Getting around in the Philippines can be easy (with planning) and very difficult without it. Here are some tips that will help you not waste time on your trip and keep your stress level down as well.
1) Philippine airline companies can get you to many different airports in the Philippines, but getting to an airport is not necessarily the end point of your trip. It's entirely conceivable a bus, then a ferry, then a Jeepney, taxi, tricycle or even a habal-habal (a motorcycle with you on the back) may be the final leg of your journey.
2)So first a little about airlines starting with almost any airport can be reached by air in an hour from any other airport. It may actually take you longer getting to the airport and checked in than the trip. That can be especially true in larger cities so plan ahead and get there at least an hour early, traffic can cause you to miss your flight...ask the hotel and a taxi driver to be sure. Exiting the airport is fast but local transport may not be instantly apparent at smaller airports when you exit the baggage area. Asking before you start wandering about in the noonday sun is suggested. But, more often than not you will find both taxi's and buses available and sometimes Jeepneys or vans. If you know your hotel always ask what they suggest and many have their own van to pick up clients no charge!.
3) Buses can be air-conditioned with movies even or not air-conditioned (with usually no movies on these). The latter are less expensive. The non-AC buses also come in several flavors, okay seats, soft seats and hard as a rock seats; not pleasant for a longer trip. If you cannot immediately get an AC bus at the bus terminal you are leaving from we suggest you wait, particularly if the trip to your next destination is more than an hour away. Water and snacks are sold on buses.....at twice the price not on the bus. Buy water ahead of time and always carrying it with you is more than just a good idea. Another item NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED is you can be on a bus for four hours with NO STOPS. So unless you have the bladder of an elephant using the CR (comfort room) before getting on board is again highly suggested. Some buses though do stop for "personal breaks". And here is a hint worth remembering. If leaving a city don't do it on Friday afternoon or evening unless you are at the terminal earlier than 3 PM. Buses are full with people going back home for the weekend (out of town). And yes, standing by the road for a bus waiting can take MANY hours before a bus with room stops. Going to a city on Sunday night can be the same issue as leaving on a Friday. And a big caution, some of the major cities have annual celebrations of one form or another. That can translate to almost impossible to get on board. Know what those holidays are by asking. Almost forgot, how often do buses go up and down the National Highway? That depends on where you are but more often than not you will not wait more than 45 minutes, often much less. Find a shady spot to wait. They will stop for you. Just hold your hand up. If they do not stop it means full (or standing room only). And we suggest you never get on a "too full bus with standing room only". Even if air conditioned it will be hot and handing by a strap if not fun after 10 minutes...let alone hours.You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance.
You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance, always!
4) Vans are vans but significantly more full of people than you might imagine if it's a point to point public van. These often leave from malls and sometimes hotels as well. You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance.
5) Jeepneys or equivalents are the mass movers of people in cities and many suburbs. They are inexpensive and if you are short and not carrying luggage doable. Other passengers will tell you the price). If tall prepare to crawl to a seat or, if smart, sit next to the driver in the front seat if empty or at the very back. Taking a large suitcase on board or even a big backpack can be a hassle, particularly while sweating in the noonday sun. Hint - carry a washcloth if out and about when the sun is up. Wetting it with a bottle of frozen water (your hotel can do that for you) is GREAT by the way.
6) Ferries come in different sized. From semi-fast passenger only ferries to larger ones which carry cars and freight to small, and not so fast, pump boats, a ferry of sort with outriggers and an engine. The rule for larger ferries is be there ahead of time (one hour!). Why? Because even though you have booked tickets they either accept people on a first come first serve basis or there may be a breakdown in the reservation system despite you having a ticket. In either case you can be standing on the dock with the next ferry not arriving until tomorrow and no place to sleep.
7) Tricycles have standard fares in well run cities like Dumaguete on Negros Island but outside those areas and even within them, unless you are a local, expect to be asked to pay double or triple the normal cost. The solution, ask anyone and they will tell you the correct fare...and don't get on one owned by "pushy" people that greet you the instant you get off a ferry or whatever. If they complain simply give them exact change you were told to pay and say thank you. They won't if you tell them what you would pay in advance.
8) Habal-habals (a motorcyle with you the passenger on the back). Again you can have "fare" problems but there is a standard rate from point A to point B. Ask a local and they will tell you and then simply find somone who honors that rate. You will but it may take talking to more than one driver. Let me say that 99% of these guys are excellent drivers and those up in the mountains paths along ridge lines they will successfully navigate.
9) You can also rent motorcycles, bicycles and negotiate with a local fisherman to take you wherever. Do make sure the rate for the latter is clearly understood as well as time. Taxi's are metered by the way.
Tipping is not necessary but tricycle and habal-habal drivers, if friendly and informative or they wait for you (and gave you the correct rate initially) you may wish to tip. Ten to 20 pesos is adequate and appreciated.
