Accommodations, Featured, Philippines, Southeast Asia

Philippines Travel Guide

It’s been rumored that the Philippines have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I can tell you that the rumor is true. From secret lagoons that are accessed only by battling crashing waves and swimming through a small opening in a rock, to pristine white sand beaches without another soul in sight, this country will steal your heart and reveal a new adventure around every corner.

TYPICAL COSTS

First, if you’re traveling to the Philippines, you’re going to want to get familiar with their money. Current exchange rates are always changing, but if you want to do a quick calculation, dividing the Philippine Peso (PHP) amount by 50 will typically get you a pretty good idea of how much you’ll be spending in U.S. dollars (USD).

If you want to get down to the penny – keep the Google Currency Converter link open on your phone.

AIRFARE

Prices vary, depending on what time of year you go and where you are flying out. The theory is that prime ticket-buying time for international flights is 6-8 weeks out.

ACCOMMODATIONS

$50/night+

I traveled to the Philippines at the end of March and beginning of April and did occasionally run into trouble finding good accommodations. I expected prices closer to what we had seen in Thailand but we were surprised that they were closer to U.S. prices. They can range from a few dollars a night to tens of thousands of dollars a night, depending on how fancy you want. We did Airbnb a couple of nights and found hotel rooms through Hotels.com the rest of the nights.

The cheapest lodging you’ll likely find is shared dorm rooms. There are also guesthouses, bungalows, hotels, and of course, Airbnb. We stayed in nicer/clean hotels and paid $50-$120/night depending on the area.

VACCINATIONS

Cost: $50+

PLAN AHEAD! Travel appointments can get booked out weeks in advance and some of the medications have to be started a month or more before traveling. You’ll want to out what the CDC has to say about travel requirements/recommendations and then make a travel appointment with your doctor to go over what you should do as far as vaccines and medications while traveling. Insurance will typically cover routine vaccines, but there will likely be a fee for the travel appointment and for any Philippines-specific vaccines needed.

CELL PHONES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Cost: $15+

Lots of people stress about what to do about cell phones in a place like the Philippines, but it really is simple! If you have an international cell phone plan or have a carrier that doesn’t charge extra internationally, well then you’re awesome and you can skip this section. For all the others, you can take your cell phone to the Philippines and you can do it cheaply! I took my iPhone 6S+ and got a Philippine sim card at the airport that cost about $15 and lasted me the full two weeks I was there. Just be aware that, unlike in Thailand, there is very limited wifi around the islands here. Many hotels will say that they have wifi, but it doesn’t really work very well, if at all. Many rural areas also had pretty limited cell reception and you often had to be in the heart of a town to get good cell service.

FOOD

Cost: $5+/meal

Food prices, of course, depend on where you buy them. I saw prices fairly close to U.S. prices for food, but I also tended to dine in more touristy restaurants.

GETTING AROUND

Getting around in the Philippines was not as simple as I expected it would be, but I was still able to get everywhere I wanted to go. Taxis are metered and aren’t typically too pricey and can often be worth the little bit of extra cost just to have A/C relief in the hot and humid weather. Tricycles are fun and are the main method of transportation around town in Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Metered taxi rates and airfare aren’t typically negotiable, but just about everything else is to a small degree. Because the Philippines are made up of so many islands, expect to take many boat rides and flights on small propeller planes.

THINGS TO DO

PUERTO PRINCESA

Honda Bay Island Hopping

Pandan Island

Starfish Island

Cowrie Island

Ugong Rock

Underground River

Eat fresh seafood

Walk the town

EL NIDO

Ziplining