Travel Insurance for the Philippines
Despite being lesser known than Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, the Philippines are a fantastic holiday destination. The Philippines consists of 7,641 islands, and is the perfect mix of bustling towns and sandy beaches. Before you set off on your holiday, here is all the important information you need to know about the Philippines.
Emergency Contact Information
911 is the general emergency number in the Philippines. It will put you through to the police, fire department, and emergency medical services. If you are the victim of a natural disaster, you can call the Philippine Red Cross on 143.
If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged while on your trip, you should contact the British Embassy in Manila to cancel your old passport and get an emergency travel document. The embassy can provide you with other consular services.
Travel Safety Tips
Tourists who travel to the Philippines must always carry their ID with them. Travellers are required to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate and a polio vaccination certificate, and it’s recommended that most travellers get hepatitis A, tetanus, and typhoid vaccines before they visit the Philippines. Travellers should be aware of the risk of tick-borne encephalitis and mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue fever and zika virus. The Philippines is also prone to extreme weather, such as typhoons, volcanic activity, and earthquakes.
Any visitors found to be in possession of illicit substances will face mandatory jail time. If you are arrested during your trip, you should reach out to the British Embassy in Manila for information on local lawyers and interpreters and to ask them to get in touch with your family.
There is a high amount of robbery and street crime in the Philippines, so travellers should avoid displaying their cash or valuables while out in public and only use taxi services from a trustworthy company. If you are the victim of a crime, you should report it to the police immediately. You will need the report number to make a claim on your travel insurance.
The FCDO does not advise traveling to the Sulu archipelago and western and central Mindanao, and most of northern and eastern Mindanao. For any changes and updates, and for further information, check the FCDO’s travel advice for the Philippines.
Places to Visit in the Philippines
If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, we recommend going during the dry season, which is from November to April, when the weather is warmer and there is less rain. If you’re not sure where in the Philippines to visit, here are our top six favourite cities.
Manila, Luzon
Manila is the second biggest city in the Philippines. To learn about Manila’s history, head to the National Museum of the Philippines and National Museum of Natural History. You can also visit the Casa Manila living museum. In the walled city of Intramuros, you’ll find famous landmarks such as Fort Santiago, the Plaza de Roma, and San Agustin Church. Tourists can shop at the Divisoria Market or Robinsons Place Mall, and wander around Rizal Park and the Manila Baywalk. Manila Ocean Park and Arroceros Forest Park are interesting places to go to.
Cebu City, Cebu
Cebu City has some beautiful sights. You can find the Heritage of Cebu Monument on Sikatuna Street, and a ten-minute walk from there is the Casa Gorordo Museum. You can also walk to the Cebu Provincial Museum, the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, and the Jesuit House Museum. Take a trip to the historical Colon Street, named after Christopher Columbus, where you’ll find the Colon Night Market. You can find the Legazpi Monument and Fort San Pedro at the Plaza Independencia. Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden, Sirao Garden, and Cebu Taoist Temple are places of note. Adventurous travellers like to stop by the Budlaan Falls and Kan-Irag Nature Park.
Baguio, Luzon
One of Baguio’s top attractions is the iconic 40-feet-tall Lion’s head statue. Travellers can go horseback riding in Wright Park and spend a relaxing afternoon in Baguio Botanical Garden. Igorot Stone Kingdom is a relatively new attraction, as it only opened in June, 2021. The 6,000 square meter park provides some insight into the history of the Igorot communities. Tourists can get great photos on the observation deck at Mines View Park and shop at the Sunday market on Session Road in Baguio Central Business District. Golfers will want to head to Camp John Hay Golf Club, where they can enjoy a round of golf at the courses designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Iloilo City, Panay
Iloilo City is known for its beautiful churches and cathedrals, such as Molo Church, Miagao Church, and Jaro Cathedral. Molo Plaza is an interesting place to travel to, and across the street, the Molo Mansion heritage museum is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. One of the more popular areas is Calle Real, a historic street with beautiful buildings. Take an afternoon mosey along the Iloilo River Esplanade and take a trip to Garin Farm. Head to the La Paz district for a famous bowl of batchoy. You may want to time your visit earlier in the year, as the Dinagyang Festival is held on the fourth Sunday of every January. If you want to get out of the city, there’s a campsite at Bucari Pine Forest. Visitors can swim and snorkel with the marine life at Kuliatan Marine Sanctuary.
Batangas City, Batangas
If you want to hit the shops, there’s no better place to do it than SM City Batangas mall, which has many restaurants and retail stores. Batangas City is famed for its nilupak, a treat made with casava, condensed milk, and butter, and it can be bought in most cafes and shops. Batangas City may be a busy town, but there are still beach escapes, such as Burot Beach and Masasa Beach. Alternatively, you could spend a tranquil day at Cintai Corito’s Garden, a Balinese-inspired resort. With a day pass, you’ll have access to their pools and gardens. For an unusual day out, you could go to Fantasy World. The abandoned theme park has no working rides, but it makes for memorable photos. If you want something a little more adventurous, you could hike up Mount Banoy or get a bus and a jeepney to Ilijan Falls. If you want to take a trip just outside of Batangas City, you could spend some time at Olo-Olo Mangrove Forest and Eco Park.
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido is the ideal place for people looking for sand, sea, and sun. There are over 50 beaches in El Nido, a favourite being Nacpan Beach. Further inland, you’ll find Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls and Ille Cave. Many visitors like to take the Dewil Evo Mangrove Tour and go to E-Bahay Nature Adventure Park. A trip to El Nido is the perfect opportunity for island hopping. There are many beaches on the smaller islands, such as Serenity Beach on Cadlao Island, Talisay Beach on Tapiutan Island, Small Lagoon on Miniloc Island, and Hidden Beach on Matinloc Island. Many of these beaches are great spots for snorkelling, diving, and kayaking. If you take an island-hopping tour, you may get to see Catherdral Cave on Pinasil Island.
