Internet in the Philippines has improved a lot, but it is still uneven. In cities and many resorts it is fast enough for video calls; on small islands it can be slow or interrupted. If you need to work while you travel, plan your route around the connection.
Hotel and resort Wi-Fi
Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Quality varies widely: it is often strong in the lobby and weaker in villas far from the main building. Some remote resorts now use satellite internet, which can be surprisingly good. We check the connection with each hotel before booking if you tell us you need it.
Mobile data
4G is common in towns, and 5G is available in parts of the big cities. Mobile data is often faster than hotel Wi-Fi on the islands, so a local SIM or eSIM is a good backup. See our guide to SIM cards and eSIMs.
Where the connection is good
- Manila, Cebu, Davao and other cities: fast fibre and mobile data.
- Siargao (General Luna), El Nido town, Boracay and Panglao in Bohol: generally good, with cafés and co-working spaces popular with remote workers.
- Coron town: reasonable; island resorts vary.
Where it is not
Small islands, remote beaches, mountain areas such as Batad and Sagada, and anywhere at sea. Power cuts also happen on some islands, which can take the Wi-Fi down for a few hours.
Working remotely
- Choose places with a back-up connection or a generator.
- Keep an offline copy of anything you need for the day.
- Schedule important calls for cities or well-connected towns, not for island-hopping days.
- A small power bank and a universal adapter (types A, B and C, 220V) are worth packing.
Tell us when you need to be online and we will plan the route so your connection is there when it matters, and the offline days are the ones you want.
