I know what you’re thinking: how can you explore an island nation in an automobile? Isn’t it easier to take a boat or a plane? Although the Philippine nation is made up of thousands of islands, some of them are actually quite large. And unless you’re going to stay on the beach where your boat lands you’ll probably need to hitch a ride at some point. So why not get to know the islands you visit a little more intimately by renting a car, getting a map, and choosing your own adventure? There are actually quite a few reasons why this is a much better plan than exploring by another mode of transportation, and here are a few to get you on the right track.
For starters, a boat will only take you around the perimeter of an island, while a plane will most likely drop you at the nearest urban center. This is going to severely limit the scope of your trip. You’ll basically only get to see cities and beaches. Although there are some gorgeous, white-sand beaches that you’ll no doubt want to lounge on during your vacay, and you certainly should visit some of the major urban outposts in order to sample cuisine, hit the clubs, and squeeze in a little shopping, there’s a lot more to the Philippine islands than crowded cities and tourist-laden beaches. If you stick to planes and boats, you’re going to be stuck seeing only the areas they can take you to, which excludes a fair chunk of the islands.
For example, there are many natural features that you will almost certainly have to travel by automobile to reach. There are abundant wildlife preserves, rainforests, volcanoes, and other natural wonders to see (like the inexplicable Chocolate Hills of Bohol). In some cases, you may have to stop the vehicle and hop in a boat to reach an area (such as a waterfall), but you can get just about anywhere by car. The truth is, there’s a lot to see in the interior regions of many of the islands, and without a car, you might never get to them (unless you happen to find a bus that’s going there, but you’ll probably be happier with your own travel accommodations). If you want to see the real Philippines, not just what gets shellacked for the benefit of tourists, then you really need to travel by automobile.
In addition, it is probably less expensive to rent a car than to plan other travel arrangements. Although you’ll certainly have to maneuver you way along some rough roads, and possibly risk getting lost, that’s half the fun to taking a journey in the first place. The people are known to be friendly and hospitable, so they will probably be happy to help you get where you’re going. And they’ll likely have some excellent insider tips on finding the best restaurants, lodgings, or roadways. You can certainly take the traditional approach to island travel and opt for planes or boats to get you there, but you’ll have a much more enjoyable trip if you choose to do it by car.
Breana Orland writes for Trucker to Trucker where you can find used box truck for sale, buy and sell trucks, and browse through classifieds to find a dealer near you.