Paspoort tot de Filipijnen

With over 7000 idyllic islands, some of the world’s best scuba diving and surfing, a rich and diverse cultural history as well as some of the world’s most famously friendly locals, it is rather surprising that the Philippines remains a relatively undiscovered holiday destination. This vast archipelago is characterised by lush, jungle-clad mountains, exquisite beaches and crystal clear waters. Culturally inclined visitors can explore myriad mystical tribal villages, ancient rice terraces, and crumbling Spanish churches while food lovers can indulge in the renowned Filipino cuisine, which is an eclectic mix of culinary ideas borrowed from the varied cultures that have influenced the country: Malays, Polynesians, Chinese, Spanish and of course the warm and welcoming native islanders. Whether you are keen laze about in the sun, get involved in some adventurous watersports, or get in touch with your inner culture vulture, this remarkable archipelago has so many varied islands to offer that you should have no trouble finding your own little piece of paradise.

Currency 

Philippine Peso (PHP; symbol Php or P) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of Php1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of Php10, 5, 2 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos.

Credit cards

MasterCard and Visa (and to a lesser extent American Express and Diners Club) are accepted in major establishments throughout the larger cities of the Philippines. Elsewhere acceptance is less reliable.

In locations with no ATMs, you may be able to get a cash advance on a credit card for a hefty fee from travel agents or other establishments.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 09:00-15:00.

ATM

ATMs are widely available in cities and major tourist areas, but may not be present on smaller islands or in mountain areas. It is best to check ahead before relying on the presence of ATMs. Major banks accepting foreign cards include PNB (www.pnb.com.ph), BPI (www.bpiexpressonline.com) and Land Bank (www.landbank.com).

Travellers cheques

Travellers cheques may be cashed at most banks, and are accepted by some tourist-oriented hotels, restaurants and shops. This process can, however, be long-winded and frustrating. To reduce the difficulties, visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars and to carry their receipt of purchase as well as their passport when cashing them.

Air

Domestic flights in the Philippines are operated by Philippine Airlines (www.philippineairlines.com), Cebu Pacific (www.cebupacificair.com), Air Asia (www.airasia.com) and Seair (www.flyseair.com).

Flying is one of the most efficient ways of getting around and is also reasonably affordable. Other than Manila, the only major hub is Cebu City. Important regional airports include Laoag and Tuguegarao (in North Luzon), Legazpi (in South Luzon), Puerto Princesa (in Palawan) and Davao (in Mindanao). A handful of places can be reached only by air, notably the Batanes islands off the north coast of Luzon.

It is essential to book in advance at Easter, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (1–2 November), Christmas and New Year, and on routes run only by SEAIR as they typically use small planes.

Departure tax

Usually included in the air fare.

Road

Road conditions and traffic make driving in much of the country (particularly the cities) stressful at best. Defensive driving is essential, as is patience for dealing with queues of traffic in urban areas.

Roads spread among the islands, with highways on the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon island groups. Driving off the main highway at night is dangerous and should be avoided.

Side of the road

Right

Car Hire

Car hire is available in Manila and in major cities, with offices in airports and occasionally in large business hotels. It’s common to hire a car with a driver, particularly to tackle Manila’s busy traffic, and it’s also possible to hire taxis by the day.

Taxi

Taxis are available in cities and in many towns. Make sure meters are used, as some taxi drivers will otherwise set an exorbitant and arbitrary rate. It’s very common to be asked for ‘meter plus fifty Pesos’ or similar; either accept it or wait for another vehicle.

Coach

The Filipino islands are serviced by dozens of private bus companies of various sizes, running buses ranging from a/c comfort with toilets to barely functioning rust buckets. There is no central information service for buses, and in many towns and cities different companies have their own terminals. Phone lines also tend to be unhelpful, so the best bet is to enquire about routes and times at hotels.

Regulations

The minimum driving age is 18. Seat belts are compulsory, although this is widely ignored by locals.

