HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES

Starting to plan a trip to the Philippines? We’re happy to tell you that you’ve come to the right place to plan your next adventure! We are Claudia and Jairo, two true lovers of this country, and on Viajar por Filipinas we share tons of information with which we hope to pass on our passion so you enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Since we know that with so many islands it can get a bit cumbersome, we’ve decided to tell you how to plan a trip to the Philippines step by step.

Let those butterflies in your stomach fly with us—let’s plan a trip around the Philippines that lives up to your expectations!

How to plan a trip to the Philippines

1. When is it best to travel to the Philippines and how many days?
2. Flights to the Philippines.
3. Itinerary. What to see in the Philippines and how to make the (tough) choice.
4. Transport. How to get around without going crazy.
5. Accommodation. Where to stay in the Philippines.
6. Documents. Which documents are required.
7. Vaccines. Recommended vaccines for traveling to the Philippines.
8. Luggage. Which suitcase or backpack and what to bring.
9. Cards and exchanging money. Where to change money and how to withdraw at ATMs.
10. Internet in the Philippines.
11. Food and drink in the Philippines.
12. Other basic tips for traveling to the Philippines.

1. Decide when to travel to the Philippines and how many days to spend

We’re starting strong—with the two million‑dollar questions!

How many days do you need for a trip to the Philippines?

We know that deciding how many days you’ll travel to the Philippines doesn’t always depend on you, but on the vacation days you have.

We’ve been designing trips to the Philippines for years and we can assure you it’s possible to take a trip lasting a week or even several months. However, those who devote little time to this adventure sometimes end up wanting more. That’s normal—you’ve got more than 7,000 islands!

In How many days to travel to the Philippines we tell you more, but traveler to traveler, we recommend planning a trip to the Philippines of at least 20 days. This way, excluding the international legs, you’ll have about 18 full days, which then get shortened by domestic transfers.

As a rule of thumb, every time you move from one destination to another within the Philippines you should allow 1 full day for travel.

Got less time? Don’t worry! With 15 days you can put together a decent Philippines itinerary, although in this case we recommend keeping your focus very tight.

2. Book your flights to the Philippines

Once you’ve got your dates to travel to the Philippines, it’s time to book flights.

Although there are no direct flights from Spain to either Manila or Cebu, you can reach one of the two cities in 15–18 hours, depending on the layover you choose.

Good airlines with flights to the Philippines include: Emirates, KLM, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific… Since the pandemic, Air China, Saudia and Etihad are the ones offering the best deals.

The price of flights to the Philippines depends a lot on how far in advance you book and the season you want to fly. Outside periods like Christmas and Easter, you can find fares from €600, with €700–800 being most common.

If you’re not seeing a good price, there’s another option: check nearby hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. From there, low‑cost airlines like Air Asia, Cebu Pacific Air and Scoot operate. In any case, our recommendation is to use the Skyscanner search engine (the one we always use) and analyze the different combinations. In fact, you can even set a price alert and keep an eye on it.

We explain everything about finding cheap flights to the Philippines.

3. Define your itinerary for the Philippines

Take a deep breath—we know your Philippines route is what worries you most. We’ll try to help.

What are you expecting from your trip?

The first thing you need to accept is that there are as many trips to the Philippines as there are travelers. There are loads of islands to see and each offers different things.  So, the first thing you should ask yourself, before organizing your trip, is: what are you expecting from your trip to the Philippines?

At Viajar por Filipinas we have information on lots of destinations and it pains us a little to categorize so bluntly, but this will help you make a first cut:

• Spectacular landscapes: El Nido, Coron, Legazpi, Banaue/Batad.
• Diving: Malapascua, Bohol, Coron, Moalboal, Apo Island, Apo Reef, Anilao, Padre Burgos.
• Snorkeling: Moalboal, Apo Island, Camiguin, Donsol, Pintuyan, Padre Burgos.
• Epic beaches: Boracay, Port Barton, Bantayan, Malapascua, Romblon, Siargao, the Coron to El Nido Expedition, Dinagat.
• Varied motorbike routes: Siargao, Siquijor, Camiguin, Bohol, Camotes.
• Hiking: Banaue/Batad, Sagada, Camiguin.
• Surfing: Siargao, La Unión, Baler.
• Waterfalls: Moalboal, Bohol, Siquijor, Camiguin.
• Remote places: Romblon, Cuatro Islas,  Kinatarcan, Islas de Gigantes, Carabao, Darocotan, Balabac, San Vicente, Dinagat, Pandan and Apo Reef…

Read about them and make a list of the ones you like most. You can also use our list of things to do in the Philippines, the best beaches in the Philippines, the best islands in the Philippines,  less‑touristy islands in the Philippines, best dives in the Philippines, the volcanoes of the Philippines, surfing in the Philippines, the festivals of the Philippines or the best waterfalls in the Philippines.

