Korean Job Discussion Forums

[endo]

Hi,

In late July i'm planning on going on vacation for 5 days with my grlfriend to either of these two places.

Just curious for those who have been to either (or both!) on your perceptions of each?

It willl be my girls first time out of Korea and I want give her some great memories.

Thanks in advance.

[Harpeau]

If she's Korean, well 40% of Boracay is Korean. Nice beach and a great place to learn to scuba and relax. Dunno about Phi Phi.

[Tiger Beer]

Never been to Phi Phi.. but is Boracay 40% Korean? It looked more like 4% to me..

I've heard many teachers in Korea say its 'mostly' Korean.. even well before having ever been there. But I just didn't see it.

Looked predominately Austrian, Swedish, German, and Australian to me (as most Philippine beaches looked).. with a tad bit of Japanese and Korean running around - particularly in the one Korean restaurant that I know in Boracay - but I seldom saw any Koreans anywhere outside of that.

Maybe others can post their opinion of it.. maybe I went at the 'wrong' or 'right' time?

[endo]

I'm excited to see my girlfriend in a bikini so i'm not sure if I want throngs of Koreans giving her the evil eye - lol

But i've heard so many wonderful things about the Philippines. My only real concern is dealing with the hassle at the airport in Mailla (i.e. taxi drivers) when I move from the international to domestic terminal.

[Tiger Beer]

[endo]

I've said it before Tiger Beer, your my travel idol!

Thanks man.

[Free World]

Never been to Boracay but we had an amazing time on Phi Phi. Great beaches, friendly people, good night life.

[indytrucks]

Skip Boracay. Go to Palawan. You won't regret it.

[seoulsucker]

It depends on the girl. If she's a bit adventurous, Thailand would probably be a better destination. If she's a K-princess, then Boracay is the best bet.

[ttompatz]

[baldrick]

Also been to both - for me there is no comparison - phi phi by a MILE. If you go to the Phillipines, go to Palawan. there are plenty of other places to stay on phi phi if you don't like the crowds, try LONG BEACH or even quieter RANTEE BAY....the scenery on phi phi is incredible, the snorkelling and diving ain't bad either.

[Tiger Beer]

I'm not so sure about Palawan. Its a great place - no doubt about it.

But El Nido just doesn't compare to Boracay for being 'with the girlfriend'. Boracay has live music everywhere, gorgeous white sand beaches, lots of places to walk around, multiple choice of restaurants, amazing swimming and water activities from just outside your hotel room, and just enjoying your time together in general, etc.

Palawan is more isolated.. El Nido is the big attraction in Palawan and fairly small.. its not that great of a town itself - it just access to a number of gorgeous isolated beaches where boats can drop you off during the day - whether there will be others there too may or may not happen as well. Once you are back in El Nido though.. it kind of closes up early.. the electricity goes off around 11pm or so.. the beach is extremely small and not all that great.. the town is next to a cliff which is cool. But the destination places are boat-rides away.. and they are just isolated beaches (or diving if you are into that).

I think it really depends on what you want.. but having been with my girlfriend in both Boracay and on Palawan.. she'd return with me to Boracay in a heartbeat.. she'd bypass Palawan. Personally I liked both. Maybe it depends on what you and your girlfriend want. If you want to really get away from it all, no interest in nighttime activities, and isolated beaches, then Palawan.. if want all the beaches and all the daytime and nighttime activities of a beach.. then Boracay.

[TECO]

My girlfriend and I enjoyed both Palawan and Boracay.

The natural beauty of the islands surrounding El Nido is unmatched anywhere I've been for Asian beach destination vacations (Thailand, Malaysia).

I also think Borcay has more to offer in the way of food and bar choices. El Nido just didn't have that much to offer - a couple of bars and nothing really in the way of restaurants that we thought were any good.

Philippines - food not good.
Thailand - food great!

Also, Thailand is a very easy, convenient country to get around and to get to.

Thailand is also safer.

Ko Phi Phi is a small island but it is under so much environmental pressure that I don't like to visit anymore. I've been there 3 or 4 times over the last 8 years. I enjoyed the first 2 times. But it's small. There are too many businesses and too much garbage. Imagine an Indian reserve in Canada built on a small tropical island - you get the point? Dilapidated, run down and overcrowded. Bad smells, garbage in the inner part of the island where the small village is located. Not my scene anymore.

I don't like Ko Tao for the same reasons as I don't enjoy Ko Phi Phi anymore.

Borcay is also at a disadvantage because there is very little to do and very few places to go and explore, which is exactly why I enjoy travelling around Phuket.

I'm pretty much good for only 2 days on islands like Ko Tao, Ko Phi Phi or Borcay. They are much too small for me.

Overall, Thailand is pretty hard to beat for convenience, safety, beauty and food/bar choices.

On the other hand, Borcay and El Nido are very beautiful but isolated and not as easy to get to.

The best place I've been for snorkelling is Ko Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, in Thailand but they are a b itch to get to.

[endo]

Thanks for all the responses everybody.

Just a few quick questions;

Will my Korean girlfriend be given (or have to purchase) a visa upon arrival at the airport in Manila?

For those who flew to the Philippines, what was the cheapest airline?

How much of a hassle will it be (i.e. taxi drivers) switching from the international to the domestic arport in Manla?


Thanks

[Tiger Beer]