One Month Family Trip to the Philippines
(Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links, with no price difference or impact to you. Thank you for your support. Read our disclosure policy here.)
We spent one month in the Philippines as part of our two months of travel to Vietnam and the Philippines from Dec. 11, 2023 - Feb. 12, 2024.
This is a glimpse of our travel in the Philippines along with tips for lodging, food, attractions, etc.
General Tips
Apps to Download
- Grab. It's the ride share app for Vietnam. Rates are inexpensive and very easy to use.
- Currency Converter
-
Google Translate - English is widely spoken so you may not need this.
Money Saving Tips
- Charles Schwab has a debit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees. There is no fee to convert US dollars to local currency when making purchases or withdrawing cash abroad. We used this card strictly at ATMS and it worked great. The ATM fees are charged and they get refunded back to your account.
- Rakuten offers cash back on a ton of sites, including many travel sites. I have earned quite a bit of cash back since I've been using it the last few years.
- We used Chase travel points for booking some of our lodging and airfare. The Chase Sapphire credit card has great bonuses.
- Trusted House Sitters - If you need a house-sitter while you are away to watch your pets and home. We have used them several times for up to 2 months at a time and had great experiences. The annual membership fee is less than $300, which is amazing compared to the cost of pet sitting. Highly recommended. Get 25% off with my referral link.
Recommended Travel Items
- Laundry Sheets
- Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
- Four wheel carry-on luggage
- Compact travel backpack
- Activated Charcoal Pills
- Electrolyte Fastchews
- Dramamine - Non-Drowsy
- Inflatable travel pillow
- Compression bags
- Portable fan
- Mini travel umbrella
- Bug repellent lotion
- Bug repellent clothing
- Sun hats
- Sun Block
- Travel beach mat
- Quick Dry Travel towels
-
Closed toe hiking sandals
- Steri-pen UV
- Waterproof bag & phone case
- GoPro
- Wet bag
-
Allianz Travel Insurance - I am a travel agent and happy to help you with a quote. Reach out to me through this contact us form.
Cebu
Accommodations:
- Best accommodations ever! Our gracious friends hosted us at their home.
Our adventures included:
- Beautiful drives up the mountain and dining at restaurants with sweeping views of Cebu.
- Seeing the site of Ferdinand Megellan’s cross. A Christian relic of Spanish explorers from the 16th century.
- Walking through the historic Church Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the holy child.
- Learned about the culture, history, wildlife, and artifacts at the National Museum of Natural History.
- Going to Mactan Island and visiting the Lapu-Lapu shrine.
- Experiencing some Sinulog festivities.
- Seeing just a fraction of the mega malls.
- Having the best dim sum I’ve had in a long time. Tim Ho Wan was our favorite.
- Getting an affordable eye exam and new eye glasses at a local mall.
- Having the best tacos from TacoDon.
- Eating Lechon, longgonisa, adobo, pancit, pinakbit, arroz caldo, garlic rice, and so much more.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bohol
What an amazing few days in Bohol, Philippines!
Accommodations:
- Alona Hidden Dream Resort - Accommodations were not great but it as in walking distance to restaurants and the beach.
Our adventures included:
- From Cebu to Bohol, we took a water ferry. Upon arriving, we used this tour company (Alcala Transport - Aira Jane Racho) to take us on a countryside tour: The blood compact, Baclayon Church (be sure to wear long sleeves/pants), Mahogany forest, Chocolate Hills, and see Tarsiers.
- The Blood Compact shrine, the first treaty of friendship and alliance between the Spaniards and the Filipinos.
- Baclayon Church, one of the oldest churches, built in the 1590's.
- Manmade mahogany forest
- Chocolate Hills - geological formation of at least 1,260 hills. Covered in green grass that turn brown during the dry season, hence the name.
- Bohol Enchanted - Got up close and personal with tarsiers, one of the world's oldest and smallest primate, believed to belong to the family of primates called Tarsiidae that existed over 45 million years ago.
- Rode in our first tuk tuk, on a scenic ride to Bohol bee farm, had a delicious fresh breakfast, saw rafia products and coconut ice cream being made.
- Hinagdanan Cave, full of stalactite and stalagmites with a lagoon inside.
- Beach time at Alona Beach.
- A beautiful dinner right on the beach
- A variety of deserts, including Halo halo.
- Getting serenaded by local kids on the beach.
What a fun time in Bohol. Next stop, Moalboal.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Moalboal
Our friends took us on a memorable trip from Cebu center to Moalboal.
Accommodations:
- Crazy Bears Hostel - Adequate accommodations. Walking distance to restaurants and beach.
