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| Lucy O'Malley |
 Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:22 am |
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If you intend to travel to the PI, here is an essential guide for preperation and travelling.
This is based on UK residents, but should not require much adapting for anyone else.
Tickets/Hotel Accomodation
I highly recommend Travel Bag for booking your flights. They have always had the best deals. They are happy to answer any questions you might have and do as many quotes as you like. They are one of the best priced travel agents for multi stops / round the world tickets too. You can book via phone or internet unless you have access to them in London. They post the tickets/e-ticket and receipt to you very quickly.
I prefer to book hotels direct as they are usually alot cheaper. Book by recommendation rather than star rating as these can be from one end of the scale to the other in the PI. Bad hotels are really bad, but good ones are very good, however an average 3 star rated hotel could be either quite good or quite to really bad.
Immunisations:
Tetanus: Course of 3 injections followed by a booster every 10 years.
Hepatitis A & B: Every 3 years
Typhoid: Recommended per trip as caught through the consumption of contaminated food or water as is Hep A.
It is a good idea at this point to make sure you have diphtheria and polio too.
For infected areas, please check with your doctor or travel clinic for Anti-malarial tablets and precautions against insect bites. (Jungle Areas)
If you want to take any sort of medicines with you, either prescribed or bought from a pharmacist, find out if there are any restrictions on taking it in and out of the UK or the Philippines and make sure you have enough. Also keep them well labelled.
Home office Drugs Branch: 020 7217 8457/8446.
There are many 24 hour pharmacies in the PI that can offer drugs for almost anything, even ones that would need a prescription in the UK, however it can be very expensive.
If you have any doubts about your teeth, see your dentist before you go as treatment in the PI can be very expensive.
Carry a first aid kit with adhesive dressings, some insect repellent, antiseptic cream and water sterilisation tablets.
Emergency Medical Travel Kits are also a good idea with syringes, needles and suture materials etc. (Boots sell these)
I recommend paracetamol for any pain relief and diralyte/salt tablets for rehydration as it gets very hot and humid and anti-diarrhoea tablets, because you will get it.
Passports:
You will need a passport with at least 6 months available from your return date, to allow for any delays or accidents/illness.
You will need to apply for a visa at least one month before your trip in order to enter the PI. Either upto 21 days or upto 90 days. A form can be collected from your local Post Office wth any details of fees. Your passport must be sent with your visa application in order for it to be stamped, ensure you send via special delivery, enclosing a prepaid return special delivery pouch with your address clearly marked.
Take two photocopies of each passport. One to leave at home with relatives and one to carry on your person, when out and about. Keep your passport in a safe when you reach your destination along with family contacts details.
Travel/Health Insurance
Do not leave home without it. The cheapest is not always the most appropriate cover. So check and compare several different policies before purchasing.
Be sure the health section of the policy provides for:
An air ambulance in case you need to be flown home , all medical bills, any potentially hazardous sports activities, bringing the body home in the event of a death, bringing the family home, in the event of your illness or injury.
Personal possessions cover should basically be suitable for your personal needs.
I recommend purchasing as soon as you have bought your airline tickets as then you will be covered if you need to cancel your trip before you go for reasons within the terms and conditions of the insurance policy.
Take all documentation with you as it will contain important phone numbers and advice. Keep your policy in the safe when you reach your destination and a copy of the policy number and phone number seperately
If your money, passport or anything else is stolen whilst abroad, report it at once to the local police and obtain a statement about the loss, you will need one to claim against your insurance.
Money/Travellers Cheques and Credit Cards
The currency required is Philippine Piso.
Only carry enough money on you for each day/trip. Buy some in the UK to take with you so you do not have to spend the first couple of days looking for banks etc.
Travellers cheques are recommended for security. US Dollars is far easier in the PI than pound sterling, as they do not usually know the exchange rate for sterling or often are not sure if they can accept it. Take the purchase receipt with you, but keep seperately. Keep a seperate written list of all the cheque numbers. Keep all cheques in the hotel safe.
Credit/debit cards are easily lost, so only take one out at a time and only when required and keep a list of any card numbers with the bank contact details seperately incase you should need to cancel it. A sentinel policy can be very helpful with lost or stolen cards.
