Best cities or areas for expats?

Hi There,

Your question is extreamly general. The Philippines is like all other countries in the world and have many different locations, that offer many different things. Just like america you can choose to live in a ruale  setting or a big city, it depends on what your looking for.

I personally choose Dipolog City, I wanted something smaller, Cebu and Manila, are just to busy for me. I wanted something that was close to major cities - Dipolog is only a 4 hr ferry ride to Dumigette- As I am a businessman I wanted something that was progressive. I wanted something cheap since I don't have a pension. Dipolog City fir the bill.

If you like beaches there are alot of nice places to choose from, as far as the mountians, my family and I spend 3 months a year in Bagiou City - great culture nice and cool but expensive. Well worth it though.

kaibigansonline.com will be offically launching it's bata site on octber 21 I believe from talking to the site director they have twealve cities that they have done reviews on, that would be a good resource for starting. As far as books, I don't know of any off the top of my mind - I never was much for travel broachures my best advice is to find 10 places you like, research them cross them off the ones that don't fit, and when you get here spend sometime in each, only by experencing the place will you know if it is for you.

On a side note, are you planning on living here permitly? If so have you ever been here before? I mean for more than a 21 day tourist visa.

Good Luck
Kaibigans
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Thanks very much for your thoughtful reply.  I may wish to retie permanently to the Philippines and my sojourn this summer will be my first trip. I like your idea of checking out the 10 best cities and I will visit the site u have recommended kaibigansonline.com. 

As a travel book I recently bout Philippines Travel Guide by Jens Peters and I recommend it.  Another book of very great merit that goes far beyond its account to the Marcos years is America's Boy by James Hamilton-Paterson.

So far in my list I have Tagaytay, Baguio and Puerto Princesa. Dipolo is new to me.  I like the notion, if convenient, of having 2 residences. Currently I have a very large home but it is my intention to simply very much.

It would be wonderful if there was a retirement site that listed top picks!!!

Again thanks!
David

J#01 > do you remember that advertisement is not allowed on the website?

Hi Mr. Julien,

Noted...

God speed.
Jo

Davao by far the  best try it  you will like  it

I have chose to live in Naga City in beautiful Bicol.
it is like a big country town but with all the service one needs
We spent 12 mths in Manila and I hated it too much pollution too much traffic but then I come from a small country town in Aust
there are a fair few expat Pommies & other living here
our local watering hole V2 Bar is run by 2 pommies and a lot of expats drink there, I would have meet 20 foreiner (as we are called) at the V2 Bar
Housing is cheap and plentiful, fruit & Vegies are fresh (grown in area)and cheap, petrol is still expensive but it is all over Phill, beer is cheap(important for an Aussie)
its a 45min flight to Manila cost about $45AU
I suggest u look around before u settle
Pete

WELL FROM MY TWO TRIPS TO BACOLOD,I HAVE REALLY BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE CITY, AND FOR A SMALLER CITY IT HAS LOTS TO DO,. VERY  GOOD HOSPITALS, AND BECAUSE IT IS ON THE ISLANDS WEST COAST TYPHOONS ARE NORMALLY NOT A PROBLEM. ALSO THERE ARE SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES THERE, AND LOTS OF NIGHT TIME ENTERTAINMENT,AND EVEN A CASINO IF YOUR INTERESTED IN THAT SORT OF THING

Make a list of what you want in the Philippines.   Next a list of what city has what.  Higher is cooler here above 5000 foot.   The sea side has a breeze as well.  At first pick a city that has a immigration office till you can get your 6 month Visa. Explore once here.  I can say good and bad about every area I have seen here.  Same as in America.  What is important is what you are looking for.  So make the list then ask about areas with what is on your list of would likes.

there are lots of beachfront for expats in southern tip of cebu. you may like it there.

One  thing for sure pick a place that  is weather friendly ,i have  been to some  of the  places hit by typhoons and  floods before  they were hit, it  is  not  a  pretty site, and  especially if you intend to build there

yeah... i agree.. but that place you are talking to is in eastern visayas: samar and leyte province. cebu is weather friendly... there is no place that is not hit by typhoon...

Wrong never been a  typhoon  in Davao city

Okieboy wrote:

Wrong never been a  typhoon  in Davao city

jesus, no one is spared from mother nature. try to research where typhoon pablo (bopha) hit...

Okieboy wrote:

Wrong never been a  typhoon  in Davao city

Professor cebu is right Okieboy...A major typhoon did hit Davao in 2012...I am surprised you never saw it on the news...Typhoons, Cyclones, Hurricanes can change directions from east to west South to North and again back to the South depending on barometric pressure and water temperatures...No place in the tropical or semi tropical world is free from the fury of a Typhoon...But Davao is definitely better protected than most coastal cities in the Philippines because it is a large bay with surrounding mountains...

Most of Mindanao is below the Typhoon belt...usually!

Also, people in ILigan used to say that they don't get typhoons. I remember a friend telling me that the year before they were hit by a heavy rain storm that caused a flash flood that resulted in thousands dead or missing.  Storms always have the potential to be erratic in the paths they will follow, because there are many factors that go into the physics of weather.  However, there are established weather patterns in the Philippines, as in all places on earth, but the Philippine weather dynamics are very volatile. Life in the Philippines is very dynamic and volatile:  it is a land of volcanos, typhoons, earthquakes, mudslides, and floods- all capable of giving little warning when they will break the rules of prediction.

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Okieboy wrote:

Wrong never been a  typhoon  in Davao city

Yes, this is true.  Typhoon Pablo hit not Davao City but COMVAL and the Oriental area.  Both areas are a few hours away from Davao City.  I am from Davao City and yes we have never experienced (at least in my 38 yrs) any typhoon.  We do have heavy rains but that's just about it.  In lay man's explanation, we are protected by the Samal island.