Global Travel Tips

Visa Information

Nationals from 157 countries may enter the Philippines without a visa for a maximum of 30 days.  Provided a valid ticket for a return journey to the port of origin/next port of destination has been booked, as well as holding a passport that’s valid for a period of at least six months beyond the period of stay.

If you require a visa to travel to the Philippines, it’s advisable to only finalise your flight booking once your visa has been granted. You’ll need to apply for a temporary visitor’s visa at your local Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

It’s advisable to check with the Philippine Government or with your local embassy or consulate before travelling.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not mandatory but highly recommended when travelling to the Philippines. When selecting a policy, remember to include all the adventure sports you intend to take part in. It’s also recommended to ensure your policy covers motorbike riding as this is a main mode of transport around the country, so you’ll most likely hop onto a motorbike or scooter at some point during your trip.

Money Exchange

The local currency in the Philippines is the Peso. If you’re planning to travel outside major cities, you will need to plan your finances carefully. Vendors including hotels, bars and restaurants often only accept cash, they don’t accept debit or credit card. Banks around the Philippines are often localised and therefore don’t accept foreign cards, so you could experience challenges when trying to draw cash from local ATMs. Although they indicate that they accept major cards like Visa and Mastercard on the ATM, this not the case when you physically go to draw money from the ATM and your transaction can’t be processed.

If you are experiencing challenges, your best chance is to draw cash from Philippine National Bank which is a national commercial bank. If you’re desperate, you may need to resort to getting a friend or family member to send you money via a money exchange, like Western Union which can be found throughout the country.

In no way are Surf in Philippines recommending that you carry large amounts of cash when travelling, and take no liability, but are advising that you make necessary preparations before travelling to more rural/remote destinations. If you are carrying cash, keep it hidden from public view and place it in a safe when you reach your accommodation.

Travel Warnings

Always check your government’s official travel warnings before travelling to the Philippines, and take the necessary precautions.

Vaccinations

WHO recommended vaccinations include: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. It’s your responsibilty to ensure you have all required vaccinations prior to travelling.

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