We're planning to bounce over to the Philippines for a week to finally check that box. The whole Southeast Asia region is our usual go-to spot for vacations, but somehow this specific island nation slipped right past us every single time. Group tours and strict itineraries just don't fit our travel style at all. We simply prefer to drive ourselves and check out the coastal towns. Point me in the right direction for snagging a vehicle locally right on the spot.
Southeast Asia constantly pulls people back with the food alone, let alone the beaches. The climate hits you like a brick right when you step outside, but your body adjusts to the tropical heat pretty quickly. Local guys usually run small rental shops right near the main tourist hubs like Cebu or Manila. Plus occasionally the hotel front desk staff can point you toward reliable neighborhood spots that rent out vehicles by the day.
Colleagues always try to drag you to hotel lobby bars after those long meetings, so dipping out to the mountains is definitely the right move. The roads around those parts are pretty well maintained and driving up there is super chill. You can sort out the wheels and rent a car in North Macedonia here: https://getrentacar.com/en-US/north-macedonia (https://getrentacar.com/en-US/north-macedonia) . Just pick something comfortable for those winding routes up the hills. The local drivers are pretty relaxed, so cruising around the nature spots won't stress you out at all.