1) Philippine airline companies can get you to many different airports in the Philippines, but getting to an airport is not necessarily the end point of your trip. It's entirely conceivable a bus, then a ferry, then a Jeepney, taxi, tricycle or even a habal-habal (a motorcycle with you on the back) may be the final leg of your journey.
2)So first a little about airlines starting with almost any airport can be reached by air in an hour from any other airport. It may actually take you longer getting to the airport and checked in than the trip. That can be especially true in larger cities so plan ahead and get there at least an hour early, traffic can cause you to miss your flight...ask the hotel and a taxi driver to be sure. Exiting the airport is fast but local transport may not be instantly apparent at smaller airports when you exit the baggage area. Asking before you start wandering about in the noonday sun is suggested. But, more often than not you will find both taxi's and buses available and sometimes Jeepneys or vans. If you know your hotel always ask what they suggest and many have their own van to pick up clients no charge!.
3) Buses can be air-conditioned with movies even or not air-conditioned (with usually no movies on these). The latter are less expensive. The non-AC buses also come in several flavors, okay seats, soft seats and hard as a rock seats; not pleasant for a longer trip. If you cannot immediately get an AC bus at the bus terminal you are leaving from we suggest you wait, particularly if the trip to your next destination is more than an hour away. Water and snacks are sold on buses.....at twice the price not on the bus. Buy water ahead of time and always carrying it with you is more than just a good idea. Another item NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED is you can be on a bus for four hours with NO STOPS. So unless you have the bladder of an elephant using the CR (comfort room) before getting on board is again highly suggested. Some buses though do stop for "personal breaks". And here is a hint worth remembering. If leaving a city don't do it on Friday afternoon or evening unless you are at the terminal earlier than 3 PM. Buses are full with people going back home for the weekend (out of town). And yes, standing by the road for a bus waiting can take MANY hours before a bus with room stops. Going to a city on Sunday night can be the same issue as leaving on a Friday. And a big caution, some of the major cities have annual celebrations of one form or another. That can translate to almost impossible to get on board. Know what those holidays are by asking. Almost forgot, how often do buses go up and down the National Highway? That depends on where you are but more often than not you will not wait more than 45 minutes, often much less. Find a shady spot to wait. They will stop for you. Just hold your hand up. If they do not stop it means full (or standing room only). And we suggest you never get on a "too full bus with standing room only". Even if air conditioned it will be hot and handing by a strap if not fun after 10 minutes...let alone hours.You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance.
You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance, always!
4) Vans are vans but significantly more full of people than you might imagine if it's a point to point public van. These often leave from malls and sometimes hotels as well. You can rent a private van with driver (not inexpensive) or car with driver or drive yourself (not recommended at all unless you are skilled enough to avoid dogs, chickens, small children, motorcycles and tricycles without lights at night. Make sure you understand how long it is for, who pays for fuel and meals and do this in advance.
5) Jeepneys or equivalents are the mass movers of people in cities and many suburbs. They are inexpensive and if you are short and not carrying luggage doable. Other passengers will tell you the price). If tall prepare to crawl to a seat or, if smart, sit next to the driver in the front seat if empty or at the very back. Taking a large suitcase on board or even a big backpack can be a hassle, particularly while sweating in the noonday sun. Hint - carry a washcloth if out and about when the sun is up. Wetting it with a bottle of frozen water (your hotel can do that for you) is GREAT by the way.
6) Ferries come in different sized. From semi-fast passenger only ferries to larger ones which carry cars and freight to small, and not so fast, pump boats, a ferry of sort with outriggers and an engine. The rule for larger ferries is be there ahead of time (one hour!). Why? Because even though you have booked tickets they either accept people on a first come first serve basis or there may be a breakdown in the reservation system despite you having a ticket. In either case you can be standing on the dock with the next ferry not arriving until tomorrow and no place to sleep.
7) Tricycles have standard fares in well run cities like Dumaguete on Negros Island but outside those areas and even within them, unless you are a local, expect to be asked to pay double or triple the normal cost. The solution, ask anyone and they will tell you the correct fare...and don't get on one owned by "pushy" people that greet you the instant you get off a ferry or whatever. If they complain simply give them exact change you were told to pay and say thank you. They won't if you tell them what you would pay in advance.
8) Habal-habals (a motorcyle with you the passenger on the back). Again you can have "fare" problems but there is a standard rate from point A to point B. Ask a local and they will tell you and then simply find somone who honors that rate. You will but it may take talking to more than one driver. Let me say that 99% of these guys are excellent drivers and those up in the mountains paths along ridge lines they will successfully navigate.
9) You can also rent motorcycles, bicycles and negotiate with a local fisherman to take you wherever. Do make sure the rate for the latter is clearly understood as well as time. Taxi's are metered by the way.
Tipping is not necessary but tricycle and habal-habal drivers, if friendly and informative or they wait for you (and gave you the correct rate initially) you may wish to tip. Ten to 20 pesos is adequate and appreciated.