Results for "Philippines+hébergement"

hi It seems that in recent years, January and February in Bohol have seen an increase in rainy periods. Have any of you noticed this? Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi everyone, and thanks in advance for the tips—it’s always great to find people who take the time to reply. Thanks so much.

I’m heading to the Philippines at the end of August. I plan to stay for a few months, so I’ll need to apply for a long-stay visa extension while I’m there.

During my first month in the Philippines, I’d like to spend a week in Malaysia. With the extension, I’ll have a 59-day visa for that period.

My question:

Can I leave the country for a week and come back during my 59-day visa? Is this possible, or will it cancel the visa?

Thanks so much for reading! Best regards, Boris

Hi there. I’m planning my next trip to the Philippines. I bought the 2024 edition of the Lonely Planet guide, and what a disappointment! No practical info at all—it’s useless. Someone lent me the 2018 edition, and it’s got everything I love. The problem is, I don’t want to carry two heavy guides. I tried to buy the 2018 digital version, but it no longer exists—they only offer the 2024 version, which I already have in print!

If anyone has the **2018 DIGITAL version** of the Lonely Planet Philippines, I’d love to get it. In exchange, I can offer around fifty digital Lonely Planet guides (PDF or EPUB) for destinations all over the world. Just ask—I might have what you’re looking for (in English and/or French).

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to the Philippines in January or February 2026. On top of visiting Luzon, I’m thinking of going to one or two other islands, but I’m hesitating—which one(s)? I’d like to do some snorkeling, enjoy a beautiful beach, and explore the interior of Bohol. Which island(s) can you recommend? Thanks in advance for your help! ceinture

Hi there, Another new idea! Given the travel times and the complexity of public transport to get from Manila Airport to Banaue (with a 2-day stop in Capas for a trip to Pitalito), we’re thinking of renting a car for the week. We’ve started looking around, but the booking sites aren’t offering much—can’t find a small vehicle for two. If anyone has any tips to share, we’d love to hear them! And if two other travelers are interested in our itinerary, we can share the ride! (February 19–26). Thanks again for your help.

Hi, What’s the cost for a 20 kg checked bag on the Airswift flight from El Nido to Manila? Thanks in advance! Michel

Hi, Which site can I use to book ferry tickets (from Cebu to Panglao and from Coron to El Nido)? Everyone recommends 12Go, but they only offer 2 companies and 2 schedules for this route, even though I assume there are more... Same issue with buses... For short trips, I’ll check on the spot, but these are in high demand, and I think booking in advance is a must. Thanks for your tips!

Hi, We’re planning to spend 3 nights (4 days) in the Banaue area. We’ve booked 1 night in Banaue, 1 in Batad, and the 3rd back in Banaue. We’d like to get from one village to the other on our own (tricycle + hiking). Does that sound doable? Where can we find a hiking route so we don’t get lost (is Maps.me enough?)? The 2-day trek offered by guides is a bit tough and, above all, too expensive for us (83 €/person). Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

Hi there,

I’d like to travel from France to the Philippines without flying. I’ve found ways to reach the South China Sea easily, whether from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc. However, I can’t find a straightforward way to get to the Philippines by sea. There’s a cargo ship from Zamboanga to Sandakan, but getting to Sandakan is really complicated. Do you have any simpler ideas for ferries or cargo ships? I can arrive anywhere in the Philippines. Has anyone tried hitching rides on cargo ships in ports? From which port?

Thanks a lot!

Hello everyone,

My partner and I would like to travel to the Philippines at the end of August for a 4-month stay. We can’t apply for a tourist visa in advance because (from what I understand) we’d need to provide proof of hotel reservations for the entire stay. But planning a 4-month trip so far ahead isn’t something we want to do.

So my question is about extensions once we’re there:

After the initial 29-day extension request, we’d like to apply for another 2-month extension. Do you know if the same supporting documents are required for this one (pre-booked hotel, 2000 € in the bank account per month requested)?

Or can we go ahead without risk and request the extension without these documents?

