The Philippines: a beautiful country that needs tourist dollars now more than ever

As you’ll know, the Philippines recently experienced one of the worst super-typhoons ever, so some parts of the country have been totally ravaged.
In many areas however, Filipinos are reliant on tourism as their main source of income, so it's important that visitors keep visiting and support the country to help it get back to what it was as quickly as possible. Popular areas such as El Nido and Boracay have not even been affected, so it’s certainly ‘business as usual’ here.

Why include the Philippines in your trip?

The Philippines offer something for everyone. There's a multitude of activities beside lounging on the beach, including snorkelling, kite surfing, hiking, swimming with whale sharks, visiting desert islands, diving, monkey-spotting and even some great nightlife too!
It can be daunting to choose which of 7,000 islands to visit. I started my trip planning by reading travel websites like the Lonely Planet forums to help me narrow down the choices to a few spots, so now I'm well-equipped to help other people plan!

When to go

Despite the fact my partner and I both work in travel, we managed to book our trip for the peak monsoon season (June to November). ‘Are we mad?’ was our first thought… but then we figured that places would be quieter and we may get a few deals on hotels, so we went ahead anyway.
It did rain at some point every day but we also experienced beautiful sunshine everyday. The weather didn't ruin any of our day trips to stunning lagoons and snorkel spots and it actually added some comedy value whilst we were getting soaked on a boat in El Nido with a group of older Filipinos!
I would still advise you to visit during monsoon season, but be aware it will rain for a few intense showers during the day. The recent and ravaging Typhoon Haiyun was a super storm and the usual monsoons to hit the Philippines are nowhere near as strong so will not hinder your trip. However, if you're set on day-long sunshine - peak season is December to April when the weather is hot, hot, hot!

A suggested Philippines itinerary

I spent two weeks in Palawan travelling up from Puerto Princessa to Coron via El Nido with one night’s stay in Manila at the beginning and end. Ideally, if the Philippines is part of your round the world trip I’d suggest you spend three to four weeks so you can visit other areas like Cebu, Bohol and the beautiful Boracay.

Palawan

Palawan is considered the most beautiful place in the Philippines. One of the best things about Palawan is that you really are off the beaten track. There are no chain hotels so everywhere we stayed was very individual and quirky.
We stayed at a desert island resort called Majika Island which was simply stunning! It's a bungalow on the beach with its own boat which will take you out to snorkel at some of the famous ship wreck sights and fishing areas to dive or fish. You can't fail to feel relaxed after a few days in Palawan! 

El Nido

El Nido is a great party place and the Filipino speciality of brandy and lime cordial is not as bad as it sounds! The landscapes are really breath taking with limestone cliffs jutting out of the seascape and hidden lagoons all surrounded by lush forests.

Filipino hospitality

Having travelled extensively around South East Asia, I think the Philippines offers a totally different atmosphere and vibe. Filipino's are simply amazing - everyone we met was warm and friendly and they made a real effort to show off their beautiful country. They know it is the hidden gem of Asia!
We sampled lots of the local foods on this trip, including different fish and barbecued chicken. We also tried more local specialities such as balut (a boiled, fertilized egg!), a dish not for the faint-hearted!

How to get there and how to travel around

Flights between London and Manila start from as little as £520. Air Philippines has started a direct flight from London Gatwick, meaning a quick and convenient start to your trip.
Once you reach the Philippines, you can choose to fly out to different islands or (if you have more time and you’re after adventure), you could try the inter-island boats. Be aware that these boats tend to operate only sporadically in bad weather, but are an excellent way to get about, especially if you don’t have a fixed itinerary.
If you book far enough in advance, the flights can often be cheaper than the boats - I can help you book internal flights if you do decide you want to book ahead. We also offer this G Adventures trip around Palawan which would suit you well if you’re short of time, as it includes highlights like El Nido - I think it's good value for money.