Although travellers cheques are always recommended, in my personal experience of the PI, it can be very difficult to get money changed up. Sometimes they just say no for some obscure reason, other times they have a limit of $50 or $100, which means you will have to go back in another couple of days to get more. Often it will take upto 2 hours to change a small amount ( I have even taken 4 hours in the past). They ask for the purchase receipt in order to change them, but we are told in the UK never to carry the purchase receipt with us, it is only in the event that they are lost or stolen that the purchase receipt is required, so this can add limitations.
I would still recommend you have some but in addition to a credit card.
Although you will get charged for cash withdrawals, it is instant and you will not have to travel to the shopping centers or nearest bank and wait for hours, when you have better things to do.
Mastercard is used more widely than visa. It is often hard to find a shop or cash dispenser that takes Visa, but you can find them.
I highly recommend a body belt for carrying your cash and valuables in, when they are not in the safe. Only keep a little small change in your pockets incase you are mugged and you can offer this.
Do not expect to be able to exchange sterling cash for Piso's as they do not know what our notes look like, so will not be prepared to do it.
British Embassy
keep a note of any British Embassy phone numbers and addresses, incase you need their help or advice for both the UK and the PI.
Other Essentials
Stickbag/Sticks/Training Daggers (as blunt and as unrealistic as possible from UK, but on the way back there is not usually too much trouble)
Camera/batteries/charger/film/tapes (Photo or Video) Tripod if required
Mobile Phone/charger (Buy a PI sim card when you get there for calling locally, much cheaper and use your sim card for phoning home)
Don't forget phone insurance if taking a phone.
Travel Plug with 2 flat pins for PI.
Sunglasses/suncream/aftersun/mozzi guard.
Shorts or skirts/t-shirts/tops/shirts or Blouses
Light trousers for the evenings, as the mozzi's attack with intent.
Underwear if you wear any.
Uniform if you think you may need it.
Shoes/trainers/sandles for going in the sea due to the rough reefs.
A jumper for the trip home....it is often freezing on the plane back.
Wash bag hopefully at least containing a toothbrush and paste (you may want this in your hand luggage on the way out as it is a long flight)
Any other items you usually require in your wash kit.
Towels are usually supplied in the hotel, although you may want your own beach towel.
Most wash stuff is far cheaper in the PI that you may prefer to purchase everything once you get there, to save carrying it. The hotel usually offers small packets of soap, shampoo and conditioner to at least get you through until you find time to go shopping.
The shops have pretty much what we have here now and probably more choice, so unless you must use a certain brand that they may not have, I would recommend waiting until you get to the PI.
Obviously do not forget your teddy if you have one that you cannot sleep without.
You do not need to over pack either as they have very cheap laundrettes which cost approximately 40 pence per kilo for a straight forward wash and fold same day service. The hotels however charge 50 to 100 pence per item, even for knickers so avoid this after the first couple of days. You may want to take a washing line for washing your smalls or odd bits, but is not always quicker as the air conditioning can hinder drying.
Remember you are allowed usually 20 kilo's of luggage per person in the hold and 10 kilo's per person in hand luggage. (30 kilo's if travelling by business class) And you may want to bring back more than you took out with you.
I often take out enough clothes to last the first 7 to 10 days (when staying 6 weeks) With only one or two newish things ....then buy some new clothes out there and give my old clothes to charity.
Don't forget any other home comforts that you cannot live without.
JUST DON'T FORGET YOUR TICKETS, PASSPORTS & MONEY
If you are intending to train when you get there. It is always best to have prior arrangements and/or permission before you go with a club or instructor. If not, you could spend the first week or more trying to locate clubs and another week waiting for an invite to join in the class, because they are unsure of who you are. It will also help if going for the first time to have a recommendation from someone who has been before.
Once people know who you are and why you are there, you will probably have lots of invites, so do not worry.
If I have missed anything I will add it in later, but if you have any other items to add to this by all means do and any advice you might have would be great for others to read.
Lots of love 
Lucy |
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| dhay |
| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:34 am |
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Lucy's given a great general overview of what you need to do to travel to the Philippines.
