Philippines forum

Cost Phillipinnes vs Thailand

mikethediver

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 192
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Hi all,
Can anyone give me a rough guide to accommodation prices in Philipinnes against what I pay else where in Asia? In Thailand I normally pay around 300 B and in Cambodia $5 a night for fan room. Am I likely to find similar priced rooms?

Planning to go to Angles, Purto Gallero, Borcay, & Cebu.
Any other advice is welcomed!
Cheers,
Mike

#1 Posted: 28/2/2011 - 01:34

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goonistik

adventurer
Posts: 326

The cost of accommodation in the Philippines tends to be more expensive. The problem is that not that many backpackers go here so the market hasn't responded to the demand for affordable accommodation.

You can expect to pay anywhere from 500 pesos to 900 pesos for a room. The more highly touristed spots like Cebu City, Manila, and Banaue have backpacker type accommodations that cost from about 250-350 pesos.

I would skip Boracay, unless you are looking for a party place. 20-30 years ago it was a great place but has since lost its idyllic charm.

Puerto Galera is nice and a popular destination for people from Metro-Manila because of its proximity.

Angeles City is a food destination and the jumping off point for Pinatubo treks. I don't know if the Holy Angels University still has a boat tour of the Pampanga river delta (best if you are a birder).

What kind of destination are you looking for? And when do you plan to go to the Philippines?

#2 Posted: 28/2/2011 - 10:33
mikethediver

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 192
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Hi Goonistik,
Thanks for the reply.
What kind of destination am I looking for? Good question!!
Typically, my girlfriend & I spend 5-6 months each year in Asia.
We used to spend most of our time in Thailand but the rise in the Baht changed that.
For the past few years we've used Cambodia as a base.
Our intention is to check out Phiilppines to see if it could provide a long term base.
We planned a short vist this year (21 days of the visa) but the late Easter (when I told don't even think about traveling then!) means we are trying to get there before the weather changes. If we go it will be early May.
We don't want party places but we don't want tumbleweed blowing down the main street either!

#3 Posted: 1/3/2011 - 04:03

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goonistik

adventurer
Posts: 326

Yeah...Holy Week is not the time to travel around the Philippines. Everybody goes out of Manila, room prices go up, traffic going out of Manila is horrid. My family and I actually like staying at home since Manila becomes really quiet and peaceful and there is no traffic.

The more developed destinations would be Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Bohol. Camarines Sur is being promoted heavily by their Governor. Palawan has its attractions.

Than there are the other places like Siquijor, Quezon, Romblon, Samar, Bukidnon, Pagudpud.

#4 Posted: 1/3/2011 - 09:37
fi0na

longtail driver
Posts: 5

Hi! I also suggest Palawan -- Coron, Puerto Princesa and El Nido. There are really cheap rooms there. If you love beaches, Palawan is the best place in the Philippines, IMHO.

#5 Posted: 5/4/2011 - 00:08
KevandJho

tout
Posts: 65

I second the idea of Palawan 100%.

It's the best place I've ever been to in the Phils.

And if you are a diver/snorkeler......

Coron has fantastic diving of coral caked sunken Japanese warships and and 6-8 hour boat ride to El Nido brings you to the most fantastic white sand beaches with swawing palm trees and beautuful lagoons for unbelievable snorkeling...coral coral coral and fish everywhere pure beauty that I'v never seen anywhere else.

Palawan is one of the last un commercialized islands left on the Philippines.

Happy travels.

#6 Posted: 16/9/2011 - 19:20
sirhalberd

adventurer
Posts: 264

I agree that the hotels are more expensive in the Philippines. Even when you have a hotel in Thailand and in the P.I. that are the same price the hotel in the Philippines will be a crappier for the same money. I find the beer cheaper in the Philippines, bars have frequent "happy hours" if that is a consolation.

#7 Posted: 30/9/2011 - 02:30
JohnnieWalk-
er

backpacker
Posts: 19

Agree with others that the cost of comparable accommodation is considerably more in the Philippines. However on the + side English is much more widely spoken and unlike Thailand foreigners are treated with respect.

#8 Posted: 20/12/2011 - 16:08
KatMachine

motodop
Posts: 26

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I would suggest visiting Dumaguete City near the Cebu Island. It could be used as base for going to different islands, food is relatively cheap because it's a university town and you can have a monthly rate in some hotels for roughly 500$. It's a safe and laid back town.

#9 Posted: 9/1/2012 - 03:35
jefrigerator

newbie
Posts: 4
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Posted from within Vietnam.

Hello Mikethediver,

I would like to suggest Puerto Galera. I've been there and I can say it is one of the best place to snorkel. You can go Island hopping too on various Puerto Galera territories.
However, on my list of "never been to that place that I want to check in the near future" is the Puerto Princesa Underground River which is now one of the 7 Wonders of the Nature http://nature.new7wonders.com/archives/wonder/puerto-princesa-underground-river

#10 Posted: 9/1/2012 - 10:41

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millionario

motodop
Posts: 24

You can travel in Philippines on a budget, don't expect the same level of comfort than Vietnam or Thailand for example. I would suggest "out of the beaten track" places which are often less expensive. Ex: Romblon province, Negros, south of Cebu, Catanduanes, Samar...

#11 Posted: 12/1/2012 - 02:54
Nomadcitizen

newbie
Posts: 1

I agree about Puerto galera being a good place to go, not too far from Manila, good place to dive or just spend time on the beach, good resto and decent level of accomodation. On your way to Puerto galera, you can make a stop at Tagaytay to see the volcano.

You can go to the North of Luzon in the Cordilleras, you have places like Banaue, Sagada that are really mindblowing (you just need to plan in advance and consider the time travel).

Mount Pulag in the Cordileras is a good place to hike (second highest mountain in The Philippines).

I found One Hundreds island good (not too far of Baggio), you can enjoy a day trip and swim in this natural park (I was afraid it will be too touristic but it was fine actually, not crowded at all ...).

#12 Posted: 18/1/2012 - 05:20
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

Friend of mine told me Makati City in metro Manila is suppose to have a pretty good dance scene in the PI.

#13 Posted: 18/1/2012 - 05:45

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shambles

longtail driver
Posts: 7

Slighty of topic, Madmac are you like a real life version of the granddad from modern family?

#14 Posted: 18/1/2012 - 21:11
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

I've never seen "Modern Family" so I don't know. I don't watch much TV.

#15 Posted: 18/1/2012 - 21:39

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