Philippines Travel Guide:Philippines Travel Notes

The Philippines is an island country in the Pacific Ocean. It has thousands of islands, large and small, most of which are located in tropical climates. It is a country rich in natural resources and environment. The seawater quality here is also among the best in the world, attracting divers from all over the world.

The Philippines is known as a diving mecca and a paradise for deep diving and snorkeling. It has a high-quality underwater environment and attracts diving enthusiasts from all over the world. The Philippines is also the best place in Asia, and even in the world, to get a diving license. Low prices, complete facilities, clear water, and low-latitude geographical advantages make it the home of a variety of marine life. To experience the wildness and passion of the Philippines, you can’t miss the sea.

Oslob in Cebu is the first choice for watching whale sharks. Local people feed wild whale sharks every day, so as long as you go there, you can basically see whale sharks and cute and docile whale sharks swimming in the sea. How cool.

Moalboal is a small fishing village in southwest Cebu. In addition to being a famous diving destination, it is also home to the Sardine Storm. Follow in the footsteps of a diving instructor for a mysterious and exciting underwater adventure.

Another thing not to be missed is the close contact with the sea: chasing dolphins on a yacht and watching the sunrise in Bohol. Feel the freedom of the sea with dolphins in the morning light.

In addition to diving, the excitement of the sea cannot be missed. There are various sea activities, including parasailing and water walking. If you can experience surfing, you will have no regrets in this life. It seemed like all the worries of life were forgotten.

It is said that going up to the mountains and down to the sea, the Philippines’ rainforests and unique landforms have the same wild charm. Here, you can jump from the cliff into the sea, go off-roading in the rugged mountains of the Chocolate Hills, jump into the lake with vines on Kava Mountain or sprint into the water from a 10-meter platform, or walk into the rainforest to experience a moment of tranquility.

After exploring the natural scenery, you might as well experience the rich cultural customs of the Philippines. In addition to various beautiful ancient buildings left over from the Spanish colonial period, there is also the annual Mask Festival - Sanuno Festival, which is a carnival for all regardless of race or nationality.

Transportation Guide

When choosing air tickets, AirAsia has to be mentioned, covering the entire Southeast Asia. Many cities in China now have routes to major cities in the Philippines such as Manila and Cebu. Shanghai can fly directly to Boracay Island without connecting flights, saving a lot of trouble. Every time I talk about going to Southeast Asia, I will recommend AirAsia. In addition to being cheap, the on-board service is also excellent. Recently, AirAsia has the lowest price to fly to the Philippines, making it the best choice to go to the Philippines.

1. What currency is in circulation in the Philippines?

The Philippine Peso (P for short) is the legal currency of the Philippines. Currency: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 pesos, RMB 1 yuan = 7.6 (the exchange rate fluctuates at any time, transactions are done at the bank counter Price shall prevail)

2. How to exchange currency in the Philippines?

RMB does not circulate in the Philippines. It is recommended to exchange it for Philippine pesos at the Bank of China in China when traveling to the Philippines. However, since the amount of exchange is usually limited, you can generally exchange RMB into US dollars before going abroad, and then exchange it into Philippine pesos locally.

You can also exchange dollars for pesos at airports, banks, hotels and currency exchange offices. There are exchange shops in Boracay, Beach Road, Main Road, and D'Mall. However, the exchange rates at the airport and shopping malls are very low, so they are not recommended.

3. How to withdraw cash from ATMs in the Philippines with a China UnionPay card?

UnionPay Card

China UnionPay has launched POS card swiping and ATM cash withdrawal services in the Philippines. All ATM machines in the Philippines can use UnionPay cards to withdraw local currency (Philippine pesos), but UnionPay cards cannot be used for bank counter transfers and cash withdrawals outside the Philippines. Compared with other bank card networks, UnionPay online purchases are free of currency conversion fees ranging from 1% to 2%.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are accepted in the Philippines. Many hotels, restaurants and businesses accept major credit cards – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. But if you leave Manila, credit card transactions will charge a handling fee of 5% to 12%, and most Philippine banks can withdraw cash from the card.

Friendly reminder

1. ATM machines in the Philippines can withdraw up to 10,000 pesos each time, and each service fee is 200 pesos.

2. It is best not to use credit cards in Boracay. Whether it is a UnionPay card or a credit card, the handling fee will be very high.

3. Don’t check your balance easily, this service is charged.

4. ATM machines in the Philippines first eject the card and then spit out the banknotes. Please note that this is different from domestic. After refunding, take the card and wait for the money to come out.

4. What is the consumption level in the Philippines?

The consumption level in the Philippines is similar to that in second-tier domestic cities.

To give a few examples: mineral water 15p (2 yuan); 20p (3 beers (3 yuan)); dinner in a high-end restaurant is 500p per person (70 yuan)

5. Do you need to pay in the Philippines? Tipping?

Tipping in the Philippines is also a recognition of helping others, but it is not mandatory. It is usually with banknotes, such as usually 20 pesos (almost 3 US dollars) or 50 pesos; if it is In a specialized massage parlor, the fee is usually 50 pesos; if you are traveling outdoors, if you encounter Filipinos who offer help, the tip should be controlled within 100 pesos banknotes depending on the level of help.

6. What languages ??are commonly spoken in the Philippines? ?

The Philippines is a multilingual country with nearly 170 native languages. Among the languages, the official language of the Philippines is Filipino, followed by English, and English is a popular second language in China. People speak English very well. So if you don’t know English, it is not recommended to go alone.

7. Is the public security in the Philippines good?

Although it is relatively safe. Overall, security is not as good as in the country, but security can be found almost everywhere in shopping malls, restaurants, and airports in the Philippines. If you encounter an emergency, you can contact the local police in time. Most Filipinos are Catholic, so most Filipinos are kind. Be compassionate. Still, try not to wear expensive or expensive-looking jewelry or watches. You can hide a lot of money while you're withdrawing it. You only get change.

Note: Emergency contact number:

Philippine police hotline: 117

Philippine National Police Intelligence Division duty room: 7266863

Philippine National Police Intelligence Department Outreach Office: 7253849

Chinese Embassy in the Philippines: 303-7019, 0917-8972695

8. What are the beliefs and taboos of Filipinos?

Most Filipinos believe in Roman Catholicism; a small number of people believe in Islam; most of the ethnic minorities believe in primitive religions. Filipinos are very jealous of the number "13" and believe that "13" is the "evil god". A symbol of bad luck and disaster, it is an extremely disgusting number.

They are very jealous of handing things or food with their left hand, thinking that it is dirty and cheap. Using the left hand is extremely disrespectful to people. I don’t want to talk about politics, religion, national conditions, and corruption. Therefore, local political and religious issues are rarely discussed in the Philippines. When you meet elderly people, be careful to give up your seat and don’t smoke in front of them.

Also when traveling in the Philippines. Pay attention to these matters.

A. When you bring more than 3,000 US dollars into the Philippines, you must declare the amount of foreign currency you carry to the Central Bank of the Philippines in the customs area, and the amount of foreign currency you take out cannot exceed the amount you brought in. . All foreign currency notes. Passengers are not allowed to carry more than 1,000 pesos of local currency out of the country.

b. Not all hotels in the Philippines have toothpaste, toothbrushes and slippers, so it is best to prepare them in advance before traveling.

c. Manila Airport is divided into domestic and international parts. Although it’s not far, if you go the wrong way there is a risk of flight delays. So be sure to show your ticket to the driver and confirm with him where you want to go.