Our Adventures Included:
- Taking a scenic road trip to Osmena Peak
- Climbing up to the top Osmena Peak
- A quick visit to Simala Pilgrim Village - Mama Mary Sancutuary
- Snorkeling among sea turtles and sardines
 |
 |
 |
 |
Boracay
I’ve been to my share of beautiful beaches in Hawaii, San Diego, Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, and they don’t compare to the beaches in Boracay, Philippines. They are known as some of the world’s best beaches for their pristine white sand, crystal clear/calm waters, unreal sunsets and surrounding tropical trees.
For four days, I soaked in the buttery soft sand and swam with the fish in the crystal clear waters. Loved every minute.
Accommodations:
- Blue Suites - Accommodations where adequate. Walking distance to D'Mall with shopping, restaurants, and beach.
Our adventures included:
- Taking a flight on Cebu Pacific, boat and car from Cebu to Boracay.
- Rang in 2024 on the beach with an amazing fireworks show.
- Swam with loads of small fish, including a puffer and sea urchin.
- Paddled out in clear kayaks
- Played on paddle boards
- Rode scooters up the mountain and around town.
- Got hour long massages for $10
- Watched a fire dancing show.
- Ate delicious Filipino, international cuisine, and bomb desserts, many with gorgeous views of the beach.
- Sipped fresh coconut on the beach.
- We especially enjoyed food from Mango Mama, and Island Chicken Inasal
It was an incredible time, largely due to our amazing local friends, for being the best hosts and tour guides. Looking forward to more adventures in this beautiful country!
 |
 |
 |
 |
Coron, Palawn Island
Epic memories in Basuanga Island, Coron town.
Accommodations:
- Coron Bancuang Mansion - Includes a pool and restaurant with good food. We enjoyed our stay here.
Our adventures included:
- We arranged tours A & B to take us swimming and snorkeling around the island.
- Riding in Bangka boats on crystal clear island waters and seeing gorgeous limestone mountains along the way.
- Snorkeling at Quin reef and Coral garden with needle fish, parrot fish, tangs, damsels, etc. and colorful coral.
- Visit to CYC and Atwayan beaches.
- Delicious Filipino lunches in an over the water bungalow
- Swimming in Crystal clear Kayangan lake
- Experienced Twin Lagoon - swam from one lagoon, through a tunnel to second lagoon.
- Bungalow lunch at Malwawey beach
- Snorkeled around a Ship wreck - Chris and Zander saw school of squid
- Swam at Barracuda Lake.
- Had a fun, bumpy/off road tricycle ride.
- Rented a private boat for snorkeling at Siete Pescado. Saw tons of fish including a large school of barracuda, harlyquin tusk, bat fish, parrot fish, small and large maroon clown fish, and triggers.
- Tried some great local foods like: Nandi goreng, chicken inasal, bangus, longenesa, tortang talong, mango graham smoothie
The people, culture, and natural wonders of this island were amazing. Next stop, Manila, Philippines!
 |
 |
 |
 |
Manila
What a great time exploring Manila, Philippines! 
Accommodations:
-
Air BnB in Bagong Ilog, Pasig City - Great accommodations.
Our adventures included:
- Meeting and having dinner with Chris’ sweet family and hearing stories from his ancestors.
- Visiting various shopping malls, which were impressive and massive. We never made it through any single mall in its entirety.
- Enjoying girl time and getting pampered with mani-pedi’s.
- Learning about the history of the Philippines at Intramuros, home to old-world Spanish-era landmarks, such as Fort Santiago and the Jose Rizal museum.
- Experienced hydrotherapy at Ace Water Spa, which included various jet pools, hot/cold tubs, saunas, and lazy river.
- Learned about the natural beauties of the Philippines at the National Museum of Natural History.
- Shopped at Greenhills Shopping Center, home to many, many stalls full of clothing, bags, shoes, electronics, souvenirs, any pretty much anything you can think of.
- And of course, eating delicious traditional Filipino food, especially the homemeals from our friends and ube pandesal they ordered for us.
This trip to Manila was extra special because it was spent with friends and family. It was hard to say goodbye after weeks of traveling together throughout the Philippines. We miss them terribly. One thing we do not miss is the crazy amount of traffic. That wraps up our time in the beautiful Philippines!
 |
 |
 |
 |
That completes our whirlwind two months of travel in Vietnam and the Philippines! Read about our month of travel in Vietnam.
There were…
moments that were tough
moments of pure bliss
moments of awe
moments of fear (of crossing the streets in Vietnam)
moments of utter chaos
moments of belly aching (from a bug or a laugh)
moments of discomfort (from bed bugs and mosquito bites)
moments of homesickness
moments of magic and wonder
I am so grateful we had this opportunity to explore and create lasting memories with my family. What an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. 
