Where is the Best Place to Learn to Dive - Close to Home or on Vacation?

Is it better to learn to dive close to home through a local dive center with a pool and such or to travel on vacation and take a course in a beautiful location. When we have been in the Caribbean and in Thailand, there were lots of dive centers that had multi-day or week-long courses and I've thought about taking one. I'm always unsure whether that is better or if I'd be better off taking the longer, stretched-out courses offered near home and then visiting a pretty dive place later.
Any opinions?

I must suggest in Cebu Philippines. there are lots of diving center where they can train individuals to have license in scuba diving. Most of the people from US actually visit Cebu just for it. Diving centers usually are connected to beach resorts here in Cebu or most of these resorts also have thier own scuba training center, so its not hard to find when you visit Cebu City here in the Philippines. Most of the resorts though are in Mactan, Cebu. Its also near the International Airport.

I feel it is much better learning diving in a pool closer home with an instructor if necessary because that way the fundamentals are like to be quite strong and it is a more structured approach. Vacations must be used to indulge in fun right away!