A trip to a foreign country can indeed be fun and exciting. However, a fun trip can sometimes turn sour without proper planning or prior knowledge of the country. Therefore, it is always advisable for travelers to learn more about a foreign country that they are about to visit so as to expect the unexpected and take proper precautions before making the trip there. Here are some useful travel tips that can help make your trip to the Philippines enjoyable and memorable.

Climate
Philippines is blessed with a tropical climate that has relatively generous amount of rainfall and gentle winds. Basically, there are three noticeable seasons namely the wet and rainy season (June-October), the cool but dry season (November-February) and the hot and dry season (March-May).

When To Go?
The best time to make a trip to the Philippines is from the middle of December to the middle of May because that is off-season for typhoons. Any travelers to the country in December (Christmas) or April (Easter) are advised against traveling more than necessary as the entire country is on the move, making it difficult to get a seat on any type of transport.

January, May and December are the best months to visit the Philippines if colorful celebrations and fiestas are on your list of 'purpose for making the trip'. If your itinerary includes visits to the rice terraces in North Luzon, the best time to do this would be in March and April as the weather is pleasantly warm. Apart from that, these warm summer months are also ideal for island hopping. Do be advised that for those who can't take the heat, the month of May can be quite an experience of warm discomfort.

What To Bring?
The golden rule of traveling is to bring as little of your belongings as possible. Fortunately, most of the things that you might require are easily available upon arrival in the Philippines. Apart from the basic traveling necessities and your own special personal needs, it is not necessary to bring anything else other than (perhaps) a travel plug adapter, a pocket calculator, a torchlight, an umbrella and photographic supplies. Medications can be found at drug stores in major cities. In the event that you are confronted with problems when finding the things that you need, the ever-helpful staff at any Tourist Information Center will advise you as to where you can acquire them.

What To Wear?
Like its wonderfully varied culture, the country also has enough climatic changes that would require a wide variety of clothing. It is advisable to bring light and loose clothing that are suitable for tropical temperatures when visiting the cities of Philippines. If you are planning to make a trip to the mountains or scale the odd volcano, do bring along warmer clothing such as jumpers (sweaters) and a light jacket, even on the hottest months. And also, do bring along your thongs or flip-flops as you might find it useful in hotel bathrooms, showers or when you visit the beach. Don't forget to pack some of your formal clothing, as you might need it when you attend formal gatherings, festivals or religious services.

Airport Tax
Travelers are requested to pay an airport tax of P500 when departing from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. If departing from Cebu City, the airport tax is P400, while in Davao, it is P220. Travelers are advised to check with their travel agents on this issue before departure as the fees are subject to change.

Tipping
Unlike most Asian countries, the culture of tipping in the Philippines' service industry is becoming more prevalent with much influence from western countries. Although, nearly all major hotels and restaurants have a policy of automatically adding a 10 percent service charge to your bills, a small token to show you gratitude is still expected in the form of a tip, leaving the amount for the tip to the customer's own discretion. Apart from hotels and restaurants, other smaller service establishments as well as taxi drivers expect a small gratuity in return for the service rendered.

Business Hours
In Manila, most shops are open six days a week, from 9 or 10am to 7 or 10pm. As for shopping centers, supermarkets and departmental stores, the operating hours are from 10am to 7pm daily. Shops located outside of Manila don't usually follow a fixed schedule or business hours due to shop owners' attitude of 'whatever happens' (Bahala na).

Government, private offices and public authorities operate from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm with workers breaking for lunch from 12pm to 1pm. Some private offices are also open on Saturdays from 8am to 12 noon. Business hours for banks are Monday-Friday from 9am to 3 or 3.30pm. Embassies or consulates are open to the public at 9am and close at 1pm. The opening hours of post offices in the Philippines differ from one place to another. Usually, post offices are open from 8am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 5pm on weekdays. And for those that operate on Saturdays, the business hours are from 8am to 1pm.

Electricity
The standard voltage of electricity used by most business centers and residents in the Philippines is 220 volts AC, 60 cycles. However, quite a few major hotels in some areas also have the US-style 110 volts capability.

Time
The island republic is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). When it is 12 noon in the Philippines, it is 3am in London, 8pm the previous evening in San Francisco and 11pm in New York. With the country lying near the equator, sunrise and sunset are almost equally spread at about 6am and 6pm give or take half an hour.

Philippine's time has a strange nature, which includes lack of punctuality. So, don't be surprised if you are either waited for or left waiting.

Currency
The currency or monetary unit of the Philippines is the peso (P). One peso is divided into 100 centavos (c). Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos as well as 1, 2 and 5 pesos. However, in 1998, the government imposed a rule dictating that only coins inscribed with the word 'Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' will be legal tender.

Banknotes can be found in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 pesos. Foreign currencies such as the US dollar, pound sterling, Deutsche mark, French franc, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and the Japanese yen are all readily exchangeable. Apart from the peso, the US dollar is largely acceptable outside Manila.

In Manila, traveler's checks can be easily cashed however, they can pose a bit of a problem in the provinces. Most major international credit cards like Amex, MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are widely recognized and accepted by many hotels, restaurants and shops in the Philippines. A word of advice to the travelers - do avoid exchanging currencies with street moneychangers.

