A Guide to Philippines: What You Need To Know

There are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines, many of them with their distinctive flavors and views. But before you drive into a search for the best Philippines Travel Promos, it's always a good idea to start by researching a country that you're planning to visit. From cultural practices to technicalities like visas, here's what you need to know about visiting the gorgeous nation of Philippines.

You can get an extremely long travel visa in the Philippines

Probably one of the first things that travelers look at is travel visas, and for good reason too. Visas can be a hassle, especially when you're visiting countries like Iran, North Korea, or Russia. But that's not the case with the Philippines. They welcome everyone with open arms, granting 30-day visas upon arrival. However, if you hail from Iran, India, or Jordan, you'll still need to apply for a visa beforehand. Now, we mentioned an ‘extremely long travel visa' and those 30-day visas can be extended numerous times which will give you up to 24 to 36 months duration.

Terrorism is not unheard of

Now, one of the reasons why the Philippines isn't a well-advertised travel destination is their propensity for acts of terror. Unlike Thailand, which is able to keep their politics and tourism separate, creating a relatively safe environment for travelers, the Philippines has a very rampant Islamic militant force, which can create a rather hostile environment for tourists. Many nations advise against their citizens from visiting by offering advice on how to protect themselves.

Published on the U.K government website are up-to-date information on the current terrorism situation in the Philippines, warning againt kidnappers, and how there is a higher rate of British nationals who are targeted "from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time."

It might be a developing Asian country, but it's not Thailand or Indonesia

Perhaps one of the most crucial factors in why the Philippines just does not attract as many foreigners is due to their extremely strict drug laws. At one point, the president of the nation urged their citizens to "kill suspected criminals and drug addicts" during the Philippines drug war. So, a word of warning, if you are aiming to score in the Philippines, you're better off visiting Indonesia or Thailand instead.

7000 islands and the ferries are weather-dependent

Being a country that has frequent typhoon outbreaks, ferries do not run when the weather gets too bad. This can mean that it's very hard to book in advance, especially hotels that do not offer refunds. Therefore, it's best not to visit during the monsoon season between June to October. If you do end up in that area during typhoon season, it's best to just go with the flow (pun intended).