Basic information
Currency exchange
The currency of the Philippines is peso, which is expressed in PHP. The exchange rate of peso fluctuates frequently, and the approximate reference price is that 1 yuan RMB is equal to 6.7 pesos (November 211), but this exchange rate is rare in the local area. In Boracay, the exchange rate is usually worse than that of Manilla, so it is better to exchange US dollars for pesos, because there are few places where RMB can be exchanged, and the exchange rate is not cost-effective. You can also change pesos before going abroad, which is basically the same as the price of changing dollars there.
unionpay card
China unionpay has opened POS card swiping and ATM cash withdrawal services in the Philippines, and all merchants with "unionpay" logo can accept unionpay cards. Some merchants may not have posted the "UnionPay" logo. Cardholders can take the initiative to show UnionPay cards and ask cashiers whether they can use them. There are thousands of ATMs in the Philippines that can use UnionPay cards to withdraw local currency (Philippine peso). UnionPay cards cannot be used for bank counter transfer and cash withdrawal outside the Philippines. There is no charge for overseas credit card swiping. Compared with other bank card networks, UnionPay network consumption is free of currency conversion fees ranging from 1% to 2%.
Asynchronous transmission mode
There are many ATMs in Boracay, and most of them accept major credit cards. There are several ATMs in UnionPay system that can directly withdraw pesos with debit cards from China. ATM machines in the Philippines can take up to 1, pesos at a time, but the option may only have an upper limit of 5, pesos. When you withdraw money from an ATM with a bank card issued outside the Philippines, you will be charged an ATM service fee, which is currently 2 pesos. In addition, the issuing bank will generally take the corresponding withdrawal fee. Every 1 yuan, there is also a charge for inquiry. Note: ATM machines in the Philippines return cards first, and then spit out banknotes. Don't forget to take the money after returning the card, thinking that the transaction is unsuccessful. Be sure to ask if there is a handling fee before swiping your card in the Philippines. Some stores charge a handling fee ranging from 3% to 7%.
tipping
The Philippines is a country where hotel bellboys, restaurant musicians, waiters in restaurants and bars, and room attendants all accept tips. The amount of tips is generally between 1 pesos and 2 pesos. But when tipping in person, Filipinos avoid paying coins because it may be interpreted as charity. Generally, the tip is 1-2 pesos, and the tip of tourist attractions and essential oil masseurs is higher, about 1-2 pesos.
consistent
The major telecom companies in the Philippines are Globle and Smart, and the signals in most areas are good. SIM cards of these two companies can be bought in many stores in the Philippines.
global: a SIM card costs 4-5 pesos, and there is no phone bill in it. Need to buy a prepaid card, with a face value of 1/3/5 pesos, etc. Domestic calls in the Philippines are 7.5 pesos per minute, and international calls are .4 dollars per minute. In addition, Universal also produced a tipIDD card specially used for making long-distance calls, which is similar to the domestic IP card. It has a prepaid face value and a card number password. If you call China for 5 pesos/minute, you can recharge it according to the instructions on the back of the card. If you can't recharge it, you can ask the clerk to recharge it for you when you buy it.
there are many public telephones. Generally, PLDT's budget card phone card is used, and the call to China is 5 pesos/minute. Please note that this card has an expiration date. After the first use, the face value of 1 pesos is valid for 3 days, and the face value of 2 pesos is valid for 6 days.
there is an ice shop named "HALOWICH" in D'Mall. There are free Skype international calls in the store, but only for guests who spend money in the store.
Philippine outlets
The local voltage in the Philippines is the same as that in Chinese mainland, with a voltage of 22V and a frequency of 5Hz, but their outlets are American two-hole or three hole socket. Domestic flat plugs with two holes can be used normally, and other types need plug converters. You can ask for the plug converter at the front desk of the Philippine hotel, or you can buy the American standard plug converter in the major shopping malls in China in advance.
Best travel time
The Philippines has a tropical maritime monsoon climate with high temperature and rainy weather. Although it can be divided into three seasons: cool season, dry season and rainy season, there is little difference between the seasons. Due to the influence of monsoon and complex terrain, even on the same island, there are regional climate differences. The cool season is from December to February, with slightly lower temperature, comfort and less rainfall, which is the best season for tourism. January is the coolest season with an average temperature of 25.5, and May is the hottest season with an average temperature of 28. January-June is the dry season, and July-December is the rainy season. May-November is the typhoon season. Pay attention to whether planes and ferries are suspended.
: visa
1. What documents do you need to go to the Philippines?
a passport valid for 6 months and a valid Philippine visa are required.
2. Valid passport (what is a valid passport)
(1) Passport validity period (if the passport validity period does not meet the requirements, you should apply for extension or replacement of the passport)
To apply for a short-term visa, the passport validity period must exceed the expected date of leaving Schengen for more than 3 months.
to renew a multiple-entry visa for one to five years, the validity period must be more than 15 months after the date of your visa application.
