15 things you should know before travelling to the Philippines
The Philippines was the first country I visited in South-East Asia. And has it set a high standard for the rest of the region! However, in hindsight there were a lot of things I didn’t know about the country that would have helped me prepare for my visit.
If you’re considering a trip to this beautiful island nation, here are some things I think you should know before you arrive.
Food poisoning can be a problem
Tap water is not drinkable in the Philippines. However, the quality of the tap water can vary, with some areas having worse water than others. For example, El Nido and Coron in Palawan have a particularly poor reputation for the cleanliness of the tap water.
Therefore, whilst filtered water is generally used in most restaurants catering to tourists, be careful, particularly when buying street food, as food poisoning does remain a risk!
Flying between some of the islands is a given
The Philippines is pretty big. Some islands are located far away from others, and tourist destinations within the country are spaced far apart. Also, most international flights come into either Manila or Cebu City, both of which are far from some of the tourist hotspots, such as in Palawan.
In all likelihood, you’ll need to take some flights within the country to get to the islands you’re visiting.
Ferries get cancelled regularly
You’ll be able to take the ferry to get between close islands. The ferries are generally safe and of a good quality in the Philippines. However, they are at the whim of the weather, and, depending on the season, the weather can be unreliable.
Therefore, ferries often get cancelled last-minute. It’s best to keep your plans flexible in case you need to stay somewhere for an extra few days. Also, make sure to have a back up plan should there be any further problems – particularly if you’re travelling during the typhoon season.
Everyone is so friendly
When we visited the Philippines, I found that all the locals in the islands we visited were so friendly. Particularly when travelling through smaller villages or in rural areas, it’s normal for people to say hi as you pass. We got a lot of high fives from the kids and a couple of selfies as well!
At no point did we feel unsafe. It was lovely to be in a country where we felt welcome. No one ever made us feel like they didn’t want us to visit their country.
Bring your street smart to the big cities
The reputation of the larger cities in the Philippines – mainly Manila and Cebu City, which are most commonly visited by international tourists – is not so great, with some unsafe pockets.
Visit them by all means! However, the normal recommendations for cities apply: remain vigilant in crowds; don’t walk alone at night; and avoid unsafe neighbourhoods.
The UK government warns against travel to Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
At present, the UK government warns against all travel to the Sulu archipelago and the west of Mindanao, and all but essential travel to the east of Mindanao, due to the threat of kidnapping and terrorism.
It is somewhat disappointing as areas of Mindanao sound fascinating to visit, such as the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO world heritage site near Davao. However, safety comes first!
It’s worth noting that if you do choose to visit these areas, the government do not offer full consular protection. Any trip to these areas could also invalidate your travel insurance (or make it a heck of a lot more expensive!), which could exacerbate problems should something go wrong.
The weather can be poor
Depending on the season, the Philippines can get a lot of rain, and the skies can be cloudy.
This is something I felt quite keenly during my trip in May and June 2023; in three weeks we only got a couple of days of proper sun! As it was the shoulder season, we had expected slightly better weather, but instead the sun took a vacation.
And, of course, I couldn’t write a list like this without mentioning the typhoon season. Between July and October, the Philippines receives around twenty typhoons each year, which can really mess up locals’ lives and your travel plans. In peak typhoon season it’s generally recommended not to visit.
You can burn even when it’s cloudy
The sun in the Philippines is intense! I was surprised how much I burnt, considering that it was cloudy on most of my days in the country.
As with anywhere else you might go, suncream is key. Pack a lot, and use it!
There are a lot of mosquitos
As with many other tropical countries, there are a lot of mosquitos in some areas of the countries. These mosquitos have the potential to carry malaria or dengue fever, and the bites itch, so getting bitten isn’t exactly pleasant.
We felt this most keenly during our trip to Daracotan Island off Palawan. Here, the mosquitos came at us with a vengeance, distracting from the natural beauty of the island.
Bring insect repellent, or buy it once you arrive; in many places you will need it. In a pinch, you can also cover up with trousers and a long top, which I had to resort to when in Daracotan. However, with how hot it can get, prepare to sweat…
Most people speak English
There are over 100 languages in the Philippines. Filipino and English are both official languages of the country, but the main languages spoken at home vary significantly by region, with Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano and Hiligaynon being some of the most widely spoken languages.
Therefore, whilst English is rarely spoken at home or between Filipinos, it’s commonly used in communication. You’ll see most signs and menus written in English. In the more touristy towns, most people can speak English well.
That being said, knowing a bit of the local language or Tagalog (which is also used commonly in communication) is appreciated. For example, using “salamat po” (a respectful way of saying “thank you” in Tagalog) is a nice way of showing gratitude in restaurants.
If you want to know more about the local languages, check out Translators without Border’s map of languages in the Philippines.
The islands are more similar than they are different
All the islands in the Philippines are different and have their own heritage and attractions. Depending on where you go, you’ll get a slightly different experience.
However, each island is more similar than they are different. Most of the most touristy islands all have beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and marine wildlife to see, and most are home to friendly, welcoming locals. In most of the islands, you’ll find great food and lovely places to stay.
Unless you have a specific attraction in mind, don’t worry too much about which islands to visit: you can’t really go wrong.
There is a strong Western influence on Filipino culture
Considering the Philippines is in South-East Asia, I was surprised how many aspects of Filipino culture are influenced by the Western world.
In hindsight, this shouldn’t have surprised me so much. The Philippines was a Spanish colony before it was ruled by the United States and eventually gained independence. Naturally this would have had an impact on the people who lived there.
Much of the music we heard in the Philippines was from Western countries, either from Latin America or the US. You could also see the impact in terms of religion, with widespread Catholicism, and modesty, with bikinis perfectly acceptable on all the islands we visited.
You may need to rent a scooter
On some of the bigger islands, the best beaches, waterfalls and dive spots can be spread a fair distance apart. Whilst some of the islands have buses or jeepneys, many do not, and the cost of taking a tour or tricycle to each destination can add up.
Therefore, depending on your budget and experience, it can be useful to rent a scooter to get around. This is easier in some destinations than others – for example, Siquijor and Bohol have fairly quiet, straight, well-paved roads. On the other hand, driving through the cities would be soul-destroying!
Don’t worry, though – there are always tricycles available if you don’t want to ride a scooter.
There’s a lot of stray cats and dogs
As in many other countries, there are many stray cats and dogs in the Philippines. The non-stray dogs are also free to roam, resulting in fairly high numbers of animals on the street and unfortunately a lot of injured or poor-looking animals.
The poor state of many animals means that, for most meals, you’ll have a cat or dog (or three) watching you in hopes of getting scraps. It pulls on the heart-strings, but also gets irritating fast!
It’s also worth mentioning that the Philippines is one of the top ten countries in the world for the prevalence of rabies. Having experienced this myself, I would recommend considering getting the rabies vaccination before arriving to minimise the chance of any later problems.
There will be poverty
There is no way to escape it – average wages in the Philippines are pretty low. Houses are small; healthcare can be low quality; and life expectancy is lower.
Seeing all this can be harrowing, especially if you visit an area which doesn’t have 24-hour electricity or running water, or any place which had been affected by previous typhoons.
The positive is, for the most part, we got the impression that people are happy, at least on the islands we visited. Living in the Philippines, much of which feels like paradise, we can understand why!
Conclusion
I absolutely loved my visit to the Philippines. If you’re also considering a trip, I hope the above helps you in your planning and to know what to expect once you get there.
Want more inspiration (and real advice) on visiting the Philippines? Check out my post on why you should (and should not) visit this archipelago
