What to Bring

Well... we recommend as little as possible, you are after all on holiday!

Obviously we would advise that you have comprehensive medical, travel and, if appropriate, diving insurance. If you are taking prescription medicines you should also bring these with you as they may be hard to obtain.

It’s hot and, at times, wet so bring (or better still, buy here) shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, trainers or walking shoes, and a spare towel or sarong. You should consider light long sleeve shirts and trousers for the evenings when it may be a bit cooler. A light raincoat is probably a very good idea and you might like to consider a lightweight sweater for the hilly areas. You don’t need your party frock but there is a thriving night and club scene throughout The Philippines so if you fancy dressing up and clubbing with the best then bring your togs with you.

Bring a hat, mosquito repellent and sun block. Women may prefer to bring tampons with them as they are not easy to obtain outside the cities – sanitary towels are.

Make sure you have a camera and it’s a good idea to carry an adaptor with you for any electrical items you carry.

If you need to stay in touch with the rest of the world then you can pick up SIM cards just about anywhere for your cellphone which will allow immediate access to international calls. Internet access is widespread and relatively cheap. There are also a fast increasing number of Wi-Fi centres.

Contrary to what you might have expected it’s not the ‘wild east’ here! The major centres such as Manila, Cebu and Boracay will provide all that you need for your holiday. The shopping malls in Manila and Cebu are amongst the biggest in South East Asia and carry all the global and domestic brands.

Definitely bring a wide smile and a good sense of humour. Filipino people are some of the friendliest in the world and you will find that a smile goes a long way to getting everyone on your side.

Finally, before you depart check your visa requirements. The majority of foreign travellers are issued a 21 day visa on arrival which can be extended. For some countries this may be different so you are advised to make your own enquiries.

For what to bring diving wise please look at the What To Bring For Diving section.