If you are going to the Philippines, then there are three options for which city to see first. You can fly to Manila, Angeles (Clark) or Cebu. Each has its own advantages. Clark is the cheapest and best located. From Cebu Airport, you can walk with your suitcases to the paradise beach. But I chose Manila, because I was going to buy a motorcycle for my "12 Islands" trip and naively thought that the easiest way to do this would be in the capital of the country.
This is the first post about motorcycle travel in the Philippines, in which I will tell you about how a simple Russian guy Sasha came to the Philippines and what happened to him in the first days of his stay in this country. You will also find out the whole truth about the crazy city of Manila.
I flew away from St. Petersburg on November 17, 2013. The cheapest and fastest way to fly to the Philippines is via Hong Kong. Considering that this super city is visa-free for Russians, it would be a sin not to stay there for a few days, which I did. Hong Kong was so incredible that for the first time in my life I seriously thought about moving for a long time. It will take a long time to tell, so I plan to write a separate post about him with delight and colorful photos.
After three wonderful days in Hong Kong, I drove to the airport, went to the check-in counter and happily handed the girl with the Philippines Air badge my passport and a printout of the ticket.
Your return ticket, sir! - she said, smiling sweetly.
Why do I need to show a return ticket? - I asked and began to feverishly figure out what to answer, since I did not have a return ticket
This is a requirement of the immigration office. Without it, we can't get you on the plane.
Eeeeee ... You know, I don't remember where he is.
No problem sir! State your last name and departure dates. I'll check the database.
I don't remember the date \\ This is not mine \\ Call my lawyer \\ Well, please!
Unfortunately, there is no way without a ticket. If you do not have it, then you can buy it now at our counter. It is impossible to use the Internet because sites do not confirm the purchase immediately, and your plane will take off in an hour. At our counter, confirmation goes through immediately, but since you buy a ticket at the airport, it will cost at the maximum fare.
There weren't many options. I had to buy a ticket from Hong Kong to Manila for $ 400! By the way, the flight from St. Petersburg to Hong Kong was cheaper. But the ticket was returnable and in Manila I was able to return it, although it took a couple of days to suffer. At first they said that they needed another return ticket, and when I bought it for 50 bucks, they said that it was not needed. As a result, after 15 days, they returned the full value to the card and did not even take any commission. But the situation at the airport was of course nervous.
Therefore, advice number 1. When flying to the Philippines, always buy a return ticket!
On the plane, I came to myself from the charming view behind the window. It is very beautiful to fly through the South China Sea! Immediately you notice that there are many different clouds everywhere. This is one of the main properties of the Philippines, which guarantees unique sunsets.
The clouds are like a pattern that complements the equally endless sea, the tranquility of which is disturbed by sailing ships. And next to the island of Luzon - millions of small boats "bank". It takes only an hour and a half to fly and, frankly, I want to fly further, continuing to look at natural pictures.
Another surprise awaited me at the airport in Manila. There was no cash and I naturally went to withdraw money from an ATM. It turned out that for unknown reasons, some local banks do not service my card (Visa of Alfa-Bank). At that moment I was at a loss when I realized how dependent I am on the map. I am in a new country and I have no money even to drink coffee. Fortunately, there was a friendly ATM at the other end of the airport that gave me money. That's how I first got pesos.
The first taxi driver traditionally tried to break me up. First he said that it was 10 pesos per kilometer, and when we went, he said that it was 100 or a fixed price of 1,500 rubles. But these things don't work with me. If you have traveled across India for 10 months of your life, then you have a scent and a sophisticated technology for eliminating deception at the root of divorce. I quickly said everything I think about the driver and he brought me back to the point of the report. The road with another carrier cost about 400 rubles. Moreover, airport drivers and even cops vied with each other that it is better not to sit in ordinary city taxis because no one is responsible for your safety there.
Before leaving, I read stories about local dangers. If you believe what they write on the Internet and say on TV, then the Philippines is such a country where everyone walks with pistols, robbing and killing them until they are all washed away at one moment by a typhoon or an earthquake. "There are cannibals in the north, and terrorists in the south," a man who has an official relationship with the Philippines once told me. What can we say about Manila! It is generally better not to go outside and not talk to anyone there, because in the capital the concentration of all bad things reaches a maximum and every Filipino you meet sharpens a huge knife behind your back.
