Travel tips for first-time visitors

by Kathy Buckworth

It was a perfect afternoon for a river cruise on the Loboc River, on the Philippine island of Bohol. Lush green forests, delicious Filipino delicacies, local dancers and San Miguel beer. Until it got better. Was that disco music that I heard? Our local guide, Angelica “GeGe” Faustino, had taken over the microphone and was belting out Abba’s Dancing Queen to the delight of the passengers and crew. After spending a week in the Philippines, this moment captured the essence of the Philippines: a beautiful natural environment, inventive and mouth-watering food and most of all, the warmth and the welcoming ways of the Filipino people.

When I was invited to travel to the Philippines, I didn’t know much about the country. My week there provided a fascinating introduction to the culture, some of the main attractions in Manila and Cebu City, and Bohol, an island province. I flew direct from Vancouver to Manila on Air Canada on a new route at the end of July, and while this is technically typhoon season, we only encountered a few rain showers, which did nothing to cool down the extreme heat. The climate in the Philippines is extremely hot and humid, with March and April being their “summer”.

Whenever you go, carry lots of water with you (never purchase unbottled water) and hydrate whenever you can. Our tour guide introduced us to “cooling wipes” and “cooling spray,” which worked remarkably well (try the Snake brand available at any Watsons store), and I will now carry them with me to all hot countries. And don’t forget to stop for halo-halo (a traditional shaved ice dessert) when you start to feel the heat.

Is it safe in the Philippines for solo female travellers?

Security is always a concern for women when travelling. Besides the security present in public spaces, the Philippines has also deployed a “Tourism Police” force. This “TOPCOP” policing initiative was launched in 2009 but has evolved to today, where there are almost 8,000 Tourism Police Officers across the Philippines, with 276 assigned to Manila. We ran across these helpful officers at tourism sites, hotels and resorts. Their main message to us was to be alert, trust no one, and watch what was going on behind us. During our weeklong visit, no one had any safety or security issues.

“We love our malls”, our tour guide said enthusiastically, as she led us through not one, not two, but four or five malls. Indoor malls are plentiful in the city of Manila, with an amalgamated population of over 11,000,000. The air conditioning is a big draw, and the stores are a healthy mix of large global chains and popular local retail shops and restaurants. Security is enforced at the entryway of all malls, with a bag check and sometimes a scanning machine.

The same security at malls is present at all major city hotels, including Manila’s Makati Diamond Residences, where I stayed. Located just 7 kilometres from the Nimoy Aquino International Airport, the drive to the hotel can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, depending on the heavy and sometimes unpredictable traffic.

What to see in the Philippines

Attractions to visit in the greater Manila area include the Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and the Mall of Asia, with over 600 retail stores. Make sure to visit Barbaras Heritage Restaurant for an authentic Philippine buffet while watching traditional dances such as the tinikling.

The province of Cebu has a population of 3.3 million, with almost a million located in Cebu City. I flew from Manila to Cebu via a domestic airline, out of the domestic terminal. 90 minutes in the air to experience Cebu City and its surrounding area is well worth the trip. I was hosted at the Radisson Blu hotel, which is located 11 kilometres from the airport in Mactan. Attractions visited included the Alegre Guitar Factory/Workshop, the Temple of Leah, the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu, Magellan’s Cross, and the Casa Gorodo.

A quick drive from the port takes you to Panglao Island, where I was hosted at the beautiful and laid-back but luxurious five-star Bellevue Resort. A short trip to the Bohol Beach Club takes you to catch a boat to Balicasag Island for snorkelling and turtle spotting. Lasang Farm offers up cacao bean harvesting and chocolate making. The Chocolate Hills and the unique Tarsier Sanctuary can round out the day. Make sure to have the lunch buffet and entertainment cruise on the Loboc River. Returning, I flew from Bohol back to Manila, about a two-hour flight.

A quick drive from the port takes you to Panglao Island, where I was hosted at the beautiful and laid-back but luxurious five-star Bellevue Resort. A short trip to the Bohol Beach Club takes you to catch a boat to Balicasag Island for snorkelling and turtle spotting. Lasang Farm offers up cacao bean harvesting and chocolate making. The Chocolate Hills and the unique Tarsier Sanctuary can round out the day. Make sure to have the lunch buffet and entertainment cruise on the Loboc River. Returning, I flew from Bohol back to Manila, about a two-hour flight.

More travel tips about the Philippines

English is spoken

English is not only widespread in the Philippines, but also the primary language used both in speaking and in signage. All Filipinos are taught English in school (both private and public), to the extent that some elders are worried that the Tagalog language of their birth isn’t going to be as well-known or used. But for the traveller from North America, selfishly, being able to read all signs outdoors and inside their massive shopping malls was a huge benefit.

Public washrooms are clean

Hygiene is an issue that travellers worry about when visiting foreign countries, but on the whole, the Philippines is a very clean country. Public washrooms are mostly attended to on a regular basis, but I do have one warning: Toilet paper is not always available in the stalls. Often there is a larger roll outside of the stalls near the sinks, so you need to take some in advance of entering the stall (your prediction powers are necessary here), or do like I did, and always carry around a small packet of tissues in your bag.

And be aware that not all plumbing systems can take anything other than waste, so you have to retrain yourself to throw that tissue in the garbage, not the toilet.

Public transportation is safe

Public transportation in the Philippines is powered mostly by Jeepneys (recommissioned American military jeeps) that run like taxis, but on a prescribed route. There is the Filipino version of “tuk-tuks” as well, which they call “tricycles”, available for hire. It’s not really recommended to get a rental car as the traffic is unpredictable and the road rules are uncertain. If you can afford it, hiring a tour guide for your day’s activities in Manila (and other cities) is recommended.

How to get to the Philippines

Air Canada started flying direct four times a week to Manila in April 2025.from Vancouver, Canada, which takes approximately 11 hours non-stop. While you lose a day going over, you’ll get it back when you return home. Check for flights here.

Advice from the Philippine Tourism Board

Pre-Arrival Registration: Before your flight to the Philippines, register at https://etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival. After registering, you will receive a QR code confirming your successful registration. Make sure to save or take a screenshot of this code, as you will need to present it to the Philippine immigration upon arrival.

Peso (PhP) is the currency in the Philippines. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, banks and authorized money changing shops. Most large stores, restaurants, hotels and resorts accept major credit cards, including American Express, Visa and MasterCard. But when travelling around the islands, make sure to carry enough cash as ATMs are less common outside cities. Use Wise to save on currency exchange fees.

The electrical supply is 220 volts, A.C. 60 cycles. 110 volts is also used, especially in major hotels.

Weather: March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool. Average temperature ranges from 78°F / 26°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is 77%.

Tipping is normally 10% of the bill, but it is optional when there’s a service charge.

Time: Local time is GMT +8 hours. Government Offices: 08:00 AM to 5:00 PM, weekdays Malls: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, daily Banks: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, weekdays ATM: 24 hours, daily

Transportation: Metered and fixed-rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places.

Disclaimer: This trip was hosted by Air Canada, but this article was not edited or approved by them before publication.

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