Baguio Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday with some variation
Shops: 10:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday, some open on Sundays

Like most travel destinations, Baguio has a number of things visitors should be aware of to ensure a safe, hassle free trip. You should exercise caution and use common sense when meeting strangers.

Travelling off the beaten track can be a great way to discover a country, but is safer if you go with a friend or in a group. It is a sensible idea to inform someone of your exact itinerary, as kidnappings occasionally occur within the Philippines. You should discuss your travel plans with the relevant authorities to ensure your route is safe.

There is the possibility of pickpockets and bag snatchers operating at busy tourist areas, so always keep your belongings close to you. Many large hotels have safes in their rooms or at the front desk and it can be a good idea to leave travel documents and valuables there for safekeeping.

If you plan to partake in any water sports or other potentially dangerous activities, you should enquire with the company you go with about their safety procedures and bear in mind that rescue services might not be what you would expect back home.

The Filipino authorities are very strict when it comes to possession or use prohibited drugs, and drug offences carry the possibility of the death penalty. Do not risk it on any account.

Electricity: 110 volts in Baguio (220 elsewhere), 60 hertz

Visitors arriving from a yellow fever infected area will need a valid certificate of vaccination against the disease. Travellers should seek advice about protecting themselves against malaria before travel. Malarial mosquitoes are present year round at altitudes below 600m. The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Wearing insect repellent and not wearing dark colours is a good idea.

Dengue fever is also present in the Philippines, and is carried by mosquitoes. There is currently no preventative medicine for dengue fever so the only way to be sure of not contracting this disease is to not be bitten by mosquitoes.

Rabies is also present in the Philippines, and if you intend to travel to more remote areas you should get vaccinated before travel. Note that even if you have been vaccinated against rabies you need still need to seek immediate medical treatment if you get bitten by an animal.

It is a good idea to avoid swimming in still, fresh water, as Bilharzias is known to exist in the country. Chlorinated swimming pools are safe to swim in. Tap water in Baguio is considered to be potable, but many people choose to drink bottled water or tap water that has been boiled. Bottled and mineral water is readily available and is relatively cheap.

The national language of the Philippines is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. Visitors will find English is widely spoken and is the language of business in the country. Spanish is less widely spoken. The Philippines has over 100 different cultural and racial groups, and close to 1,000 different dialects have been identified.

The official currency of the Philippines is the peso (p), with one peso consisting of 100 centavos (c). Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos and 1, 2 and 5 pesos. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 pesos. US dollars are accepted in many places.

Foreign currencies such as pound sterling; US, Canadian and Australian dollars; euros and Japanese yen are all easily exchangeable in Baguio. Traveller’s cheques can also be easily exchanged in the city, but can be a problem if you are travelling to more remote areas. You should always change money with a recognised money exchange as street moneychangers inevitably offer tourists poor rates.

Most major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard and Amex are accepted in larger hotels, restaurants and shops in the city. Outside the city, cash is generally required. There are ATMs dotted around the city, although outside the city you will need to take cash with you.

The import of firearms, pornographic material, explosives, drugs (unless accompanied by prescription) and any gambling articles or products are prohibited. Tourists can import 400 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco and 2 litres of alcoholic drinks, without incurring any customs duty. If you bring more than US$3,000 into the country, you are required to declare this to customs officials on arrival. Visitors may not export more than 1,000 pesos out of the country.

Most travellers find Filipinos friendly and hospitable people. It pays to be aware of the cultural here however to ensure that you don’t make any social faux pas. If you are invited to a social event, do not be too punctual. It is generally considered polite to arrive about 30 minutes later than was arranged. Filipinos show great respect to the elderly and always greet older people first at social gatherings.

It is good etiquette to remove your shoes when entering someone’s house. If you are unsure where to place your shoes, just follow your host. Being too quiet in the company of Filipinos can be considered as a sign that you are unhappy, bored or just don’t like the people you are with. Try to participate in activities and conversations.

Filipinos don’t point with their fingers but instead they point with their lips, which might seem bizarre at first. Don’t think someone is pulling a face at you when they may be trying to point you towards something. Filipinos tend to make a hissing sound to get someone’s attention, which may be considered rude in your home country but is perfectly normal here.

Dining Etiquette
Filipinos eat using a fork and spoon, with the fork held in the left hand and the spoon in the right hand. The fork is used to guide food onto the spoon, which is then put into your mouth. It is generally considered polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate.

If you are invited to dine at someone’s house, you should arrive up to 30 minutes late. Don’t start to eat until the host has invited you to. It is considered polite to send a handwritten note of thanks to your host after attending a dinner party.

All visitors require a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the date of stay for entry into the Philippines. All visitors (except those from countries that the Philippines don’t have diplomatic ties with) are entitled to a 21-day stay in the country without a visa, provided they have an onward ticket. Visitors from Hong Kong or Taiwan require a special permit.

You can extend your stay for up to 59 days by contacting an immigration office. Extensions may incur a fee. If you want to apply for a visa extension, it is important to dress conservatively when visiting the immigration office - no flip-flops or shorts.

The tourist information office is located in the DoT Complex on Governor Pack road, which is just a 10-minute walk from Session road. The office has maps of Baguio and should be able to give you general advice with regards to transport, accommodation and attractions. The office is open daily from 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 19:00. Phone: +63 74 442 6708.