Lemme add a bit more
Tickets
Most flights go straight to Manila. There is one flight though that goes straight to Cebu (then connects to Davao) which is Singapore Airlines). The flights are 3-4x a week and there's a stopover in Singapore. (I love staying over in Singapore a night or two... there's a clean & cheap YMCA hostel right on Orchard Road!) Don't worry, you can also get flights which you don't have to stay overnight there. I found that the cheapest way to book this is either through Dial-a-Flight or www.airline-network.co.uk
For domestic flights within the country, I can refer you to a few friends of mine who work in travel agencies. Or you can simply walk into any travel agency (all malls and airports have one) and book a flight at least one day ahead. Domestic flights range from £40 to £70 return. Sometimes they've got promotions. There are three main airlines. Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. I can get quotes for you for any period anytime. Let me know.
Hotel Accomodation
Hotel prices per night range from £8 to £100 per night. Inns are good cheap options and are all over the place. These usually range from £8 to £15 a night. They're non-fancy and you can find clean ones (but this has to be selected by recommendation). Average price of 3 to 5 star hotels cost about £20 to £100 per night.
There are many hotels in the Philippines but few of them are actually published on UK travel sites. Most of the hotels that come up for the philippines are usually Manila-based. There are many good hotels in Cebu and Davao, but I believe you would have to ask a local/resident for recommendations. If you need information on this, send me an email and I can try find out more details for you (Cebu and Davao areas only - I hate Manila... ehhe - don't forget to tell me where you're going exactly so I could give you the best option)
For reviews on hotels or anything about travel, I always use www.tripadvisor.com
Immunisation
Listen to Lucy. I'm naturally immuned to everything. hehe
Passports
I believe that technically, you can go into the Philippines using your British passport anytime you please and can stay there for about.... uhm... 21 days or so. I use my German passport without a visa. Technically this is correct and legal. (I've got a Filipino passport too but never use it lol)
BUT! But! Airport staff are dense. Everytime I go home, I end up having problems with them because they have no idea about EU policies on EU citizens being able to reside in any EU country. Lol.... It boggles their minds knowing that I am a German citizen, who lives and works in the UK. (And my fluency in the Filipino dialects makes it even worse lol) I always end up giving them lectures on EU residency/working policies.
I have never ever used a visa in going into the Phils using my German passport. But if this visa really exists, please do get one to spare you from the ignoramus-syndrome of airport staff. Also bring proof of residency, just in case.
Travel/Health Insurance
You should have this no matter which part of the world you go to (i never do... lol). But please especially try to get one for this trip... you'll be glad you did.
Money/cheques/cards
Listen to Lucy.
Plus do not carry big amounts. You will regret it. You would have to ask for recommendation where you can have cash exchanged from Pounds to Pesos. If there's nobody you can ask... uhm... you're... fcked. hehe. j/k Listen to Lucy. I've never had cash exchanged either in Manila nor Cebu. She's got more experience. My cash is always changed either in Davao (Aldevinco is the greatest) or from my dad. hehe
Oh... and I find it difficult to withdraw cash from the ATM machines as there are only a few that take HSBC. I personally was only able to withdraw from one bank machine, and that is of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). I usually withdraw all the cash that I need here, hide em properly and only have them changed to peso, a little at a time.
Other Essentials
Listen to Lucy. Including your teddy.
Be aware
Pickpocketing is the nation's business. lol
You white people will be the favourite targets. hehe
Transport
Taxi - always insist that the 'metre' is turned on. Taxis in Manila will charge you extortionate rates especially knowing that you are "white". ("All white men are americans and have lots of money" - hehe). Uhm... actually... what I mean by "extortion" is... what should be about 100 pesos (or 1 quid lol), they'll charge you 600 or 800 pesos. (And you can do a lot of shopping with that amount of money!)
Jeepneys - i don't understand them. u get no advice from me.
LRT/MRT (crap trains) - no advice either.
Getting away from...
If for any stupid reason you get caught by police... be friendly... and secretly slide 200 pesos into his hands and just say "im sure this can be sorted out" If he rejects the offer, slip another 200 pesos... but keep to a 500 or 600 pesos max. If he still rejects it, he's taking the ** (and just wants to rip off more money from you)... take everything back.... There'll be a 90% chance that he'll take your last offer. heehehehheeehehehhee
I didn't offer this advice to you.
You do not know me.
hehe
And..
