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Introduction to the country
The Philippines is located in the Western Pacific Ocean and have approximately 7,641 Islands. The country is made up of 3 major geographic divisions from South to North: Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon. Quezon City is the most populous and largest city of the country, while Manila serves as its capital. The official languages of the country include Filipino and English.
When To Go? / Best Time to visit
The best time to visit Filipino is between December and February when the temperature is cooler and all the remote areas and beautiful islands are fully accessible. The remote areas and beautiful islands can be fully accessible in March and April as well, however, the temperature will be higher by then.
How do I get a Visa?
Getting visa to the Philippines requires applying in person for an interview at the consulate. It is possible for citizens of some country to apply for the visa from another country. However, citizens of some other countries must apply in their country of legal residence or origin. The immigration authorities at the entry port have the right to deny an individual with a valid visa entry into the country.
Do I need Vaccines?
Some vaccines are very much recommended for individuals who want to visit the Philippines including chickenpox, measles, polio, meningitis, typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Travel Safety
Despite recent negative news of terrorism and drug warfare in the Philippines, the country is mostly safe. Your major fear, if at all, should be theft and pickpocketing. You should stay in safe places such as Taguig, Pasay and Makti part of Manila as opposed to Malate or Ermita. Be cautious about strangers and never accept drinks as the drink could be spiked. Also, beware of beggars and street kids as they could swamp you and snatch your belongings. Money given to them are often delivered to an individual who operates them. It is best to ignore them, but if you must help them, give them food or snacks instead. Also, avoid dark alleys and be careful with taxi drivers as they have a reputation for swindling money from individuals.
What To Pack?
Some of the things to pack when you are going on a trip to the Philippines include:
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Clothing
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Toiletries
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Beach towel
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Sunglasses
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Sun hat
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Crossbody bag
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Snorkel
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Water shoes
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Swimsuit
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Medications
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Hair ties
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Hairbrush
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Make-up
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Deodorant
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Mosquito repellent
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Face Wash
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Dry bag
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Essential Language Phrases
Kumusta – Hello / How are you (informal)
Mabuti – I am fine pronounced as mah-BOO-tee
Paalam – Goodbye pronounced as Pah-AHL-ahm
Paki – Please pronounced as Pah-KEE
Salamat – Thank you pronounced as sah-LAH-maht
Walang anuman – Your welcome – wah-LAHNG ah-noo-MAHN
Saan ang …? – Where is the …? pronounced as sah-AHN ahng …?
Kaliwa – Left pronounced as kah-lee-WAH
Kanan – Right pronounced as KAH-nahn
Baba – Down pronounced as bah- BAH
Dito – Here pronounced as DEE-toh
Diyan – There pronounced as dee-YAHN
Size / amount / money
Maliit – Small pronounced as Mah-lee-EET
Malaki – Big pronounced as mah-lah-KEE
Tahtlo – Three pronounced as taht-LOH
Dalawa – Two pronounced as dah-lah-WAH
Isa – One pronounced as ee-SAH
Ilan – How many? Pronounced as ee-LAHN
Mura – Cheap pronounced as MOO-rah
Mahal – mah-HAHL pronounced as Expensive
Magkano? – How much? (money) pronounced as mahg-KAH-noh
Pera – Money pronounced as PEHR-rah
Oo – Yes pronounced as OH-oh
Hindi – No pronounced as heehn-DEE
Hinto – Stop pronounced as heehn-TOH
Sige – Okay pronounced as SEE-geh
8.1 Manila
Manila serves as the capital of Manila. Like most other capitals it can seem chaotic due to a high level of activity. It features building ranging from ultra-modern skyscrapers to Spanish colonial styled buildings. It also features a huge social contrast with gleaming shopping malls located very close to slums and street food vendors selling very close to hotels of 5-star ratings.
8.2 Boracay
The city is a combination of sea, sand, and sun for your holidaying pleasure. White-sand beaches, as well as turquoise tranquil water, surround the city. The nightlife scene is very fantastic and there are so many things to do including visits to the beach. It is also affordable and easy to move around the city.
8.3 Cebu Island
The island served as a former capital of the country. There are several natural and manmade wonders to see including pristine beaches.
8.4 Bohol Island
This island is the tenth biggest Philippines island. Attractions on this island include sensational marine life, historical architecture, heavenly beaches, and chocolate-colored dome-like hills.
8.5 Mactan Island
The island has managed to retain its greenness despite its high level of modernization. The city is also popular for the production of musical instruments, especially the guitar. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which is the largest processing zone for export and the airport with the second highest traffic in the country is located here.
8.6 Angeles City
The city has an interesting and long history as well as many major attractions. Some of the attractions include the Balibago entertainment district, special economic zone, Clark Freeport, nightlife, Clark International Airport, industrial parks, shopping malls, and leisure centers. The Mount Pinatubo and Mount Arayat National Park are also nice places to visit.
9. 10 Amazing Things To Do In Philippines
There comes a time in everyone’s life where they need a getaway vacation. A getaway vacation is taking a break from your daily stressed life and visiting a new place to relax and to have inner satisfaction by visiting different sorts of new homes, meeting new people.
