Are you planning a honeymoon and wondering if the Philippines would be a good place for you? You've come to the right place. This article covers your question.
Yes, the Philippines are an excellent place for a honeymoon. Luxurious yet also affordable, the contry offers plenty of things to do to kick off your happily ever after in style: Magnificent beaches, unique landscapes and world-class ocean activities are waiting for you to experience. The resorts are known for their excellence in hospitality.
What are the best things to do on a honeymoon in the Philippines?
The Philippines offer you a wide array of activities. There's something to do here for everybody.
Swim with sharks, snorkel or scuba dive
Do you like ocean activities? Then the Philippines are certainly the place for you. There are a lot of really cool underwater activities possible here such as snorkelling and scuba-diving. You can even take it a step further and swim with the whale sharks. That's one of the best things I've ever done myself!
Snorkelling and scuba-diving
Some of the most beautiful reefs in the world can be found in the waters of the Philippines. It is unsurprising then, that the Philippines are renowned around the world for being one of the best places for snorkelling or scuba-diving. If you want to see you big fish or ocean mammals, the highlights are whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, dolphins, turtles and dugongs as well as an explosion of schooling fish.
Tropical oceans are known for their high biodiversity and the warm waters of the Philippines ensure that this place is a very special one indeed. The marine biodiversity here is off the charts.
Whale shark swim
In the Philippines, you can swim with whale sharks. This perfectly safe activity (whale sharks have no teeth and a whale shark has never attacked a human) is one of the best things I myself have done in my life and I can highly recommend it. It is as close to a religious experience as I've ever had. Whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the ocean and swimming with one of them in the deep blue is an experience that you will probably very much enjoy and most likely never forget.
The best time of the year to find whale sharks in the Philippines is between January and May and the best place to swim with these magnificent creatures is Donsol which is a small town in the south of the island of Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, 500 km from the capital of Manila. Other cities and towns also have whale shark encounters.
You can swim with one of those magnificent creatures all over the country, for example in:
- Donsol
- Cebu
- Oslob
- Sogod Bay on Leyte
Experience ocean life on land
Getting wet is not for everybody and if you want to experience ocean life without getting into the water, a visit to the Manila Ocean Park might be just right for you. This marine theme park in the city of Manila has both ray and shark encounters and aquarium tunnels where you can observe underwater life without getting wet yourself. Of course, visiting an aquarium is not really a substitute for submersing yourself into the deep blue if that is what you like to do but it is a great option for all of us who can't or don't want to for whatever reason.
Surfing
The Philippines have many great spots to pick up surfing and the arguably best area for that is cloud 9. Surfer today rates it as one of the best spots for surfing not just in the Philippines but in the entire world.
But no matter where you stay for your honeymoon in the Philippines, there's a very good chance that you have a great surf beach close by to your resort or hotel. So if you want to pick up surfing while you're there, punch in “surf beach” into Google Maps and hit those sweet waves.
Explore incredible landscapes
The Philippines are home to very diverse landscapes all of which are very unique and worthy of a visit. We've got amazingly beautiful volcanoes as well as picturesque geological formations rising out of the ocean in between exotic-looking teal waters. And then there are the chocolate Hills, a landscape unlike anything else found on planet Earth.
Incredible Beaches
A must-do couples activity whilst on honeymoon in the Philippines is to visit one of the truly amazing beaches.
The Philippines are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Nothing comes closer to a tropical paradise. So why not take the time with your newly wedded spouse to enjoy these amazing beaches and start your new life together calmly, relaxed and rested? You can even take it a step further and get a couples massage at the beach. Relaxation explosion!
The Volcanoes
The Philippines are home to 25 active volcanoes. There's probably one of them close enough to where you stay for a visit. It is hard to think of a country that is better suited for volcano exploration.
Since the volcanoes of the Philippines are active, it is a good idea to check the eruption status before going on a hike or climb. Active volcanoes that are erupting are dangerous. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology publishes volcano alert levels on their website.
The Mayon Volcano is probably the most iconic in the country. It features that stereotypical volcano shape but please keep in mind that this volcano is particularly active which might cause your visit to be impacted. Stay safe and check the eruption status before embarking on a hike.
