The Philippines With Kids — Without the Stress
Warm shallow water, tiny tarsiers, sandbars to run along — and every flight, ferry and transfer already worked out. We plan it; you just enjoy it.
Tailor-made itineraryPrivate transfersDomestic travel arranged24/7 local support
7,000 islands. Kids in tow. Here's how it works.
The Philippines is a wonderful place to travel with children — warm shallow water, wildlife that actually delights them, resorts with proper pools and kids' clubs, and a culture that dotes on little ones. English is spoken everywhere, which makes a family trip noticeably smoother than in much of Asia.
The catch is the map. With more than 7,000 islands, every change of scene means a flight or a ferry, plus airport time, luggage and transfers — and with children, every move is felt twice. The most common mistake families make is trying to see too much: five islands in a fortnight looks efficient on a spreadsheet and feels like an assault course in real life. Here, less really is more. We'd rarely send a family for fewer than twelve days, we aim for fourteen to eighteen, and we cap the itinerary at two or three destinations so there's room to actually settle in.
So the real value isn't a longer list of attractions — it's judgement. Choosing the two or three islands that suit your children's ages. Setting a pace with genuine pool days between the adventures. Booking connecting rooms, family rooms or private-pool villas that fit everyone — with a child bed where you need one — rather than ones that merely photograph well. Timing domestic flights so nobody is queueing at 5am with an overtired toddler, and always leaving a safety night in Manila before the flight home rather than connecting a domestic hop straight onto a long-haul departure. That's the work we do before you ever pack a bag — and for parents who fancy an evening out, we can arrange a trusted, vetted local nanny at many of the resorts we use.
Built around your children's ages.
A holiday that thrills a fourteen-year-old can flatten a four-year-old. We design for the family you actually are.
The islands that work with kids.
Not every island earns a place on a family itinerary. These four do — each for different reasons.
Bohol
The best all-round family base in the country: tarsiers, the Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River, plus Panglao's beach resorts, pools and easy day trips. Its ace card is flexibility — if the sea is rough, we simply swap a boat day for a land one, so a bad-weather morning never sinks the whole holiday. If you only choose one island, make it this.
Explore Bohol →
Boracay
The easiest beach finale in the Philippines: four kilometres of gentle White Beach, family-friendly hotels, a restaurant for every fussy eater and calm, wadeable water for little swimmers. The place to slow right down before the flight home.
Explore Boracay →
Cebu
Where the action is — Kawasan Falls (a gentle visit for younger kids, full canyoneering for teens), the Moalboal sardine run and strong resorts. Distances across the island are long, though, so it earns its place mainly with older children and only when the routing is planned with care. That's our job.
Explore Cebu →
Palawan
The famous lagoons of El Nido — and quieter Coron — are magical for children aged roughly seven and up, and a private boat makes all the difference to the pace. The transfers are longer and less toddler-friendly, so with very young children we'll tell you honestly when to save Palawan for next time.
Explore El Nido →Three family journeys that just work.
Tested routes, sensible connections, and pool time built in.
Easy Family Escape
12–14 nightsBohol → Boracay
One flight between islands, two hotels, minimal fuss: tarsiers, Chocolate Hills and gentle adventures in Bohol, then Boracay's calm white sand to finish. Our top pick for families with younger children.
Philippines Family Adventure
14–16 nightsCebu → Bohol → Boracay
Waterfalls, canyoneering and the sardine run in Cebu, a short ferry hop to Bohol's wildlife and hills, then a beach finale in Boracay. Built for school-age kids and teens who want stories to bring home.
Family Island Journey
16–18 nightsPalawan → Bohol → Boracay
The big one, for older children and teens: El Nido's lagoons by private boat, Bohol's wildlife and river cruises as the relaxed middle, and a slow Boracay ending — linked by direct flights, with rest days placed exactly where families need them.
Every trip is tailor-made — these journeys are inspiration, not fixed packages.
We plan the Philippines from the Philippines
Olive Tree Travel isn't an overseas agency reselling someone else's itinerary — we're the local operator, based in the islands and accredited by the Philippine Department of Tourism. We know which resorts have genuine connecting and family rooms rather than a rollaway squeezed in the corner, which ferry crossing is smooth enough for a seasick-prone seven-year-old, and which day trips are worth an early start with kids. Every transfer is private, every boat carries child-size life vests, every connection is checked before we confirm it — and while you travel, your own trip designer is one WhatsApp message away, in the same time zone, day or night.
Questions parents ask us.
When is the best time for a family holiday in the Philippines?
December to May is the dry season — the safest bet for calm seas, island-hopping and beach days, and it lines up nicely with Christmas and Easter school holidays. July and August (the northern summer break) fall in the greener season: still very doable with the right islands and a flexible plan, which is exactly how we design it, always with a weather buffer built in.
How long should we go for, and how many islands?
Aim for fourteen to eighteen nights across two or three islands, and try not to drop below twelve. Fewer moves almost always makes for a better family holiday — and if you'd rather not island-hop at all, Bohol works brilliantly as a single base for a fortnight.
Which islands suit our children's ages?
For under-sevens we lean on Bohol and Boracay — pools, shallow water and few flights. From seven upwards, snorkelling trips, island tours and waterfalls open up. Teens can take on Cebu's canyoneering, a try-dive and the longer transfers to El Nido or Coron. Tell us their ages and we'll build around them honestly.
Is the Philippines safe for children?
Yes — the family islands (Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan) are welcoming, well-touristed and easy-going, and Filipino culture is famously warm towards children. We stick to reputable hotels and licensed operators, arrange private transfers throughout, and remain reachable around the clock while you travel.
Do we need visas for Australian or UK passports?
No visa needed. Australian and British passport holders — children included — enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days. Just make sure every passport is valid for six months beyond arrival and you can show onward travel.
How does the tailor-made process work?
Tell us your dates, your children's ages and how your family likes to travel. Within 24 hours you'll receive a personalised itinerary — islands, hotels, room setups and age-appropriate activities — with a clear price. We fine-tune it together, confirm everything before you fly, and stay on WhatsApp throughout the trip.
The family holiday they'll still talk about at 30.
Tell us your dates and your children's ages — we'll design a tailor-made Philippines family itinerary, free and with no obligation, within 24 hours.