A long-term visa of more than 3 months must be valid for more than 15 months beyond the expected date of departure from China. (2) There are at least two blank visa pages in the passport.
(3) In the following cases, the passport issuing department must re-create the passport
There is no plastic film (anti-counterfeiting transparent film should cover the photo) or the plastic film falls off on the page of the passport with the photo.
Passports are sealed with plastic by a company.
there are scratches, scratches or modifications on the passport. (4) If the passport has been issued for more than ten years, even if it is still valid at the time of application, you should apply for a new passport at the relevant department in China.
tip: it is not recommended for adults to register one or more children in their passports. We strongly recommend that you use a single passport to facilitate the issuance of individual visas.
3. Philippine tourist visa processing
(1) Personal tourist visa application materials
Passport (valid for more than half a year)
One copy of the first page and one copy of the last page of the passport.
1 visa application form (can be downloaded from this website. Please fill it out in English. When printing, it should be printed on a piece of A4 paper on both sides, with a 2-inch recent photo attached at the end)
International round-trip air ticket (acceptable copy)
Work certificate in Chinese and English (printed on company stationery and stamped with official seal)
Original bank deposit certificate
Original ID card
(2) Visa fee
Single tourist visa: 167.5 RMB (RMB).
Fan Xiao reminds me that the above is the price for applying for a visa at the embassy. If you feel that it is troublesome to apply for a visa, you can find a treasure or a travel agency. The price is between 2 yuan and 25 yuan.
(3) Visa extension
You must apply at any office of the Philippine Immigration Bureau. In the Philippines, you can entrust a local travel agency to handle it. If you apply for an extension after the visa expires, you need to pay 11 pesos.
(4) visa-free policy in the Philippines
The Philippine government granted visa-free entry to China ordinary passport holders with valid visas from Schengen, Australia, the United States, Canada or Japan for seven days. As long as the conditions are met, you can enter the country without a visa, and you don't need to transit to the above countries through the Philippines.
Attractions
Boracay
The two main sightseeing beaches in Boracay, White Beach and Brapoh Beach, start from the narrowest middle part and are located at the two ends of the island. White sand beach faces west, while Brapoh beach faces east. There are other beaches on the island.
The most romantic white sand beach in the world, the honeymoon dream land of many people, as many tropical island elements as possible, as well as exciting water activities, rich nightlife and cheap exotic food are all waiting for you to experience.
Air
Tourists who come to Boracay usually take international flights to Manila, the capital, and then transfer to Boracay. Please note that Manila International Airport and domestic airport are separate. Please arrange the transfer time.
There are two airports near Boracay. The distance between them is about 2 hours' drive, and there is a shuttle bus of 15 pesos. There are more than 2 small planes flying to Boracay every day in Manila. The ticket costs about 3, pence
This airport, also known as Godofredo P Ramos Airport or Boracay Airport, is the main entrance and exit of Boracay. Close to Boracay, you can only take off and land small planes, and the air tickets are more expensive.
to Boracay: take a ferry to Boracay, 15 minutes. Admission is 19.5 pesos, island tax is 5 pesos, and environmental tax is 5 pesos. Pay 5 pesos environmental tax when you leave.
callipo International Airport (callipo)
It's far from Boracay where most planes land. Departure tax for international flights is 5 pesos, and airport tax for domestic flights is 1 pesos.
to Boracay: 2 pesos for minibus and 35 pesos for bus.
steamboat
There is a pier on Boracay. You have to walk on a narrow board to get on and off the boat. You can ask someone to help you with your luggage for 2 pesos. Generally, when going to Boracay, we go to Cadillac first, and then go to the island by boat. The journey is 15 minutes, the ticket is 25 pesos, the tax on the island is 5 pesos, the environmental tax is 5 pesos, and the environmental tax is 5 pesos when leaving.
Boat: Take a boat from Manila North Port to Xinhua Washington on the north coast of Banana Island, and then take a bus to Boracay.
transportation: take a bus from Quezon Castle to Batangas, then take a boat to Karapan, then take a bus to Rojas, and then take a boat to Boracay. The whole journey takes about 14 hours, and there is one shift at 7: and 2:3 every day.
Bohe Island
Mint, the name sounds very fresh and artistic. In fact, this island is far more approachable than imagined. Mint Island is small in size, but rich in gameplay. You can take a crab boat out to sea to see dolphins, snorkel to see corals, and sail by speedboat at sea. You can play as you like.
Bohol Island is the 1th largest island in the Philippines, 7km away from Mactan Island in Cebu. This is a coral island. The beach where the broken coral is washed by the sea water is not fine sand like flour, but even in the scorching sun, it is still cool when you step on it. The beach is white, reflecting the sea water into distinct levels, with light green in the vicinity and deep blue in the distance.
