Philippines Vacation Guide • Part 1 of 10
Preparing for Your Philippines Trip: What You Need to Know
Everything you need to prepare before your first trip to the Philippines, from booking flights to arriving at your hotel.
Preparing for Your Philippines Trip
If you are preparing for a Philippines trip for the first time, the first step is researching the country online. Work out when you are taking your vacation and for how long.
Booking your flight
Always book your flight two or three months in advance. You will get a better deal than booking just a week or two before departure.
Travel insurance is essential
Get travel insurance because if you have an accident or develop a condition like malaria, it could cost you a small fortune without coverage. Medical emergencies abroad can be extremely expensive.
Packing light and smart
You do not need a lot of luggage. A backpack under 7KG (15.4 lbs) works well as carry-on, letting you skip the 20-30 minute wait at baggage claim after a long flight.
Pack your toiletry bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, a dozen pairs of underpants, four tank tops, a spare pair of pants, 3-4 shirts, and flip-flops. Bring your laptop, mobile phone, and camera gear.
Condoms that fit
If you are average or above in anatomy, bring condoms that fit. Philippine convenience stores sell condoms sized for Filipino men, who are usually less well-endowed than Western men.
Bring an extra credit card
Bring an extra credit card as backup. If you lose your wallet or it gets stolen, you could find yourself in serious trouble.
You can use Western Union or World Remit to send money from your bank account to yourself for pickup at their outlets. Once in Manila, an ATM swallowed a card and it was lost that way.
Money exchange at the airport
There are usually 3-4 money changers at major airports. Bringing cash to exchange into Philippine pesos is vital.
Bring a minimum of $1000. Without cash, you will constantly need ATMs with hefty fees, and sometimes ATMs are not working or out of money. It is not always like the West in the Philippines.
Many taxis are cash only, so you will be stuck without pesos. You also need to buy a SIM card for your phone, available at the airport.
The temperature shock
Once you leave the air-conditioned airport terminal, it is like walking into a furnace, especially if you traveled from a cool climate.
The Philippines has a hot and humid tropical climate. From April to June especially, it can be nasty and energy-sapping.
Getting to your accommodation
Book your accommodation before you arrive. To get there, either get a taxi at the airport taxi stand or download the Grab app before you leave your country for a cheaper Grab ride. Uber does not exist in the Philippines.
One interesting experience involved getting “grabbed” by a supposed Grab driver who walked out into the car park. He admitted on the way that he was not an official Grab driver but had borrowed his sister’s car because he needed money to feed his 7 children.
Strange things like that happen in the Philippines.
Connect with Filipinas before you arrive
Start building connections on FilipinaMeet before your trip. Having local friends or a potential girlfriend who knows the area makes your arrival much smoother and your vacation more authentic.