Travel Guides: All Countries / Asia / Philippines
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| | | | Review by Dawn Wynn from London
Manila is a very busy crowded city but once you get into the hustle and bustle of things it is quite fun. We stayed in the Malate area which is well located for the night life, shopping and sight seeing. Make sure spend an afternoon around the old Spanish part of town in Intramurous and also Lunetta Park. St Augustine's Church and the Casa Manila, the colonial era house next door is definately worth a visit. For great seafood head to the Harbour View restaurant in Malate and have dinner on a pier with a great view of Manila Bay. Take a day trip to Tagatay and Taal Volcano. It's best to organise a driver to take you there. You can take a one hour boat (banca) trip to the actual volcano and horse ride trip to the summit for the breathtaking view.
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| | Destination Guide : Philippines |
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| | | Friendly mix of cultures |  | Why go on holiday to the Philippines?
To experience a real melting-pot of cultures from Europe and the Far East together with traditional mountain tribes.
The people are exceptionally friendly and helpful, the scenery and beaches are spectacular, accommodation and food are cheap and English is widely spoken.
What more could you ask for? It's also brilliant for action holidays - sea kayaking, scuba diving, rock climbing, caving and sky diving.
How much does it cost?
Many operators fly scheduled flights to Manila. Peak season is between July/Aug and December. Flight prices vary dramatically, particularly as the seasons change, but as a guide, expect flights from around £700 but it is possible to get real bargains from around £370.
Manila is a frequent destination for people travelling on round-the-world tickets available from £1,000. Hotel prices vary tremendously. A dorm bed with fan will cost £3 a night. A mid-range hotel with air conditioning, TV and fridge will cost from £20.
A five-night package to Cebu (the country's oldest city and one hour from Manila), including flights and hotel is from around £800.
When should I go?
Mid-December to mid-May is the off-season (typhoons) but around Christmas and Easter the transport system is bursting at the seams. January and May boast colourful festivals. March and April are the best times for island-hopping.
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| | | 7,000 islands to explore |  | What should I do when I'm there?
The Philippines' capital is home to 10 million people and sprawls around Manila Bay.
Not many historic Spanish buildings were left standing after the bitter fighting at the end of WWII but the city walls remain, as do the church of San Augustin, the Roman Catholic Cathedral and Fort Santiago.
The nearby beaches of Matabungkay and Nasugbu are popular but Manila is mostly used as a transit point. There are loads of reasonably-priced restauraunts, pubs and folk clubs if you want to stay a while.
Should I go to the islands?
Yes - if you want to hang out by the beach. Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro is considered to be the best beach in the country.
Puraran on Catanduanes, off Luzon, has a terrific beach, reef and surf but currents can be dangerous.
The island of Boracay is an old favourite and is frequently selected as one of the world's top beach destinations, but rampant tourist development led to the waters being declared unsafe in 1997. Follow-up tests gave the all-clear and the beaches look clean.
The islands north of Bohol are practically untouched and deserted; try Dibutonay, Maltatayoc and Horse Islands.
What's off the beaten track?
There are too many natural marvels to name on the 7,000 islands of the Philippines, but try these for starters: the weird Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Visayas; the volcanic crater Lake Taal near Manila; and the Sagada burial caves outside Bontoc.
There are also many wondrous national parks and all sorts of tours are available - from wildlife to volcanic and even an underground river tour, navigable by dinghy at the St Pauls Subterranean National Park.
Can you meet the tribal people?
Yes. Most cultural minorities are friendly and hospitable. Some tribes are feared head-hunters! They have very distinctive ways of building houses and are often extremely skilled in crafts.
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| | | Rich and eclectic cuisine | | Where's good for nightlife?
Manila has everything from theatres, cinemas, bars and jazz clubs. Nightclubs are concentrated mainly in Makati, Pasay City and Quezon City.
Ermita used to be crammed with bars but a clean-up campaign by the mayor has clamped down on the more colourful activities. Ermita is still worth visiting.
In the Malte area Julio Nakpil Street to remedios Circle is always active. Filipinos love gambling and there are many casinos. Cock fighting takes place on Sundays and feast days.
Why not sip a tropical cocktail by the pool and enjoy a sunset over Manila at one of the many open-air restaurant bars?