Chocolate Hills
The chocolate hills are a very unique landscape that can only be found like this in the Philippines and nowhere else on earth. This geological formation in Bohol has thousands of small karst hills which are mostly covered in grass and emerge out of the forest. During the dry season, the grass is turning brown and that brown colour is what gave these hills their name. It is not known how many hills there are exactly, the estimate is between 1260 and 1776 hills that are just there waiting for you to visit them.
Rocky islands emerging out of emerald waters
There are a couple of rocky islands emerging out of the beautiful emerald waters off the Philippines. El Nido is one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world with the contrast between these towering monumental formations and the crystal clear teal water right next to it.
It can be a little challenging to get here, but having said that, the effort is well worth it. You will be rewarded with views that you're likely never to forget.
The best honeymoon hotels
The Philippines are home to some amazing hotels. There's something here for every budget from luxury to affordable. Whatever your budget may be, you will find the right place to stay if you decide to have your honeymoon in the Philippines. That is why we have compiled the best hotels for honeymoons here for every budget.
Luxury hotels
What are the best luxury hotels for your honeymoon in the Philippines?
Henann Resort Alona Beach
Henann Resort Alona Beach is a luxury hotel located in Bohol. The resort has a great mix of modern design and tropical feels. This place is luxury through and through with spacious rooms and suites with high attention to detail. Everything is sparkly clean and comfortable. The staff is well trained and looking after your every need very well. They go out of their way to make your stay as pleasant as comfortable.
What is especially great about this resort is the fact, that its location allows you to explore the Filipino life. Usually, resorts are gated and located in a way, where they are some distance from local villages. But not so here! Upon walking out of Henna Resort Alona Beach you are immediately in the middle of a local Filipino village and can explore for yourself how the locals do things every day.
The Lind Boracay
The Lind is a luxury resort in Boracay in a very good location with a secluded beach with white sand and Emerald waters. The Lind is known for excellent food and hospitality. The staff are very friendly and incredibly helpful.
The resort has an infinity pool and a great spot for couples’ massages. Can you think of a better thing to do during your honeymoon? There is also a romantic beachfront restaurant.
The Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
If you want to spend some time in Manila on your honeymoon, the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila is the best luxury option. Whether you need a night here between flying in and out of the country and your onward journey to a more remote location in the Philippines or whether you want to make this place your final destination. The hotel is well suited as a base of operation in Manila or for an overnight stay.
The middle-of-the-range hotels
There are plenty of very good quality hotels that do not charge an arm and a leg in the Philippines. The Abozza Resort in Boracay is an example of that. For as little as $40 a night you are within walking distance from one of the best beaches in the Philippines. And of course, this place is not the only one. There are many others like it and every location in the country has a comparable hotel available.
Affordable hotels
For as little as $10 tonight you can find a hotel in the Philippines which makes this place well-suited for a honeymoon even for those of us who need to look after our money. Expedia and booking dot com sometimes have further discounts for members and are good places to look for affordable hotels in your desired location.
Where should we go for honeymoon in the Philippines?
There are many great choices for your honeymoon in the Philippines. Burocay has amazing beaches and some very good resorts. Bohol has incredible landscapes and very good beaches too. The iconic Mayon volcano is located in the south of the main island close to Donsol, where you can embark on an unforgettable whale shark swim. So the answer to the question of where to stay in the Philippines largely depends on what you want to do. We recommend you choose the location of the resort based on the activities that you have in mind and your budget of course.
Is Manila a good place for a honeymoon?
We do think that Manila is a decent place for a honeymoon in the Philippines. But we also think that there are much better places in the country such as Burocay, Donsol and El Nido and because of that, we do not really recommend spending all of your honeymoon in Manila if you choose the Philippines.
Manila is where the international airport is and most travellers from abroad will make their way through Manila. So maybe you need to spend a night here before your connecting flight onward.
But if we compare Manila and the more remote resorts, then we must say that all of these are much better suited for your honeymoon.
What is the best time of the year to visit the Philippines?
The Philippines are a tropical country with a pronounced wet season. Forget Summer, Fall, Autumn and Spring. In the Philippines, there is only wet and dry season. The heaviest rainfall occurs in the months of July, August and September. The month of May, June and October also see increasing rain, with about three times as much precipitation as during the dry season. November and December see a significant drop in rainfalls and the lowest rain is observed in January, February, March and April. These four months are the driest of the dry season, which is considered to run between November and April.
