Iloilo is one of the cheapest tourist destinations in SEA

Iloilo is the 5th cheapest tourist destination in all of Southeast Asia this summer

Story by GMA Integrated News
04 April 2024

Iloilo is among the cheapest travel destinations in Southeast Asia this summer, booking platform Agoda said.

The Visayan city ranked 5th in Agoda's list, with accommodation rates going as low as P2,814 a night. Commonly referred to as the City of Love, Iloilo is known for stunning beaches, hidden lagoons, its 11-kilometer bike lane, and food. 

Topping the list with an average room rate of P1,576 is Thailand's Udon Thani, home to tourist spots like the Chinese Gate, Udon Thani City Museum, and Nong Prajak Park. Udon Thani is pretty close to Laos’ capital, Vientiane, which only takes a little over an hour by driving.

Completing the top five with most affordable accommodation rates in Southeast Asia are Surabaya in Indonesia (P2,195), Hue in Vietnam (P2,420), and Kuching in Malaysia (P2,758).

Bengaluru in India (P3,096), Narita in Japan (P3,996), and Kaohsiung in Taiwan (P5,684) are ranked 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively.

The average room rates indicated above were calculated based on Agoda booking data from March 1 to March 18, 2024. 

In November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Iloilo as the first Philippine city to join its Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy.

— Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA Integrated News