The Philippines is an archipelago in South-East Asia, rich in culture, abundant in nature and filled with interesting things to discover. The tropical climate makes Philippines a good choice when the weather in your home town makes you want to crawl in bed and sleep. Also, since it is a predominantly Catholic country, there aren’t many “cultural shocks” waiting for the un-documented traveler. Although it sounds idyllic, there are certain things the tourists should be aware of if they want a healthy and worry-free vacation.
Getting here
Since the country is an archipelago, the easiest way to arrive is on a plane. Cheap travel is synonymous with most of Asia and the Philippines doesn’t make any exception. The cheapest option to fly into the country is from Europe or South America. There are three cheap routes travelers can choose:
- via Singapore: on Tiger Airways
- via Hong Kong: on Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines
- via Kuala Lumpur: on Air Asia
A cheap option is to fly into London and then take a flight to Kuala Lumpur (very cheap during the off-season) and from there choose a flight to the Philippines.
Where to stay
Once the flight is booked, you also need a place to stay. Hotels in Manila (the capital) cover a wide range of prices and are typically more expensive than the ones in the rest of the country. But the prices are lower compared to hotels in Europe or North America.
For example, the average room price in a 5-star hotel is US$145 per night and should you choose a 3-star hotel, the price starts at US$47 per night. Make sure to read the hotel’s description as you don’t want to end up in not-so-safe areas or too far from the city center.
Safety
Practicing common sense is the simplest way to stay safe in any country. Don’t flash your valuables – including jewelry, cell and camera – because you’ll soon turn into a target for pickpockets. Don’t trust everyone who wants to be friends with you because there are numerous scams going on around the country and especially in large cities. Be aware if anyone offers you a drink (it’s a common “practice” to slip drugs into a traveler’s drink and once you are knocked out, you can even get raped).
As for your health, it is very advisable to buy medical evacuation insurance before you leave. The reasons? The tropics have different climate and there are numerous bacteria which can get the best of you as the body is not used to it. Plus, it’s a known fact that only bottled water should be consumed in the Philippines. If you want to eat fruits, buy them only if they were not cut and if you fancy a fruit juice make sure nothing has been added to it (water or ice). Malaria still exists in the country, so get the vaccination done before you leave.