Custom
In order to ease customs examination, tourists are advised to fill in the Baggage and Currency Declaration Form before getting off the plane. Personal belongings, a moderate amount of clothing, jewelry and toiletries for normal use and a small quantity of perfume are allowed in, duty free. Apart from the items listed, tourists are also permitted to bring in 400 sticks of cigarettes (20 packs) or 100 sticks of cigars or two tins of tobacco, or a variety of these and two liters of alcohol duty-free. As for cars and other vehicles, these items are allowed duty-free entry as long as they have Carnets de Passages in Douanes and a letter from the Philippine Motor Association. They must show guarantee that the exportation of the car is within a year from the date of arrival or else face the payment of duties and tax. Articles like illegal drugs, firearms and obscene and pornographic media are strictly prohibited in the country.

It is a prerequisite for tourists carrying more than US$3,000 to declare the amount at the Central Bank counter situated at the customs area. Foreign currency taken out upon departure from the country must not exceed the amount brought in.

Visitors entering the Philippines are permitted to own up to 5,000 pesos in banknotes or other form while departing passengers are only allowed to bring out no more than 1,000 pesos in local currency.

Health and Medical Services
When visiting the Philippines, it is necessary to have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever for those coming from infected areas, except for children below 1 year old who may be subjected to isolation when necessary. Visitors are requested to check with their travel agents on this issue before departure as regulations may change without prior notice. As a precautionary measure, it is also advisable to take anti-malaria drugs when traveling in remote areas of the country.

Although it is generally safe to drink water in Metro Manila, however, it would be wise to consume mineral or bottled water which is easily available everywhere, especially when visiting the provinces.

When traveling in the Philippines, it is wise to buy medical insurance, as payment must usually be guaranteed before treatment. Listed below are names and addresses of major Manila hospitals:

Cardinal Santos Medical Center
Wilson Street, San Juan, Metro Manila.
Tel: 727-0001.

Makati Medical Center
2 Amorsolo corner de la Rosa streets,
Makati City, Metro Manila.
Tel: 815-9911.

Manila Doctor's Hospital
667 United Nations Avenue,
Ermita, Manila.
Tel: 524-3011.

St. Luke's Medical Center
279 Rodriguez Boulevard,
Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Tel: 723-0301.

Medical Center Manila
1122 General Luna Street,
Ermita, Manila City.
Tel: 523-8131.

The threat of malaria is present the whole year round below 600 meters or 2,000 ft. in altitude except in urban areas where the malevolent falciparum strain is present and believed to be highly resistant to chloroquine.

Besides malaria, there is also a risk of rabies. It is vital to seek immediate medical treatment if bitten by any animal. Visitors are advised against swimming in fresh water as the disease called Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. However, it is quite safe to swim in swimming pools that are chlorinated.

Security
As with any other countries in the world, a traveler should always be extra careful with their belongings. In case of emergencies, here are some of the addresses and telephone numbers to contact:

The Tourist Assistance Unit (TAU) operates 24 hours to assist tourists in trouble.
Tel: 524-1660, 524-1728 or 523-8411 and ask for TAU.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is located at T.M. Kalaw Street, Rizal Park, Manila.

The Philippine National Police Headquarters is at Camp Crame, EDSA, Metro Manila.
Tel: 723-0401

For emergency assistance
Police (Manila): 166
Ambulance / Fire: 160

In the event that your credit cards are lost, you should report immediately to:
American Express
Tel: Manila 815-9366
Diners Club
Tel: Manila 890-5421

Visa and Passports
All visitors to the country must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period they plan to stay. Everyone, except for the stateless persons, nationals from restricted countries and those originating from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic ties are allowed into the country without visas. They are permitted to stay for up to 21 days provided they hold tickets for onward or return journeys. Visas and special permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies or consular offices overseas.

Extensions of Stay Visitors intending to extend their stay from 21 days to 59 days should contact the Immigration Office (Commission on Immigration and Deportation; CID), Magallenes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, and its offices in Angeles, Cebu City and San Fernando (La Union).

Upon arrival at the Immigration Office, all you have to do is present your extension application and passport to the various immigration officials with which these documents will remain with the Immigration Office (Regular Service) for processing. Fees for a 38-days visa extension range from P1,000 to P2,000 depending on whether the application for extension by the visitor was filed before or after the 21 days limit. If you are planning to apply for a visa extension, do remember not to dress in shorts and flip-flops (thongs) or else you can expect to be refused service.

Social Etiquette
Generally, Filipinos are friendly and nice people. Their courteous and hospitable nature is extended to all visitors except, of course, for those with bad intentions. On the other hand, there are quite a few things that you should observe in order to experience the friendliness and warmth of the Filipinos. Listed below are a few pointers on the dos and don'ts of the country's social etiquette:

• Don't get paranoid or annoyed if people stare at you because they find you interesting and wanted to take a good look at you.

• Don't be punctual if you are asked to attend a social function. You would be considered a polite guest if you arrived at least 30 minutes later than the arranged time.

• Do greet the elderly if they are present at any social function as a show of respect to them.

• Do taste a bit of the food being offered. If you like it, don't forget to leave some food on the plate to show you've had a lot.

• Do remember to remove your shoes before entering someone's home.

• Don't remain quiet in the company of Filipinos unless you want to show them that you are unhappy, bored or dislike somebody's presence.