Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation geographically very similar to Japan and home to 90,000,000 people. English is a national language.

Flights

If you want to use a travel agency, No 1 travel are reliable:

• Nagoya location
• Osaka location

It is definitely worth it to check independently.

Airports

There are three airports in Manila:

• International airport
• Philippines Air flights only airport
• Domestic airport

Manila

Always have small change, and I mean SMALL. NO ONE CAN EVER CHANGE MONEY. Almost everyone speaks English, as it is a national language. Other main language is Tagalog.

You can get a taxi from the taxi stands outside of the baggage claim. Make sure they do it on a meter. A taxi into the city or main area should not be more than 150 pesos or around there for a meter.

Sightseeing

Makate is the main area.

• Robinson's Mall

  The big mall. It is a 5 minute walk from the pension and a 10 minute walk from the Best Western. The mall has, to name a few Western things, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, TGI Fridays, Crocs, Top Shop, movie theatre, GAP, etc etc. Lots of food to choose from and lots of shopping. Also, they have the cheap flea market area on the 1st or 2nd floor that sells fake bags and purses, jewerly, etc. You can buy your fake DVDs outside of the mall from one of the street vendors.

• Little Asia

  If you are in the mood for Japanese, Korean, Chinese food this is the place to go.

Accommodations

There are lots of pensions (like hostels) to stay at. Lonely Planet has a list of the hostels it recommends.

• Pension Natividad

  It was 350 pesos for a bed in a dorm room with shared bath. Clean facilities, 24 hour food, lockers (bring your own lock), and lots of foreigners. This is the pension the peace corps uses the most so you will likely meet some peace corps volunteers.

• Best Western La Corona

  If you want to go high end, this is the place! I recommend it fully. I booked it online for around $60. Includes continental breakfast. Rooms are clean, service was great, we had a king size bed, 100 channels in English, and hot water!

Palawan

This is a good island to go to if you have lots of time and if you are into diving.

You can spend a whole week on a boat going out to the famous Tubbataha Reefs and diving all day long, if you are a serious diver.

Otherwise, because Palawan is such a long island you will need lots of travel time to get places. Puerto Princesa is the capital city. From here it takes 8 hours one way to El Nido, 3 hours to Sabang, 4 hours to Brooke's Point.

Puerto Princesa

Accommodations

• Casa Linda Inn
• Badjao Inn
• Amelia's Pension
• Skylight