Trip readiness checklist for Philippines
The Philippines is the friendliest crowd in Asia, English-speaking and karaoke-armed. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Philippines: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistWhat to pack
The Philippines is 7,000-plus islands of beaches, heat, and warm welcomes. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, reef-safe sun protection, and a dry bag for all that island-hopping.
Light, quick-dry clothing
Hot and humid year-round; you'll be in and out of the water.
Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard
Sun is strong and reefs fragile; a rash guard saves your shoulders while snorkeling.
A dry bag
Boat transfers and island-hopping mean splashes; keep your phone and cash dry.
Modest cover for towns and churches
Beach-casual is fine at resorts; cover up a little in towns and churches.
When to go
The dry season (roughly Nov–Apr) is the pleasant, peak time; Christmas-to-New-Year and Holy Week are busiest. The wet season (Jun–Oct) is cheaper but overlaps typhoon season — watch forecasts.
Money & getting around
The Philippines uses the peso (PHP). Cash is essential outside cities and resorts; ATMs can be sparse on small islands, so stock up before you ferry out. Cards work at hotels and malls. Tipping is appreciated — round up or ~10%.
Local quirks worth knowing
The Philippines is the friendliest crowd in Asia, English-speaking and karaoke-armed. A little politeness vocabulary goes a very long way.
'Po' makes everything polite
Tack it onto anything — 'salamat po' (thank you), 'para po' (stop here, to a jeepney driver). Instant respect, zero effort.
Karaoke is sincere
You will be handed a microphone at some point. Refusing repeatedly is ruder than singing badly — commit to your ballad.
Jeepney rules
Squeeze in, pass fares forward ('bayad po'), say 'para po' to hop off. It's the national commute and a cultural experience at pocket change prices.
Ask for the CR
The bathroom is the 'comfort room' — CR. Asking for a 'toilet' gets you there too, but now you speak local.
A week in Philippines, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Philippines, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week in Manila. Here's what's thin.
- 1.
Typhoon season contingency
Late October still sits in the wet season, which overlaps typhoon season. Check your airline's rebooking policy and whether your travel insurance covers weather disruption before you leave.
- 2.
Pesos before you leave the city
Cash is essential outside cities and resorts, and ATMs get sparse on small islands. Draw enough in Manila to cover any ferry days, and tell your bank you're travelling.
- 3.
Dry bag and reef-safe sun protection
Nothing is packed yet and your list stops at underwear and everyday shoes. For 7,000 islands of heat and boats, add quick-dry clothes, a dry bag, and reef-safe sunscreen.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Philippines with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Philippines — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Philippines — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Philippines checklist
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