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The Weirdest Food We’ve Eaten, from Bat Tacos to Salted Termites

Every now and again, travelers just need to stay in one place and leave the running around to the rest of the world. That’s where resorts come in. Though most of these resorts on the Philippine Islands are within easy reach of other grand adventures, these properties serve up a world all their own. They all serve memorable meals and have snap-worthy views.

Whether you’re an urban explorer or more of a beach bum, there’s a hotel in the Philippines for your type of trip. While business travelers tend to stay near Manila, many will fly through the hub to hit the famous beaches of the Philippine islands, where there are five-star resorts and plenty of sunshine. Here’s where to find everything from a historic hotel with views of Manila Bay and a luxury property near Makati’s best shopping to a private island resort surrounded by coral reefs.

Not surprisingly, this chain of more than 7,000 islands holds a million wonders—wildlife, mountains, jungles, and the white sand beaches of your dreams. With so many places to go, you’ll have to make some tough choices. What can wait for the next trip? Will you go island hopping or stay put on one of the larger islands? Will you head for the Chocolate Hills and the chance to see tiny primates with giant eyes? Or will you swim with whale sharks and go scuba diving off the low-key island of Palawan? There are no wrong answers.

Filipino food is a grand stew of flavors and styles developed across the Southeast Asian country’s 7,000 islands. Flavors often lean toward sour in savory dishes (the country is a vinegar fan’s delight) and, on the dessert front, the sweet relief from the heat that halo halo and ice cream treats provide. But you’ll also see the influence of many other countries’ flavors in the mix, from Spanish cuisine to Chinese. The restaurant scene ranges from relaxed open air spots that focus on local food to high-end dining at resorts. If food is your top reason to travel, consider sticking around the capital for several days. Many restaurants in Manila are becoming household names around the world.

The undisputed grande dame of Filipino hospitality, the Manila Hotel has so many tales to tell that even Hemingway was impressed. “If the story’s any good,” he’s reported to have said, “it’s like Manila Hotel.” The Nobel laureate was but one in a series of visiting dignitaries, from military brass (General MacArthur took up residence in 1935 and left shortly before Japanese troops occupied the property in the ’40s) to Hollywood A-listers (including Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Sammy Davis, Jr.) to rock stars (when the Beatles notoriously snubbed Imelda Marcos by accident in 1966, they stayed here). The hotel has had plenty of cosmetic work done as well, including a dramatic renovation for the 2012 centennial festivities. So while you can still stay in, say, MacArthur’s quarters (known as the MacArthur Suite), the bathrooms now come with Bulgari toiletries and the bedrooms with HDTV. There was little the hotel could do to improve upon the already amazing bay views, as you’ll see from the suite’s dining room windows.

Affordable housing, some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and delicious cuisine make this vibrant island nation a seriously attractive option for remote workers.

There’s so much deliciousness to explore on the Philippines’ more than 7,600 islands.

This time, the carrier has its sights set on exciting destinations in South America, Africa, and Asia.

Find your escape this year in a quiet corner of the Caribbean or a mythical Greek shore.

From powdery snow to colorful Christmas markets, December is a sparkling month.

Jollibee offers a comforting stop—and destination—for Filipinos who travel.

Several dreamy Asia destinations have been added to the airline’s transpacific route roster.

Ready to travel again? So are we. Each week, in season two of our podcast, launching June 10, we’ll bring you tales to get the travel juices flowing.

Chichen Itza, the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, the Great Wall, and Petra are among the stops.