8 useful tips when traveling to the Philippines ♒︎
Home to over 7000 islands, The Philippines is one of those destinations that is hugely underrated compared to the other destinations in Southeast Asia. This beautiful collection of islands offers endless white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, volcanoes, lakes, huge rice fields and impressive mountains.
Home to over 7000 islands, the Philippines is one of those destinations that is largely underrated compared to other destinations in Southeast Asia. However, for the travelers that do go, you will be rewarded with endless white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, gleaming emerald colored volcanoes and lakes, and impressive rice fields and mountains.
Heres 8 useful tips for your trip to the Philippines!
1.Currency
Philippines is one of the cheapest places in the world to travel, especially when compared to the US or Europe. The Philippine peso, also referred to by its Filipino name piso is the official currency of the Philippines - March, 2019 conversion rate: 100 = 0.014 GBP (BARGAIN!)
2. Tipping
In the Philippines, tipping is not required. Wait staff usually don’t expect tips so they are not offended when you do not give any tip. However, some establishments add a ‘service charge’ to your bill.
3. Language
Despite being home to multiple dialects, Tagalog is considered as the National language. However, one of the most beautiful things about the Philippines is that almost everyone speaks English which makes it easier to communicate with the locals. However here are some helpful phrases:
Hello = kumusta
Thank you = salamat
Beer = bir
Delicious = masarap
Bathroom = banyo
How much? = magkano
Average prices - Feb 2019
4. What to pack
As the Philippines is a warm tropical country, make sure you pack accordingly. If you decide to head up North to the rice terraces, the weather can get cooler so bringing a light waterproof jacket is highly advisable. If you plan to spend most of your time island hopping, make sure you bring ample sunblock or rash guards as protection. Unless you plan on taking on some steep trails, a good pair of training shoes should be enough.
5. Karaoke
Karaoke is the national pastime in the Philippines and at some point you'll find yourself mic-in-hand making a lame attempt to belt out ‘Wonderwall’. Don't worry about making a fool of yourself or sounding like a chicken being strangled. Filipinos aren't judgmental when it comes to singing and will respect your attempt at cultural immersion.
6. Weather
A common misconception about the Philippines is that the entire country has the same weather which is not true and solely depends on what region you are visiting. November to April is the most popular time of year to visit the Philippines, when rainfall is at its lowest and even the more remote regions of this island can be accessed without difficulty. Average annual temperatures of 26°C are experienced across the country, with May being the hottest month of the year in the Philippines.
7. safety
You have probably heard that the Philippines is not a safe country. Horrific stories about terrorism grab the headlines and therefore bring a lot of bad PR to the country.
Violent crime is very rare in the Philippines. With the exception of a few rough neighbourhoods in Manila and Cebu, you can walk around in the middle of the night and nothing will happen to you. As long as you prepare and are aware of the risks at all time, there is a really slim chance of you encountering any trouble throughout your trip.
8. Health
Make sure you also pack some sunblock and mosquito repellent!!! If you are traveling to the Philippines, your doctor may recommended to get vaccines against Hepatitis, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow Fever and Rabies. While this is undeniably true, it is not essential and doesn’t affect 99.9% of the tourists coming to the country.