Air
There are no direct flights to Mint Island in China, so there are two ways to reach Mint Island: one is to fly to Manila first and then transfer to tagbilaran; The other is to fly in Cebu and then transfer.
Tararan Airport
Tararan Airport is located in tagbilaran, Philippines, and its main civil aviation business is domestic routes in the Philippines. Mint Island is not very developed. You can carpool to the hotel outside Tabiralan Airport, and the one-way fare is about 4-5 pesos.
Cebu Airport to the pier
When you walk out of the terminal, someone wearing a badge will come and ask you if you want to take a taxi. These are actually chartered cars. You can go straight ahead, cross the crosswalk and climb a flight of stairs to the real taxi stand. These taxi drivers usually set a price with you. If you dial the meter, it depends on the traffic conditions. It is usually cheaper than reducing the price, but few drivers agree to dial the meter. Cebu airport only provides yellow taxis, which are operated by the airport. It takes about 3 pesos to take a taxi from Cebu Airport to Pier 1.
steamboat
Tagbilaran Port operates at least 12 passenger routes to many cities in the Philippines. There are 35 passenger ships going to Cebu every day, and the sailing time of speedboats can be shortened to 1.5 hours.
Cebu has four wharves, mainly Oceanjet at Pier 1, WeesamExpress at Pier 3 and Supercat at Pier 4. The earliest departure time is 6 o'clock. There is a preferential price for booking round-trip tickets. Cebu-Bohol Island takes about 2 hours by boat, and it takes about 4 minutes from Bohol Island Pier to hotels around Arona Beach.
palawan island
palawan island is a long and narrow island in the southwest of the Philippines, attracting more and more tourists with its nature and adventure. This Amazon-style jungle inland area is the last ecological virgin land in the Philippines, surrounded by more than 1, large and small islands, known as seaside utopia.
Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan, and its underground river park is world-famous. There are many large and small islands around palawan island, so it is also a paradise for diving and snorkeling. The famous diving sites are Rita Island, Pandan Island, Panglima Reef and Tubataha Reef, among which Tubataha is a good place to watch turtles and birds.
Airplane
There are flights from Manila and Cebu to Princess Harbor, the capital of Palawan province, which takes about an hour. You can also fly to other places in palawan island by small plane, such as Holland Island and Cologne Island. There is also a small airport in Lan, which can take off and land small planes and fly directly from Manila to Lan Island, but the seats are limited and the price is high. Cologne has an airport, and there are direct flights to Manila, Princess Harbor and other places.
Steamship
The passenger ship of p>WGA Company sails from Manila to Princess Harbor twice a week, one of which takes about 27 hours and costs 1715 pesos. The other one transits at Cologne Island, which takes about 14 hours and costs 127 pesos. There are two boats to Holland every week, about 3 hours, 8 pesos.
Lan Dolan Island covers an area of 96, hectares and has diverse ecosystems, such as tropical rain forests, mangroves, white beaches, coral belts and limestone reefs. Now, it has become the first choice for tourists. There are unique natural landscapes, wildlife nature reserves and countless fish on the island.
Island is famous for its hidden lagoons, palm groves and cruises away from the coast. In the afternoon, Lan Island was bathed in sunshine, lazy and full of comfort.
Airplane
Lan is also a small airport, which can take off and land small planes and fly directly from Manila to Lan Island, but the seats are limited and the price is high.
Bus * * *
The shuttle bus from the bus terminal in Princess Harbor to Landau takes about 8 hours and costs 3 pesos. The shuttle bus from Sabang Station to Island takes about 7 hours and costs 15 pesos. The shuttle bus from Landau Station to Cologne Island takes about 9 hours and costs 65 pesos. At the last 6 o'clock of the bus, if people are not full, they may wait for half an hour.
Mom pats Luffa Island.
Mom's Luffa Island is Malapaska Island, which looks like the pedicle of Luffa, so travelers call it "Mom's Luffa Island". This narrow island is famous for its pristine, quiet and diving. Diving here gives you a chance to go to the only place in the world where you can see the long-tailed shark and see a rare "shark", which is a small island with well-preserved original ecology and is most suitable for parent-child travel.
"Mom pats the towel gourd island" is a very small island. If Cebu Island is shaped like a loofah, then "Mom pats the loofah Island" is the loofah pedicle. It takes about an hour to get there by crab boat from Maya, Cebu Island. There is only one village on the island, which is quiet, comfortable and primitive. Because of its good ecological environment, perfect diving environment and "long-tailed shark", the island has become a famous island in the Philippines.
fly directly from Guangzhou to Cebu and arrive at Cebu Airport. You can reach Mama Pai via Maya Pier.