Looking for advice on travel experience to Philippines

davepatr07

Hi there,


I just wanted to ask around and get some feedback, advice and experience from a non Filipino national about traveling in the Philippines.

My partner is Filipino, I'm Irish and we both live and work in NZ, this will be my first visit to see her extended family in Philippines (a bit nervous), however I want to get a perspective from an Irish person who has or is living there, traveled the country etc. I've heard good and bad stories and this will be my first time to a poorer country that has extreme poverty so to speak.

Any help tips etc would be great!

Cheers thanks a mil!

clever user name

I'm in a similar situation to yourself, but have been to the philippines many times. the main thing is that you will be with another Filipino, that makes a huge difference. I've always found it a safe enough place, but found that without my fiancée you can easily get ripped off!! This goes for taxis especially.

I'll give you an example! I was in Baguio City in January and we were in one of the big parks there. There was a small lake and they were renting boats. Weather was nice so we said why not. She went to the toilet and I went to sort a boat. Guy tells me it's 150 pesos for half hour. Turns out it's actually 100 pesos for unlimited time...the w**Ker!! That's just a small example, but with your girlfriend it will be fine!

What part are you going to?? Manila is a bit of a kip, and incidentally where I usually go haha. But it depends what part you go, Manila is huge!! Cebu is nice, Davao City is ok. Boracay is basically the Ibiza of the Philippines. 1000 islands is lovely!!

As for it being a poor country, yes, you will notice it. Again, how much depends on where you go! The people in general are lovely though, very friendly! Food is hit and miss, but there us plenty of variety. If you are in a non tourist area be prepared to have people staring at you, especially if you are young. This is more out of curiosity, as they are not used to seeing foreigners in certain parts...especially young foreigners! Ohhhh, and it's extremely hot, always...as you probably already know!

I'm not sure what else to tell you, so if you have an more specific questions fire away. Nearly everyone there has some level of English, so communication is not a problem!

basbas

My partner is also Filipino I've been many times and never had a problem, yes its better if you are with a local if not in the main tourist areas as you will get charged more and stared as a previous poster mentioned but never in an intimidating way.

The people are some of the friendliest I've ever met and I've been in many places its like they forget the poverty that surrounds them and are just cheerful happy people, they are welcoming and would do anything they could for you.

Some amazing places Boracay as already mentioned is beautiful but very touristy, Puerto Princesa not as popular but an absolute stunning location very near El Nido (one of the 7 natural wonders of the world is there along with fab beaches). Manila is just another large city of the world not my favourite I spend the majority of my time there in Makati which is more relaxed and much better in my opinion but still is close to everything you could need.

Food took some getting used to for me (I am a picky eater) not so much eating out as they have everything you could ever need but my first time there my boyfriends family made me a lot of local dishes and I was too scared of insulting them to not eat it

Also dont be nervous about meeting the family it will go much better than you expect.

davepatr07

Thanks for the response guys, some interesting feedback.

clever user name wrote: »

Guy tells me it's 150 pesos for half hour. Turns out it's actually 100 pesos for unlimited time

That probably sums up the bad stories what I heard about going there as a non Filipino, being fleeced a lot.

My partner is originally from Ilocos Norte about 90 mins north of Laoag City in a rural farming village. I'm guessing this tall, white, freckly Irish fella will be well stared out of there! She has relations and friends in Manila where she practiced nursing and Cebu too so they will be on the travel itinerary.

I'm eager to go off the beaten track and go to Palawan instead of touristy Boracay as I heard of it being just as good and yet unspoilt. Davao City I'd be interested in though she's not keen going to Mindanao with the safety issue. Is it really that bad there?

Yea Filipinos in general are easy to get on with and very upbeat in times of crisis or poverty. Like the Irish or Italians they are very family orientated . Think she has about 100 Aunts, Cousins and Uncles!

clever user name

Most of those bad stories are probably from people who were tourists, and probably wasn't accompanied by a local. Like I said, once you are with your girlfriend you will be fine.

I obviously haven't been to where your partner is from :pac: But from my experience the more remote the area the more laid back the people are. Spend as little time as possible in Manila. Its just another big city really. Its noisy, dirty (not all of it) and the traffic is out of this world. Getting from one end of Metro Manila to the other can literally take 2 or 3 hours depending on time of day. Baguio city is nice, but it is also a little too touristy. I haven't been to Palawan! Sorry, I said 1000 islands above...its 100 islands That is a really beautiful place. Davao is probably the safest city I have been in the Philippines, much more so than most of Mindanao...my fiancee is originally from there. I haven't been to to other parts, but have heard contrasting views.

Like basbas said above, some of the local food can be hard to get used if you are a fussy eater. Luckily I'm not Pork sisig is my favorite, I could eat that stuff all day. Filipinos do a mean bbq as well. I'm sure at some point someone is going to offer you or suggest to you some balut...fair warning here, it tastes nice but because of what it is I found it hard to get it down me :pac:

Stinicker

I have been to the Philippines twice, it really is an amazing place and I can't wait to go back. Manila is an absolutely huge mega city with chronic traffic congestion, it took me four hours to travel a little over 60 kms from Mandaluyong City to Tagatay down south to Lake Taal.

Manila Airport has been voted the world's worst airport for several years running and I once spent six hours sitting on the floor whilst waiting for a delayed flight.