Thank you so much for reading, and for this forum existing. Take care,

Boris

Hi everyone, We (two adults, 74 and 70 years old) had already shared a travel journal about our first trip to the Philippines in February/March 2019 on this forum (https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9377175;search_string=carnet%20philippines). We had visited Manila, the Banaue rice terraces, Sagada, the Visayas (Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguette), and on our way back to Luzon, the Taal volcano before returning to France. Delighted by this trip, organized by the French-speaking agency Alizé, we decided to further explore this beautiful country, this time focusing on Coron and Palawan. Before writing this journal, I should mention that these are personal comments and don’t reflect any differing opinions. Without any literary or photographic talent, I’ll stick to the facts and share a few details about the visits, hotels, and restaurants.

Preparations

We decided to return in mid-January 2025 and consulted three French-speaking tour operators to create a trip based on our wishes (places to visit, type of accommodation) and budget. Comparing three operators helped us weigh their advice and make our choices. Only our first operator respected the budget, a second came close, and the third proposed a slightly more upscale trip. In the end, we chose the agency from our first trip. Our discussions helped refine our itinerary, and when we reviewed it point by point, the document provided was perfect, full of great tips. The most debated point was a 3-day, 2-night cruise between Coron and Palawan. We were tempted but worried about being the only "older" travelers among younger people and feared two uncomfortable nights. Reassured by our tour operator, we finally opted for this "exploration." We’ll come back to that later. Once the choice was made and dates set, we booked our international flights with Cathay Pacific for 750 € per person, which offers the best schedules (short layovers) at an acceptable price for flights arriving in Cebu. Our trip started on February 25 and returned to Paris on March 15.

International flights

The round-trip flights went smoothly. Cathay does the job well, without frills. The service quality seems to have slightly declined compared to our previous trips with them. Hong Kong Airport is huge but very practical. Note that not all airlines serve Cebu. Recommendation: Fill out your Philippine entry form within 72 hours before your flight. This can prevent issues with the airline (possible boarding refusal) and saves a lot of time upon arrival (see the Philippine embassy website).

Domestic flights

For our two domestic flights—Cebu to Coron and Puerto Princesa to Cebu—our tour operator chose Philippine Airlines and their propeller planes. No problems there.

Day 1: We landed around 12 PM (local time) after 17 hours of travel. A driver was waiting for us at the airport exit and took us to our hotel, intentionally chosen near the airport (Mandaue, about 10 minutes away) to help us recover and get a good night’s sleep before our early morning domestic flight the next day. The Mayoo Hotel, reasonably priced, was perfect for this. Large, beautiful room in a new building—clean, comfortable, with a spa. We could relax by the pool on the 16th floor and enjoy the city view. The breakfast was exceptional, and the staff was smiling, attentive, and helpful. An ATM in the lobby allowed for withdrawals. However, the hotel is in a neighborhood with nothing to see or do. We dined at the Korean restaurant K-GOGI across from the hotel—a real attraction and a great discovery.

Day 2: After a restful night, we were driven to the airport around 6:30 AM for an 8:10 AM flight from Cebu to Busuanga (Coron).



The flight was uneventful. Upon arrival, we paid 200 pesos per person for the Coron tourist fee before a 40-minute transfer to our hotel: Natura Resort, located outside the city in a secluded spot. The setting is stunning—a beautifully maintained tropical garden, a pleasant pool, and the option to book massages. The cottages are tropical-style with thatched roofs, simple and unpretentious.



The owner, who speaks French, told us that given the heat and our ages, climbing the 721 steps to the top of Mount Tapyas wasn’t necessary. She gave us a few rooftop recommendations to watch the sunset over Coron Bay. After a good swim in the pool and a meal at the resort’s pleasant restaurant, we hired a tricycle to go into town. We were told it costs 150 pesos one way, and depending on the return time, it could exceed 250 pesos. But our driver gave us his WhatsApp number and charged the same price regardless of the time. He just earned two days’ worth of customers. He dropped us off at the port where bangkas (local boats) gather for day trips. It was the end of the day, so there was a rush. A few shops around the port sold waterproof bags for marine excursions at reasonable prices (compared to back home), after some bargaining. We wandered the town’s alleys looking for the Top Hotel, whose rooftop is famous. Indeed, it’s perfectly located to admire the sunset and enjoy a refreshing drink.







