Philippines Recommendations
Philippines has some of the best islands and beaches in the world and I can definitely attest to that.
Prices (USD):
Food: $5-$10 meal (breakfast is usually included with room+board)
Beer: $1-$2 local domestic
Stay: $10-$15 for a dorm in a hostel (always mixed gender)
Flight: $~600 from NYC - MNL in January. Upwards of $1,500 in peak season (July)
Internet (SIM Card): ~1 GB = $1 USD, different plan packages for phone, text, data at the airport. Facebook is free. Many places have WiFi as well.
Domestic Flights: $20-$25 one way (KLO, PPS, CEB)
Manila
Stay
Pink Manila Hostel $7/night. It was the worst hostel I ever stayed in but I appreciate it for the experience. It is highly rated, I'm assuming it was just me.
Do
SM Mall of Asia
Plaza Roma
Boracay
Travel
MNL to KLO: 60 min & $20 + 2 hour van ride & $4
MNL to MPH: 70 min & $31 + 5-10 min trike & $1 + 10 min Ferry to Boracay Port $4
(Both will require another trike to your stay)
Stay
MNL Hostel $12/night
Do
Diniwid Beach (secluded from the other touristy sites)
Sunset Sail ($2/person was what we haggled)
Eat
Spider House (restaurant on a small cliff where you can jump right into the water)
Sushi Shi-ro (Japanese chef hand picks fish in the AM, cuts it right in front of you)
Puerto Princesa // Palawan
Travel
MNL to PPS: 80 min & $24
Stay
Tropic Dahlia Hostel $7/night
Do
Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour (book through your hostel)
Underground River (book through your hostel)
El Nido
Travel
Cherry Bus via PinoyTravel: 6 Hours & $10
Stay
Our Melting Pot $12/night
Spin Designer $20/night (most coveted)
Do
Island Hopping Tours - (I did Tour A and was planning on Tour C but food poisoning kept me in bed for 36 hours. These two were highly recommended)
Cliff Diving (book through your hostel)