Thingking about traveling to the Philippines? Below are some Philippines Travel Tips I can share with that may come in handy in your travel in the Philippines.
f you are looking for your next South East Asian tourist destination and considering a country that offers some amazing beaches and hiking adventures, the Philippines is most likely already on your list of places to visit in this part of the world.
With a more relaxed visa policy than let’s say Thailand for example, the Philippines is quickly becoming one of the top tourist destinations among travelers and backpackers alike. Due to the endless adventure opportunities and low cost of travel, more and more travelers choose to explore the seven thousand islands that make up this beautiful country every year.
The Philippines is an amazing country full of pristine ocean waters, palm tree-lined white sand beaches, and hidden gem waterfalls waiting to be found all over the islands here in the Philippines. There are a few more popular tourist destinations that have become more popular over the years, but there are still so many undiscovered areas all over this country it’s no wonder why so many choose to keep coming back now more than ever.
We will discuss some very helpful Philippines travel tips to make sure you have the best experience possible while visiting this amazing country and to make sure you set off on the right foot while on your vacation. Below I will discuss some great Philippines travel tips that will help you have the most enjoyable time here on the islands.
Exchange your Currency
When you arrive in the Philippines you will most likely be landing at Ninoy International airport found in the capital city of Manila. You may be moving onwards to other connecting flights, but often times you will have a short layover here if you by chance are flying elsewhere from the central hub of Manila.
During this connection, it is very wise to exchange your currency while here in the bigger airport as you will have more options compared to some of the smaller airports if you are flying to another location within the country. If you plan on staying in Manila to enjoy the city for a few days, then I would suggest you exchange a small amount of your currency in the airport and the rest outside of the airport as you will find better rates once you leave the terminal.
Regardless of your travel plans during your stay here in the Philippines, it is always best to carry some cash on you as there are not many options when it comes to using your foreign atm cards once you leave the bigger cities.
If you plan on visiting some of the smaller provinces during your stay, you will find it very difficult to find an atm or even a bank in some cases to withdraw currency as this country is still considered a cash-based economy. No matter how long you plan on staying in the country, it is always a wise idea to keep cash on you in the likelihood you are unable to use your atm card to make a cash withdraw.
Pack light
I have seen lots of people pack a bunch of unnecessary things in their travel bags with no thought as to why they really must take so much to a place that will have all the same stuff. One of my sisters actually brought bottled water! Trust me, you can get almost anything here in the Philippines that you can get back at home believe me on this one.
There may be a few exceptions especially when it comes to personal hygiene items, and perhaps not all the same “brands” you’re used to seeing will be available, but they will, however, be close enough. Asians don’t grow a lot of body hair so you will probably only find shaving equipment in the city or tourist areas as these are the most common areas that foreigners in the Philippines will be, and thus will provide a market for these items to make sense in carrying for the stores.
The less you bring the better off you will be as you will most likely be using multiple forms of transportation and therefore carrying your items a majority of the time from one place to another. As a general rule, if you can buy something in your country, you can buy it in the Philippines.
Only Bring Essentials
Whether you need an Apple MacBook, bottled water, umbrellas, new clothes, or batteries, you can get it all here, and even better you will most likely find it here for a lot less money at the same time, so it’s is strongly encouraged to pack less and purchase these things when you arrive as again it will be much cheaper and less of a headache trying to haul all these unnecessary items around with you when the main goal here is to let the stress and issues from back home disappear on vacation.
When you come to the Philippines, you want the right gear. It will make your life a lot easier, and enjoying the Puerto Galera activities and nightlife will be much more simple.
Here’s a rough list of good gear for the Philippines:
- waterproof backpack
- laptop (small, if possible)
- swimsuit
- microfiber towel
- wrinkle-free clothing (no need to iron)
- 2 or 3 changes of clothes (cheap laundry here, especially at Badladz!)
- MAYBE a change of pants, though not really necessary
Essentially, you want to focus on lightweight stuff being the best Philippines travel tips I can give. There’s a lot of great adventure in the Philippines, so you want to pack light and fast. Packing light makes everything easier due to the simple fact that you will be in transit with your belongings quite often as the Philippines consists of many islands.
When you pack light, you don’t have to worry about your bags as much. You can put your mind to the task of getting the most from your holiday in paradise and truly enjoy your time in paradise instead of worrying about this and that you forgot to pack.
Know where you're going
When it comes to vacations, a lot of people don’t want to plan. They want to escape from the rigors of working life and ride with the wind for as long as possible. Spontaneity is their creed and they’ll be damned if they have to make concrete plans. Most people just want to “rock n’ roll” and take things as they come and go. While spontaneity in life is essential to enjoy in which I love myself, there are a few things you should plan for.
Now you can still have that sense of letting things happen as they may mentality and trust us we do this often as well, but it’s a good idea to know what few things you can count on making sure are in order so that you have the best time of your life during your next tropical holiday in paradise.
Having a general idea of where you are going and a plan already figured out how you will get there will help you a great amount. There is nothing the local taxi, jeepney, and trike drivers in the Philippines love more than a tourist that looks lost and without a plan.
It is best to at least look like you know where you are going and how much things, in general, should cost to avoid the possible chance of being ripped off the minute you arrive in the country. Having a solid plan on where you will spend at least a few nights here in the country until to gain your bearings will go a long way here, trust me on this one.
BADLADZ Beach Resort Puerto Galera
If you are looking for a great place to stay near Manila and would like to have all of the luxuries of staying in a world-class resort then look no further than BADLADZ Resorts. Located less than 4 hours from Manila, BADLADZ is one of the best beach resorts you can stay at here in Puerto Galera, and if you would like to know more on how to get to the island read our blog on How to get to Puerto Galera.
We offer an amazing international restaurant, oceanfront lawn with views of the sea right outside your door, and a wonderful pool steps away from the beach all right here in Puerto Galera. Contact us today if you would like to experience this amazing island and you will be glad you did. For more Philippines travel tips and advice contact us and we will be glad to help you plan the vacation of a lifetime.
Cheers,
Sean