In terms of temperature, there's not much of a difference between the months. During the dry season, the temperatures are the lowest with a daily average of 25°C. During the wet season, the daily average temperature is 28°.
.svg)
You can see, the best time of year to visit the Philippines is during the dry season which lasts from November to April. It is then that the remote areas are more easily accessible. The transition months from dry to wet season and vice versa in May and November can also be considered. The weather is okay then and there are not yet that many visitors in the country because it is not yet the main season and therefore less crowded. If you like it calmer, May and November are your best bets.
Safety: What areas of the Philippines should be avoided?
Are the Philippines safe or are there areas of the country that are unsafe and should thus be avoided by honeymooners? As of 2022, most of the Philippines are perfectly safe for honeymooners to travel to. That is especially true for the touristy areas where the resorts are located. That is not to say though that the entire country is perfectly safe. It isn't and it is important to know where not to go.
Do US State Department has a level 2 travel advisory out for the Philippines, advising increased caution and advices not to travel to The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea and Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism. They also urge to reconsider travel to other areas of Mindanao.
The UK government has a similar assessment for the situation in the Philippines and also advises against visiting the southernmost parts of the country. The Australian government agrees as well in their assessment of the situation.
You might want to know that all of our hotel recommendations from above are in areas that are considered the safest in the country by these three governments and their agencies. We have not recommended a Hotel in the troubled southern part of the country for safety reasons. Luckily, the best hotels can be found in the safe areas of the country.
How long does it take to get to the Philippines?
It's never been so easy to travel halfway across the world as it is these days. How long does it take to get to the Philippines for your honeymoon? The answer depends on where you start your journey.
- From the US
- Americans will travel somewhere between 13 and 30 hours to get to Manila. Direct flights are available from Los Angeles International Airport (13 hours), San Francisco (12 hours 25 minutes) and from JFK International in New York (15 hours 35 minutes). All other cities require at least one layover which adds to the transit time. From Chicago, the fastest available connection takes a little over 20 hours for example.
- From Europe
- For Europeans, it takes a similar amount of time to get to the Philippines. The quickest route between London and Manila is 17 hours and a bit. There are no direct flights available to Manila from anywhere in Europe. The fastest option is usually to go through a hub in the Middle East such as Dubai (Emirates) or Abu Dhabi (Etihad) or through Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).
- From Canada
- Canadians spent a similar time in transit as Americans do. From Toronto, a direct flight to Manila takes almost 17 hours and from Vancouver, we are looking at a little over 11 and a half hours. Layovers can add significantly to your travel time.
- From Australia
- Australians face the shortest transit times to the Philippines because their country is located much closer to the Philippines. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have direct flights to Manila which take about eight hours. From Adelaide and Perth flights to Manila are available with a single layer over. These flights take about 11 hours give or take.
- From New Zealand
- From Auckland, New Zealand it takes a flight with one layover to get to Manila which can be had for his little ass 14 hours.
- From India
- Indians have a somewhat reasonable travel time as well. The flight from Mumbai to Manila takes a little over 10 hours and the flight from New Delhi a little less than 10 hours. As of the writing of this article, there are no direct flights available between India and the Philippines.
How long should I stay in the Philippines for my honeymoon?
So what is a good time to spend in the Philippines for your honeymoon? Considering how long it takes to get here and how jet-lagged you very likely would be, when you arrive and also considering how much there is to do in the Philippines, we think that two weeks should be the bare minimum length of stay here.
Longer is always possible of course and also preferable for most people in our estimation. So ask yourself: How much time do I have? Can I take two weeks of vacation or more? If you answer “yes” to that question, then a honeymoon in the Philippines is a viable option for you.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Philippines are an excellent place for your honeymoon. Just make sure to book a hotel in the safe areas of the country. It is best to avoid the southernmost Island.
The Philippines have some amazing resorts to choose from for your honeymoon. There is something here for almost every budget. The country is a fair distance away from most places and travel time to the Philippines is substantial, which is why we suggest that your minimum stay here should be no less than two weeks and preferably even longer.