I understood that these were all bikes, but there were so many of them that I gradually began to believe. Therefore, upon arrival, I hung myself with locks on my backpack, assumed a menacing look and began to walk quickly, looking around. This is a great recipe. Everyone sees that you are acting like a fool, and prefers to bypass you.
Then I became convinced that everything they talked about was nonsense. The locals are wonderful, hospitable and kind people who are always ready to help you. But many understand these stereotypes in the head of a foreigner and skillfully use them. Taxi drivers talk about the dangers of driving with strangers, in hotels they say that their guard with a shotgun will protect you from all troubles, and in a tourist restaurant there is always a man with a pistol hanging proudly. All safies, dont warri, diar sir! Thus, you can sell unnecessary security, which is a request from foreign tourists.
There is no need to talk about Manila for a long time. It is a multimillion-dollar urban agglomeration that consists of different cities. Manila itself is a small part of it. There are several dozen more different districts that consider themselves to be separate cities: Makati, Pasay, Ermita, Valenzuela, Quezon, Pasig, Tagig, Paranyak, etc. If you really want to figure it out, then San Miguel beer definitely won't do without.
The general opinion about Manila is that it is a terrible city. Most tourists use it as a staging post between their country and a beautiful beach and often spit when they think of the capital of the Philippines. But there are those who like Manila. I am more of the former.
Manila is absolutely nothing. There is the Makati skyscraper district with beautiful avenues, but after Hong Kong they seem the most boring. There is a fake restored Spanish fortress. Everything else is typical low-rise Filipino developments, interspersed with huge shopping malls and large thoroughfares. The coat of arms of this city should show traffic jams and street food. Most of the time, motorists stand dead, and passers-by are constantly eating something.
The first thing that catches your eye is the unique public transport: Jeepney and Tricycles. Jeepney is an example of how the Filipinos loved the American military Jeep Wrangler. Since at that time there was no cooler car on these islands, local mechanics began to copy the design of the jeep, but to make cars sharpened for passenger transportation.
This is how incredible minibuses turned out, without which it is difficult to imagine the modern Philippines. Each driver decorates his jeepney in his own way. Everyone is trying to stand out, and therefore lurid works of art, pouring black solar smoke on passers-by, are roaming around the city and villages.
Tricycles are the Filipino version of the auto rickshaw. For some reason, they chose the option of a motorcycle with a covered sidecar.
Tricycles are everywhere. This is a national form of individual transport as it is cheap and if you pull in your stomachs, it can fit 10 people. Each region has its own unique design of trikes and it is possible to study the culture of different Filipino peoples using them.
Thus, for the first time in Manila, your eyes are attracted most of all by jeepney and tricycles. The rest is uninteresting.
I am deeply convinced that Manila in terms of tourism is intended only for tourists-masochists. If you want to spend time in this mediocre city and understand that you are close to white beaches, incredible mountains, volcanoes and lakes, then you are undoubtedly hurting yourself. There is one exception, though. You should go to Manila if you have been sitting on a remote beach for a month and missed civilization. There you can sit in Starbucks, shop and eat fast food.
But I am not saying this because something has seriously spoiled my impression. I didn’t go to the sights much, but did business. Maybe that's why I got this opinion. But on the other hand, there was a more independent assessment of this city. It's really boring there.
Manila has a strange property. There, in the morning, you do not succeed and all plans collapse, and in the evening everything is favorably resolved and the plans return to normal. For three days, every morning was nervous and incomprehensible, but in the evening I calmly sipped coffee with a sense of accomplishment. In India, if it doesn't work out, then nothing will change until you understand what you are doing wrong. And here it all depends on the time of day.
On the evening of my last day in Manila, I accidentally met at my hotel with a company of Filipinos, who turned out to be great guys, made important contacts in different cities and told me about interesting places on the route. This was the first meeting, of which there will be many in this country. I did the right thing to roughly draw up the travel route. It will be constantly ruled by chance encounters.
In the next post, I will tell you in detail about a long motorcycle purchase that I did not make in Manila.
Read the posts about Manila that I wrote in the travel community "Vkontakte" -
The island countries of Southeast Asia are not the most popular tourist destination. Mostly people visiting this region travel to Bali or Singapore. There are not so many trips and excursion tours to other places in Southeast Asia, and compared to such popular European countries as Spain or the Czech Republic, there are almost none. Therefore, independent travel is the best way out for those who want to travel to one of the exotic Asian countries - the Philippines.
