The beautiful country hailed 'better' than Thailand - much cheaper and with less tourists

There is a country that is arguably "better" for tourists than Thailand and it gets significantly fewer visitors, some holidaymakers believe. Thailand is a hugely popular travel destination for Brits and it is often the go-to for backpackers and those seeking a trip packed with culture and natural beauty. However, there are other countries in Asia with stunning beaches, friendly locals and amazing things to do that some people say might be even more worth your while.

The Philippines is also located in South East Asia and is made up of more than 7,000 islands with stunning coastal scenery, highly-rated hikes and nature experiences and plenty more for tourists to do, as well as cheaper food prices than Thailand, according to Travel Authentic Asia. According to travel insurance providers Pacific Prime, the Philippines receives under 10 million tourists annually, dwarfed by Thailand's 40 million. Thailand is often considered to be more expensive, so tourists are looking to the Philippines for an alternative to the popular Asian holiday destination.

It is hard to compare Thailand to the Philippines sometimes as they are both very culturally unique. But many tourists travel to these countries for the same reasons, such as their beaches, seaside resorts, forests, wildlife and nightlife.

One blogger, known online as Island Hopping the Philippines, says that she lived in Thailand for many years but feels that the Philippines is "so much better". She wrote: "The Philippines has 7,000 beach paradise islands. It just never stops. You could pick some random corner of the country and bask the remainder of your life in paradise."

Meanwhile, other people shared their reasons for the Philippines winning over Thailand in terms of the best travel destination in South East Asia. One Tripadvisor user said: "Filipinos are arguably friendlier than Thais and overall (with the exception of Boracay and sometimes El Nido and Panglao Island/Bohol Island - Alona Beach) Philippines is far less crowded and touristy than visitor-heavy Thailand."

Another shared: "Beaches are better in the Philippines than in Thailand, and it's not just Boracay."

One YouTube creator, Fonsi Abroad, said that the Philippines has more beaches with crystal clear waters and white sand beaches that will "blow your mind". Meanwhile, a YouTube creator couple, known as Jumping Places, also said that the beaches in the Philippines are much better.

Some people present an argument for Thailand being better and say that is is better set up with infrastructure to welcome tourists. Additionally, it is mainly mainland so you can travel around the country by car, bus and train while the Philipines requires a lot more flying since it is made up of so many islands.

Travelling between these islands can add up cost wise, and Travel Authentic Asia says that areas of Thailand can often offer accommodation that is better value for money. For Brits, Thailand is closer and flights between London and Bangkok take around 11 hours and 40 minutes. To get to the Filipino capital of Manila, it takes close to 16 hours.

The Philippines attracts nature lovers with its beaches, forests and mountains. White Beach is the top-rated attraction in the country, and according to Tripadvisor reviewers, it is an "island paradise".

Other top-rated attractions in the Philippines include El Nido Beach, Kayangan Lake, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Big Lagoon and Chocolate Hills Natural Monument.

The capital city of the Philippines, Manila, also offers a wide range of things to do for tourists, including the Instramuros historic district, Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, and the National Museum.