El Nido
Top: We stayed at Charlie’s El Nido (https://www.charlieselnido.com/) and would definitely recommend it. It is a bit outside of town, but we took trikes everywhere which were super easy and affordable - about 150 Philippine Pesos (PHP) to Lio Beach and around 300 PHP into El Nido town. It made getting around really simple... Also, you'll want PHP for scooters, some restaurants, etc. cash is king in so many spots, and always just a safe bet. Probably best to take out cash beforehand as some of these remote islands have ATMs... but often are out of money. Also, USD is accepted for tips at many places! on another pre-travel note: make sure to download, and sign up for the eTravel System (https://etravel.gov.ph/). All travelers entering the country must register for free within 72 hours of arrival. It replaces paper arrival cards and provides a QR code for quick scanning at the airport.
In terms of food and drink, Piece of Sky (https://hhotelelnido.com/pieceofsky/)
was a great spot for a cocktail with a view, and Big Bad Thai (https://www.bigbadthai.com/) was
consistently good and fast. Lio Beach became our go-to for walking and people
watching, with a bit more space and some cute spots to pop into. Om Nom Nom (http://instagram.com/omnomnom.elnido/)
had the best iced coffees, breakfast bowls, and wraps - just a fun place to
wander and hang.
We also did a hike up to Mt. Mansilawit, which was awesome.
Lucy was our guide and she was so lovely and knowledgeable - super informative,
made the whole experience feel easy, and took great photos. All in, it was
about 1 to 1.5 hours with time to relax at the top. Really fun and worth doing.
Notes - We did get a bit sick at one point, but that could have been from not being as careful with water as we should have been. Definitely take probiotics before your trip. We ended up grabbing Erceflora while we were there and took it throughout the rest of the trip (https://www.mims.com/philippines/drug/info/erceflora-gut-defense?type=full-), which helped and we were totally fine after.
Coron
Top: We took the ferry thinking it would be
similar to BC Ferries… it was not. What was supposed to be a 4-hour ride turned
into closer to 6 hours and was a bit of a logistical adventure, so I would
recommend just flying if you can.
We stayed at Zuri Resort Coron (https://zuriresortcoron.com/) and it
was awesome - a bit more resort-style, but really pretty, clean, and had
amazing views.
We did one of the island hopping tours (the “Super Ultimate”
one or something along those lines), and they all seem fairly similar, but it
was great - lunch included and you hit all the key spots. I would recommend
water shoes or something secure that will not slide off - there is quite a bit
of walking on rocks and some sharp coral, so it just makes things easier. Every
vendor sells them cheap and they are easy to pack.
Also highly recommend a waterproof phone case. You are
constantly on and off the boat, and often swimming to different spots, so if
you want photos it is worth having your phone protected.
We also did the stairs up to the Coron sign, which was super
fun with a great view.
Food-wise, we really enjoyed Real Street and Salud by Get
Real (https://www.instagram.com/saludbygetreal/)
- great vibe. We also went to Hermanos Tapas and Wine Bar (https://hermanostapasandwinebar.shop/)
- not quite the same vibe as Salud, but the food was really good. Another
favourite was Arco Bar and Resto (https://www.facebook.com/arcobarandrestocoron/)
- super cool vibe and a great spot for pizza and pasta if you want a break from
Filipino food.
Iloilo (Sapao)
Top: We spent our time in Sapao visiting my
mom’s village and with family, so it is a bit harder to comment on in the same
way as the other spots, but it was really special to experience. It felt more
local and day-to-day rather than focused on tours.
We did enjoy some local restaurants, including LACARAN Thai
& Filipino Restaurant and JobiBoss Seafood and Grill, where we tried a
range of Filipino dishes like garlic rice, pandesal, chicken tocino,
longganisa, pancit canton, adobo, kare-kare, bicol express, chop suey, lechon,
and lumpia. It was really fun to try everything and get a feel for the local
food.
Ted’s Oldtimer Lapaz Batchoy (https://www.facebook.com/tedslapazbatchoy/)
was also so good - especially for batchoy, which is a must-try local dish.