Visa
Russian citizens can stay on the territory of the state without a visa if the duration of their trip does not exceed 30 days. During border control, you need to present your passport and return tickets.
If you plan to stay longer than a month, you must apply for a visa in advance.
Visa for the Philippines 9a - tourist.
How to get there?
There are no direct flights from Russia yet, therefore, you will have to fly with a transfer. The most popular options are via Hong Kong, Beijing or Seoul. Docking time is different - from one and a half to twelve hours. Russians can stay in the mentioned territories without visas when staying there for up to 14, 60 and 1 days, respectively: if there is enough free time during the flight, you can carry out a cursory inspection of the transit city.
The cheapest tickets are to the Philippine capital when departing from the airports of Moscow, Vladivostok and Irkutsk. Residents of other cities are also better off flying from there - the cost of transport within the country will be less than for a ticket from their own air terminals. It is much cheaper to fly to Manila, because tickets there are several times cheaper than to other settlements - you can get to them by local low-cost airlines.
Transport
When buying plane and ferry tickets, it is important to pay attention to the following point: a special fee, sometimes immediately included in the price, and sometimes paid separately. Love for extra payments is a national trait of the indigenous people: the islanders are constantly asking to add an extra 10-15 pesos, sometimes even after prompting the way.
Trains and buses run to the settlements located, like the capital, on Luzon. If you need to get to another island, it is best to use ferries, but in addition to them, various boats, motor boats and sailboats run.
The most budgetary options for moving around Philippine cities are a tricycle, which is a motorcycle, to which a small booth for passengers is attached, and a jeepney: a slightly modified minibus without doors. Each owner of such a car tries to give his car an original look, pasting it with bright stickers. Taxi is also not very expensive.
Climate
So that an independent trip to the Philippines does not end on the territory of the hotel, you need to take into account some climatic features. From June to the end of November, there is the so-called rainy season, when powerful typhoons and tropical showers are frequent, so the best time to travel is from December to mid-May. However, typhoons also occur at this time in the northern territories. This is especially likely in Luzon, which is part of the geographic zone of typhoons, and the least rarely bad weather occurs in the southern territories. In general, the country is very warm - in 2020, the thermometer did not drop below + 23 ° C during the day during the day.
Where to stay?
According to those who have already traveled to the Philippines as a savage, there is no shortage of housing anywhere - there are many hotels, guesthouses, apartments and hostels. All accommodations have a fan or air conditioning, and staff are fluent in English almost everywhere. The sockets are designed for 60 Hz and often have three pins - you need to take the adapter with you, buy it at a nearby supermarket or ask at the hotel reception. Often the conditions in guesthouses are no worse than in hotels, at a similar price, but this depends on the locality.
Money and prices
The monetary unit is the Philippine peso, denoted as "₱"; there are about fifty of them in one American dollar. Currency exchange is most profitable in the capital. Almost all hotels, restaurants and shops accept cards for payment - Visa, Master Card, American Express. At ATMs, the withdrawal limit is most often 10 thousand pesos, and everywhere you will have to pay a commission for this - at least 200 ₱. Extending an already issued visa costs about 5 thousand pesos.
A hotel room or a room in a guesthouse costs an average of 700-1000 ₱ per night, a jeepney ride - about 8 ₱, on a tricycle - 7 ₱ per kilometer, on the Manila metro - from 15 ₱, a ferry ride - several hundred pesos. You will have to pay about 350 ₱ for renting a motorbike. Lunch in a cafe will cost about 150-200 ₱ per person, tea / coffee - 20 ₱, rum - 85 ₱, mango - from 75 ₱, tangerines and papaya - on average 20 ₱.
It is difficult to say how much a trip to the Philippines costs - it depends on where to stop, how to eat, how much to spend on transport and excursions. Air tickets to Manila from Russia and back cost an average of 65-70 thousand.
Food
There are many different cafes and restaurants everywhere, serving both local and European cuisine. However, it would be strange to travel to such an exotic country and not get acquainted with its traditional cuisine, so it is imperative to try the main dishes and unusual fruits.