Round the world flights that include the Philippines

The Philippines is becoming easier to access and can easily be worked into a bigger itinerary for a round the world trip. For example:
London - Singapore - Manila - Sydney overland Brisbane - Auckland - Rarotonga - LA - overland to - San Francisco - London Flights from £1,399 pp including taxes

A 9 day India experience in complete luxury

A few years ago I joined a luxury tour of Northern India with a company called On the Go Tours. Having previously visited India as a child on a 6 week trip, I was excited to return and see how much I remembered. I was also keen to experience India as part of an organised tour and see how it differed to travelling independently.
I think India tends to be a destination for travellers who’ve already conquered South East Asia and are feeling more confident using local transport in Asia. From my experience as a travel consultant, India tends to be a ‘Marmite’ destination – travellers either love it or hate it. But having experienced India both on a shoestring and now on a luxury budget, I believe that some proper planning and for some people, an organised tour can definitely make for the most enjoyable experience.

How to arrive in Style

You can fly direct from London Heathrow to Delhi in 8hrs 30 minutes. I flew Business Class with Jet Airways and was very impressed with their service. You’ll have a fully flat bed, delicious freshly cooked food and a wide selection of cocktails in the Skybar.
As a Business Class consultant, I’m used to comparing a wide variety of Business Class cabins for my clients and I often find Jet Airways a more economical alternative to the more well-known carriers. In fact, they are one of the few cabins to offer a fully flat bed on all international Business Class flights.

The tour itinerary

The tour itinerary I followed was similar to the 9 Day Taj Showcase itinerary, but it ended in Jodphur rather than Udaipur.
We began our tour in New Delhi and after exploring the Red Fort and the site of Gandhi’s cremation we took rickshaws through the streets of Old Delhi to a fantastic local restaurant recommended by our guide.

We then left Delhi in a private mini bus bound for Agra. The journey is an experience in itself; seeing whole families travelling on the back of mopeds, what looks to be the entire contents of a corner shop on the front of a push bike and local buses with passengers hanging onto the side of them. You’ll certainly feel grateful for the comparatively luxurious mode of transport you’re in!
The tour arrived in Agra at lunchtime, so we spent the afternoon visiting Agra Fort before heading to the Taj Mahal just in time for Sunset.

From Agra, we continued to Jaipur (the Pink City), where we stayed 2 nights in the beautiful Rambagh Palace, before heading onto Jodphur (the Blue City), before returning to Delhi.

Luxury accommodation: Taj Hotels

On a tour like this, all transfers are included but even being collected from the airport in an air conditioned car, you’ll find it doesn’t take long for Delhi to take hold of you. You’ll be whisked though the noise of car horns, the sight of cows walking freely down the main roads and rickshaws buzzing past you, before arriving in New Delhi for the first of the incredibly luxurious hotels on this trip.
The Taj collection features some of the most impressive hotels in India and many properties are converted palaces. I challenge you to feel anything other than regal as you sip your gin and tonic in the gardens watching peacocks nonchalantly stroll across immaculately manicured lawns!

Learning from your guide

Other than budget, a key difference between independent backpacking and travelling with a tour is the valuable knowledge you gain from your guide. Their personal insight ensures you make sense of what you see each day, and I know I left with a far superior understanding of Ghandi, the Taj Mahal and what it’s like to live in one of the fastest growing countries on the planet than I ever would have gained from swatting up from my guidebook.
Despite being with a group, we had plenty of free time to shop in local markets and pick up some clothes and gifts. One tip - be prepared to haggle for bargains. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, your guide will always help you get a bargain!

My personal highlights of India from this trip

The Taj Mahal features on many a travel ‘bucket list’ and it certainly didn’t disappoint me. Travelling with a tour means you’ll have entry tickets pre-booked for you, which means you can skip the big queues.
I would always recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset so you can see the colour of the marble changing with the position of the sun (makes for some truly spectacular photos!). It’s also far more comfortable visiting in the early morning or evening so you can stroll around the grounds in the cooler parts of the day.

I also enjoyed riding elephants up to the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Climbing up the side of the mountain on an elephant adorned with a beautiful headdress and visiting the Jantar Mantar observatory were memorable moments for me. We ended the day at the Umaid Bhawan Palace where Liz Hurley got married!

Visa and vaccinations you’ll need

Unlike most countries in Asia, India requires you to organise a visa in advance. Tour operators will give you in-depth guides on how best to apply and we can help you arrange the visa via our partnership with The VisaMachine.
You will also need a number of different vaccinations when travelling to India so you should always check with your GP who can advise you which vaccinations are required before you travel.