The Philippines is easier than it looks from the outside and harder than it looks once you are here. English is spoken almost everywhere, people are warm and helpful, and the islands are very beautiful. But the logistics reward planning, Manila can be an intense first few hours, and a few small things (cash, connections, timing) make a large difference to how your trip feels.
This is what we tell friends before their first visit.
Arriving in Manila
Most international flights land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, which has more than one terminal. Check which terminal your onward domestic flight leaves from: moving between terminals means going landside and can take an hour or more in traffic.
If you are connecting to an island on the same day, leave at least three to four hours between your scheduled international arrival and your domestic departure, and more if you are checking bags through on separate tickets. If your flight lands in the evening, stay one night near the airport and connect in the morning. It is a short, unglamorous night that protects the rest of your trip.
Some international flights also arrive at Mactan-Cebu, which is often a smoother gateway for trips focused on Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor or Siargao.
Getting around
Ride-hailing apps work well in Manila, Cebu and a few other cities and are the simplest way to get around. Use official airport taxis or pre-arranged transfers when you land. On the islands, you will meet tricycles (motorbikes with a sidecar), vans and, in some places, scooters for rent. On boats, you will travel in bangkas, the outrigger boats that do most of the country's short-hop transport.
Between islands, you will mostly fly. Ferries are excellent on some routes (Cebu to Bohol, Dumaguete to Siquijor, Coron to El Nido in season) and slow or unreliable on others. See our guide to travelling between islands.
Money
The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP). Card payment is accepted in most hotels and many restaurants in cities and main resort areas, but cash is still essential on the islands: for tricycles, small restaurants, environmental fees, boat tips and markets.
- ATMs are easy to find in cities and main towns, but they can run dry on small islands, especially on weekends and holidays. Withdraw before you arrive.
- Most local ATMs charge a fee per withdrawal on top of whatever your home bank charges, and many limit how much you can take out each time.
- Carry small notes. Change for a 1,000-peso note can be hard to find at a beach stall.
- Several destinations charge environmental or eco-tourism fees, payable locally. They are modest and go towards conservation.
Staying connected
Buy a local SIM or eSIM at the airport or in town; the two main networks both have shops in arrival halls. Registration with your passport is required by law. Mobile data is good in cities and patchy on boats and in remote coves. Hotel wifi varies widely, from excellent to decorative, and even good hotels on outer islands can lose connection in storms.
Health and comfort
- Drink bottled or filtered water. Most hotels provide refills.
- The sun is strong at every time of year. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a long-sleeved rash guard for boat days.
- Mosquitoes are around, particularly at dusk. Bring repellent.
- Pharmacies are easy to find in towns, less so on small islands. Bring what you need.
- Take out travel insurance that covers diving or surfing if you plan to do either.
Etiquette, briefly
Filipinos are warm, polite and often more formal than visitors expect. A few things help:
- A smile and patience go a long way. Raised voices rarely solve anything.
- "Po" and "opo" are added to speech as a mark of respect, especially to elders. You will not be expected to use them, but people appreciate the effort.
- Dress modestly in churches. Shoulders and knees covered is a safe rule.
- Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated. A service charge is often added in restaurants; if not, rounding up or leaving around 10% is generous. Boat crews and guides who have looked after you well deserve a tip.
- Pointing with your lips or raising your eyebrows to say yes is common; you are not imagining it.
Pace yourself
The single most common mistake on a first trip is trying to see too much. The Philippines is not a country you can tour in a straight line. Every island transfer costs half a day, and the best things (a quiet lagoon at 7am, a long lunch on a sandbar, a sunset you were not rushing to catch) need time.
For a first trip of two weeks, we suggest three islands at most. Pick contrasting ones: a limestone island (El Nido or Coron), a countryside island (Bohol or Siquijor), and a surf or rest island (Siargao) at the end.
What surprises first-time visitors
- How much English is spoken, and how good it is.
- How long Manila traffic can take; a 10-kilometre trip can last an hour.
- How early everything starts. Island-hopping boats leave at 8am or 9am, the best light is at 6am, and many restaurants on smaller islands close early.
- How much the experience depends on timing. The same lagoon can be serene at 7am and full of boats at 11am.
- How generous people are with directions, recommendations and time.
Before you go
- Check your passport validity and the entry rules for your nationality (see our visa guide).
- Complete the eTravel registration online within 72 hours before arrival.
- Download offline maps; signal can drop on boats and mountain roads.
- Save digital copies of your passport, tickets and insurance.
- Leave space in your bag. You will come home with dried mangoes.
