The Philippines is made up of 7,641 stunning islands, each known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and azure waters. Boracay, Palawan, Bohol and many other islands offer stunning beaches. Manila is the capital and historic centre of the Philippines, home to the remains of Spanish forts and walls, and has many attractions, including the Intramuros, Rizal Park and Old Manila.
1. Philippines Quick Facts
Language Filipino & English
Religion Christianity
Currency Philippine Peso (PHP)
Visa eTravel. Visa free access for most nationalities(Visa on Arrival)
Power Plugs 220 V 60 Hz (A /B/cType)
Capital Manila
ATM
The major banks in the Philippines are BPI, BDO, and Metrobank. All three charge a fee of P250 per withdrawal, but BPI has a maximum withdrawal of P20,000, which is twice as much as the others.
Use card
There are restrictions on using credit cards outside of high-end hotels, fine dining restaurants, and large shopping malls. There are also more restrictions outside of Manila and Cebu..
Useful APP
Google Maps
Grab
Sakay.ph* (Manila)
JTransit Cebu* (Cebu)
*Public transport maps, provides information on jeepney, MRT & LRT routes, pick-up and drop-off locations, fares, and more.
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Within the city
Tri-cycle: motorbike taxi, used for short trips within the neighbourhood. Basic P30-P40
Jeepney: A converted truck, this is the Philippines’ main form of public transport. It connects towns and cities, with a minimum fare of P11 and a surcharge for travelling further.
Minibus: Somewhere between a shared bus and a taxi, the destination is written on the front window.
Air-conditioned buses: You can say where you want to go and pay the fare. There are routes, but not necessarily bus stops.
MRT: The fastest way to travel, but there are no transfers and not many routes, with fares ranging from P13-P24 depending on the number of stops.
LRT: Fares range from P13-P30 depending on the number of stops.
* Women and the elderly should make sure to use the end compartments of the metro as they are reserved for women and the elderly.
*Ticket vending machines only accept coins, so if you don’t have any, you’ll have to tell the manned ticket booth where you’re going and get a ticket.
Taxis: base fare is 40 pesos, plus 13.5 pesos per kilometre, plus a congestion charge for travelling through congested areas. We recommend using Grab.
Travelling outside the city
MARINA PITX Express Bus Terminal
P300 from Manila to Batangas Port
Cebu motorbike taxis: Locals will go for P20 but tourists will charge P100, sometimes even the same place for P200.
4. Safety
The Philippines has a poor reputation for security, and crimes such as theft, robbery, and burglary are common, especially in the capital city of Manila and its surrounding areas. You should take extra precautions when travelling, such as keeping valuables on your person and avoiding walking alone.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police, ambulance, fire department, switchboard: 911
5. Climate
Manila experiences hot weather all year round, with an average annual high of 90°F (32°C) and a low of 73°F (23°C). The rainy season runs from June to October, with peak rainfall in August and September. The dry season is from December to April, with high humidity from May onwards.
6. price
The cost of living is generally low, but commercial and expatriate areas such as Makati and Bonifacio Global City are more expensive than other parts of the city.McDonald’s Big Mac P210
Supermarket water 500ml P20
7. Travel precautions
Get vaccinated before travelling to protect against endemic malaria, dengue and yellow fever in the Philippines and travel safely.
Be sure to buy and drink bottled water. You can buy distilled water or mineral water. The most popular brand is Nature’s Spring.
Taxis are only charged in pesos and rarely give small change, so make sure you have P20, P50, P100, and other denominations.
Tell them in advance that you want to go to the meter as they will not turn on the meter and will call the price at will when you arrive at your destination. They will ask you to pay a surcharge of P100 or more because of the traffic, but in Makati, locals also pay surcharges due to regular traffic jams, so P50 should be enough, and never put important belongings or expensive equipment such as cameras in the trunk. Make sure you unload all of your luggage before paying.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
Avoid insulting the locals or showing strong negative emotions, as this can lead to untoward incidents.
Tip
Although there is no tipping culture, it is customary to tip around P 50 per hour at a massage parlour, P 100 for a tour driver or staff member, and P 50 for a hotel maid.
9. Holidays
The public holidays in Philippines in 2024
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
10 Feb Sat Chinese New Year
28 Mar Thu Maundy Thursday
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
30 Mar Sat Black Saturday
9 Apr Tue Day of Valor
10 Apr Wed Eidul Fitr
1 May Wed Labor Day
12 Jun Wed Independence Day
16 Jun Sun Eidul Adha
21 Aug Wed Ninoy Aquino Day
26 Aug Mon National Heroes Day
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
2 Nov Sat All Souls’ Day
30 Nov Sat Bonifacio Day
8 Dec Sun Immaculate Conception
24 Dec Tue Christmas Holiday
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
30 Dec Mon Rizal Day
31 Dec Tue New Year’s Eve
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Wednesday, 29 January : Chinese New Year
Monday, 31 March : Eidul Fitr
Wednesday, 9 April : Day of Valor
Thursday,17 April : Maundy Thursday
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April : Black Saturday
Thursday,1 May : Labor Day
Friday, 6 June : Eidul Adha
Thursday,12 June : Independence Day
Sunday, 27 July : Founding Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo
Thursday, 21 August : Ninoy Aquino Day
Monday, 25 August : National Heroes Day
Friday, 31 October : All Saints’ Day Holiday
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Sunday, 30 November : Bonifacio Day
Monday, 8 December: Immaculate Conception
Wednesday, 24 December: Christmas Holiday
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Thursday, 30 December: Rizal Day
Wednesday, 31 December: New Year’s Eve