What are the things to note when traveling to Manila, Philippines?

Things to note when traveling in Manila, Philippines

In fact, there is not much difference in the safety matters that need to be paid attention to whether traveling in a group or on a self-guided tour. The main aspects to pay attention to include riding safety, food safety, and some precautions when visiting scenic spots. However, the frequent occurrence of travel accidents in recent years has brought a heavy blow to the majority of travel enthusiasts and their families, and has also sounded the safety alarm for us. After all, traveling is about relaxing and enjoying the outdoor scenery, and safety is the first priority. of!

Best travel time:

The best time to travel is from December to May of the following year. Manila has a tropical monsoon climate, with an average temperature of 30°C throughout the year. The climate is relatively dry from February to April, rainy in early April, and typhoon season from June to November.

Practical information

1. Voltage: 220V, 60HZ, but some tourist hotels have 100V plugs.

2. Telephone: A local call is 2P per 3 minutes. There are red public telephones set up on the street corners, but there are not many of them. If necessary, you can go to the hotel lobby or call directly in the hotel room. You can also make collect calls through an operator or pay by credit card.

3. Credit cards and ATMs: Facilities in major cities accept international credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Americard and American Express. ATM machines are often offline during non-bank working hours and cannot withdraw money. The maximum single withdrawal is 5,000 pesos.

4. Currency exchange: US dollars are only accepted in some high-end places. 1 yuan can be exchanged for 5.5-5.7 pesos, and 1 US dollar can be exchanged for 48-50 pesos. Therefore, it is recommended that tourists departing from China bring US dollars to get more cost-effective exchange rates. The Central Bank of the Philippines next to the airport customs is open 24 hours a day and provides currency exchange services.

5. Shopping: Generally speaking, you have to bargain when buying things in the market, but there is no need to bargain in department stores and supermarkets. Manila is not a free port. There are duty-free shops only at the airport and high-end hotels. Shopping in stores with the government tourism bureau's recommended logo is more guaranteed, and you can get 5-10% tax exemption.

6. Safety: Do not expose your money, and pay attention to valuables such as cameras. They must be placed where you can notice them at any time. When taking a taxi, you must wait until all the luggage is taken before giving money. In addition, Be careful of fake police officers on the road. Real police officers will have medals on their uniforms but will not show you their ID.

7. Hygiene: Pay attention to drinking water, and pay attention to whether the food is cooked, especially seafood. The best way to identify is to see if there are many tourists in that restaurant. Don’t rush in. Go to a restaurant that has not been recommended by anyone else. If you go hiking, prepare deworming medication, plenty of drinking water, and a map of the island.

8. Working hours: The working hours of private units and government offices are Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 17:00, or 9:00 to 18:00. Most shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets are open every day, and their operating hours are from 9:00 to 20:00. Banks are open from 8:00 to 15:00, and ATMs operate 24 hours a day.

9. Transportation: Be prepared with change when taking a bus, and understand the traffic conditions before departure. Sometimes there are cars in some places and sometimes there are no cars.

Tips for dressing:

Bring more summer clothes. If you are traveling in the cool season or taking a bus at night, it is best to bring some warm clothes. The air conditioner will still be on, so it's easy to catch a cold if you don't put on any clothes. It is best to wear sneakers as traveling around the islands often involves walking.

Other things to note;

1. You can bargain when buying things in the Philippines.

2. It is best to bring sports shoes, because you often need to walk when traveling on the island.

3. If you go hiking, prepare deworming medicine, plenty of drinking water, and a map of the island.

4. Be prepared with change when taking a bus, and understand the traffic conditions before departure. In some places, there are sometimes cars, sometimes not, and some drivers are unwilling to wait for change.

5. Bank opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00-15:00, closed on public holidays.

6. Shopping mall opening hours: 10:00-19:30, closed on public holidays.

Cactus Travel Network is happy to answer your questions and hope it can help you!