The most popular side dish, as in other states of Southeast Asia, is rice, in addition to which vegetables and noodles are used. Most often they are served with various seafood: shrimps, crabs, fish, shellfish, lobsters. All sorts of spices are usually added to the dishes, especially pepper, so those who do not like spicy dishes should immediately warn the waiter about this. Exotic fruits are often added to dishes - for example, they are part of the "shiniganga" - shellfish soup.
Desserts are also made from rice, fruit or coconut. The most popular is Halo Halo, a combination of fruit and ice cream, sold almost everywhere. Locals recommend trying Durian ice cream and sweets, rice cakes, purple Ube Halaya jam, coconut milk and fried bananas. Alcoholic beverages include local rum, palm wines and wines based on coconut milk.
The service charge is included in the bill in all establishments, but it is customary to leave an additional tip to the waiter on the change.
Where to go?
The state is located on an archipelago of seven thousand islands - it is obvious that you will not be able to visit everything, but you should definitely not ignore a few especially interesting ones. It is important to plan your independent trip to the Philippines in advance in order to choose the most suitable place depending on the desired goals - exploring the beautiful nature, having an active pastime or relaxing on the beach.
Luzon
A travel itinerary in the Philippines usually starts from this island - this is where the capital of the country Manila is located. The most beautiful places in the city are the old Intramuros district, the business part with the Makati skyscrapers, the Malakanang Palace, Manila Cathedral, the aquarium, the museum of the national hero Jose Rizal and the park named after him. Not far from Manila is the active Taal volcano, near which there is a lake. Together they constitute one of the most well-known tourist destinations, attracting visitors and locals alike.
In the east of Luzon, the Mayon volcano rises in an almost ideal triangular shape, the last eruption of which was recorded only eleven years ago. Alpine Baguio is hidden among tropical rainforests a couple of hundred kilometers from Manila - there is the president's summer residence and some of the most beautiful Philippine temples - Iglesia ni Cristo and Bell Church.
the capital of the Philippines is Manila.
Cebu
The best diving spots are located near Cebu. People who are fond of this activity almost unanimously say that the underwater diving performed there is simply delightful sensations. The most beautiful dive sites: Capitansillo, Gato, Quatro, Badian, Pescador, Copton, Tongo, Saavedra. Each of them is rich in amazing marine life - corals, sharks, parrot fish, turtles, gorgonians and even rays, sometimes there are caves, tunnels and sunken ships. Lovers of beautiful views on land can go to see the old Spanish fortress of San Pedro, the Taoist temple, the Minore del Santo Basilica and the Kawasan waterfall. They say that a wish made in a Taoist sanctuary will certainly come true.
Palawan
Palawan is famous for its unique nature. Hundreds of different birds and exotic plants can be found in the rainforests of the El Nido Conservation Area in the north, while the Ursula Reserve offers amazing marine life, including even such a rare animal as the sea cow. The island has a huge number of caves connected by an eight-kilometer underground river, where you can ride a canoe. The river is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and to visit you need to pay a special permit, as well as, according to tradition, an additional environmental fee. In general, the river walk, which lasts about an hour, will cost no less than 1800 ₱, but reviews from tourists say that it is worth it. Palawan is also very popular with diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, with sites among the best in Asia.
Bohol
The main attraction of the island is the "chocolate hills", a real miracle of nature, representing more than a thousand low mountains in the form of cones, covered with burnt-out chocolate-colored grass. There is also a center for the conservation of exotic animals of tarsier lemurs, whose population numbers only a couple of hundred individuals, the Raha-Sitakuna redwood reserve, the oldest church in the entire archipelago and several thousand caves and waterfalls. Bohol's water is extremely clear - hence, Bohol is also suitable for diving enthusiasts.
Mindanao
The highest point of the state is located in Mindanao - the Apo volcano included in the UN World Heritage List, whose height is almost 3000 meters. A national park has been created near Apo, where very rare Filipino eagles live. The main city of the island is Davao; its attractions are the Cathedral of San Pedro, the Lon Wa Buddhist Temple, the Malagos Garden, the Taoist Temple and the crocodile farm. The itinerary must include a trip to Davao, because it is called the "fruit capital" - where, however there, you can taste more than a hundred species of bananas, the freshest mangosteen, rambutans, durians and marangi.
In order for a trip to the Philippines to independently leave behind only positive memories and not be overshadowed by unpleasant situations, you need to take note of a few simple rules.
