Synopses & Reviews
From beachcombing to historical sight-seeing to bargain-hunting, a complete resource for visiting the fascinating Philippines
-- 400,000 Americans travel to the Philippines each year (increasing 10 percent annually)
-- Includes hundreds of destinations, with reviews of more than 300 hotels and 400 restaurants
-- The authors have lived in the Philippines for more than 25 years
Travelers to the stunning Philippine islands will soon know the word mabuhay, meaning "welcome", since the Philippines warmly invites tourists to a wealth of vacation opportunities: pristine beaches, spectacular sunsets, breathtaking mountainside terraces, Spanish churches, a medieval walled city.
Sports enthusiasts can choose among a dazzling variety of activities: trekking in cloud-dense mountains; diving, snorkeling, and swimming along miles of shore; and horseback riding and hiking through tropical forests rarely seen by outsiders.
Those with a taste for city life will enjoy prowling about Manila, a capital rich in cultural offerings. They can explore nearby Intramuros, once the center of the Spanish empire in the Far East; cross Chinatown in a horse-drawn carriage, sampling local cuisine; or experience a fantastic light-and-sound show at Corregidor, the World War II island fortress of General MacArthur.
Written with a wide range of budgets in mind, Philippines Guide helps readers find accommodations from plush seaside resorts to smaller inns and guest houses. Shopping tips point to bargains on woven cloth, filigree, tribal brass artifacts, shells, and coconut products. Travel-planning chapters with health and medical information, and background on the history, current politics, and culture ofthis county of 7,000 islands complete this panoramic view.