Palawan makes Lonely Planet’s top-10 list of places to visit in Asia-Pacific in 2019

MANILA—Palawan has made Lonely Planet's list of best places to visit in Asia-Pacific this year. 

Dramatic seascapes, wildlife-laden jungles, and El Nido's skyscraping rock formations were cited as the main reasons the island was chosen among the top spots in the region in the guidebook publisher's list.

Lonely Planet wrote about the country's last frontier, saying: "Palawan has ridden a slew of media accolades to the cusp of international superstardom. Fortunately, it’s not there yet." 

"These are the heady days when new air routes and upgraded roads make it easier than ever to explore the dramatic seascapes and wildlife-laden jungles of the slender 400 km-long main island (also called Palawan) before it inevitably becomes more developed.

"The crown jewel is El Nido, where skyscraping karst formations rise out of blue water in Bacuit Bay. 

"New rules restrict visitor numbers at signature sights like Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island, while a ban on single-use plastic bottles on tour boats is helping to tackle marine pollution." 

Palawan placed No. 8 on the list, just above Cambodia and Shanghai and behind Fiji. 

Taking the top spot is Australia's Margaret River. 

Japan's Shikoku island and New Zealand's Bay of Islands placed second and third, respectively. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Lonely Planet's best travel destinations for 2016

Travel giant Lonely Planet has released its "Best in Travel 2016" lists, highlighting the places leisure travelers should visit.

Topping the must-visit country list is Botswana, which the lonely planet calls "wild Africa at its best".

Those who are into diving should book a flight to Palau, a Pacific island nation dubbed as "the underwater Serengeti".

Top 10 Countries for 2016
1. Botswana
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Palau
5. Latvia
6. Australia
7. Poland
8. Uruguay
9. Greenland
10. Fiji

Lonely Planet also suggested traveling to Transylvania in Romania. This region is not just about vampire folklore as it also offers activities for adventure-seeking travelers.

UNESCO world heritage site Valle de Viñales in Cuba placed third in the top region list to visit.

Top 10 Regions for 2016
1. Transylvania, Romania
2. West Iceland
3. Valle de Viñales, Cuba
4. Friuli's wine regions, Italy
5. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
6. The Auvergne, France
7. Hawaii
8. Bavaria, Germany
9. Costa Verde, Brazil
10. St. Helena, British Territories

Meanwhile, the coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro was named Best City for 2016. Known for its Venetian-style architecture, Kotor boasts of having one of the most beautiful harbors in the world.

On the sixth spot is Mumbai in India. "A powerhouse of fashion, finance and film," Lonely Planet sees that Mumbai is set for a stellar 2016 with India's booming economy.

Top 10 Cities for 2016
1. Kotor, Montenegro
2. Quito, Ecuador
3. Dublin, Ireland
4. George Town, Malaysia
5. Rotterdam, Netherlands
6. Mumbai, India
7. Fremantle, Australia
8. Manchester, UK
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Rome

For the list of value destination, Estonia topped the list. This European country offers rich history, vast forestation and adventure activities.

Southeast Asian country Timor-Leste made the list, with Lonely Planet describing it as a highly-affordable destination.

Top 10 Best Value Destinations for 2016
1. Estonia
2. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam
3. East Africa
4. New Mexico
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Galicia, Spain
7. Quebec City, Canada
8. Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast
9. Timor-Leste
10. Western Australia

---Mornings @ ANC

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Tourists get value for money in Phl'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has again been recognized as one of the top 10 places in the world to visit, where tourists get “value for their money.”

According to an online survey by Huffington Post Travel 2014, the Philippines is a top pick for “bargain hunters, outdoorsy types and the food obsessed.”

Aside from the Philippines, other places that can “deliver big but cost little” are Greece; Mexico City; Bucharest, Romania; India; Sofia, Bulgaria; Nicaragua, and Riga, Latvia.

According to the same website article, the Philippines is one of the “10 Places to Go” because the combination of “cosmopolitan affordability and splendid nature” makes it a destination that offers a lot for the money.

The Philippines was recently chosen by Lonely Planet as one of the top value destinations for 2014.

Shopping in Manila is a big come-on, as prices are cheap. Manila was even compared to high-end travel destinations such as Tokyo and Geneva, saying that goods and services in those places can cost up to seven times as much as tourists and travelers would pay in Manila.

According to CIO Wealth Management Research’s Prices and Earnings report, Manila has some of the cheapest shopping and upscale dining in the world.

“For example, a couple can buy a new wardrobe there for about $410 – seven times less than what you have to pay for similar items in Tokyo. And the average cost of a three-course meal in a good restaurant is a mere $18, compared to about $95 in Geneva or Oslo (two of the cities featured in our recent story on the world’s most overpriced destinations),” it said.

The Huffington Post article noted that there is no reason for tourists to be afraid to visit the Philippines after the series of calamities that hit the country recently.

“If you are concerned about whether a visit to the Philippines is appropriate so soon after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), know that the country considers tourism to be an important part of its recovery. Large portions of the country – and the majority of popular vacation destinations – were undamaged,” it said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) had earlier urged foreign tourists to continue visiting the Philippines, saying they could help in efforts to rebuild areas damaged by Yolanda.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com