Boracay island in Aklan province is the second best beach destination in the world and the No. 1 in Asia for the second year in a row, according to travel website TripAdvisor.
“At only 4.5 miles long, Boracay is small enough to navigate by rented bicycle or motorbike. But don’t let its small size fool you — you’ll have several excellent beaches to choose from,” TripAdvisor said in its website.
“Yapak beach is known for beautiful white shells; White beach has picture-perfect sunsets; and Balinghai beach is a secluded spot, perfect for honeymooners. As long as you visit during dry season, you’ll agree this is one of the best beach destinations in the world,” it added.
The tiny island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos remains the world’s best beach destination according to TripAdvisor’s list, which is based on travelers’ reviews and ratings.
Palm/Eagle beach in Aruba island ranked third, followed by Negril in Jamaica, Tulum in Mexico, Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman island, Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, Cape May in New Jersey, and Santa Teresa in Costa Rica.
Baguio, known as the summer capital of the Philippines, meanwhile, ranked 22nd in TripAdvisor’s list of best destinations in Asia this year.
“Baguio, perched high in the Cordillera Central Mountains, is a great place to escape the heat of the Philippine lowlands. Camp John Hay, originally built as a recreation area for US soldiers, now is a full-fledged resort complete with a world-class golf course. Definitely stop at the city market, where you can buy almost anything (just be prepared to haggle),” the travel website said.
Topping the list of best destinations in Asia is Hong Kong and globally, Cape Town in South Africa.
Meanwhile, two hotels and a resort in the country were also cited in TripAdvisor’s Hotel Awards this year.
Dave’s Straw Hat Inn in Boracay and Padre Burgos Castle Resort in Southern Leyte were named top hotels for service in Asia. They ranked 14th and 18th, respectively.
Alegre Beach Resort in Cebu, on the other hand, rounded out the list of top 25 all-inclusive resorts in the region.