If you're walking along streets, expect someone to call you "Joe"... hehehe
and speak slowly to locals...
Filipinos are not accustomed to the British accent. Filipino's have an American education system and use the American accent, hence speak slow to be comprehensible.
Filipinos are naturally very hospitable and warm... and are always proud to have a "foreigner" for a visitor. But beware of Filipinas who just want to run off with your money (yes, even if you don't have any... they won't believe you hehe). Not all of them, but there are many. So be careful with your heart. *grin*
I guess that's it for now... Lucy covered most of it including the important ones.
I'm going home next year Christmas 2007... and will be traveling around the country - from Davao up to, hopefully, Vigan and Baguio (ube jam!)... to Cebu (sinulog festival), Boracay (beach!), Bacolod.... Bohol (chocolate hills)... Manila... Surigao (Siargao - beach!)... maybe Palawan (beeeaacch!!)... will see. |
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| Lucy O'Malley |
| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:41 am |
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Jeepneys.....
Run mainly in straight lines (One road) back and forth all day. It has destination (to and from)on front....usually a shopping centre, market or cross junction or similar.
You get on and pay P10 or P20 and just get off when you want to by shouting for it to stop or if it stops for someone else.
If you want to go off that street or route then you get off and walk to another street pointing in the direction you want and get onto another jeepney.
I have only been on a couple and it was a long time ago that I went on a street jeepney, so innocent probably can explain it better.
However you can actually hire jeepneys for the day if there is a big group of you going somewhere....they are cool. The best mode of transport.
Lots of love
Lucy |
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| dhay |
| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:56 am |
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Jeepneys.....
Ick! Is it that much now? The last time i rode one costed me less than 5 pesos. That was a few years ago too. hehe (Of course I don't get on it alone... I'd get lost... always with a friend hehe)
Yes, Jeepneys take certain routes, just like buses. And usually they've got the streetnames printed on the sides of the jeep. (You would have to be quick in reading the tiny texts! hehe)
There are also different ways on stopping a jeepney (when you're on it). In some provinces you just tap/knock (using coins or your hand/knuckles) on the roof and the driver automatically pulls over. And in other provinces (Manila) you actually have to say "Para lang po/manong" ("para" means to pull over). In Visayan-speaking provinces (eg Cebu and Davao), you say "Lugar lang(,manong)".
There are no "jeepney stops". Well... there are (in main cities)... but... they're kind of... vague. You can basically stop jeepneys anywhere. hehe
Jeepney hire...
Oh yes... very cheap and its more fun than hiring a bus (or an "FX"). I do agree with Lucy that they're the best mode of transport. :) |
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| Lucy O'Malley |
| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:33 am |
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They probably were not that much....that's probably what we gave to be generous.
Pat always leaves all the change behind as it starts to weigh you down, and just deal with notes. And give some of the change away.
I will happily stand in a shop counting out P5, P10, P20.....2 hours later...
P325....P350.....Pat hates me when I do that. I even do it here. Go the sweety shop with a load of pennies.
Lots of love
Lucy |
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| dhay |
| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:34 am |
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| Ehehhehehe...... speaking of money... I once gave a badjao kid (street urchin/sea gypsy) - who threatened to throw a stone at me if I didn't give her 1 peso - I gave her a 5 peso coin because I was just in a very good mood that day. I was surprised at her reaction..... she somehow didn't recognise the 5 peso coin and got even more aggressive..... that just spoiled my fckin good day.... errr...... |
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| tangkulo |
| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:52 am |
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Student
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 10
Location: Philippines
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| Back in HS and college, I made sure I always had coins. When I sense that not-so-friendly people are around, I made sure that they see me counting my coins to show that I'm a waste of their time...hehe! :) |
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| Lucy O'Malley |
| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:38 am |
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I have been in the PI and seen Americans all dressed in brand new clothes, gleaming white baseball hats and trainers, with a huge bum bag around their waste, packed to the rafters and whenever they open it or their wallets money and valuables bursting out all over the place.....
I have no sympathy for them if they get mugged  .
I think to some extent it has an element of rudeness about it. I know it is naivety but it looks like they are showing off, which makes me want to mug them  , let alone someone that genuinely has very little, why shouldn't they be tempted 
Lots of love
Lucy |
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