- A distinctive feature of the Filipino mentality is slowness, often turning into laziness, which is why taxis, buses, ferries and even planes are constantly being delayed. It is important to take this into account when planning your time, postponing the extra half hour or hour.
- English is one of the official languages: all the islanders speak it perfectly, a slightly smaller number of residents also understand Spanish. People are happy to give directions and are generally very friendly - therefore they never refuse tourists to answer questions - even when they do not know the right answer. In order not to get lost, it is better to ask for a hint not to one person, but to several. In small towns, you shouldn't be surprised if a person asks for a hint reward.
- It is not recommended to use unboiled water for washing, and even more so for drinking. Dairy and meat products must be heat-treated before use - the same applies to vegetables. Fruit can be simply washed and peeled.
- In all public places, it is traditionally recommended to periodically check pockets, not to leave things unattended and not to lose vigilance. Armed guards stand at the entrances to major stores, metro stations and banks and frequently check the contents of the bags.
The Republic of the Philippines is one of the few countries with developed tourism and a simplified visa regime for Russians. In 2020, Russian citizens will be able to get to this country without the obligatory registration of a visa, provided that the trip lasts no longer than 30 days and will be of a tourist, business or transit nature. In the future, every foreigner can easily extend the period of his residence in the country without any special difficulties.
If a 30-day visa-free period seems insufficient for a vacation, you will need a visa to the Philippines, which opens at the state diplomatic missions located in the Russian Federation. In total it is allowed to reside on the islands for 16 months, then you need to leave the state.
Visa-free entry
Entering the country without a visa, the traveler has the right to reside in the Philippines for 30 days, and the day of arrival is not taken into account. At the border you need to provide:
- Passport with a "reserve" of 6 months;
- Return ticket in original version or as a printout.
Moreover, in rare cases, border guards have the right to ask for proof of material well-being in order to make sure that the traveler has the means to live in the country.
After checking the documents, an entry stamp with the date of arrival is put in the passport. You do not need to pay any fees or duties, you do not need to fill out a migration card.
Extension of the period of visa-free entry
If 30 days for rest is not enough, you can choose one of the options:
- Immediately upon arrival, issue a 59-day visa at the office of the Immigration Service located at the airport. You will have to pay a fee of 50 USD + 510 PHP and fill out a visa application form, to which attach a package of documents. But only Russians who have arrived in the Philippines for the purpose of rest can apply for a visa upon arrival.
- After 14 days after entering the state, contact the Immigration Service. After filling out the application form, submitting a number of documents and paying the fee (about 3000 PHP), the entry stamp will be extended by 59 days. (The addresses of the offices of the Immigration Service are available here: immigration.gov.ph/index.php/information/directory-of-transactions).
In the future, prolongation is allowed for another 59 days or immediately for 6 months. The number of extensions is limited: you cannot stay in the country for more than 16 consecutive months.
Video: Philippines Visa Extension
ACR I-Card issuance
After living in the country for more than two months, each foreigner is issued an ACR I-Card (Allien Certificate of Registration) - a plastic card, a kind of local identity card, which indicates individual information about the traveler, including his photo and address of residence in the Philippines. You can use it to open an account or issue a card at a local bank.
ACR I-Card is issued without fail at the office of the Immigration Service when a tourist applies for an extension of the visa-free entry period or visa after two months of residence in the country. To get it, you have to pay 50 USD + 500 PHP and fill out. Registration of a card is a rather lengthy process: usually a tourist can pick up a document only 1-2 months after submitting an application. This is due to the fact that cards are made only in Manila and it takes time to send them.
Medical insurance
A medical policy is not a required document to visit the Philippines. However, it is recommended that you take care of purchasing it. Medicine on the islands is completely paid, only emergency assistance is provided free of charge. In case of a sudden illness, injury and other troubles, the tourist will have to pay for the doctor's services on his own. Therefore, obtaining medical insurance is highly desirable, because in this case all costs will be borne by the insurer.
Obtaining a visa at the Embassy
If you are planning a vacation in the Philippines for more than 30 days, or visiting the state is not related to tourism, you will need a visa, which is opened at the Embassy of the country. Also, an entry document is issued at the Consulates General of St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.
Documents will be required:
- Passport with a "reserve" of 6 months and a copy of the page with personal information. The document must have at least 2 blank pages.
