Bohol Island Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10:00 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday, some open on Sunday

While the easternmost region of the Philippines is occasionally unstable, Bohol is a consistently safe and well-developed stopover for tourists. The infrastructure here takes international interests to heart, and Bohol's visitors are unlikely to encounter any political unrest or instability.

One of the most pervasive issues facing Filipinos is government corruption, both at local and national levels. Visitors are advised to use caution in dealing with local law enforcement. It is a good practice to bring a friend with you when visiting the police station so that your story can be corroborated by a third party.

In the Philippines, transportation in out-of-the-way places may be unreliable, although the buses and jeepneys that ply the more popular routes are typically very safe. When taking a jeepney to a more remote area, try not to be the only person left onboard as your driver may decide the trip isn't worth the fare. Drivers have been known to stop vehicles and unload their last passenger before reaching their final destination.

There is zero tolerance for illegal drugs in the Philippines. Heavy penalties are regularly enforced, ranging from stiff fines to long-term imprisonment and even execution. Tourists who are caught in possession of illegal drugs cannot rely on their embassy to extradite them.

The most common problem facing tourists in Bohol is susceptibility to elaborate scams. Con-artists have been known to masquerade as police officers and search tourists belongings for counterfeit money. What these con artists then do is to replace real money with counterfeit banknotes. Most importantly, be wary of overly-friendly strangers, especially in bars or clubs after dark. Never leave a drink unattended, and avoid carrying any unessential valuables while travelling in Bohol.

Electricity: 220 volts, 60 hertz

Tap water is reportedly drinkable in metropolitan areas, though tourists would do well to stick to bottled water while visiting Bohol. You'll find that bottled water is inexpensive and easy to come by. Try to buy water from a reputable store rather than from a roadside vendor who may have refilled old bottles with tap water. The best policy for fresh produce is to stick with thick-skinned, uncut fruits that you can peel yourself.

While those visiting the Philippines are not required to have any vaccines, it is advisable to check in with your physician at home to confirm that you are up-to-date with standard immunisations. Malaria exists in some of the more remote areas, and an anti-malarial regiment along with mosquito repellent should be considered. Tuberculosis is also a concern in some remote regions of the Philippines, though this is of little concern in Bohol.

Medical facilities in Bohol are typically modern and well-run. The largest, most comprehensive facility is in Tagbilaran City, though most of the smaller towns have small clinics that can only assist travellers with routine medical issues. Some tourists opt against visiting the government hospitals and stick to private clinics, especially when travelling away from large cities.

The local language on Bohol Island is Boholano, a dialect related to the language spoken on Cebu Island. There are a few other minor dialects spoken in pockets throughout Bohol. Tagalog is the pervasive language that the various ethnic groups speak when coming together. Otherwise, a widespread understanding of English means tourists encounter very little difficulty communicating with locals.

The peso is the official Filipino currency. Banknotes in the Philippines are issued in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 peso increments, with many smaller denominations also available in coin. The peso is divided into 100 centavos.

The best rates for currency exchange exist at the street level, with private moneychangers trumping the banks. With this in mind, it pays to practice a little caution when dealing with moneychangers as some are dishonest. Seek the advice of your hotel to find the most reliable moneychanger. If you find yourself with a cash emergency, many banks offer cash advances on credit cards.

Traveller's cheques are not accepted by all banks, and the rates are typically less than ideal. It is usually easy to locate an ATM in most of the main cities on Bohol; however, these machines are notoriously riddled with problems and are often not operational. US dollars are widely accepted (often even preferred) by vendors and merchants, so it's not a bad idea to carry an emergency cash reserve in US dollars.

The following items are banned from import and export into the Philippines: illegal drugs, firearms and pornographic material. There is an additional ban on the export of certain natural artefacts, such as coral, snake skin, orchids, mussels and turtle shells.

Prior to entering the Philippines, tourists are required to prepare a customs declaration form indicating any goods they are carrying into the country. Restrictions on foreign currency only require that the value taken out doesn’t exceed the value brought in. The following items may be brought into Philippines free of duty: 200 cigarettes (or two tins of tobacco products), sundry personal affects and 2 litres of alcohol.

Filipinos greet one another with a handshake. While either sex may shake the other sex's hand, men usually wait for women to initiate the handshake. The Filipino variety of handshake is markedly limper than its Western counterpart, due in part to an ingrained aversion to aggression.

A liberal dose of laughter is often the best means of easing social tension. Western visitors sometimes assume (incorrectly) that Filipino laughter is at their expense; however, this it is commonly a social grace given for the other visitor's benefit.

To say 'yes', a Filipino will jerk the head in an upward direction. 'No' is the opposite, indicated with a firm downward jerk. Surprisingly, a Filipino may indicate 'no' with the head but actually say the word 'yes.' This is not meant to confuse; rather, the intent is to soften the speaker's ‘no’. When in doubt, trust the gesture, not the word.

Staring is seen as aggressive and is considered rude in the Philippines. This isn't to say that tourists don't receive their share of looks in the remote countryside. Curling the index finger toward the body (a beckoning gesture in the West) is insulting in the Philippines. Instead, a Filipino will beckon another by extending their hand with the palm down and sweeping the fingers toward the body.

When dining out in the Philippines, locals are conscious of their hands, keeping them above the table at all times. An overzealous appetite is looked down upon, and diners typically leave a small amount of food on their plate after they've finished eating. When finished eating, a diner places the fork and spoon together on the plate as a signal to the server or host.

Some of the best Filipino cuisine is found at the turo turo where an array of local cuisine is offered cafeteria-style. Simply point to the food you would like to try. Eating at the local turo turo is a great way to mix with locals.

If you stay in Bohol for any length of time, chances are that you'll be invited to dine with a local at some point. Filipinos are enthusiastic entertainers, though offering and receiving invitations can be a bit confusing for foreigners. Locals will usually decline an offer to sit or join a meal upon the first invitation. However, repeating the offer will reinforce your sincerity and a second offer is usually accepted.

If you invite a Filipino to dinner, it is a good idea to reconfirm the invitation before the actual date. Locals may accept an invitation out of politeness, without realising that you're absolutely serious. Filipinos often reconfirm two or three times before actually showing up at a social affair or dinner party. Punctuality is often lax, and it is considered normal to show up late to social engagements.

A standard tourist visa valid for 21 days is issued on arrival to visitors from most nations. If the visa is arranged at an embassy or consulate before setting out for the Philippines, it is possible to receive a total stay of 59 days. Tourists who have already arranged a visa are advised to point this out to customs officials to prevent the standard 21-day visa from being automatically applied.

A visa extension can be obtained from any Bureau of Immigration. The process is fairly straightforward, and express extensions can be completed in as little as one business day. The alternative is to pay slightly less for the extension and wait as long as one week.

As visa regulations are subject to perpetual change, it is a good idea to check with your local Philippine consulate or embassy before travelling for up-to-date visa information.

The central office for the Philippines Tourism Authority is found in Manila in the DOT building on Kalaw street. Phone: +63 2 524 7141; website: www.philtourism.com.

Bohol's primary tourist office is located in Tagbilaran City, next to the marketplace that sits on the main road. Phone: +63 38 235 5497.