What's the food like?
Filipino cuisine is rich and eclectic, with Chinese, Spanish and Malay influences. Rice is the staple ingredient. The main national dish is adobo (a dark, saucy stew of chicken and pork, liberally flavoured with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and oil).
Filipinos love soups and the choice is plentiful - noodle, beef, chicken, liver, offal and sour vegetable. Favourite side dishes include strips of unripened papaya, fermented fish or shrimp paste and crispy pig skin.
Morning and afternoon snacks such as barbecued sticks of meat and seafood are popular, and pulutan (small morsels) are always served with alcoholic drinks. Take advantage of the huge range of tropical fruits - like more than 20 varieties of banana.
What should I buy?
Traditional handmade crafts are very popular. In South Luzon abaca, a fibre made from the banana plant, is woven into beautiful baskets of all different styles.
Romblon is good for marble work and intricate brassware is a speciality of Mindanao.
What is there for children to do?
Go to the beach! Manila also has plenty of activity centres for children. Try Splash and the Enchanted Kingdom at Rosa Laguna or Circus Entertainments at Robinson's Galleria.
Tourist office
Philippines Tourism and Cultural Office, 146 Cromwell Road, London, SW7 4EF. Tel. 0207 835 1100. Fax. 020 7385 1926.
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| | Fact File : Philippines |
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| | | Philippines | | Did you know?
The Tasaday people, discovered in 1972, live a stone-age lifestyle in caves in the remote Minadoo valley.
Language
Filipino (Tagalog), Spanish, English and many indigenous languages
Visas
Visa on arrival valid for 21 days
Getting there
Several major airlines fly from London to the capital Manila, although most require a connection.
Flying time from London
17 hours
Getting around
There are countless flights between the 7,000 islands and you can buy multiple passes. Ferry and boat services are just as numerous but quality varies. There are cramped long-distance buses and jeepneys (originally reconstructed jeeps). Locally only Manila has its own bus service, but taxis, unmetered cabs and trishaws abound.
Currency
Peso
Costs
Prices do vary but as a rough guide: roll of camera film £1.70, bottle of beer 40p, litre of petrol 20p, four-mile taxi ride about £1p, moderate restaurant meal £7-£10.
Weather
The climate is tropical, with an average year-round temperature of 32C (90F). Summer (March-May) is always hot and dry. June to October is the wet season with heavy monsoon rains and typhoons in most parts. The coolest time is November to February, when the maximum is around 84-88F (29-31C).
Time difference
Eight hours ahead of GMT
International dialling code from the UK
00 63
Voltage
220v, major hotels also have 110v outlets.
Opening hours
Banks open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, but there are ATMs in cities and major towns. Government offices open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Most department stores and supermarkets open from 10am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday.
Health - Before you go
No jabs are required but start taking anti-malarials before you go if you are planning on travelling to remote areas. There have been outbreaks of dengue fever recently but no vaccination is available. A yellow fever certificate is required if you are travelling from an infected area.
Health - When you are there
Water in big cities should be safe but if at all in doubt, stick to bottled water.
Warnings
Rickety Filipino ferries are notorious for their accidents so don't get on a boat if you are doubtful. The Filipino government and the Moro National Liberation Front signed a peace accord in 1996 after a 24-year conflict over Mindanao, but trouble continues so check with the Foreign Office.
Emergency
Numbers for emergency services vary from region to region, check when you arrive. Manila police, dial 166. British Embassy, LV Locsin building, 6752 Ayala Ave, Makati, Manila. Tel. 02 816 7116.
Customs
It is strictly forbidden to export coral, certain types of orchid, mussels and certain animal parts (eg: turtle shells and python skins) from the country.
Pets
Animals need a health certificate from a vet to enter the Philippines but quarantine restrictions apply to pets returning to UK.
Tipping
A 10% service charge is usually included in restaurant and hotel bills. In addition, 10 to 15% of the bill's total makes an appropriate tip. Porters expect about P5 per bag. Taxi drivers, hairdressers, security guards, etc also expect a tip.
Tourist office
Philippines Tourism and Cultural Office, 146 Cromwell Road, London, SW7 4EF. Tel. 020 7835 1100.
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Holiday Rentals in Philippines |
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