How many days do you have?

The second important variable is how much time you have. As we’ve mentioned, getting around the Philippines is demanding, so one of the keys to making the most of it is to choose destinations by area.

These are the most popular destinations by area in the Philippines:

• Palawan: Coron, El Nido, Port Barton and Puerto Princesa.
• Visayas: Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Moalboal, Malapascua, Bantayan and Boracay.
• Mindanao: Siargao and Camiguin.
• Luzon: Banaue/Batad, Sagada and Donsol.

In general, if you have fewer than 10 days to travel around the Philippines, our advice is to cover just one area. The most common choice is usually Palawan.

If you have between 10 and 15 days, you could combine a couple of destinations in Palawan or one in the Visayas and another in Palawan. That is, focus on exploring a couple of corners of Palawan or a couple of islands in the Visayas. You’ll enjoy it more and you won’t feel like you’re on a bus all day (or on a tricycle, jeepney, bangka, plane, ferry…).

From 15 days onward, you could cover two areas and one more destination in Mindanao or Luzon.

I need help

We hope we’ve helped clear your mind a bit; if you’re still lost and have doubts about organizing your trip to the Philippines:

• Take a look at these Philippines travel itineraries.

4. Research how to connect those islands you want to visit

The next important step in organizing your trip to the Philippines is to link those destinations you’ve chosen and see whether they’re still feasible timewise.

Even if Google Maps makes distances look short, research and find out the REAL time you’ll spend. For example, although Malapascua and Cebu seem like nearby tourist spots, this journey can take around 6 hours. That’s a lot in a country where it’s dark by 18:00 all year round.

It’s normal in the Philippines to have to resort to 3 or 4 different modes of transport to get from one place to another. When traveling in the Philippines you’ll use taxis, buses, jeepneys, tricycles (and all their variants: multicab, pedicab, motorelas…), habal-habal, bangkas, ferries in the Philippines and domestic flights. You can read more about them in How to get around the Philippines—what are the transports like?

At Viajar por Filipinas we make practical guides linking the main tourist spots. For example:

• How to get to Siargao
• How to get to El Nido
• How to get to Bohol

5. Book accommodation

As we tell you in our Philippines guide, you’ll find lots of guesthouses, resorts, backpacker hostels (have you already read the guide for backpackers in the Philippines?) and luxury hotels throughout the country.

When deciding whether to choose accommodation from home or book as you go in the Philippines, you need to keep these variables in mind:

• The type of trip you’re going to take: low-cost, backpacker, comfortable or “all out.”
• The time when you’re visiting the Philippines: is it high season?
• The length of your trip: searching for accommodation in situ takes time you could devote to other activities.

Our advice is that if you’re looking for hotels or hostels with a good value for money, especially in very touristy places (like El Nido, Coron, Bohol or Siargao), make your booking as soon as possible. Seriously, trust us, because in 2025 we’re struggling to find places that aren’t super shabby and at crazy prices all over Palawan and on islands that used to be quiet, like Siquijor.

If you’re traveling to the Philippines at Christmas, Easter, Chinese New Year, May Day weekend or national holidays, we also recommend booking 1 or 2 months in advance. The same applies if you’re thinking of taking part in any of the festivals in the Philippines, during which prices skyrocket.

So you don’t waste time wandering around, we’ve created this GUIDE TO ACCOMMODATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, with all the hotels recommended by us and by the site’s readers. Plus, on each destination page you’ll find a selection of recommended places to stay.

If you want to treat yourself, be sure to check out this selection of the best resorts in the Philippines or the lists of overwater cabins in the Philippines.

The best platforms for finding accommodation in the Philippines:

• Booking
• Agoda
• Hostelworld

Heads up, something VERY IMPORTANT, both for booking flights and hotels in the Philippines, is to pay with a card that doesn’t charge you fees for paying in Philippine pesos. Regular banks will charge you between 3% and 5%. Therefore, we recommend opening a Revolut account, with which you’ll pay at the official exchange rate and, as we’ll explain later, you’ll be able to withdraw cash without paying so much. As soon as you sign up, you’ll have a virtual card to start paying with and, in addition, if you sign up using THIS LINK, you’ll get a €10 bonus.

6. Documents for traveling to the Philippines

With the above trip preparations ready, if you don’t carry the necessary documents to travel to the Philippines, you could be grounded or have problems…

Which documents are required to travel to the Philippines?

