| When it comes to retirement locations in the Philippines, | | | | gambling to their retirement lifestyle. |
| one has many options - major urban cities, larger rural | | | | Lliving on Mactan Island provides that resort |
| cities, beach resorts, mountain retreats. Each has its | | | | atmosphere, due to all the resort hotels, yet it is close |
| own unique and attractive features. The major | | | | to great medical facilities and upscale shopping malls |
| advantage of retirement in a beach resort is are (i) | | | | across the bridge in Cebu City. Housing costs are |
| exciting beach activities, (ii) ongoing "vacation" | | | | lower on Mactan than on Boracay. |
| atmosphere, (iii) great entertainment and night life, (iv) | | | | PANGLAO ISLAND |
| continuous influx of foreign travelers, (v) numerous | | | | This island is across a short bridge from the much |
| upscale hotels and related resort facilities, (vi) great | | | | larger island of Bohol, which is approximately a 1/12 |
| airport accessibility, and (vi) yet small populations. In this | | | | hour fast-boat ferry ride from Cebu City, or a short |
| category of retirement spots, the most popular are (i) | | | | airport ride from the Cebu domestic airport. Panglao |
| Boracay Island, (ii) Mactan Island, (iii) Panglao Island, (iv) | | | | Island has a population of around 60,000 and is |
| Subic Bay, (v) and Puerto Galera. | | | | generally associated with Alona Beach, a strip of |
| BORACAY ISLAND | | | | resorts and dive centres on the southern side of the |
| This is the most famous of all the beach resort areas | | | | island. Diving is what draws tourists and retirees to |
| in the Philippines. There are many 5 star resorts on this | | | | Panglao Island. |
| island and numerous bars and restaurants owned by | | | | There are many resorts and the cost of living is |
| foreigners. The sand is some of the best in the whole | | | | substantially less than on Mactan Island. On the down |
| world, and the night life is supreme. However, it is | | | | side of course is that the island is more remote and |
| crowded and overdeveloped like Waikiki and Miami | | | | requires a boat or air trip to get to the medical and |
| Beach. It has a small permanent population of around | | | | shopping facilities of Cebu City. |
| 15,000 but a large daily population of tourists from | | | | SUBIC BAY |
| around the world. It attracts travelers of all sorts - | | | | This area has rapidly become a favorite retirement |
| international sophisticates, Manila urbanites getting | | | | area, especially for retired US military personnel and |
| away, serious water enthusiasts, backpackers, and | | | | for Koreans. Until 1992, Subic Bay was the base for |
| late night party animals. The downside of Boracay is | | | | the huge 7th Fleet of the US Navy. These days it is in |
| that housing costs tend to run on the high side, more | | | | the process of being remolded into a tax free foreign |
| like the costs of housing in Manila. However, for a | | | | trade zone and a modern tourist destination. A modern |
| retiree looking for beach resort action, Boracay Island | | | | new superhighway was completed in 2008 which has |
| is the place to be. | | | | cut the travel time from Manila by an hour. This |
| MACTAN ISLAND | | | | provides great access to all that Manila has to offer, |
| This island is just adjacent to Cebu City, across a | | | | yet permits retirement in a smaller resort oriented |
| bridge, and in fact where the Cebu international and | | | | community with all that has to offer. The population is |
| domestic airports are located. Like Boracay, Mactan | | | | now in excess of 200,000. The presence of Koreans |
| too has sandy beaches, but not near the quality of | | | | is largely due to the construction in 2006 in Subic Bay |
| those at Boracay. It also is packed with upscale 5 star | | | | of a large Korean shipbuilding plant. Housing costs have |
| hotels and resorts. Yet, whereas Boracay is more | | | | risen considerably in 2008 and 2009, yet they are |
| remote, accessibility is excellent and Mactan Island due | | | | significantly below Manila costs. There are lots of |
| to its proximity to Cebu. Additionally, there is a casino | | | | retired military people living in this location. |
| on Mactan Island for those who enjoy the addition of | | | | |