Sightseeing Monuments, museums, churches, art galleries, parks, traditional villages and palm-fringed beaches. Manila – Ayala Museum; Casa Manila; Fort Santiago; the Light and Sound Sculptural Show.
Accommodation
Modern city hotels located in the heart of the shopping/entertainment areas and tranquil island resorts.
Shopping
What you can buy – Handicrafts from various regions of the Philippines are popular souvenirs – good buys include jade, porcelain, brassware, wood carvings, silver jewellery and rattan furniture.
Where you can buy – Malls, department stores, boutiques, flea markets and antique shops. In Manila the big malls in Makati area, EDSA and Divisoria.
Entertainment
Speciality Filipino restaurants and international cuisine, nightclubs, karaoke bars, cultural folkdance, classical concerts and ballet.
Sports and leisure
Golf, scuba diving, fishing, snorkelling, kayaking and paintball.
Visas:
Nationals of the following countries require a visa to enter Philippines:
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Nationals of the following countries may only apply for a 9(a) temporary visit visa to enter Philippines:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria.
The following nationals also require entry visas to the Philippines:
Palestinians, holders of Taiwanese passports, holders of Documents of Identity (DI), Certificates of Identity (CI) or Travel Documents (“Titre de Voyage”) and Stateless Persons.
Nationals of countries not listed above are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding 21 days, provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or the next port of destination. Department regulations require that passports are valid for a period of not less than six months beyond the contemplated period of stay. However, Immigration Officers at port of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least 60 days beyond the intended period of stay.
The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven days:
Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports, holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports, holders of Macau-Portuguese passports and holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports.
Health requirements:
A valid yellow fever immunisation certificate is required from persons who have travelled or transited from infected areas. Infants under one year of age are exempt, however they may be subject to isolation when necessary.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
We also recommend that water sports enthusiasts cover themselves, in case of an accident while scuba diving, water-skiing or participating in any other water sports. An extra premium is required for these covers.
Currency:
Philippine Peso (PHP) divided into 100 centavos.
Notes in denominations of PHP1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20.
Coins in denominations of PHP10, 5 and 1, and 50, 25 and 10 centavos.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = PHP11.9
EUR1 = PHP63.26
USD1 = PHP43.79
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours - 0900 to 1500 hours, Monday - Friday.
Visitors carrying more than USD3,000 are requested to declare the amount at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter located in the customs area at the airport. Amount of foreign currency in possession at the time of departure must not exceed the amount brought in. Therefore, it is advisable to keep all exchange receipts handy as records of your transactions.
US Dollars are accepted in many places. However, it is advisable that visitors carry Philippine Pesos with them as well, especially when travellingto the provinces.
Currency exchange is offered in all major banks and shopping malls. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa. Local currency can be withdrawn from automated teller machines (ATMs) located in most banks, using any major credit card.
Travellers cheques can be exchanged at large commercial banks and central bank dealers in Metro Manila. Travellers cheques are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.
Clothing:
Lightweight clothing is recommended throughout the year with warmer clothes for the evenings. Light rainwear is essential during the rainy season.
Airport information:
Ninoy Aquino International Airport is 12 kilometres south of Manila. The airport telephone number is 02 833 5998. The Emirates office telephone number is 02 832 1409, 877 1109/3574.
Customs:
Duty free allowance: Two reams or 400 cigarettes or two tins of tobacco; two one-litre bottles of liquor or wine.
The following goods are prohibited:
• Drugs and narcotics
• Firearms and explosives
• Firecrackers/pyrotechnics
• Obscene or immoral articles, materials and objects
• Misbranded articles of food or drugs
• Gambling outfits/paraphernalia
• Elephant/ivory tusk products
Departure tax:
Domestic flights - PHP100 International flights - PHP550. Children under two years of age and transit passengers are exempt.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road and an International Driving Permit or a driving licence from your country of residence is required, the latter allowing you to drive for 30 days only.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Police/Fire - 757 or 116
Directory assistance - 114
National operator - 109
International operator - 108
Hours of work:
Government
Offices: 0800 to 1700 hours, Monday - Friday.
Shopping: 0930 to 2000 hours, all days of the week.
Public holidays (fixed):
1st January - New Year’s Day
25th February - EDSA Revolution Anniversary
9th April - Day of Valour
1st May - Labour Day
12th June - Independence Day
26th August - National Heroes Day
1st November - All Saints Day
25th December - Christmas Day
30th December - Rizal Day
31st December - Special Public Holiday
Public holidays (moveable):
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Time zone:
GMT + 8 hours.
Language:
Philipino (or Tagalog) and English are widely spoken.
Tipping:
A service charge is normally added to bills and gratuities are not necessary, but it is customary to leave small change. If no service charge is included, the standard practice is to pay 10 per cent of the total bill.
Dress code:
In keeping with the Philippines’ very relaxed lifestyle, dressing is informal on most occasions. Fashionable, casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and nightspots, except for business meetings, where a more formal attire is preferred.
Electricity:
110/220 volts, 60 cycles.
Safety tips:
It is sensible to take the same precautions in the major cities as you would in any of the world’s metropolitan areas. Carry minimum cash on you and use small denomination bills. Never leave any luggage unattended. It is highly advisable to keep passports and valuables in the hotel’s safety deposit box.