The Philippines is easy to overlook when you're plotting a tropical escape — Thailand and Bali tend to hog the shortlist. But an archipelago of 7,641 islands (only about 2,000 of them inhabited) has some serious aces up its sleeve, and a new roundup of the country's standout hotels makes a strong case for booking that long-haul flight.
The case for the destination itself is compelling: beaches that look like the stock image of paradise, with pale sand, clear water and limestone cliffs; technicolour coral reefs that rank among the world's best diving; and wildlife ranging from whale sharks to the tiny, endangered Philippine tarsier. On land there's canyoning, hiking and surfing, and in Manila a food scene layered with Spanish, Malay, Japanese and Chinese influences. Factor in the famously warm Filipino approach to hospitality — making guests feel like family is a point of national pride — and the hotels here punch well above their profile.
Condé Nast Traveller UK's editors have flagged eight properties worth building a trip around, with three headline picks by traveller type. For honeymooners, it's Amanpulo, the Aman resort on its own private island, long considered the country's most exclusive retreat. Families are pointed to The Peninsula Manila, a polished city base for pairing urban exploring with island time. And for anyone who wants the all-inclusive model done properly, the pick is Nay Palad Hideaway, a remote hideaway where everything is handled on site.
The broader lesson from the list is that the Philippines rewards commitment. The top resorts are scattered across different islands, so hopping between them by plane or boat isn't optional — it's part of the plan. That extra logistics layer is also what keeps crowds down: you'll share even the most photogenic lagoons with far fewer people than at Southeast Asia's better-known hotspots. The editors' selection spans big-name luxury and smaller, under-the-radar boltholes, chosen for design, location, service and sustainability credentials, and the list is refreshed regularly as new openings land.
If you've been waiting for a sign to put the Philippines at the top of your list, this is it: the hotels are ready, the reefs are waiting, and you'll be treated like family the moment you arrive.