on travel forums on which I am active, I'm always giving advice to people that say they are going to the Philippines with kids. It's definitely do-able and could be very enjoyable indeed. But the fact remains that for 90% of families, there are other places to go that are just a better bet. in southern Thailand they get thousands of Swedish families who come to escape some of the Skandi winter with young kids. And they kept coming, even when the 2005 tsunami killed or injured over 2,000 Swedes - more than any other non-Thai nationality. This was a huge disaster for a country of only 9 million people, but it didn't put them off from coming again. For them, Thailand is just too good. Thailand may not be riddled with volcanoes and earthquake fault lines like the Philippines is, but accidents can still happen. The Thais have just got a better act together. They are better at looking after the customers. They get lots of repeat business from every segment of their market. They appeal across the age and sex ranges. They seperate the Asian and non-Asian tourist segments brilliantly, a first-time farang tourist to Thailand would never know that farangs are a minority among the tourists (just like kanos are in the Philippines). The Thais keep them apart, deliberately. They advertise and promote their brand. They know the importance of offering value for money, which the Filipinos just don't. They're just in a different league. They did it, from nothing at all 40 years ago, and wanted to do it properly, because they wanted to develop an industry, to help deliver their people out of poverty. The Philippines just doesn't care.
whipster, if you have you travelled with little children you will know how difficult it can be. Mine were one and three the last time and on both occasions I did this, my daughter had to go into the local hospital and a drip was administered due to heat exhaustion. It is not enjoyable at all, IMO. My Filipina wife has refused to go back until they are older, so I suppose we could say older kids would be OK.
A bit difficult when the destination is eventually reached with a possible four hour pump boat ride to a tiny island where there are very limited places to sleep, Halo! I also think my wife's family would not take too kindly to a yaya taking their role after such a long time being away from their grandchildren. Thanks for the idea but I can't see that working. Because of the remote location of her island, she would not even go to the Philippines unless she was able to go over to her island so she could see all of her large family, it would be too insulting for them to know she was in the Philippines without her visiting them and she doesn't want another worrying episode in the hospital on the mainland with all the problems that "big waves" can bring.
which of the islands is it, if you don't mind to disclose it? agree the general paucity of proper medical facilities in the Philippines, is a big black mark when it comes to attracting families with children. Even Boracay hasn't got a proper clinic, when it is supposed to be the biggest tourist draw in the country. it's genuinely appalling. The Thais did not make that mistake. They knew the tourists would need medical facilities. They knew the tourists would need good foreign exchange facilities too. Neither of which, the Philippines, comes up with. Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Typhoons not withstanding, they could have defintely played, a better game.
Obviously if a large extended family is involved then that negates having to get a yaya and of course large family means that they will naturally help with the kids. I can only speak on my perspective in regards taking the kids and the accomodation requirements. Ours is slightly different in that we are given a room for us alone. The other family members then double up in other rooms. Same here too, we wouldnt go Pinas if we werent visiting family, thats the idea of going anyhow. That frequency may change once Asawa gets ILR/citizenship. Again slightly different perspective here as we are on Cebu island itself (metro Cebu) so a lot more convenient for us in that respect Apo. I think if one of the kids happened to get heat stroke it would definitely tinge any future experience for me also so I get where youre coming from. In fact my mind and concern is now naturally on the kids and hope we have a great time whereas before when a lone traveller i had no such concern. Admittedly it isnt an all inclusive to the Balearics and keeping the eldest (under 2) entertained on a long flight isnt a walk in the park but I married a Filipina and she wants to see her family and friends.
Sure, Below is the north tip of Cebu Island. Malapascua is the island north east of Tapilon. Leyte is shown where the dark area is in the top right hand corner of the picture. Carnaza has no hospital and no roads (no cars) and no electricity so some people have generators. There is no large jetty either. It can take between 2 and 4 hours to reach depending on the waves.
the lack of adequate medical facilities really is a deal-breaker for the families-with-children segment of the tourist market, which is the best of all the segments really to have (if they have a good impression, the children will come back later independently when they are adults). nobody in the Philippines tourist industry ever thinks of anything like that. They just think 'oh isn't this great. we have foreigners. Let's overcharge them while they are here'. They don't think about the future. if your kid comes down with something bad on a Thai island like Ko Chang or Ko Lanta, there is at least a half-decent clinic on there - although if it is really bad they will have to go to the mainland, the immediate medical port-of-call isn't back in the Stone Age like it is in the Philippines.
There is really very little for children. But I am going to put in a good word for medical facilities in one Backwoods tourist spot - last year K and I spent Christmas in Canlaon City in Negros - population 30,000 or so - and climbed the mountain of the same name. On Christmas Eve K came down with a UTI and was taken to the local public hospital - which was really very good.
My wife and I went home via Bangkok and Krabi when she came to the UK. She loved Thailand, especially it's food and shopping. She was able to buy lingerie including stockings, something that she couldn't find in Cebu City back in 2008.
I've never met one that didn't love Thailand when they went. Thais and Filipinos are very similar people. Asians love all Asians. all the foreigners that talk endlessly about how different they are supposed to be are talking through their ass. The 'differences' they identify - Buddhist vs. Catholic, tonal vs. non-tonal language and so on are all superficial. They'll always have miles more in common with each other than they ever will have with us.
Yeah I like Thailand too. Trying to get my wife to agree to us going on a trip one day, but I Think it will be a while yet..