• Passport valid for at least 6 months. Check whether you need a visa to travel to the Philippines or not, but we’ll tell you in advance that most citizens of Spanish-speaking countries don’t need one for stays under 30 days.
• Driver’s license. If you’re Spanish, you can drive with your Spanish license in the Philippines for 90 days after arriving in the country. If you’re of another nationality or will stay longer, you should check whether you need an international driving permit. See more information in Driving and renting a motorbike in the Philippines.
• Vaccination card. Spaniards don’t need to be vaccinated against yellow fever if we’re not traveling from an endemic country.
• Travel insurance. It’s not mandatory, but we strongly recommend it because healthcare isn’t particularly cheap. As part of this Filipino-loving community, you can get yours with a 5% discount here.
• Outbound ticket from the country within 30 days of entry. If you’re not sure when you want to return, you can rent one on sites like this one.
• eTravel, which must be completed within 72 hours before arrival. We explain it here: eTravel for the Philippines.

They’re all detailed in depth in Requirements for traveling to the Philippines.

Is it necessary to have medical insurance?

Without the slightest doubt, yes.

Having insurance for the Philippines has saved us from several big (financial) scares; we tell you about them in this article on the best travel insurance. In addition, as we explain in Is it safe to travel to the Philippines?, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also “strongly” recommends it. It’s not that a doctor’s visit in the Philippines is expensive, but a hospitalization or a transfer to a hospital with decent infrastructure can be VERY expensive (no less than more than €20,000 in February 2019 in Manila was what we saved by having insurance). Therefore, we consider getting one an essential part of organizing a trip to the Philippines.

7. Check the recommended vaccines for traveling to the Philippines

There are no mandatory vaccines for traveling to the Philippines (except yellow fever if you’re coming from a country where it’s endemic), but it’s advisable to be protected at least against typhoid fever, hepatitis A and tetanus. The best thing is to go to an international vaccination center so a doctor can advise you—don’t play with your health!

There’s a small risk of contracting malaria in the south of Palawan island (it’s not a tourist spot). In Vaccines for the Philippines we share all the latest information.

8. Start organizing your luggage

We’re like you—we almost always leave packing to the last minute. But since you’re here, why not start thinking about what you should bring?

Backpack or suitcase?

We’re fans of the backpack for the Philippines, since you’ll often walk along dirt paths or beaches; however, it’s not the end of the world if you want to go with a wheeled suitcase. In the tourist spots of the Philippines you’ll see travelers with all kinds of luggage.

Backpack or suitcase, the key to packing for the Philippines is that it has to be light. Forget the “just in case” items and bring only what’s necessary.

What to bring in your luggage for the Philippines?

Although nothing happens if you leave something at home—since you’ll always find somewhere to buy in the Philippines—our essentials are:

• Dry bag. You’ll need them on boat trips to protect your gadgets.
• Even if you’re going in the middle of the dry season, it doesn’t hurt to bring a rain jacket.
• Water shoes or sandals with straps. They’re very useful for island hopping or for entering beaches with rocks.
• Universal plug adapter. The Philippines uses type A outlets.
• Waterproof covers for backpacks. Essential for the rain and to keep your backpacks from getting wet during some boat ride.

Take a look at this super-detailed article on what to pack in your backpack for the Philippines; we share our must-haves.

9. Find out how to manage your money in the Philippines

1$ = 58,18 PHP

(November 2025)

The best cards for traveling to the Philippines

We recommend that, well in advance, you check which are the best cards for traveling to the Philippines. In Money in the Philippines you’ll find everything detailed, but here’s a spoiler: bring plenty of cash and exchange it at Manila airport (yes, the rate is excellent!). When you run out, here’s our little trick: use REMITLY. It lets you send large amounts of money (or small ones, as you wish) to any pawnshop (they’re everywhere in the country, even in tiny towns) for free (after the 1st transaction it’s only €2.99), with a better exchange rate and immediately. Plus, with OUR LINK, you get a €10 welcome bonus. You can read more in Remitly in the Philippines.

Also, bring at least a couple of cards to pay for as much as possible (which isn’t much, we’re warning you) with them (our favorites are Revolut and N26). In Best card for traveling to the Philippines we give you even more info, but by creating your Revolut account with THIS LINK you’ll get a €10 welcome bonus.

Furthermore, as we said, having cards that don’t charge fees for paying in a currency other than the euro (such as the Philippine peso) will save you hefty fees when you’re preparing the trip and booking hotels and flights, since almost all the bookings will be in pesos. That’s why it’s so important to get Revolut, N26 or a similar one.

You’ll hardly pay by card in shops or hotels. Outside of Manila or Cebu you’ll almost always use cash and, NOTE, there aren’t always ATMs or sometimes the ones there are don’t work for various reasons. It’s advisable to always carry extra cash.

How much money should I take to the Philippines?

This is a very personal question that depends heavily on the type of trip you’re going to take. On a trip to the Philippines you can spend from €20 per day up to €100 (or more). It depends not only on the type of places where you eat or stay, but on the activities you do, which is usually what makes the budget more expensive.

In our article Budget for traveling to the Philippines you have all the info to make your own calculations.

