Korean Job Discussion Forums

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

I find that Thailand is a lot easier to get around than the Philippines, simply by virtue of the fact that you can do mostly land transport once you're there. In the Philippines you're often looking at a plane or long ferry/bus rides.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

harshlands101 · Joined: 19 Oct 2010

i would rate the philippines over thailand by a million miles everytime.

reasons?

Thailand is sure great for food, the beaches are good, pretty spectacular in some cases. But meh, it's for the masses. convienient to get around? if you like being taken for a ride every time you want to go somewhere. the tourist industry is so sewn up and dodgy it's unreal. After spending some 3 months there i was thoroughly naffed off by the whole attitude toward foreigners. its like we are expected to just hand over cash without complaint or question. its a sanitised pretend travel destination. good for what it does and not much else.

PI is not perfect by any means, in 3 months i was robbed (just the once), spent hours in over crowed buses, ate some pretty bad food, slept on some rust bucket boats, fought with taxi drivers and got lost in manilla inumerable times.

manilla is sure stinky and dirty, but hell how can people say avoid it!? jumping on a jeepney into god knows where for fun, hitting the hobbit house for imported beer and music, drinking san mig for tuppence and being accosted by trannies. the place has a beat all of its own and is worth spending time appreciating it. you don't have to visit world beating museums and art galleries just to make going to a city worthwhile!

the countryside, luzon for example is filled with stuff hanging coffins and massive cave systems. go scuba diving (ok its not that well regulated...) off palawan, wreck dive in coron. You want seclusion? then you've just found it. sure it takes an age to get to places, but that is part of the whole point of travelling. boracay is cool, i spent 2 weeks over 08 new year and don't remember much about anything, awesome fun, but just getting there from manilla was an adventure of cops, boats and beer!

ride on top of a jeepney, score some dope in banaue, meet the people they are so laid back and friendly. i could go on for hours, pretty sure you are all bored of me now anyways!

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

I like the Philippines but I don't like long boat or bus rides to get to my destination. When I was in Puerto Princesa, I stayed in the city most of the time and just went to Snake and Pandan islands for one day. I passed on the long and dusty bus ride to El Nido but still, there is much to discover in the Phils.

Thailand has its charms like the food, beaches, Buddhism and other things, but I find Filipinos more friendly and genuine than Thais.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

I originally thought Philippines and Thailand were about equal on development and wealth, but after visiting both I realized Thailand is miles ahead.

I would have to say Thailand is better from a more objective point of view, but I still prefer Philippines. Maybe I am just rooting for the underdog a little bit.

I liked people from both countries. Thailand has them beaten for food. I mostly ate bastardized western food in Philippines. Some of it good, some not. Thailand has way better infrastructure. Thailand is safer. But like another poster said, Thailand has ripping off tourists down to an art.

Thailand seemed so far away when I lived in Canada, but now living here, visiting Thailand seems kind of cliche. Who hasn't visited Thailand?

travel zen · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Location: Good old Toronto, Canada

Taiwantroll · Joined: 10 Sep 2006

I would need to know what you are looking for.

Boracay is nice but expensive and overcrowded. Do you like the party scene? If so, then perhaps Bohol is a good alternative. I don't like Bohol though. I find it far more overcrowded than even Boracay. And the beach is so far from anything else; the city, tourist attractions on the mainland, etc. I think you should look at Puerto Galera. It is beautiful and very friendly and relaxing. It is accessible from Manila so you would not have to travel by air.

If you are looking for something more relaxing get away from the crowds. Go to Dumaguete and Siquijor. Very inexpensive and scenic.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

What time of year did you visit Bohol? I am surprised that anyone would explain it as overcrowded.

Taiwantroll · Joined: 10 Sep 2006

I should explain. It was not the people that made it overcrowded it was the amount of hotels, restaurants, and other businesses on the beach in Panglao. The stretch of actual beach is very small and there was no thought put into the construction of the tourist area making it very crowded, difficult to get around and altogether unattractive as a tourist resort.

If you insist on going I would recommend staying at a private beach, ironically next to the public beach where the locals frequent, at a resort called the Dumaluan Beach Resort. Many tourists have no idea it is there since it is a hike from Panglao. Or Bohol Tropics Resort is in Bohol itself and not on the island and it is fantastic. It has two pools and it is very romantic, but it has no beach to speak of.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

Alona is not an overly large beach, that's for sure. More businesses are building off the main drag but some stubborn people want to be right on the beach.

At least for me, the attraction of a country like Philippines is the cheap price. We could stay at Bohol Beach Resort or a place like that but I don't want to pay 1st world prices in a 3rd world country.

We are staying just off the beach (200 m off) and one night at Bohol Tropics. It looks super nice but it's too far from the beach to keep commuting.