Tipping
Unless the service was outstanding, put your pesos away and don’t worry about tipping.
Select your destination
Welcome to The Philippines!
Famed for its bustling cities and tranquil rice fields, the Philippines encompass over 7,000 islands. A nation of extreme beauty and contrasts, it has some of the most densely populated cities in the world, together with totally uninhabited islands and pristine beaches. Filipinos are friendly and always willing to help tourists as they try to navigate this sprawling, culturally diverse archipelago.
ATM access
3/5 stars: Tracking down an ATM can be tricky in rural areas, but there are plenty of cash points in major cities and towns.
Phone and Internet access
Notoriously intermittent, but decent coverage can be found in most major cities
Daily cost
Keeping your pesos in check isn’t too tricky in the Philippines, thanks to the low cost of living.
Coffee: NZ$2.70 (regular cup of coffee)
Water: NZ$0.45 (bottle of water)
Beer: NZ$2.35 (local pint)
Food: NZ$19.35 (mid-range restaurant)
Taxi: NZ$20 (Manila airport – city)
Big Mac: NZ$3.60 (the local ‘malaking mac’)
Daily budget
Budget: Around NZ$90/day (2x cheap meals, supermarket snacks, a train ride and entry to Fort Santiago)
Moderate: Around NZ$165/day (2x cheap meals, supermarket snacks and a boat cruise around the Calamianes)
Luxury: Around NZ$220/day (3x restaurant meals, taxi rides and a snorkelling excursion at Apo Island)
Safety rating
3/5 stars: The Philippines may be vibrant and beautiful, but it’s important to note that street crime is fairly common and some areas are prone to conflict (central and western Mindanao are no-go zones).
Travel Money Trivia
Dialect Deluge
Over 120 different languages are spoken throughout the Philippines.
Coconut Craze
The Philippines exports around 20 million tons of coconuts every year.
Retail Therapy
Three of the 10 largest shopping malls in the world can be found in the Philippines.
Population Boom
The population of the Philippines surpassed 100 million in 2014.
Don't Need No America
The Philippines gained independence from the US in 1946.
Let's talk money
The peso is the official currency of the thousands of islands that make up the Philippines. There’s plenty of luxury on offer in this part of Southeast Asia, but it’s also an ideal destination for budget travellers. From fancy restaurants and 5-star hotels to backpacker hostels and street food, you can choose your own adventure.
- Buy alcohol at supermarkets
- 1 peso = 100 centavos, but these are rarely used
- 1,000 peso notes are hard to break – use smaller change
- You’ll need cash for remote areas
- Haggling is common in the Philippines
- Most taxi drivers expect you to round up the fare to the nearest peso
Must do
Bacuit Archipelago
With its white-sand beaches and rainforests, this part of the Philippines provides the perfect setting for islandhopping.
Ifugao Rice Fields
Located just outside of Manila, these emerald rice fields are over 2,000 years old
Cebu
Known for its distinctive banana shape, Cebu Island can be reached directly from Hong Kong and Singapore. The waters surrounding Cebu are brimming with marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkelers.
Mestizo District, Vigan
Hidden deep in the city of Vigan on Luzon Island, the Mestizo District has colonialera mansions and beautiful Spanish-inspired architecture.
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Travel Money NZ has sought to ensure that the information is true and correct at the time of publication. Prices, details and services are subject to change without notice, and Travel Money NZ accepts no responsibility or liability for any such changes, including any loss resulting from any action taken or reliance made by you on any information provided. Daily Cost: All prices are approximations. Your costs may differ depending on where you go, where you shop, and their individual factors. Daily Budget: Costs are estimated per person and do not include accommodation.