practical tips for anyone planning a trip
to the Philippines

Essential Travel Tips for the Philippines:
Flights, Ferries, and Fares​

The Philippines offers incredible adventures, and with a little planning, you can navigate its unique transport and accommodation landscape like a local. Here are the most essential tips for securing the best deals and the smoothest logistics during your trip.

Flights: Finding the Cheapest Way In

Landing the best flight deal sometimes requires creativity, especially when flying internationally.
Use Aggregators: Start your search using popular comparison tools like Skyscanner, Kayak, or Swoodoo. They are excellent for quickly scanning prices across multiple airlines.
Explore Asian Hubs: Don’t limit your search to direct flights to Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB). Sometimes, you can find significantly cheaper overall fares by booking your flight in two parts:
Fly to a major Asian transit city first (such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Singapore).
Book a separate, often cheaper, connecting flight to the Philippines from that hub.
Pro Tip: Play around with dates and nearby hubs to maximize savings.


Accommodation: Booking for Short and Long Stays

The best accommodation—especially beachfront properties or highly-rated hostels—gets snapped up fast.
Book Early for High Season: If you are traveling during peak season (generally November to May), book your accommodations a few months in advance. The best places are often booked out, leaving you with fewer options or higher prices.
Where to Search: Most short-term rooms can be found on major global platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb.
Long-Term Rentals: If you plan to stay in one location for an extended period (three weeks or more), look for better deals by checking the local Facebook groups for that specific island or town. You can often find listings for month-to-month rentals or deals not advertised on global sites.




Tricycles: The Local Taxi

The tricycle—a motorbike with a sidecar—is the most common and practical transport for short trips across the islands and in smaller towns.
Always Agree on the Price First: Before you step into the tricycle, always negotiate and agree on the fare. If you fail to do this, you may be quoted an exorbitant price upon arrival.
Understand the “Special” Ride: The price you pay depends on whether it’s a “special ride” (just you and your group, direct to your destination) or if the driver will pick up other passengers along the way. A special ride is faster but costs more.

Ferries: Inter-Island Connections

Ferries are a budget-friendly way to hop between islands, but they require local knowledge.
The Schedule Problem: You won’t find every ferry connection online, and even if you do, the published schedule may not be the current or accurate one.
Ask the Locals: It is always best to ask your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb host. They will have the most current, up-to-date information on routes, prices, and departure times.

City Travel: Using Ride-Hailing

For crowded, large cities like Manila or Cebu, the tricycle system is impractical, and standard taxis can be a hassle.
Download Grab: This ride-hailing app (similar to Uber) is essential. Using Grab saves you the stress of negotiating fares and ensures you are paying a fair, metered price displayed upfront in the app.

Watch Out for Fees and ATMs

Withdraw Large Amounts: Philippine ATMs charge a steep fee (usually 200-250 PHP per transaction) on top of whatever your home bank charges. To save on these cumulative fees, withdraw the maximum amount possible (often 10,000 PHP) each time, minimizing the number of transactions.
Use GCash: If you are staying longer, consider getting a local SIM card and setting up the GCash app. It’s the most widely used digital wallet and can save you from constantly using cash or getting hit with card fees at some businesses.