PHL In Forbes’ 10 Best Budget Travel Destinations For 2016

American business magazine Forbes has listed Metro Manila, Philippines as among the 10 Best Budget Travel Destinations for 2016.

In an article written by contributor Alexandra Talty, she said Metro Manila was the fourth budget-friendly travel destination, especially for having “a huge amount to offer.”

“The Philippines has long been overlooked as a south-east Asia travel destination, but it’s now starting to attract the attention it deserves,” Talty wrote.

Talty pointed out that although Metro Manila had the impression of being congested, polluted and noisy, there were a lot of things to see both in and out of the city—Intramuros being one of them.

“The old colonial walled city of Intramuros can be explored on foot or by horse and carriage, known as Calesa,” she wrote.

She also noted how it only took a short boat ride from Malate, Manila to see The Rock, a former World War II fortress and now a haunted ruin, combined with adventure sports like ATV’s, hiking, kayaking and camping.

The province of Laguna, just a couple of hours from Manila, was also credited for its seven lakes, underground caves, hot water and mud springs and loads of water sports.

On the other hand, she took into consideration the fact that the Philippines is “nowhere near as cheap as its neighbors like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.”

Despite the downside, she said that the Philippines offered a “more unique experience” which “makes up for it.

She also noted how traveling to the Philippines is still “just a fraction of the price of traveling in North America or Europe.”

Rounding up the list of budget-friendly destinations are George Town, Malaysia; Xi’an, China; Barcelona, Spain; Thrace Region, Turkey; Morocco; Hungary; Malaysia; Croatia and Puerto Rico.

Talty’s full article can be read here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2015/12/29/the-ten-best-budget-travel-destinations-for-2016/#462d37cae0b0. (PNA) RMA/ANP