We dined nearby at a small Chinese restaurant, then just had to call our driver to head back. The night wasn’t entirely restful—our hotel had a soundtrack of all the countryside animals, and it seemed they had no set bedtime! :

Hi there, Not knowing the Philippines at all, I’d like to plan a trip for February 2026—three weeks, 5 adults, 1 five-year-old, and a 16-month-old. What would you recommend? Thanks

Hello, I’d like to go on a 5-day kayaking trip with snorkeling, island visits, and village tours in the Philippines. I don’t have a specific island in mind, but I’d love something off the beaten path. I’m traveling solo but can join a small group. This would be around March 20th. Thanks so much for your suggestions! I’m looking for a 5-day kayaking and snorkeling trip with a few village visits and no mass tourism. I’m alone but open to joining a small group. Any recommendations for around March 20th? Thanks a bunch for your feedback!

🌴 Hi there! Which islands (and things to do) would you recommend for September (for good weather) in the Philippines? Thanks for your tips 😊.

Hi, I have very little time between Manila T2 and T3. Could you share a taxi number or tell me how to make sure I don’t miss my flight? Thanks for your help! :)

Hi there,

I’m looking for that hidden gem in the Philippines for a month-long trip as a couple with our 4½-year-old in January 2026. We’ll be flying into Manila from Bangkok after spending a month traveling around northern Thailand.

Our criteria: - Good weather, obviously. From what I’ve gathered, it can still be pretty variable depending on the area at that time of year. - Not too far from Manila (max 4–5 days of travel, since we won’t be taking any internal flights). - Not too crowded, authentic vibes, beautiful beaches, and great snorkeling/diving spots.

I get the feeling we might find it quieter in terms of crowds than in Thailand—am I wrong?

Thanks for your help! !

Hi, do you know what the deal is with the Japanese encephalitis vaccine? I traveled in Asia 20 years ago, and no one ever mentioned it to me. Now it’s strongly recommended. Thanks for your feedback. Elisabeth

Hi everyone.

We’re a couple—I’m French and my girlfriend is Filipino. We’re not married yet. I’d like to bring her to France for a long-term stay so we can live there, she can work legally, and she can leave her current tough living conditions.

How do we go about this? What documents do the French and Philippine authorities require? Do we need to be married first?

Thanks.

Hi there, I’ll be on Palawan Island during the last week of January and early February 2025—any other solo travelers (or accompanied ones) around at the same time? I’ve browsed the forum a bit, and there seem to be fewer activities than before, but we’ll see. Just FYI, Air France launched a direct route from CDG to Manila on December 7, 2024.

Have a great day! !

Hi there! Looking to head off by the end of this year, no later than between December 10th and 15th, for the Philippines. Any recommendations for regions like the Batanes Islands and Mindanao, away from mass tourism and off the beaten path?

Plan: Beaches, snorkeling, diving, hiking, and visiting the most interesting sites depending on each person’s preferences (I’m not really into old stones but more about nature, jungle, flora, and fauna).

When? Between December 10th and 15th, but no later than December 15th–17th.

Where? Northern Philippines, starting with a few days of beach and relaxation to recharge after the bad weather and winter in France. Then, off to trek in northern Luzon with its stunning rice terraces, followed by the Batanes Islands, which are the epitome of off-the-beaten-path destinations. After that, we’d head down to the Balicas Islands, where you can swim with turtles and where tourism is minimal due to very limited hotel infrastructure (accommodation is in tents by the sea). Next up: the island of Mindanao.

Depending on time and everyone’s interests, we could continue to Sumatra and then the Moluccas Islands, which, unlike the rest of Indonesia, are much less affected by the monsoon.

With whom?

Someone who’s already traveled and hiked beyond just their imagination and dreams . Independent and resourceful (I’m looking for a travel partner, not a tourist to guide). Good-humored and adaptable. Loving adventure and eager to explore off the beaten path.

I’ve traveled a lot and I’m a fan of the unexpected (go where the wind takes you).

If you see yourself in these few lines, it would be a great pleasure to share this new adventure with you for a few days or weeks.... This is just a rough plan I’m proposing, and it can be adjusted based on everyone’s preferences.