I’ve heard again and again that our Youtube videos have helped people tremendously when they are coming to the Philippines. They help people find the right transportation, avoid getting scammed and find the hotspots for things to do and places to see.
This blog post will show you some videos that have guided previous customers through different aspects of travel that make it all simple and safe. Though getting to Puerto Galera isn’t difficult, it simply takes a little understanding to get here quickly and cheaply and to avoid a few pitfalls.
In this video series, you’ll learn some different things about what gear/luggage to pack, how pre-planned your trip should be, and some other golden tickets.
Without further ado, let’s start at the beginning:
Traveling to the Philippines
When traveling to the Philippines you will come across a few different challenges when you arrive at the international airport. If you didn’t exchange money before arriving you will need to take care of that. If you didn’t set up your phone to be unlocked prior to arrival so that you are able to purchase a sim card from a Philippine carrier you have another task needing attention. Also, if you don’t yet have either of these two tasks mentioned above prior to arriving, on top of not booking any accommodation; you’re going to be starting off on the wrong foot before you even step onto Philippine soil. When starting your Philippine travel you want to have the least amount of complications when you arrive as possible.
When you arrive, have a destination
There are many travelers who feel a sense of adrenaline booking on the fly or scoping the place out before deciding to book their stay within a country, and believe me when I say this; the Philippines is not a country you want to be doing this. When you arrive at the international airport whether, in Manila, Clark, Cebu, you need to have accommodation booked prior to your arrival. You don’t want to be hanging out in the airport trying to find last-minute deals or free wifi around the airport terminal due to the fact that most free wifi requires a Philippine local number to access it. You need a place to go when you arrive in the Philippines; even if just for one night where you can get acclimated whether in Ermita or Malate if flying into Manila, Mango Ave. if arriving in Cebu, or Fields Avenue if landing at Clark airport for a research study in Angeles City. Have accommodation booked prior to your arrival to avoid any unforeseen complications, and you will be glad you did.
Stuff to bring to the Philippines
You don’t need to bring a lot of things with you during your Philippine travel adventures. More often times than not you can find most items your thinking of bringing along with you here already, even on some of the smaller items most essentials can be purchased for little to no money. The reason I say this is because most things you can purchase in your home country, you can find here for half the price if not less. Yes, I said that correctly; anything you can find in your home country, for the most part, can be found here in the Philippines with the exception of tampons, and please don’t ask me why I know this.
Bring stuff that’s waterproof
In a country that consists of over seven thousand islands, you will eventually be crossing over water, and with the island climate, you will even have the possibility of experiencing rain during your stay in the Philippines; even if it’s only for a few hours. Make sure you bring stuff that is waterproof. I always suggest you carry your belongings in “Dry Bags” or a waterproof backpack; I use a combination of the 2, a “Drybag backpack” and it has saved my electronics and other important gear items 10 fold. When your traveling around the Philippines, make sure everything can fit into one bag. I will go into this more in a bit but the main essential items you need to have during your stay in the Philippines are; a swimsuit, micro towel, 2-3 changes of clothes, sandals, and your important electronics such as a phone or tablet that you hopefully keep in some type of waterproof bag.
Philippines transportation system
The reason I can’t stress enough the importance of packing light when traveling to or around the Philippines is that no matter where your destination takes you here, chances are you will be taking multiple forms of transportation. You could be arriving at the international airport and taking a taxi to the bus terminal. From there the bus will take you to the port where you will be getting on a local banca or ferry and then head a few hours across the ocean to the island. When you land on the island you may need to take a trike, jeepney, or van, and so on. For this reason, it is best to pack as light as possible when traveling around the Philippines, as you never really know what form of transportation the locals are using for that month.
It is also important to note that many travelers when visiting the Philippines tend to buy a lot more items as souvenirs in the Philippines than they would buy similar items in their home country. You won’t have any space in your bag to take all these items home with you if you pack everything you own and bring it all here now, will you? Only bring the bare essentials when coming to the Philippines and for anything you absolutely need when you get here, it will most likely not be difficult to find when you’re here.
There you go! While there’s always more to learn about Philippine travel, destinations, food, fun, and the culture here in the Philippines, this will get you started. If you want to learn more, check out the BADLADZ Youtube channel which is full of over 100 videos on things you need to know about the Philippines, Manila, Puerto Galera, and more.
Cheers,
Sean