Luxury Travel in the Philippines – Best Tips

The Philippines luxury travel offers a wide selection of extravagant accommodations. Whether you prefer a private island villa or an all-inclusive 5-star resort, you’ll find it in the Philippines. Renowned international brands already have a presence in the local travel sector, but boutique hotels are also an excellent accommodation choice. When it comes to luxury tours to the Philippines, the only tough decision you’ll have to make will be deciding which beautiful area to spend it in.

Luxury Travel: Packaged or Custom Tour? What To Choose?

Luxury travel to Philippines can be enjoyed through packaged or custom tours. Depending on the kind of experience you’re after, as well as how much you’re willing to spend even if you’re on a luxury trip, each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Packaged Tours

Packaged tours in the Philippines can be booked with travel agents and tour operators. There are several options for the type of packaged tours available, typically depending on the destination and availability or kind of attractions in the location.

• Pro: Fixed itinerary: You won’t need to think about anything else when booking a packaged tour with a fixed itinerary. It allows you to sit back and relax, while the tour operator takes care of everything for you.

• Con: No flexibility: Packaged tours don’t offer much flexibility in terms of the itinerary. These kinds of tours usually have set dates, since they are arranged in advanced. Travelers don’t get to enjoy the benefit of altering departure or return dates, or the ability to change the number or kind of attractions to see.

• Pro: Meeting new people: Travelers booking fixed tour packages during luxury trips to the Philippines can meet new people. This is great for solo travelers, or groups of friends looking to meet new people.

• Con: Spending time with travelers that you don’t like: Meeting new people during your travels may expose you to certain kinds of people that you may not get along with. Honeymooners or families who prefer to spend time in each other’s company may not find that meeting new people is a welcome idea.

• Pro: Lower price: Fixed packaged small group tours are usually more affordable than custom tours. Even luxury travelers who want to watch out for how much they spend and their daily budget may find that packaged tours are more practical as opposed to the option of doing a splurge on custom tours.

Custom Tours

Custom tours can be arranged beforehand with tour operators. These kinds of trips can be altered or adjusted based on the traveler’s preferences, as well as budget.

• Pro: Flexibility: Custom tours offer unique traveling experiences since it allows travelers to personalize a trip based on specific needs. Custom tours are designed based on what travelers want to enjoy on their holiday, and nothing else.

• Con: Higher cost: Traditionally, custom tours in the Philippines may end up costing more. This is because travelers pay a premium for planning the holiday that you want, privacy, and in some cases access to more exclusive services or amenities that are not typically available to fixed tours.

• Pro: Extra assistance: Travelers with special needs, such as those with disabilities, older relatives, or those bringing small children can enjoy the benefits of having special assistance. Even if you are staying at luxury beach resorts, this doesn’t guarantee that you will have extra assistance when going on a custom tour especially if you book with a travel agency and not the resort. For this reason, travelers who can request extra assistance from a travel agency or tour operator welcome this benefit.

• Pro: Intimacy: Going on custom tours ensures that you know who your fellow travelers are. Since these tours are private, the persons that join in on the tour are entirely up to you. There’s no need to worry about mingling with strangers if this isn’t your cup of tea.

• Con: Organize everything yourself: Custom tours are high on organization. You’ll need to invest serious time dealing with various locations in the Philippines to visit, transfers, plane times, and deciding on your itinerary. This may not be a good thing especially for busy travelers.

Top Itineraries

The Philippines offers a wide range of luxury travel destinations. Those looking for a high-end experience from start to finish will have many options to choose from – beautiful locations that offer all the trimmings of a luxury experience including spas, restaurants, and accommodations.

Boracay

No “top itineraries” list in the Philippines would be complete without including Boracay, especially if you’re looking for a luxury travel experience. The number 1 destination of the Philippines deserves its reputation – after all, few other places can hold a candle to the fine white sand, coconut tree-fringed coastlines, and clear blue waters of Boracay island. There are private villas, beachfront five-star resorts, excellent massages on the beach, and a wide range of restaurants and spas to choose from.

Palawan

The last frontier of the Philippines is a popular choice for luxury travelers looking for romance and luxury. A handful of Palawan resorts offer exquisite tropical but posh experiences atop overwater bungalows, a serene environment, and pristine islands dotted with magnificent karst limestone formations.

Manila

The Philippines’ capital is abundant with top end hotels as well as all-inclusive resorts. City lovers will appreciate the numerous options, and being one of the biggest cities in Asia, Manila is decked out with spa and restaurant options; in and out of the hotel.

