Manila Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 21:00, daily
Museums: 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

There are some safety issues that visitors to the Philippines should consider. Crime, terrorism and kidnappings occasionally occur in Manila, and visitors need to take extra precautions. Visitors should keep a low profile and avoid flashing cash and valuables in public. Also, be careful when walking around the city after dark, even in tourist spots.

Safety standards are low on most public ferries, and rescue service is not reliable. The entire country is prone to typhoons from July to November. The torrential rains commonly bring landslides and flooding to the city and outlying regions.

Police (Makati): +63 2 899 9039

Electricity: 220V AC, 60Hz; 110V is available in many hotels. Flat and round two and three-pin plugs are used.

Even though it isn’t required, it’s suggested that visitors to Manila are vaccinated against typhoid, rabies and hepatitis A. Malaria is not considered a problem in Manila itself, but if you travel to the countryside you should take precautions. Many visitors get ill from consuming unsanitary water or food. Although most restaurants in Manila are safe to eat at, you should be careful when eating at street stalls. Tap water is unsafe to drink in the city, so stick to bottled water. The heat can also cause problems for some people, so drink plenty of bottled water while you are out and about.

Should you fall ill during your visit, the pharmacies in Manila are the best places to get medicine for minor illnesses like an upset stomach or a cold. For more serious problems, there are decent medical facilities in the city which can help with most ailments and emergencies. Buying travel insurance will cover the costs of any unforeseen medical situations.

Makati Medical Centre: +63 2 815 9911

Nearly all residents of Manila are bilingual and can speak both English and their native Tagalog language. Visitors should have no trouble speaking with locals while travelling around the city.

The currency used in the Philippines is the Philippine peso (Php). There are 100 centavos in one peso. Notes come in denominations of Php1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins come in denominations of Php10, 5, 2 and 1, as well as 50, 25, 10 and 5 centavos.

Manila is the best place in the country for dealing with money matters, and visitors will have no trouble exchanging foreign currency into local pesos. The best rates are given at the banks and licensed moneychangers, but most hotels also provide money exchange services. ATMs are easy to find throughout Manila, especially around the tourist attractions and shopping centres. Withdrawing cash daily from ATMs is a convenient way to get pesos, but you should check if there are any service charges added to each transaction.

Credit cards are readily accepted in all but the smallest shops and restaurants. Pesos will be needed for daily expenses such as transport and purchasing sundries. The farther you venture from urban centres, the harder it will be to withdraw cash. Be sure to carry enough pesos if you plan any trips into the countryside.

All visitors to the Philippines can import 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco and tow litres of alcohol without incurring a customs duty. Anyone carrying more than US$3,000 must declare this at the customs counter upon arrival, and departing visitors can only take Php1,000 out of the country. Pornography, subversive materials, narcotics and gambling articles are prohibited in the country and will create problems for you if you are caught bringing them in.

One of the most prominent social concepts in the Philippines is that of shame. Filipinos base their existence around maintaining a good public reputation, and any embarrassment or humiliation is a crushing blow to both the individual and their family. Be very careful not to criticise or embarrass anyone, as they will suffer greatly.

Handshakes are the common form of greeting, and it’s acceptable to introduce yourself to women as well as men. The population of Manila is overwhelmingly Catholic. Due to the hot climate, dress is casual but should not be revealing. Manilans are very friendly and sociable people, so expect to be welcomed with conversations and enquiries wherever you go. It is considered polite etiquette to offer visitors food or drink.

Dining Etiquette
If you are lucky enough to be invited to dine at someone’s home in Manila, be sure and bring a small gift of sweets or flowers. Always arrive a few minutes later than arranged, and compliment the host on their house. Your choice of dress will be judged heavily, so wear your nicest clothes when visiting someone’s home. When it comes to time to eat, let the host tell you where to sit and when to begin eating. Typically, food is set on the table and everyone helps themselves. Once you begin eating, the atmosphere is very casual so dig in and enjoy the good food.

Citizens of most countries can enter the Philippines on a 21-day tourist visa. Visas are issued upon arrival but cannot be extended without applying for a special travel visa ahead of time. Citizens from a number of countries are allowed to travel to the Philippines, but need to apply for a tourist visa before arrival at a local embassy. If you hail from a small nation, it’s best to check with your travel agent or nearest Philippine embassy to see if you need to apply for a visa in advance of arrival.

There is a central tourism office at the Manila Museum in Manila City, as well as a small tourism information desk at the airport. 

Manila Tourism Office
Manila Museum and Provincial Library Building
Manila City 4200
Phone: +63 2 723 0130

Philippine Tourism Authority
DOT Building, 5^th floor
TM Kalaw Street
Teodoro Valencia Circle
Manila
Phone: +63 2 524 2502
Website: www.tourism.gov.ph