Honestly, Ted’s was great for any meal, and we had some of the best lechon
there as well.
Another standout was Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafoods (https://www.facebook.com/tatoysiloilo/)
- a well-known local spot for classic Ilonggo dishes and seafood.
We also spent time exploring SM City Iloilo, the Smallville
District (lots of coffee shops and nice spots), and the Iloilo River Esplanade
- a long, clean waterfront walkway that is great for a stroll. Overall, we
really enjoyed the city and the mix of local and more modern areas.
Notes: A lot of dishes use shrimp paste (fermented),
which was not our favourite, but everything else was really enjoyable and it
was nice to experience the food in a more authentic setting.
Boracay
Top: We drove in, which was a long travel
day(s), but really pretty along the way. The overall vibe felt like a mix of Vegas
meets Mexico - lively, very built up, and full of shops and restaurants along
the beach.
There are three main zones, and we stayed in Zone 1 which is
a bit quieter, but everything is very walkable. We mostly got around by walking
the beach - typically taking an e-trike to dinner and then walking home (about
30 minutes), which was a really nice way to end the night. It felt very safe,
family-oriented, and easy to explore.
We also did a land tour where we rented a trike and had a
driver take us around to viewpoints and photo spots, which was a fun way to see
more of the island.
Food-wise, we liked Red Coconut Beach Hotel (https://www.facebook.com/redcoconutboracay/posts/gather-around-dig-in-and-enjoy-the-island-way-our-boodle-fight-isnt-just-a-meal-/1296556869185387/)
for dinner - it had a cool fire show and live music. It is a bit touristy, but
fun, and the food was good. They serve “boodle fights,” which is a traditional
Filipino style of dining where food is laid out on banana leaves and shared
family-style, typically eaten without utensils.
Gerry’s Grill (https://www.gerrysgrill.com/)
was G’s favourite Filipino spot - we had a table overlooking the beach. Saboria
Kitchen + Lounge (https://www.saboriakitchenlounge.com/)
was my favourite - we had a table right on the walkway, which was busy and fun,
especially for my parents.
Notes: More built-up, a little pricier, and tourist-forward compared to
other islands, but still really beautiful and a great mix of relaxing and
things to do.
Manila
Top: Everyone told us to skip Manila, but we
really wanted to see the capital, so we booked two nights and were honestly
really glad we did! We stayed at Conrad Manila (https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mnlmbci-conrad-manila/)
and had a great view over Manila Bay.
We arrived later and walked along the waterfront, which had
amusement rides - we went on the pirate ship and ferris wheel and had a blast.
We also checked out the SM Mall of Asia, then had dinner back at the hotel
which had a great atmosphere and beautiful views.
The next day we explored Intramuros and stopped at Los
Frailes Café (https://www.facebook.com/hungrybyaheros/posts/newest-cafe-in-intramuros-discover-the-charm-of-los-frailes-cafe-nestled-in-the-/1093305972159125/)
which had great coffee and sweets.
We also did a trike tour, which was a fun way to experience
the city. Traffic is wild, but part of the experience. The Grab app was also
great for getting around - easy and reliable as long as you give yourself time.
We visited the Ayala Museum (https://www.ayalamuseum.org/home),
which was really interesting. The highlight was a series of 60 detailed
dioramas that walk through over half a million years of Philippine history - a
really engaging way to understand the culture.
From there, we walked to Aya (https://www.hapagmnl.com/aya) for
dinner, which had a great view. The Adobo Pâté on brioche was a standout. We
also spent time walking through Makati and Rockwell - both very clean, modern,
and nice to explore.
Notes: The walking can feel a bit intense at times - you really have to pay attention with cars, bikes, trikes, and scooters all moving around you. That said, it may just feel that way if you are not used to that kind of city pace.
We also ended up walking through P. Burgos Street, which is apparently known as the red light district. We did not know that going in - it did not feel unsafe or sketchy, but it was definitely something we were surprised to come across. Overall, Manila surprised us in the best way and glad we decided to give it a go!
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