Some Americans are familiar with Filipino American stars like baseball’s Chris Aguila, basketball’s Brian Heruela and of course, boxing’s Manny Pacquiao. If you are a stateside traveler feeling gung-ho about an active holiday, there are plenty of superb activities to offer in the sports-mad nation they hail from. So whether you are yearning to go for the burn or enjoy activities which are slightly more sedate, here are five tips for a Philippines sports vacation.
3 activities you can do in the Philippines:
1. Diving
The azure seas and sumptuous sand beaches of The Philippines make it one of the world’s best places for underwater exploration. Although there are lots of spots to choose from, Cebu may be the best — diving into the depths here can bring you in close contact with huge shoals of sardines, thresher sharks and even spectacular whale sharks. Book a Cebu diving holiday with PADI Travel and you will explore excellent dive sites like Nalusuan Island and Talima reef — simply stunning.
2. Boxing
The most famous fight held on Philippine shores must still be the Thrilla in Manila — but there is much more to the nation’s fighting legacy than Ali and Frasier’s 70’s slugfest. Apart from Pacquiao, elite Filipino boxers also include world champions like Nonito Donaire, Jesus Salud and Brian Valoria, while Bago City is regarded as the nation’s boxing capital. There is a thriving amateur scene, with the PSC-Pacquiao Cup probably being the foremost competition.
Elite amateur fights can sometimes be more exciting and competitive than their professional counterparts, so check the sports section of the Manila Standard for details of events during your break.
3. Golf
If sauntering along the fairway in the sunshine while testing your mettle against water hazards and bunkers is your idea of bliss, The Philippines is a great place for golfers.
There are superb greens at courses near Manila, Clark, Tagaytay, Boracay and Cebu — so you can center a golf trip on one location or tour around to sample as many different courses as time permits. Find more great golf info at Philippine Trails — this travel company can create a tailor-made golf trip that suits you to a tee.
How to plan your vacation to the Philippines?
How to find a Hotel in the Philippines?
You may need to book Philippines accommodation in several cities and towns, depending on the nature of your vacation — but if your main priority is peerless luxury, Raffles Makati is tough to beat.
This Pinoy outpost of the iconic Singapore brand oozes the timeless elegance you would expect — from the luxe leather sofas and red velvet armchairs in reception to the mahogany furniture in the suites, everything has an air of effortless glamour.
How to book flights to the Philippines?
You can fly to the Philippines non-stop from US cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco in around 14 hours, while a one-stop flight from New York City takes around 19 hours.
It is a long haul, but by booking early on sites like cheapflights.com, you can bag a return ticket for under $500. And whether your departure point is Oakland or Ontario, reserve airport parking at Looking4.com and store your ride securely for the duration — it’s more relaxed than packed public transport.
That is the end of our list, but please leave your own Philippines sports tips in the comments section.