When i visited Thailand with my Filipino wife, people were forever speaking to her in Thai believing she was Thai. Until then I had not realised the similarity in appearance between many Thais and Filipinos

On the price of accommodation: I agree that the prices in Philippines are much higher than in Thailand, for comparable hotels and towns.

A friend has just returned from Pattaya. For one month, he rented a studio with all amenities, including swimming pool, about 5 K from the centre 2 mins from beach, for 7,000 bhts (£140) a month. A motorbike 'taxi' into the centre (5kms) was 50 bhts (£1) a bus 10 bhts (20p)