- ... It is necessary to fill in all columns of the form.
- An invitation from the Philippine side indicating the purpose and time frame of the trip (for a guest visit) or a hotel reservation in the form of a printout from the Internet or fax (for recreation).
- Color photograph of 3.5x4.5 cm.
- Round trip tickets with a specific departure date.
- Documentary proof of payment of the consular fee.
To open a visa you need:
- Apply personally or through an authorized representative to the Philippine mission with the above documentation.
- Pay the consular fee in cash or by bank transfer to the account of the Embassy.
- After 3-5 days, pick up the finished documents.
For kids
Minors over 14 years old leave the Russian Federation only with their own foreign passports. It is allowed to enter young children in the documents of the parents.
If a minor travels to the Philippines with only mom or dad, it is necessary to prepare consent to the child's departure from the Russian Federation with notarization from the parent who remained at home. If it is not possible to provide such a document, then confirmation of this fact will be required (death certificate, certificate of a single mother, a court decision on deprivation of parental rights, and so on).
In cases where a minor under the age of 14 travels to the Philippines without parents, most likely, a visa will be refused.
For each child, a visa application form is filled out, a package of documents is prepared and a fee is paid.
So, the complete package of documents for a child visa will look like this:
Visa cost
The consular fee for opening a single entry visa for 90 days is 40 USD. To receive a multiple entry for 6 months you will have to pay 80 USD. An entry document for 12 months with the possibility of multiple entries will cost 120 USD. The cost of a visa for a child is the same as for an adult.
Visa-free stay, as mentioned above, is completely free.
Long-term visa extension
The visa can be extended without leaving the state at the offices of the Immigration Service located in the capital and 44 other cities of the Philippines. To extend for 59 days, you should contact the Immigration Service with the documentation no later than 7 days before the expiration of your visa:
- , where the full name, address of residence in the Philippines, the period for which the visa is extended, passport data and information about the issued entry document are indicated.
- One photograph measuring 3.5x4.5 cm, which should be pasted into the application form.
- A copy of your passport (pages with individual information and a visa sticker).
The documentation is sent to the nearest office of the Immigration Service (immigration.gov.ph/index.php/information/directory-of-transactions), where the fee is paid. If a visa is extended after two months in the country, its amount is about PHP 4900. The cost of issuing an ACR I-Card (50 USD + 500 PHP) is additionally paid.
In the future, the visa can be extended for another 59 days or immediately for 6 months. The number of such renewals is limited, and a foreigner cannot continuously reside in the Philippines for more than 16 months.
Leaving the country
If the total continuous period of residence on the islands is more than 6 months, then each tourist must fill out a special (Emmigration Clearance Certificate) before leaving the country - this is a kind of exit permit. The presence of the certificate indicates that the law enforcement agencies of the Philippines have no claims against the traveler. The certificate indicates the period of time when the tourist can leave the country. The absence of this document can become a serious obstacle to leaving the state.
The certificate is issued at the Immigration Office no later than 72 hours before departure. For this you will need:
- Passport and a copy of the page with personal information, as well as a spread with a visa or an arrival and renewal stamp;
- Receipt for payment of the last renewal;
- Copy of ACR I-Card;
- A copy of the return ticket;
- Photo measuring 2x2 inches (5x5 cm).
In addition, in the process of issuing a certificate, you will need to go through the fingerprinting procedure.
Customs regulations
The amount of foreign currency allowed to be imported to the islands is not limited. Funds in excess of 10,000 USD are subject to mandatory declaration. Import and export of national currency is limited to 10,000 PHP. Information about the funds available to the traveler in non-cash form (bank cards, checks) are not subject to entry in the declaration.
The Philippines is one of the most attractive countries in Southeast Asia, thanks to its stunning beaches, natural landscapes, smiling and carefree people and ... visa policy. The main advantage of the Philippines is the opportunity to be here without leaving for up to three years.
Visa to the Philippines for Russian citizens
To visit the Philippines for up to 30 days, citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa.
Examples:
A. If you arrive on April 1 (30 days in a month) and depart on May 1, then you do not need a visa. Upon arrival, you simply receive a stamp in your passport, and another stamp upon departure from the Philippines.
