Going to the Philippines is probably one of the most beautiful places that you can travel to! However, there are some differences. To ensure you are as prepared as possible, I’ve written down some of the things that might be good to know before your trip to the Philippines.
Is it safe to travel in the Philippines?
My parents were concerned before I went there, which made me anxious too. Perhaps because the Swedish embassy recommends not going there as it can be volatile in certain areas. If you mostly stay on the islands, you won’t notice anything. In Manila, it’s good to stay around your accommodation and maybe not stay there for too long. Z-hostel is very good accommodation, and they have everything you need, even a rooftop bar.
How to get around on your trip going to the Philippines?
For example, there isn’t really any public transportation except TukTuk within the islands. The easiest way to get from place to place within an island is to book transportation through a hotel or hostel, at least that’s what we did. It’s very cheap to rent a moped yourself and drive around. If you want to book excursions, you can also do that through hotels/hostels. There are also vendors on the beach you can book through; just keep an eye on prices so you don’t get tricked and have to pay unnecessarily.
When you leave the airport in Manila for your accommodation, you can book “grab” or “uber” on your phone. It’s safest since you get a price before getting in the car. Manila’s traffic is extreme, and it can take several hours to travel just a few miles or even kilometers. The airports on the islands always have TukTuks or cars you can take to your accommodation, and it usually goes very smoothly.
If you’re going from island to island, flying is almost the only option unless the islands are close together, and you can take a boat.
Is it expensive or cheap to travel going to the Philippines?
It is generally very cheap to travel in the Philippines, and you can negotiate on almost everything. Accommodation at a hostel/hotel costs about 150 SEK/night (hostelworld is a good app to use). A meal at a restaurant usually costs between 50-100 SEK. A ride with a TukTuk costs about 15-20 SEK if it’s within a village or town. In other words, it’s cheap to travel in the Philippines!
What are the people like? do they understand English?
The local people are very friendly and helpful, and they also speak very good English, so it’s not a problem. The Philippines is very relaxed, and you quickly get into the culture, and I think that’s why many people start to love the Philippines. Already after a few hours, you feel your body relax. They are also very caring and generous even though they don’t own much. One evening there was a knock on the door, and the person we rented a hut from said that dinner was served. We went out and saw his family and friends having dinner together, and it felt like it was obvious to him that we should be there now that we lived there, very cozy!
Is the food good in the Philippines?
As we all know, the bacterial culture is a bit different from what we are used to in Sweden, and the stomach can definitely go a bit crazy. To counteract this, it may be a good idea to take probiotic tablets that can be bought at the pharmacy; it balances the stomach’s flora a bit and works well for me when I am abroad. I got food poisoning once, not a huge disaster, but it went away within a day. It’s difficult to avoid entirely, and you will probably feel a bit strange in the stomach, but it’s nothing catastrophic.
Their everyday food consists of chicken, pork, or fish, and they have rice, vegetables, and soy sauce with it (it’s delicious). Since there is no grocery store, you eat out every meal. There is everything from pasta to burgers to tasty sandwiches and, of course, their traditional food.
If you’re going to visit Siargao, I’ve written a post about which restaurants you shouldn’t miss; read it here: Restaurants in Siargao you shouldn’t miss.
