Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia consisting of over 7,500 islands. Situated between the Philippine Sea and South China Sea, the islands are divided into three geographical regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Philippines was once governed under the Spaniards for more than 300 years resulting in it becoming Asia’s largest Catholicism country. The list of notable attractions is endless. It offers the most beautiful white sand beaches flowing with crystal clear waters, world class scuba diving spots, championship surfing competitions, emerald rice terraces, volcanoes & canyons, and many more! This sleeping giant is quickly becoming the next hottest travel destination by both vacationers and backpackers alike. Now is the time to make your visit here before it becomes inevitably oversaturated with tourism!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
PHILIPPINES VISA
U.S. Citizens visiting Philippines for not more than 1 month/30 days are not required to obtain visas. Travelers must hold a valid return or onward ticket and a passport valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond their stay in the Philippines. U.S. citizens looking to stay longer can either apply for a visa at the nearest Philippine Consular Establishments in the U.S. prior to travel or upon arrival in the Philippines at the Bureau of Immigration, Magallanes Dr, Port Area, Intramuros, Manila.
Please note that Philippines is very strict about having a return or onward ticket. I tested my luck when I went backpacking without a set agenda and had to scramble to book a confirmed ticket right at the airline desk.
WEATHER
Philippines has a tropical climate with only two seasons: wet and dry.
Wet Season (June – October): Monsoon season lies within this time period. Large amount of rain and frequent typhoons will put a damper on your experience.
Dry Season (November – May): This is the best time to visit with December – February being the coolest and March – April being the hottest.
MONEY EXCHANGE
Philippines’s main currency is the Philippines peso. At the time of writing the current exchange rate is 53.4 PHP/USD. You can find money exchanges in the airport and across the city. International ATMs will provide you with the best exchange rate but you will get charged ATM plus any additional bank fees. I highly recommend opening a checking account with a bank that waives all ATM transaction fees before you travel abroad. You could easily save hundreds of dollars.
Cash is the most common form of payment in the Philippines. Hotels, large retail stores and modern restaurants will accept credit card but shops are cash only especially on the islands.
ELECTRICAL SOCKET TYPE
The power sockets are mainly type A (2 flat parallel pins), type B (2 flat parallel pins and a grounding pin), and type C (2 round pins). The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. If you are coming from the U.S then chances are your current plugs will work assuming your adapter has an automatic voltage converter (please take the extra precaution and check). Most laptop and cellphone chargers are dual voltage but you will need a voltage converter for appliances such as hair straighteners.
CELL PHONE DATA & INTERNET
If you have an unlocked cell phone then you can purchase a SIM card at the airport or in the city that includes internet data, local calls and text depending on your needs. You can also rent and share a pocket Wifi if you have multiple people in your group.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is not required but highly encouraged when traveling to a foreign country. Philippines is home to many physical activities such as scuba diving, hiking mountainous terrains, and motorbike riding. On top of that, different climate conditions, insect bites, or trying new types of food can cause one to get ill. Unforeseen accidents do happen and expenses can add up and ruin your trip. The most popular insurance for all types of travelers is World Nomads. Their policies are created specifically with travelers in mind. It doesn’t hurt to Get a Free Quote and decide from there.
TRANSPORTATION
There are multiple transportation options when it comes to getting around the Philippines. Here are the most common for travelers and will vary between cities and islands.
Tricycle: These are motorcycles fitted with a roofed sidecar similar to a tuk-tuk. You can get these by flagging them down or booking in advance. Make sure to negotiate an agreed price beforehand.
Habal-habal: These are motorcycles with extended seats. Known as “singles,” these function similarly to the tricycle.
Jeepneys: Found in inner major cities are leftover U.S military jeeps from WWII. These jeeps with artistic individuality have been converted to a bus like public transportation. Make sure to map out your route beforehand, get on the right bus, have change to pass to the front for payment, and say “para po,” meaning please stop, to give the driver a heads up before reaching your stop.
Hire a driver: The most expensive but luxurious option is hiring a driver for a day. The driver will take you to where ever you want at an agreed price for the day.
Taxis: Always make sure to ask your driver to switch on the meter. Some deliberately neglect to do so resulting in customers usually paying a higher lump sum fare.
Grab: Working exactly the same as the Uber app. This is the safest way to get around in cities as the price is set at booking and you can pay by credit/debit card on file or by cash.
Rent a motorbike/scooter: This is by far my favorite method for getting around on islands. On top of freedom and flexibility, it really allows you to live in the scene and venture off the beaten track.The cost range from 5-10 USD plus gas per day and can come out to be cheaper than public transportation in some cases.
LANGUAGE
Tagalog or Filipino is the main language with various dialects according to region. English is predominately spoken so communicating during your travels should not be an issue.
TERRORISM. IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL THERE?
Terrorism and crime exists in the Philippines but it also exists anywhere else in the world. This is one of the top reasons people choose not to consider this country as their destination and I blame the over exaggerating media for this. There are cases of terrorist attacks and kidnapping but most incidents occur in small areas further south towards Mindanao. I have never felt threatened during my travels around the Philippines and most people I interacted with were extremely kind and helpful. Of course, if you go looking for trouble then you’re bound to find trouble. You should always practice extra safety precaution when traveling to foreign countries.
PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
The two main international airports are located in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and in Cebu, the oldest city and first capital. If you are planning on visiting areas around Palawan or Boracay, flying into Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the most convenient. If you intend to visit Bohol or Siquijor area, flying into Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) will be ideel. Traveling around the Philippines becomes relatively cheap once settled in. Your domestic budget airline options are Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and SkyJet. Philippines Airlines provide full proper service and is usually more expensive.
Once at the airport, I highly recommed first time travelers to Philippines to setup the Grab app on their phones. It is similar to Uber and is the safest way to not get scammed by taxi services. It offers competitive pricing with my ride from Manila Airport to Makati city costing under 250 PHP or 5 USD. Occasionally you can find discount codes advertised on banners around the airport so be on a lookout for that!
PLACES TO VISIT IN THE PHILIPPINES
