Philippine Travel – Pack Light – Leave it at Home!

I can believe what people bring on vacation. Two pairs of leather hiking boots? I even saw someone dragging a white-water kayak out of Terminal One. The variety of items that travelers pack always surprises me. Again and again, I see outrageous luggage choices, and the reasons behind them can be just as unexpected.

If you’re planning a long vacation in the Philippines or even thinking about a staycation on the islands, don’t stress about overpacking before you go. Most of the items you think you need at home, like luxury goods and everyday essentials, are available in the Philippines. You’ll often find either the exact item or something very similar.

For short visits, packing light is a smarter choice. It makes your trip easier and leaves plenty of room in your luggage for souvenirs and treasures you want to bring or send back home.

Going Scuba Diving? LEAVE IT AT HOME!

Every dive shop you visit will have a full set of gear ready for you, I promise. Most shops don’t even charge extra if you’ve already paid to dive with them, so why not take full advantage of this perk? Using rental gear has big benefits. You won’t have to worry about your airline losing expensive equipment, and you can avoid lugging a lot of gear from place to place.

Many dive shops now offer balanced Apeks regulators for their customers. Seriously, we sell about 40 of them a month to shops. Just ask, and they’ll be happy to provide a list of available gear.

For personal items, bring your own mouthpiece for hygiene, and your wetsuit if it makes you feel more comfortable. There are basically two kinds of divers: those who admit to peeing in rental wetsuits and those who don’t. A mask is a good idea if you have a hard-to-fit face or need prescription lenses.

Sporting Goods. THE AIRLINES DON’T NEED YOUR MONEY!

Do your research! Whether you want to buy or rent, you can find almost everything you need here in the Philippines, often for much less than back home. In the worst case, if something gets lost at the airport, you won’t be left stranded. Bikes, kayaks, kiteboards, surfboards—you name it. Nearly every type of extreme sports gear and equipment is available once you arrive.

You can rent or buy when you get here and sell it before you leave. It’s really that simple. You might even find an item you’ve had your eye on for a while at the same price or even cheaper than back home. I personally buy almost anything, or I know someone who will, making it easy for travelers to fully enjoy their experience without unnecessary stress or worry.

If there’s something specific you’re looking for, or if you want to sell something while here, feel free to reach out to me anytime through our contact page.

Jewelry. GIVE IT UP!

Please remember that the Philippines is a developing country. Be mindful not to make the local people feel more desperate or envious than they might already feel. I once saw a couple at a beachfront restaurant in Sabang covered in literal kilos of gold. They had rings on every finger and flashy necklaces everywhere. I couldn’t help myself and politely approached them to give a heads-up. They quickly understood and secured their valuables. On their next visits, they left the jewelry behind.

To put it in perspective, just $1,000 worth of jewelry could be six months’ salary for someone local. It’s a simple way to travel responsibly and avoid unnecessary risk for both yourself and those around you.

Travelers Checks. FORGET IT.

Even if you find someone who will take them, you’ll need to show the original receipts to cash them. These are the same items you aren’t really supposed to travel with. To make things worse, you will probably get a bad exchange rate on top of that.

Appliances using 120 volts. SAVE THEIR LIVES!

They will meet a tragic end, I promise. The outlets here are the same as those in North America, so it’s easy to forget. Then suddenly, the magic smoke escapes. It’s a harsh reminder that it’s too late to depend on your transformer.

At home we do it...... THEY DON’T CARE HOW YOU DID IT AT HOME.

This is the Philippines, and things are done their way. Sometimes it will be the opposite of what you expected, or nothing will be done at all, just to make a point. Fighting the system is a losing battle; you won’t change it. A perfect example is that Spain ruled much of South America and Mexico for 400 years, and they speak Spanish. Spain ruled the Philippines for 400 years, and they speak Tagalog.

Drugs & Pornography. DEFINITE NO NO’S

If you’re a fan of prison life, you might think about bringing your own. However, the arrival card says it all: “Death to Drug Traffickers.” That could really ruin your day. No worries, though; you can still buy it here. I was tempted to say, “If you like prison food,” but the truth is, they don’t feed you in prison. You’d need someone to bring it in or pay someone to get it for you.

Remember!

You’ll likely pick up souvenirs and maybe a few useful travel gadgets while you’re here. Leave some extra space in your bags. If they’re already full before you even leave home, you’ll regret it.