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Passport
It is a requirement of The Philippines’s Government that British visitors to the country possess a valid 10 year passport and that the passport has at least six months validity left after your return from holiday. Please check that your passport complies with this decree well in advance of travel. If you do not have a British passport please contact the Philippine Embassy to see what regulations do apply.
Visa
Generally, foreign nationals who wish to enter the Philippines is not required a visa if:
He/she is a citizen of a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
He/she is a citizen of a non-ASEAN member state whose nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free [1]
He/she is a balikbayan and is only returning to the Philippines temporarily
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 30 days. The tourist must hold:
Notarized application form duly prescribed by the Embassy.
Actual passport of applicant (valid at least 6 months at the time of entry) and one (1) photocopy of the data page.
Proof of ticket reservation..
One colored 2” x 2” photo, taken within the last six (6) months from the date of application, showing a clear front view of the applicant’s face, with a white background. No sleeveless attire. Blurred or low-quality photos will not be accepted.
Proof of financial capacity (photocopy of latest bank statement) and/or an employment certificate from the employer or letter of endorsement if attending or participating in a program.
Self-addressed prepaid return envelope,preferably USPS Priority Mail, with tracking number, Do not use metered stamps or P.O. Box Return Address. Do not use Fedex. IMPORTANT: Please do not require a “signature to receive” on your package and do not use a box to send your documents.
Visa fee of US$ 30.00 for nationals of visa-free countries; US$40.00 for nationals of non-visa-free countries (non-refundable) in cash or money order made payable to “Embassy of the Philippines”. Personal checks are not accepted.
Acceptable proof of vaccination (against COVID-19) i.e. CDC vaccination record card, state issued vaccine records.
The tourist must hold:
Notarized application form duly prescribed by the Embassy.
Actual passport of applicant (valid at least 6 months at the time of entry) and one (1) photocopy of the data page.
Proof of ticket reservation..
One colored 2” x 2” photo, taken within the last six (6) months from the date of application, showing a clear front view of the applicant’s face, with a white background. No sleeveless attire. Blurred or low-quality photos will not be accepted.
Proof of financial capacity (photocopy of latest bank statement) and/or an employment certificate from the employer or letter of endorsement if attending or participating in a program.
Self-addressed prepaid return envelope,preferably USPS Priority Mail, with tracking number, Do not use metered stamps or P.O. Box Return Address. Do not use Fedex. IMPORTANT: Please do not require a “signature to receive” on your package and do not use a box to send your documents.
Visa fee of US$ 30.00 for nationals of visa-free countries; US$40.00 for nationals of non-visa-free countries (non-refundable) in cash or money order made payable to “Embassy of the Philippines”. Personal checks are not accepted.
Acceptable proof of vaccination (against COVID-19) i.e. CDC vaccination record card, state issued vaccine records.
The cuisine of the Philippines is a mixture of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Arab, Spanish, Japanese, American, and in some cases, Latin influences. Food in the Philippines is known for being an interesting combination of both sweet and sour flavours. For example, Champorado is a sweet cocoa rice porridge that is paired with tuyo which is a salted, sun-dried fish.
Vinegar is a common ingredient in many dishes around the country, while rice is considered the most important staple of the Filipino diet, with steamed rice accompanying most dishes. Food is rarely wasted and leftover rice is fried with garlic to make sinangag which is served at breakfast with eggs and either cured meat or sausages. Fruits and vegetables are also very common, with bananas, guavas, mangoes, papayas and pineapples as favourite fruits, while green, leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage as well as eggplant and beans are favourable vegetables. Coconuts are everywhere and are used in desserts, while coconut milk is the base of many sauces and coconut oil is used for frying.
December through February is the ideal time of year to visit the Philippines. These months fall within the country’s dry season and are some of the coolest, with average temperatures in the mid-70s.
March, April, and May are also great months to visit—though expect steamier weather. The average temperature in May is around 83 degrees with the humidity reaching its highest levels. Escape the heat by heading to the mountains—there are several mountain ranges, especially on the island of Luzon where Manila, the country’s capital, is located. Higher elevations provide cooler temperatures year-round.
The Philippines’ rainy season spans from June to November, and typhoons are particularly likely from July to September.
Pro tip: All weather is not created equally in the Philippines; in fact, the country has four different climate zones. If your only time off is in November, that definitely doesn’t mean the Philippines is a no-go. A Filipino local can tell you where to go at what times of year to have the best experience.
The Philippines is a beautiful and popular destination. It is key to make sure you bring everything with you to fully enjoy your trip.
Lightweight and comfortable clothing is recommended with breathable fabrics like linens or cotton. Conservative dress is recommended as well as comfortable walking shoes. Warmer clothing is needed for the mountain regions. Formal clothing is required when visiting religious sites.
Money Belt – Due to the amount of pick-pocketing that occurs, a money belt will allow you to keep your money and passport safe.
