Knowing where to go and what to avoid will make for a pleasant trip for travelers.

In reality, much of the area is laidback, completely stable and, for the most part, safe. English is spoken widely and travelers will find inexpensive food and cheap places to stay.

See also:

• Visiting Manila
• Batanes Islands
• Festivals

While it has pockets of poverty, it is also the site of numerous universities and cultural centers. Manila is a great place to shop and is a place where some of Filipino history can be seen.

For example, the walled city of Intramuros is home to the centuries old Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. There’s a museum there and an old Spanish fortress called Fort Santiago.

Another Manila site is the 18th Century Malacaсg Palace, the official home of the president of the Philippines. It also is home to several government offices and the interesting Presidential Museum. For tourists who like nightlife, there are numerous bars, restaurants and discos throughout Manila.

Its capital is called Basco and it consists of 10 tiny islands of which only three are inhabited. Tourists can fly into the Basco area and see the more rustic side of the Philippines. Tourists can walk the windswept beaches, enjoy the tropical sun and soak up some of the Batanes culture.

Adventurous travelers can explore the steep hills, cliffs, deep canyons and boulder-lined shores. The architecture of the Batanes Islands is unique with thick walled houses and thick thatched roofs made to withstand the hardiest of typhoons. Besides the beaches, there are fishing villages to visit and much nature to explore.

Other festivals span the weeks and months in this area so that it’s easy to participate in one.