Idyllic white sand beaches, secluded, little-known surf towns, and pristine reefs are among the natural draws of the Philippines which is made up of over 7,000 tropical islands.
In addition to the more upscale choices cropping up in former backpacking enclaves like Boracay, there is a new generation of luxury hotels that have opened.
The new Dedon Island resort on Siargao, for example, is close to one of the world’s best surf breaks, Cloud 9. It has an outdoor cinema along with spa and paddle board classes. The private island resort of El Nido Pangalusian opened last April in the UNESCO biosphere of Palawan, right by some of the world’s most pristine diving spots. Although the Philippines has been subject to travel advisories in the past, they mostly focus on Mindanao in the south. ###