Sabaidee Travel

For me the Philippines is absolute paradise. From its stunning beaches to incredible mountains, this country has something for everyone. For others, however, the Philippines can be a bit stressful compared to other Southeast Asian states like Thailand or Indonesia. I would like to make travel in the Philippines as easy as possible for those who plan to visit the country for the first time. Here is some important advice I believe will help you have a much more enjoyable experience in the Philippines. Mabuhay!

Flight delays

I will start with what I believe is the most important piece of advice that anyone planning to go to the Philippines should hear: don’t book 2 connecting flights on the same day.

Unfortunately, flight delays are very common in the Philippines. More often than not, flights will be delayed, one, two, or even three hours. This is especially the case for flights in and out of Manila which is one of the worst airports in the world when it comes to flight delays. In 2016, all my flights in and out of Manila were delayed with Cebu Pacific. On my second trip, my only flight to Manila with Air Asia was delayed 3 hours!

Unless you have a direct flight between two islands, it is best to stay the night in Manila or Cebu if you are planning to catch a connecting flight out of these two cities. It will add an extra night to your itinerary, but you will have added peace of mind knowing that you won’t run the risk of missing a connecting flight. I only did this once, flying between Boracay and Siargao via Cebu. I was very lucky, as my flights were all on time. But there was a strong chance that my flight out of Boracay would be delayed because of a storm, which meant that I could have missed my connecting flight to Siargao.

Avoid Manila (if you can)

Some people may disagree but if you can avoid flying in and out of Manila, I highly recommend doing that if you don’t plan to explore the city. Manila is a massive metropolis which lacks the infrastructure and public transport connections many other Asian cities have. Staying in the city is rather unpleasant, and compared to other Southeast Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Manila is a traveller’s nightmare. With constant flight delays and notoriously bad traffic, Manila is a very tiring and stressful city. If you can’t avoid flying into Manila, I would recommend staying only one night. Also make sure you download the Grab app before you arrive in Manila. Catching a Grab is the safest and most convenient way of getting to your hotel/hostel, and it is also very affordable.

If you can avoid Manila, you have two options depending on what your interests are in the Philippines. Keen on exploring Northern Luzon? Fly into Clark International Airport, roughly two hours north of Manila. Interested in exploring Cebu? Fly into Cebu City. On my second trip to the Philippines, I flew into Cebu City, and I left the country from Manila. Cebu City airport is very pleasant, with minimal flight delays compared to Manila.

The importance of planning

When travelling Southeast Asia, it is common to hear backpackers say it is best to avoid booking hotels and flights in advance because you never know what could come up during your travels. As you meet people, you will hear about amazing places you did not know about, and all of a sudden, you’ll feel the urge to follow other travellers’ footsteps and explore hidden gems too. This is not possible if you have everything booked and planned in advance. In countries like Thailand and Vietnam, ‘winging it’ is the best way to go, as getting around is relatively easy and hassle-free. However, I would not recommend doing this in the Philippines, unless you have plenty of time on your hands, and you are going to stay for at least a month in the country.

It is almost impossible to get around the Philippines quickly and efficiently. Getting from one place to another takes much longer than it does in other Southeast Asian states, namely because of the geography. The Philippines is an archipelago where air and sea travel is the norm. Delays are frequent, and ferries can be delayed or cancelled because of the weather. Land travel can also be time consuming because of traffic jams or the state of the roads. I recommend planning your travel inside the Philippines, especially if you only have 2 to 3 weeks there.

Good planning is what made my travels in the Philippines a very positive and memorable experience. Flights were delayed, but I didn’t have the added stress of missing a connecting flight. Storms cancelled ferries but I knew it could happen before going there. Traffic in Cebu City and Manila is bad, but I knew it would be the case, and I took the necessary measures to arrive at the airport on time. Planning where to go and where to stay will relieve you of any unnecessary stress whilst travelling in the Philippines. It is planning which will make your experience there much more exciting than other travellers, as you will know what to expect and you will know how to deal with potential setbacks like a local Filipino!