Key facts
The Philippines is a country located in South-Eastern Asia. The country has no land neighbors.
English is an official language in The Philippines. It means that if you speak it, you would be able to communicate with almost everyone. If not, it is highly recommended that you acquire some basic English before traveling to The Philippines.
The national currency in The Philippines is Philippine peso (PHP). The peso (₱) is subdivided into 100 sentimo.
Filipino
Banknotes
₱20₱50₱100₱200₱500₱1000₱5₱10
Filipino
Coins
25₱1₱5₱1012510
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in The Philippines is 168.6 Mbps and mobile is 72.98 Mbs.The global average is 197.25 Mbps and 127.73 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density When compared to the world average, The Philippines has less ATMs.29.37 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in The Philippines, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 3 socket types used in The Philippines. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Philippines?
There are Mariott hotels in 2 cities: Mabalacat and Manila.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in The Philippines.
The IHG hotel chain operates in The Philippines.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in The Philippines.
There are Radisson hotels in 6 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in The Philippines.
What fast food chains are present in Philippines?
The McDonald’s chain operates in The Philippines.
The KFC chain operates in The Philippines.
The Burger King chain does not operate in The Philippines.
The Subway chain operates in The Philippines.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in The Philippines.
The Starbucks chain operates in The Philippines.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Manila?
Weather data for Manila (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Manila.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in The Philippines.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Philippines
Sources
- The Philippines Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for The Philippines (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban There is no national smoke-free law, but some areas may have their own rules.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Illegal
Medical usage: Legal in certain circumstances
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)