Best Luxury Hotels In The Philippines

The Philippines is a hotel designer’s dream. The ability to carve out a luxurious experience in the big beautiful city of Manila, or the tropical beaches of Boracay and Palawan, have enabled hotels to create some of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful travel experiences. These hotels are worth mentioning for the unique luxury that they offer.

• 1. Discovery Shores (From PhP 12,300): Filipino hospitality at its finest is best experienced by a stay at Discovery Shores. Situated right in the legendary White Beach of Boracay, Discovery Shores offers privacy, accessibility, and numerous luxury services. It’s the hotel of choice for many celebrities or individuals who prefer to be away from the public eye, but its central location also offers access to the island’s top restaurants and bars within close reach. Discovery Shores is well known for spoiling their guests silly – find yourself at the beachfront area with sand on your sunglasses? Don’t be surprised if one of the friendly staff come up to you just to clean it – without you asking.
• 2. Shangri-La Boracay (From PhP 16,000): The world-famous five-star Shangri-La Hotel chain has a presence in Boracay, and boy is it lovely. The resort is carved out on a 350-meter cove for the ultimate in both privacy and luxury. The chain’s signature elegance merged with tropical Filipino touches and the use of indigenous materials makes for a unique luxury holiday in Boracay. Need a tennis court or gym to stay fit during your trip? Shangri-La can arrange that all for you.

• 3. El Nido Resorts Lagen Island (From PhP 29,000): El Nido Resorts has been the pioneer in creating luxury travel experiences in the area. Out of the handful of resorts they operate, Lagen offers a truly iconic El Nido experience. Built right out of a 4-hectare forest on the edge of limestone cliffs, and with the brand’s signature water bungalows, travelers who wish to enjoy nature, luxury, and serenity all in one should look no further than El Nido Lagen Island. Aside from extravagance, travelers love El Nido Lagen Resort because of the unique natural experiences it offers. (Hint: it’s not uncommon to find black tip sharks swimming underneath your bungalow!)
• 4. Amanpulo: A popular choice among wealthy jetsetters, it doesn’t get much better than Amanpulo in terms of luxury travel in the Philippines. Amanpulo is prized for the privacy it offers (oftentimes the resort of choice for international celebrities), and the iconic Aman brand of hospitality. The resort is situated in a 100% private island called Pamalican, merging nature and the ultimate in luxury. For travelers looking to interact with nature, Amanpulo’s famous turtle release should not be missed. Amanpulo’s exclusive villas and facilities have been written about many times over in internationally-renowned travel publications. Additionally, Pamalican island is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world: its bright white sand and distinct azure waters are postcard-perfect.
• 5. Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila (From PhP 8,000): For the ultimate in luxury city stays, Sofitel Philippine Plaza is top-notch. The all-inclusive resort is regarded as one of the best luxury hotels in the Philippines - a private haven, offering tranquility and serenity in the middle of Manila. Situated right by the famous Manila Bay, travelers will be spoiled with daily views of the sunset. Structural masterpieces designed by Filipino national artists peppered with touches of French art make a stay truly unforgettable, with all the best that Filipino hospitality can offer. There’s no need to leave the Sofitel if you need anything: the resort’s buffet restaurant is among the city’s best (a room devoted entirely to cheese? Yes please!), and lounging by the pool is an experience you shouldn’t miss.

The Philippines Luxury Travel Cost

When it comes to deciding how much to budget for your luxury trip to the Philippines, it’s safe to say that PhP 3,000 daily will suffice. Hotel food can set you back around PhP 1,500 a day, possibly more if you intend to avail of the buffet over ala carte. Cocktail drinks are PhP 500 on average. You’ll also want to avail of the occasional hotel service. For example, in-room massages cost around PhP 1,000 for a standard massage.

Depending on the destination, you may also want to factor the cost of visiting the nearby resorts and bars. In Manila, for example, the gastronomic and nightlife scene is well-known and guests traveling to luxury hotels in the city often wander to nearby establishments. Boracay also has several establishments outside of hotels that are worthy of visiting. Palawan’s high-end resorts are more contained and isolated due to the secluded nature of the location – leaving you to spend most of your time and money within the resort itself. If you intend to dine outside the hotel, adding PhP 2,000 to your daily budget is good enough.

Conclusion

Luxury travel in the Philippines is among the best that Southeast Asia has to offer. Experiences can be customized based on your needs and budget, so it can be as affordable or expensive as you’d like. For travelers for whom money is no object, the Philippines will spoil you completely. However, if you’re after a high-end experience but still want to stay within budget, the Philippines can offer that as well. Rest assured that no matter what you choose, a luxury trip to the Philippines will be completely unforgettable.