For younger generations who place more value on experiences and personal wellness, taking the opportunity to work and travel at the same time sounds like a dream. Fortunately, the Philippines has the perfect combination of ingredients for adventure seeking travellers looking to explore new cultures and scenery while maintaining their careers and earning money along the way to support their travels.
Excellent work-life balance
From diving and snorkelling, to surfing and hiking in the Highlands, there is so much to do in the Philippines that maintaining a healthy work-life balance could be easier to achieve compared to working at home. Whether you decide to travel independently or part of an organised tour, there is a huge range of activities to try around your working hours such as sunset sailing off the coast of Boracay, canyoneering in Alegria, Cebu, where you traverse jungle trails, limestone cliffs, and jump into soothing river pools.
Alternatively, you might try water rafting the Kalinga Chico River – one of the longest rivers in the Philippines and a major whitewater rafting destination in the Cordillera region. Other activities to try include paragliding the mountain ranges and coasts and experiencing trekking journeys on some of the Philippines most elevated trials around the towering peaks including Mount Pulag in the Cordillera region and Moutn Apo in south central Mindanao.
Cost of living
Compared to other cities and countries around the world, the cost of living in the Philippines is much lower. Affordable accommodation options can be found all over the country, from surf resorts in idyllic beachside settings to budget inner city hotels and hostels offering the chance to socialise and share experiences with other travellers.
Delicious home cooked food is also plentiful in the Philippines, Which means its easy to sustain yourself for an extended period of time without breaking the bank. While you could pick up some street food on the go for under $5 per dish, you can also find restaurant meals for under $10. From barbecued meat skewers, to succulent marinated chicken and rice, enjoying the local food is all part of your experience in the Philippines.
BBQ skewers
Modern coworking hubs
Some of the Philippines’ biggest cities are thriving hubs for digital nomads, with urban destinations like Manila and Cebu offering a wide selection of fully equipped coworking spaces at affordable rates. Depending on your industry and how you prefer to work, you can choose to work anywhere from global spaces like WeWork to a range of independently operated coworking environments. Meanwhile, both Manila and Cebu can offer digital nomads all the conveniences of modern city life with easy access to other parts of the country for day trips and weekend getaways. Imagine flying to some of the Philippines’ most pristine and remote islands from Manila – the gateway to anywhere – or enjoying tropical beach getaways and activities from Cebu such as Moalboal and Bantayan Island.
Cheap to travel around
The Philippines archipelago of over 7,000 islands is vast with a diverse range of scenic and cultural wonders and adventure activities on offer around the country. For digital nomads keen to explore their chosen destination without spending too much of their earnings, the Philippines is an ideal place to base yourself for a while, thanks to its robust network of low-cost domestic flights which connect Manila and other major hubs to its many islands – large and small.
El Nido, Palawan
Affordable luxury
If you want to stay somewhere special during your working holiday without digging deep into your earnings (or having to work more hours), there are resorts and hotels all around the Philippines that offer great bang for buck compared to other international destinations. For example, the awarded Fairways & Bluewater resort in Boracay, with its own 18-hole golf course and private white sand beach, offers rates from as low as $85 per night. And there are plenty of other similar offerings to choose from including Cebu’s Granada Beach Resort which offers spectacular panoramic views of the Bohol Sea and coral reef.
