Top Philippines Hotels

All visitors to the Philippines must hold a passport valid for at least one year and should also be in possession of a return or onward ticket. No visa is required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union and the United States for visits of up to 21 days. Holders of Taiwanese Passports and Hong Kong Certificates of Identity will need a special entry permit. Citizens of these and other countries should check with the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate regarding visa requirements.

Visitors carrying more than $3,000 must declare the amount at customs on arrival. On departure, foreign currency taken out of the country must not exceed the amount brought in.

Visitors may take the following into the Philippines duty free:

• Alcoholic beverages - 2 litres of alcohol
• Tobacco - 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco

Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging from long prison sentences to the death penalty.

Philippines Time: GMT + 8 hours

• Peso (P) - Check current exchange rates
• 100 centavos = 1 Peso
• Notes issued: P1,000, P500, P100, P50, P20, P10
• Coins issued: P5, P2, P1, 50c, 25c, 10c, 5c, 1c

Tipping is an accepted practice and 10% is usual if service has not been added.

There should be a list of rates posted at the airport for porter charges and hotel porters should receive about P5 - 10 per bag.

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, although many other regional dialects are also spoken - Tagalog is one of the most widely used. English is commonly spoken and is often used in business transactions.

The international dialling code for the Philippines is 63

When making international telephone calls from the Philippines first dial 00 +country code + area code + telephone number

• 220/110 V AC, 60 cycles
• Flat 2 or 3 pin plugs are most commonly used, so take a universal adapter. In certain less developed areas blackouts - locally known as "brownouts" are common, therefore a torch would be useful.

Water from the tap is not safe to drink and ice cubes should be avoided. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available.

Outside of major cities, sometimes medical services are inadequate and health insurance covering evacuation is recommended. Consider inoculations against typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take advice regarding anti-malarials. Dengue fever is also a problem in certain areas of the Philippines. It is always best to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with a doctor when planning your trip.

• Cebu - Mactan
• Davao
• Manila - Ninoy Aquino

P550

In addition to the above international, there are numerous domestic airports dotted around the Philippines, some of which include:

• Bagabag
• Calapan
• Caticlan
• Davao
• El Nido
• Kalibo
• Manila
• Mamburao
• San Jose
• Puerto Princesa

P100

A great emphasis is placed on politeness and a soft tone should always be maintained during conversation. As with many Asian countries, situations should be avoided which would cause a loss of "face". Try to steer clear of confrontation as it is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation. Fixed eye contact between men should also be avoided as this can be considered aggressive.

Gestures, rather than words, are sometimes used to convey messages; the raising of an eyebrow coupled with a smile can mean "hello" or "yes". Dress is fairly relaxed throughout the Philippines, although it is slightly more formal in Manila City.

Many countries have representative offices and consulates in the Philippines.

Further information on Filipino culture and tourist attractions.

• The Philippines Department of Tourism-OnLine

The Philippines are subject to a tropical climate with hot and humid weather all year round. There are many regional variations, however for most of the country the year can be divided into two seasons:

• Wet Season - May to October
• Dry Season - November to April

• North - annual temperatures tend to be pleasant and relatively cool, particularly during the dry months. Warm clothes are a necessity at this time, especially in the mountainous areas.
• Central - remains hot and humid all year round. Light cotton clothes are best and a lightweight jumper may also be useful during the evenings.
• South - temperature and rainfall both remain high throughout the year. Lightweight clothing and an umbrella are required at any time.

There is a possibility of typhoons in the central and northern areas from June to November.

Carry a lightweight jumper as it can be chillingly cold inside air-conditioned buildings during hot weather.

The Northern Area

The climate in the north provides a pleasant relief from the dust and heat of the lowland areas to the south.

• Dry Season - can be very mild throughout the day, therefore light clothing is best - although some items of warm clothing are useful all year round as temperatures can drop away in the evening. Warm clothes are an absolute necessity from December to February.
• Wet Season - July and August are the wettest months. Rainfall is both heavy and prolonged making waterproofs and an umbrella essential.

Typhoons may also strike this area between June and December.

Best time to visit: The Dry Season experiences clear, bright days and minimal rainfall - although warm clothes are definitely required.

The Central Area

The climate in this area is tropical and remains reasonably hot and humid throughout the year.

• Dry Season - the east coast tends to experience slightly milder temperatures but receives more rainfall than the west during December and January.

January is the coolest month of the year, although temperatures rarely fall below 20oC and May is usually the hottest - the heat and humidity can get quite oppressive at this time.

• Wet Season - this period is characterised by heavy rainfall and can also suffer from typhoons that rage in from the east. However, the weather pattern is normally one of occasional rainfall followed by extended dry periods. An umbrella is a necessity and light cotton clothes are still required, as temperatures can be very high.

Best time to visit: From January to April during the Dry Season when temperatures are moderate and rainfall is low.

The South

The weather in the southern Philippines remains fairly constant all year round with no distinct wet or dry seasons.

This area lies below the typhoon belt and is unlikely to suffer from the damaging storms that hit the central area.

Light cotton clothes are best with a few extra layers in case temperatures drop at night - an umbrella is also a good idea as rainfall is commonplace at any time of the year.

Best time to visit: Rainfall can be slightly less during the early months of the year but in general, the weather is similar all year round.