It is always enchanting to know that there are so many people in the world all with different cultures and beliefs. To visit a new place means visiting the country with different cultures and heritage to experience the life they are living in.
People want to enjoy some moments without any tensions, and for that, they visit different places to explore other people and to be there as a stranger without any stress at all.
So, after all of the thinking and analyzing you finally decided to visit the Philippines. Well, let me tell you one thing for sure that this is the best place and it is a country which should be considered as the most adventurous place to visit in life.
It is a place that covers more than seven thousand five hundred islands. So, If you are planning to visit the Philippines then make sure to make a plan before arriving at your destination.
The Philippines is gaining a lot of tourists but not as much in comparison to different tourist destinations such as of Vietnam or Malaysia etc. so, if you want to visit a place that is less crowded then going to the Philippines is the best option.
Almost all the people of the Philippines know and understand English very well, so there is a communication barrier in the Philippines. Like a vacation from all the stress, we deal in our lives, choosing the Philippines is the best option.
There are so many different locations to visit and to explore from surfing spots to volcanoes and numerous huge beaches as well. It is tough to decide the best places to see while visiting the Philippines but let us help you with that decision.
To make your decision about the Philippines more strong and to let you know why you should visit the beautiful country of the Philippines. The following are the top ten best things you should do and add in your to make a list of Philippines.
1. Explore the Boracay Island
This place contains different tropical palm trees along with the most beautiful beaches. Boracay Island is one of the loveliest places to visit in the Philippines because of its breathtaking beaches.
You will find the most beautiful white sandy beaches along with crystal clear water only on Boracay Island. There other are different beaches as well such as Diniwid Beach or the Puka Shell beach. They are all fantastic and beautiful in their ways.
2. Special Foods To Eat In Vigan
Vigan is the city of the heritage of the Philippines. Vigan is known not just for its architecture but also for its cuisines. If you are in Vigan, you should try their vegan empanadas. They are tiny yet crispy and delicious crusted pies with a vast variety of savory fillings.
You should also try Bagnet or Vigan as well. There are unique food items to try while visiting Vigan in the Philippines.
3. The Underground River Of Palawan
While being in the Philippines, the must-see thing is the Puerto Princesa underground river. The river is of 5 miles long and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of nature.
4. Visit The Museums In Manila
The city of Manila is the core of the cultural heritage of the Philippines. Some of the museums in Manila you could visit in a day are Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Ateneo Art Gallery, National Museum of Philippines, and NCCA Gallery. ( Read more about Museums to visit in Manila ). Most of the museums in Manila open their doors to the public for free.
5. Explore The Nights Of Makati
To have a night full of enjoyment in the Philippines, Manila is the best option. They have a vast variety of pubs from some pricey pubs in Makati to some economical ones in malate. There is pretty much something according to the desires of others.
6. Hiking The Mount Mayon
After making sure that the Mayon volcano is at its calm phase, then it is safe to climb and trek it all up. But you need to prepare yourself as it is not an easy trek. There are four camps during the whole hiking path. Base camp, camp one, camp two and then the final one. Please make sure you contact the department of tourism first before going for the hike.
7. Visiting The Chocolate Hills
The chocolate hills are about three miles outside of the town of Carmen. Be prepared to climb the two hundred steps before the breathtaking view of chocolate hills.
8. Surfing in Siargao Island
It is an island with a shape of a tear, location two hundred and seventy miles of Manila. If you’re a surfer, then this is the perfect place for you. It is the best surfing spot in the whole of Asia.
9. Know The Culture Of Batanes Islands
The Batanes islands are considered to be the best place for people with love for history. As this island lacks buildings which means that the people who were living here used whatever they found helpful to construct roofs or anything else.
10. Coron In Palawan Island
If you think you have visited all the other places from islands in the Philippines to the Puerto Princesa River. Then you should go towards the northern area of Palawan Island is a great choice to make. Coronis considered being the heaven on earth place for tourists. You will fall in love with the beautiful views of this place.
The above helpful tips would have made your mind sure about the beauty of the Philippines and the reasons that make Philippine distinguish as a tourist spot from other countries.
10. Typical costs
Accommodation in the Philippines ranges between 10 USD to 20 USD making it the most expensive in Southeast Asia, but still affordable. Renting a bike or boarding tricycles, jeepneys and buses are very cheap. However, using a ferry costs at least 20 USD. You can get food for as low as 1 USD and local brew of beer costing between 1 USD to 2 USD.
11. Saving Tips
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Travel in the low seasons to save cost.
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Avoid festive or holy weeks
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Book early flights and make your dates flexible
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Make friends with the indigenes
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Eat street food or at the market food stalls
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Do not use hotels in the middle of cities
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Negotiate and compare prices
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Be smart about money exchange
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12. How To Get Around?
Popular means of transportation include plane, boat, cruise ship, train, car, taxi, bus, jeepney, and rickshaw.
13. Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
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Use familiar words or honorifics
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Be friendly
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Be jovial
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Always say thank you
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Wave back
Don’ts:
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Do not be flashy
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Do not lose your temper
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Do not refuse food
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Do not walk alone on the streets
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Do not stay when a group of locals is drinking nearby
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Do not go out alone at night
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Don’t leave your valuables in the hotel room, except in the safe
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