in touch with locals and becoming friends with them is much easier over there than in other countries. If I look in my Facebook, I think by now I have more friends from Philippines than from my own country. I’m still in touch with many Filipinos I met during my trips, many of them I met again or even traveled together. They turned out as faithful, kind and caring friends. To sum it up, I love them!  
02 | PARADISE BEACHES AND ISLANDS
Philippines is one of the largest island groups in the world with 7,107 islands.

image
      Photo from Just One Way Ticket

 Philippines islands and beaches are … Heaven. Paradise. Amazing. No kidding. I hardly found better beaches in the world than there. The queen of all the beaches is probably White Beach in Boracay, constantly rated as one of the Top 10 beaches of the world. I wouldn’t say it’s the best one, but certainly the most famous one. If you are into white sandy beaches and turquoise crystal-clear waters, you’re in the right country. Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands. It’s not hard to find your dream beach or a pristine island over there and having it all for yourself…
03 | SHOPPING
Get lost in one of the biggest shopping malls in the world.
When I noticed all the giant shopping malls in Manila, I had a feeling that Filipinos must be crazy about shopping. Later I figured out that shopping is also a way of family gathering for them. Or as one of my Filipina friends says: “They come for the air conditioning.”
Anyway, shopping in the Philippines can be quite a worthwhile experience. The country is known by many as a great handicraft center. Manila has fantastic shopping opportunities. There are a lot of places to go and it all depends on what you intend to buy, and how much is your budget.
SM City North EDSA, located in Quezon City is the biggest mall in South East Asia, SM Mall of  Asia in Pasay is the 2nd largest mall in the Philippines after SM City North EDSA, and the 4th largest shopping mall in the world. Boutiques, supermarkets, fashion outlets, restaurants of all kinds, coffee shops, movie theaters and 3D cinemas, Internet cafes, Spas, you will find everything there to entertain yourself for a whole day.
If you look for something like a flea market, check out Greenhills Shopping Center  in San Juan, loads of stalls with DVDs, antiques, jewelry and pearls and of course cheap fake branded clothes.
04 | NATURE, FLORA AND FAUNA
Philippines has one of the most diverse wildlife in the world.
image
     Photo from Just One Way Ticket

 Philippines is home of a diverse range of birds, plants, animals and sea creatures. There are nearly 200 mammal species in the Philippines. The Philippine Tarsier is one of the smallest (and cutest!) species of monkeys in the world. You will find more than 600 species of birds, over 300 species of reptiles and amphibians and at least 400 coral species. From the giant whale shark to the world’s smallest fish (Pandaca pygmea), everything you can dream of is united in the beautiful islands of the Philippines. READMORE