Private vehicles are banned from most roads in the capital between 0700 and 1900 for one day a week. This procedure depends on the vehicle’s licence plate (for example, plates ending in 1 or 2 are banned on Mondays).

Documentation

You can use a foreign driving licence for up to three months after arrival, after which an International Driving Permit is required. You must carry the licence or permit with you when driving.

Urban travel

In most towns and cities, transport comes in three forms: tricycles, pedicabs and jeepneys.

Tricycles (motorbikes with sidecars) hold up to five people and are most useful for short distances. Locals commonly share the journey with strangers and pay a per-person rate. Tourists are often assumed to want private hire and may therefore pay for the whole vehicle. It's still a cheap way to get around, but negotiate a price in advance.

Pedicabs often look similar but are engineless and pedalled by the operator. Jeepneys, once adapted from US army jeeps, are now purpose built. They follow fixed routes with fees dependent on the length of the journey.

Manila’s Metro Rail Transit (MRT) connects North Avenue in Quezon to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The Light Railway Transit (LRT) has two lines. The yellow line runs north to south from Baclaran terminal to Roosevelt on North Avenue; the purple line runs from west to east, from Recto in the Santa Cruz district to Santolan.

Calseas (horse-drawn carriages) are common in parts of downtown Manila. The best place to try one is around Intramuros where drivers usually stick to the stated prices. Calesas are also available in a few other places, notably Vigan.

Rail

Philippine National Railways is the sole train operator. Its single operational line, Main Line South, runs infrequent services across Southern Luzon to Legaspi via Calamba and Naga. The journey takes around 10 hours but bus services are quicker and more comfortable.

Water

The islands of the Philippines are connected by an intricate network of ferry services, ranging from small bangkas (outrigger boats) to large liners. In many places (particularly the Visayas) they are the only way to get around and see the sights. Erratic timetabling is common, and avoid overcrowded ships (particularly in bad weather).

Compared to other Southeast Asian nations, Filipino cooking uses a limited palate of spices, favouring instead sour or vinegary flavours, a legacy of the Spanish era. In terms of flavour, Filipino cuisine falls somewhere between the food of Spain and China, with lots of stews, grilled fish and roast meats, usually served with rice. Pork is especially popular, particularly in the form of lechon – whole roast pig, served for special occasions.

The most famous Pinoy dish is adobo, a rich stew with garlic, soy and vinegar, and other local favourites include sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth) and kare-kare (oxtail in peanut sauce). The seafood of the Philippines is particularly fine, and a plate of grilled, freshly-caught fish with soy-sauce and broken green chillies or kalamansi lime juice is a meal in itself. Look out for special delicacies at the Philippines' colourful festivals.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk that's unpasteurised should be boiled. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled

The Philippines is hot year-round but sea breezes can add freshness during the winter (November to February). The typhoon season lasts from around July to October, although in recent years it seems to have been starting and finishing later – in 2010 for example there was severe flooding in North Luzon as late as November.

Rainfall patterns vary across the country. In Manila, Palawan and Coron, for example, most rain occurs in the typhoon season. Other areas (including much of the Bicol region) have no distinct dry season, with the most rain from December to February. The Visayas have only a short dry season from November to January, while in Leyte and Bohol, rainfall levels don’t change much throughout the year. Travellers should therefore check the local climate before making plans.

Most tourists visit from January to May (and particularly the first half of that period) when most of the country is undergoing its best climatic conditions. Surfers, on the other hand, are attracted to the islands during the typhoon season as it brings the biggest waves.

Internet cafés are common across the country. Access is cheap and usually reasonably fast. Wi-Fi is also usually easy to find, available in many hotels and coffee shops. The main telecoms companies offer reasonably priced 3G access via smartphones or USB dongle

Electrical sockets in the Republic of the Philippines are Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type A (NEMA 1-15). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in the Philippines usually supply electricity at 220 volts AC / 60 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.