Bug Spray – The climate in the Philippines is hot and humid. This creates a breeding ground for bugs, especially mosquitoes.
Cash – Because of frequent ATM frauds, it is best to stick to avoid withdrawing cash if possible.
Umbrella – During the rainy season there will be frequent warm rains and an umbrella will serve to keep you dry during these showers.
Highly recommended Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver. You can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in this country, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended for travel to this area. It involves either 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine, or 3 doses of the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines given as a combination.
Typhoid vaccine
Recommended for most travellers. You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.
Safe food and water practices are the basis of prevention, but vaccination is also recommended for travel to this area. Immunity post-vaccination lasts for 2-3 years.
Some travellers may require:
Anti-malaria medications
You should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria.
You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. Effective options would include doxycycline, atovaquone/proguanil or mefloquine.
Malaria is present throughout the year in all areas below 600 metres elevation, except no risk in Bohol Island, Borocay Island, Catanduanes Island and Cebu Island. No risk is considered to exist in Manila or other urban areas..
Rabies vaccine
Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in this country, but it is not a major risk to most travellers. The vaccine is only recommended for these groups:
Travellers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for animal bites (such as adventure travel and caving).
People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
People who are taking long trips or moving to remote areas
Routine vaccinations
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip, such as:
measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine
varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
influenza vaccine
Most of the Philippines is safe, but the country’s southern region should be avoided. The US Department of State advises citizens not to travel to the Sulu Archipelago. Travelers should also remain vigilant in Metro Manila and Quezon City where foreigners can be targeted as victims of robbery. Avoid traveling after dark or stick to well-lit streets; leave valuables at home, and keep a low profile.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend drinking tap water in the Philippines. Stick to bottled water and make sure your ice and cocktails are made with clean water too.
DON’T arrive at social functions on time—showing up 15 minutes late in the Philippines is not only fashionable, but it’s also considered polite.
DO secure an international phone plan before your trip. The Philippines is known as the “texting capital of the world”; so get your fingers ready for some rapid-fire messaging.
DON’T take yourself too seriously. Filipinos are known for their humor, so come ready to laugh.
DO pick a go-to song ahead of your trip; karaoke is a national pastime in the Philippines.
By air
Air travel is a godsend for island-hoppers in the Philippines, with a number of airlines linking Manila with most of the country’s major destinations; you will usually, however, have to backtrack to a major hub when jumping from one region to another. Philippine Airlines (www.philippine airlines.com) has a comprehensive domestic schedule, while two of the newer airlines, Airphil Express (wwww.airphils.com) and Cebu Pacific (wwww.cebupacificair.com), offer even more routes and very cheap fares, particularly if you book some way in advance. There are two good smaller airlines – Zest Air (wwww.zestair.com.ph) and Seair (wwww.flyseair.com) – serving a number of popular routes. Zest Air’s network includes Cebu City, Masbate, Virac, Busuanga and Tacloban. Seair flies from Manila to, among other places, Clark, Caticlan (for Boracay), Batanes and Tablas. Cebu Pacific runs numerous flights out of its hub in Cebu City, saving you the effort of backtracking to Manila – you can, for instance, fly straight from Cebu City to Caticlan (for Boracay) and Siargao. Davao is a lesser developed third hub, with connections to Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga, but even here you’ll have to transfer in Manila and Cebu for other destinations.
By ferry
Ferries and bangkas – wooden outrigger boats – were once the bread and butter of Philippine travel. Though still important, especially in the Visayas (where there’s hardly a coastal barrio that doesn’t have some sort of ferry service), most of the longer routes have been made redundant by the growth of budget air travel. Not only are flights faster and as cheap (or cheaper) than cabins on longer ferry routes (Manila to Mindanao for example), they are invariably safer. Indeed, despite some improvements in recent years, ferry accidents remain common in the Philippines and even in the dry season the open ocean can get surprisingly rough. The smaller bangkas are often poorly equipped, with little shelter from the elements, while even many of the larger vessels have been bought secondhand from Japan or Europe and are well past their prime. Ferries of all sizes are frequently crowded.
By bus
Bus travel can be relatively uncomfortable and slow, but you’ll get a real glimpse of rural Philippine life from the window, and meet Filipinos from all walks of life. Buses are also incredibly convenient: hundreds of routes spread out like a web from major cities and even the most isolated barrio will have a service of some sort. You won’t go hungry either. At most stops local vendors will jump on and offer you various snacks and drinks, while on the longer hauls, buses stop every three or four hours to give passengers a chance to stretch their legs and buy some food.
There are some downsides. Though the largest bus companies have fleets of reasonably new air-conditioned buses for longer routes, most rarely have toilets. On shorter routes buses can be dilapidated contraptions with no air conditioning and, in some cases, no glass in the windows. You’ll also need to have a high tolerance to loud music or Tagalog movies played at full blast throughout the trip.