Our experience tells us that for you should take around €300 per person. If you need more, the best thing is to use Remitly, as we mentioned earlier.

10. Learn how to get internet in the Philippines

Although you’ll only be able to take care of this once you’ve arrived in the country, we want you to be at ease.

The WiFi connection in most hotels and resorts in the Philippines is poor, except for those located in big cities. Even so, there’s already 4G/5G coverage in many areas and some hotels even have Starlink, so we highly recommend buying a local SIM and relying on mobile data.

We buy local Philippine SIMs at the international airports (Manila or Cebu), where you’ll find small booths for the two carriers: Globe and Smart. Although Globe’s coverage isn’t always the best—it depends on the area—we can say it’s the one that’s worked best for us.

There they’ll recommend different data and call plans. Review them based on your needs.

So you know which company to choose, we’ve prepared this Philippines Internet Guide, with details about the best data plans depending on how long you’ll be traveling in the Philippines and how you plan to use it.

If you want to save on phone costs, it’s best to look for a convenience store (7-ELEVEN, UNCLE JOHN…) or go to Globe or Smart stores and buy a SIM card. Then you can add whichever plan is most cost-effective for you. Do keep in mind that SIM registration is a bit cumbersome and you’ll need to be patient.

11. Where to eat in the Philippines

You’ll be surprised to discover that Filipino and Spanish cuisine have quite a few similarities. In the carenderías (local eateries) you’ll find little pots of stews like adobo or menudo accompanied by generous helpings of rice, the key element of the Filipino diet.

We love eating at these little restaurants and we’ve never had any gastrointestinal issues. Plus, they’re super affordable! However, if you get tired of so much rice or pancit (the noodles of the Philippines) you’ll find restaurants serving all kinds of Western food at a fairly reasonable price.

For breakfast, pop into a bakery. There are lots of little buns like pandesal, which cost just a couple of pesos each.

Discover what you can eat in the Philippines—the typical dishes, desserts and drinks—in What to eat in the Philippines?.

Is it possible to be vegetarian or vegan in the Philippines?

From our own experience, we can tell you yes—you won’t go hungry being vegetarian in the Philippines. We even tend to gain weight as vegans!

Options are more limited, but in the carenderias it’s usually possible to find a dish of spring beans, mungo or talong (eggplant). If there’s no other choice, you can always order a pacint canton walang carne or walang isda (noodles without meat or fish).

In the more touristy places in the Philippines it’s now possible to find vegetarian restaurants or ones with vegetarian/vegan options. After thorough research, we’ve selected them in Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the Philippines.

Spanish is hardly spoken in the Philippines

Although the Philippines was a Spanish colony for more than 300 years (don’t miss our article on the history of the Philippines) and there’s now a small boom in studying Spanish, very few Filipinos speak it. That said, many speak bisaya, a language in which many words are very similar to Spanish.

However, the two official languages are Filipino and English and, most importantly, people are so helpful that they’ll have no problem assisting you. You can read much more in Languages of the Philippines.

Bargain with respect

Filipinos, in general, are incredibly nice. Truly—their kindness is genuine and it’s rare to see them angry. Although bargaining isn’t as common as in other countries, if you need to take private transport (usually taxis for long rides or trycicles) it’s normal for you to be quoted higher-than-usual prices. We all want to save, and it’s not good for tourists to inflate prices so locals stop being offered the service, but don’t be abusive or brusque.

If you want to take home a souvenir and you’re a bit lost, we have a guide to shopping in the Philippines where you’ll find lots of information on this topic.

There are laundries in the Philippines

Don’t go super loaded with clothes; there are lots of laundry places in the Philippines. Most of them charge between €1 and €2/kg and will have it ready the next day. In addition, many hotels also offer—at a slightly higher price—this service.

If you’re traveling one-way, you need to show a return ticket

Most airlines, at check-in or boarding, require you to show an onward ticket out of the country. This will cause problems if you hadn’t planned when to leave the Philippines. To solve this, you can:

• Buy a cheap ticket to places like Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
• Use websites like this one that offer REAL cancelable reservations for little money.
• Risk making a fake ticket, which we don’t recommend.

Don’t get mad about the fees and always carry some change to pay them

On your trip around the Philippines it’s common to have to pay fees for almost everything: at ports, at attractions, to enter certain islands… Stay calm! Keep in mind that in your country these fees are included in services or in your own taxes; in the Philippines they’re simply paid separately.

Enjoy!

We know you’re going to, but it doesn’t hurt to say it. Open all your senses to a unique trip.

Let yourself be won over by the magic of the Philippines, Ingat sa byahe!

We believe we haven’t left much out, although there’s even more to discover in Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines. We truly hope we’ve helped you prepare your trip around the Philippines. If you have questions, leave us a comment and we’ll be happy to lend a hand.