welcome to the

philippines

Made up of more than seven thousand tiny islands, The Philippines is experiencing new waves of popularity, with more and more people heading to experience the ultimate island life in The Philippines each year. 

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island hopping around el nido

travel guide to the philippines

A collection of many tiny islands, The Philippines have been having a huge spike in popularity over the last few years, with so many people putting these idyllic islands on the top of their bucket lists. From white sand beaches, limestone cliffs and so many waterfalls, there’s always something new to explore. 

When To Visit: Between November and April, during the dry season is absolutely the best time to visit The Philippines. During this time the country is fully accessible, with all the islands and even remote areas able to be explored. 

Language: The official languages of The Philippines is Filipino and English, with many locals being fluent in both languages. In high tourist areas including hotels, restaurants and shopping centres you will find that English is almost the primary language. 

International Airport: The main airport in The Philippines is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) which is also commonly called Manila International Airport. This is the main airport that you will most likely arrive to if you’re flying in from a country outside Asia, before catching a connecting flight. 

Some of the other more popular islands around The Philippines also have international airports, but these are generally only use for short haul international flights, from neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. 

ESSENTIAL INFO ABOUT the philippines

Capital City: Manila

Time Zone: The Philippines follows the Philippines Standard Time Zone – GMT +8. 

Currency: The currency in The Philippines is Philippine Pesos PHP. At the time of writing, $1AUD converts to 36.18PHP, $1USD converts to 52.28PHP and £1GBP gives you 66.23PHP.  

Credit Cards & ATMs: With the exception of Manila, The Philippines is widely a cash country. Very few places on the islands will accept credit cards or offer ATMs. To avoid any issues, leave your debit cards at home and always carry cash on you.

Driving: Always drive on the left side of the road in The Philippines. 

Power: In the Philippines the power plugs and sockets are of type A, B and C. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.

Internet Access: Wifi is very difficult to find in The Philippines, with little to no connection on many of the islands and incredibly slow internet speed if you are able to connect. Take a chance to disconnect so you don’t spend your whole holiday searching for a signal and wasting your time! 

Visa Requirements: Visas are not required to enter The Philippines for stays of less than 30 days for visitors travelling on Australian or USA passports, as well as many other nationalities around the world. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you’re planned departure date from The Philippines. Always make sure you check the visa requirements for your nationality and passport before you travel to avoid any issues. 

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