Filipino culture is very different to other South East Asian in that they are primarily Catholic and Christian and they are very Americanised, alot of the fluent English speakers even speak with an American accent, thousands of them work in call centres around Manila dealing with American customers.

I have been to Cebu, Tagaytay, Pampanga, Angeles City, all over Manila and to Mount Pinatubo.

Having your Pinay partner with you will definitely help alot, you will be a novelty and almost like a local celebrity especially if you go to a remote provincial area, where it is unusual for the people to see a white person. The foods are an acquired taste but you should try Pork Tocino, absolutely delicious.

Parts of Mindanao are no go areas due to the Muslim insurgency, but from I've read and heard Davao seems to be safe to travel to. Petty Crime is a problem and you need to be careful and don't flash too much wealth, gold chains or expensive iPhones need to be discreetly hidden especially if you ride a jeepney where alot of pickpocketing takes place.

The Philippines is a 3rd world country with the majority living on incredibly low wages and quite a high incidence of poverty. Yet there are parts around Manila which is every bit as developed and modern as the West so a quick taxi trip around Manila can be an eyeopener. Hearing stories of a woman with 10-12 children there is very normal.

Research a pasulubong (Gift) and take something like chocolate to the your GF's family it will go down a treat with them. There can be a huge expectations and an almost dependency culture within Pinoy families so becareful of that. They are very closeknit and it is not unheard of for the overseas worker to be sending back huge sums of Money to support her greater family back in the Philippines. It is one of the more annoying aspects of dating a filipina I suppose. Been there done that and got the T-Shirt haha.

Any questions just Ask!

gypsy79

I have been to the Philipines as well as a solo traveler and loved it so dont worry. Cant add as much the other guys.

My main notes would be

• Manila is a cool city. Spent NYE here and was noisiest place in world at the time I suspect
• The people are beautifully lazy. I remember been told once by a bar maid that she wasnt getting up from her lying on the bar to get me another beer because I hadnt finished the one i had!
• It can be uite sleazy but I would imagine with another Filipino with you you may never see this

davepatr07

Thanks again guys for the feedback cheers.

Stinicker wrote: »

Manila Airport has been voted the world's worst airport for several years running and I once spent six hours sitting on the floor whilst waiting for a delayed flight.

Yea I heard all about that airport, a far cry from Singapore Changi. Sure only last week some woman tried to smuggle her 2 month old son through an x ray machine.

Stinicker wrote: »

alot of the fluent English speakers even speak with an American accent

I first thought my partner was Canadian or American but accents do vary having met her other Filipino friends.

Stinicker wrote: »

Research a pasulubong (Gift) and take something like chocolate to the your GF's family it will go down a treat with them. There can be a huge expectations and an almost dependency culture within Pinoy families so becareful of that. They are very closeknit and it is not unheard of for the overseas worker to be sending back huge sums of Money to support her greater family back in the Philippines. It is one of the more annoying aspects of dating a filipina I suppose. Been there done that and got the T-Shirt haha.

Tell me about it! I'm expected to bring a chocolate factory over.

Just a quick query, my partner recommends that I get some vaccination shots before I go over, being a westerner and all that and having little or no immunity to what is over there. I don't see a need as I've heard of non Pinoys going over without any shots. Main concern would be Dengue Fever as she almost died from it when she was little.

+1 Baguio city, she says it would suit me being Irish, cooler climate etc.

Food I think is great though some of it can be a little on the sweet side, they sure have a sweet tooth. Wasn't impressed with Isaw (Chicken or Pig Intestines). I was impressed with the Irish stew she made on St Patrick's Day though

Thanks again!

niallybially

Hi I'm Irish and I'm traveling from Dublin to the phillipines in September. I will be there for 2 weeks and I want to travel around. I would ideally like to end the trip in an airport that flies to Thailand as I will be going there for the following 2 weeks. I'm wondering which airport to fly into on arrival and which airport to leave to go on to Thailand. I haven't done much research but I've been told to go to Cebu and Palawan. Any tips greatly appreciated, thanks 😋😋😋

Stinicker

niallybially wrote: »

Hi I'm Irish and I'm traveling from Dublin to the phillipines in September. I will be there for 2 weeks and I want to travel around. I would ideally like to end the trip in an airport that flies to Thailand as I will be going there for the following 2 weeks. I'm wondering which airport to fly into on arrival and which airport to leave to go on to Thailand. I haven't done much research but I've been told to go to Cebu and Palawan. Any tips greatly appreciated, thanks 😋😋😋

The only airport in the Philippines with Direct flights to Bangkok is Manila Airport. Your best idea would be to book a ticket from Ireland to Manila and departing Bangkok back to Ireland after. You will be required to provide onward proof of travel before you are admitted to the Philippines, so you'd want to have your Philippines - Thailand flight booked and itinerary printed before you travel into the Philippines.

You can fly from Manila to Bangkok with Cebu Pacific, Kuwait Airways, Thai Airways and Philippine Airlines. Cebu Pacific will probably be the cheapest and you will get a one way flight for something under €100. Also possibly worth checking would be Air Asia to Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur, although it would be double the traveling time. Best bet is to fix dates early and find flights as soon as possible.

I'd research El Nido, Palawan, one of the nicest places I've ever been although it is a long trek involving a one hour flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa and then a 5-7 hour bus ride on unpaved and partially washed out mud and brutal concrete slab roads.