The Philippines is genuinely one of those places where the less touristy vibe is exactly what makes it worth it, and your wife might come around once she sees what’s actually there versus what Thailand has turned into. Getting around on your own is a big part of that experience too. You can rent a car in Philippines here https://getrentacar.com/en-US/philippines . You pick your vehicle, sort everything out in advance, and you’re not dependent on whoever the hotel happens to know. Way more flexibility when you’re trying to actually explore rather than just hit the obvious spots.
