I’m sharing the best Philippines solo travel tips for those wondering, “Is the Philippines safe to travel alone?” These travel tips for the Philippines will help you have a memorable and stress-free experience. Let’s dive into my top five Philippines travel tips!
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
Is Philippines Safe to Travel Alone?
Solo travel Philippines is generally safe—the most you’ll likely experience is catcalling. However, this is usually limited to busy downtown areas. Keep your wits about you, use common sense, and you shouldn’t have any issues during your trip.
Where is the Philippines?
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of over 7,000 islands. Sandwiched between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it is a must-visit destination for everyone from backpackers to luxury travelers. The two largest islands in the Philippines are Luzon and Mindanao—they account for two-thirds of the total land area.
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
Best Philippines Tours: Click here to check out the top Philippines tours
Best Philippines Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Philippines
Best Philippines Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Philippines
5 Useful Travel Tips Philippines Solo Travel
1. Plan your trip properly
One of the most essential Philippines travel tips is to plan your trip. The Philippines has thousands of islands, and you must take a small boat, ferry, or plane to visit the country’s most beautiful places.
Plan to ensure a seamless Philippines solo travel experience—research which mode of transportation works best for your destination. For instance, if you plan on traveling from Manila City (the country’s capital) to Boracay (the most famous island), you must book a plane via Philippine Airlines. You might consider Boracay to Palawan tour packages from there to extend your adventure.
Philippine Airlines offers one-way tickets from Manila to Boracay for as low as $40. Traveling to the Philippines has never been easier with this airline.
2. Always keep enough cash in your pocket
As one of Southeast Asia‘s major tourist attractions, the Philippines, like Thailand, welcomes millions of annual tourists. From souvenirs to street food, there are many things you might want to buy. Stay informed about the currency and carry some cash on you.
While you can usually pay with cards or other online payment methods, most locals prefer cash. Don’t forget to keep those bills and coins in your pocket! If you run out of money, you can withdraw more from the 24-hour ATMs in many cities and small towns nationwide.
3. Taste as much local food as possible
Trying the local food as much as possible is one of my top travel tips for the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is exotic, with a tasty fusion of Oriental, European, and American flavors. Regional dishes feature an impressive variety of fresh seafood and delectable fruits.
For authentic Filipino food, hit the streets and try different foods from the local vendors. You can also enjoy delicious meals at fancy restaurants in the Philippines. Famous must-try local foods here include chicken adobo, balut, and kare-kare.
4. Take advantage of public transport
The Philippines features many attractions. Since I’ve visited the country several times, I know how expensive Philippines solo travel can be with a rental car. Public transport is less costly, so I highly recommend taking local buses or the metro.
5. Enjoy the country’s dry months
Wrapping up this list of Philippines travel tips is to visit the country from December to February for ideal temperatures. The entire country is accessible during this time, including beautiful islands and remote areas you cannot access during the wet season.
You can still enjoy the Philippines from February to May, but you must be prepared for scorching temperatures. Remember to pack your sunscreen! May to October is the wet season, but you can still enjoy Philippines activities since it’s intermittent rather than nonstop.
Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out these options!
Nacho Hostel Cebu
The Sylvia
Happiness Hostel Siargao
Philippines Travel Guide Planning
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m traveling?
I strongly recommend using Bookaway. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
Is Philippines Safe to Travel Alone? Solo Travel Philippines Tips: Final Thoughts
To answer your question, “Is the Philippines safe to travel alone?” Yes! Philippines solo travel is generally safe if you keep personal belongings close and stick to well-populated areas. With my top travel tips for the Philippines, you can easily plan a fun and relaxing vacation with minimal hassle.