B. If you arrive on April 1st (30 days a month) and fly out on May 2nd, then you need a visa.
Q. If you arrive on April 1st (30 days a month), and fly away on May 2nd early in the morning and plan to go through passport control on May 1st, then you do not need a visa. To the border guards from passport control, by and large, it makes no difference when you have a flight, they look at the information on the day of crossing the border. Although, most likely, you should officially fly out exactly 30 days after arrival.
Important! To visit the Philippines, a return ticket or an air ticket to any other third country is required! Officially for the period until the end of the visa, and in the case of visa-free entry for up to 30 days. However, in fact, even with a visa-free entry, you can have a ticket from the Philippines in six months or a year.
As a rule, the ticket is requested at the airline's check-in counter. That is, you cannot fly to the Philippines without a return ticket or a ticket to a third country. At all airports in the Philippines, it is enough to present an electronic ticket on your smartphone, and not to make a paper printout. This also applies to the return ticket. However, it is officially stated that a paper copy of the ticket is required.
If, for one reason or another, you do not receive permission to enter the Philippines, you will be required to take a ticket to your country of residence at your own expense.
Visa to the Philippines for citizens of Ukraine and Belarus
Citizens of Ukraine and Belarus should obtain a visa in advance at the Philippine consulates in their countries.
Visa to the Philippines at the consulate of Moscow
Obtaining a tourist visa at a consulate in Moscow is the most ineffective way, as it requires additional documents that are not needed for other methods of obtaining a Philippine visa. For example, confirmed hotel reservations. The visa issued at the consulate does not give any preferences, the last word to admit or not admit a person into the country always remains with the officers of the border service. And the presence of a visa does not exempt from paying the extension of stay directly in the country.
Visa to the Philippines upon arrival
At the airport in Manila or Cebu, it was previously possible to register a stay in the country for 59 days immediately before passport control. Recently, however, this service has not been available at Manila Airport - officials are sending tourists to local immigration centers.
The cost of a 59-day stay in the country when paid at the airport of arrival is 2750 pesos. At immigration centers - 3150 pesos.
Visa for the Philippines on the spot
You can extend your stay in the Philippines at the Bureau of Immigration at any time before the end of your 30-day stay in the country (recommended one week in advance). Immigration offices are located in any major city in the Philippines. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes. You only need to have a passport and a completed application form (issued on the spot).
To extend the visa, it is not necessary to come to the office yourself - you can entrust this to a special representative (notarized) or intermediaries from local travel agencies that provide such services.
Approximate cost of extending a Philippine visa at an immigration center:
3150-3650 pesos - for 59 days (including 30 days of visa-free stay). This first renewal is always only for up to 59 days. Can't be done for a longer period.
8300 peso (including tourist ID card) - "Second extension" for 60 days. It can be done after you have already extended for 59 days.
13650 peso (including tourist ID card) - "Second extension" for 180 days. The most preferred option for those who are going to be in the Philippines for a long time. This is a fairly new feature, previously it was possible to renew each time only for a maximum of two months.
The second extension includes the mandatory receipt of a tourist ID card. This is a special laminated card, an internal document in the Philippines. Its cost for a year is just under 5,000 pesos, which are included in the price of the second renewal at a time. All subsequent renewals will cost about 2,500 pesos for a month, 3,600 pesos for two months or 11,500 for six months.
Philippine Visa Extension
Russian citizens can officially extend a visa to the Philippines for up to three years (there are cases of refusal to extend a visa after two years). Citizens of Ukraine and Belarus - up to two years. In this case, the maximum possible one-time extension can be for a period not exceeding 6 months.
When leaving the Philippines
All stamps and visas are cleared when leaving the Philippines. In fact, it is possible not to renew a visa to the Philippines, each time before the expiration of a free month, leaving for neighboring countries for the Visa Run.
The tourist ID card is valid all year round, whether you leave the Philippines or not.
Departure from the Philippines in more than six months
Those who are in the Philippines for more than six months are required to obtain a special document - Special Travel Exit before leaving. It is obtained at the same immigration office and costs 500 pesos. However, two 2x2 photographs with a white background are also required. Special Travel Exit production times may vary from location to location. Sometimes it only takes about an hour in large cities or a week in provincial cities. The presence of such a document when leaving the country is required only for those who are in the Philippines for 6 months or more!
Violation of the Philippines visa regime
Violation of the visa regime is punishable by fines, depending on the time spent in the country. Without paying a fine, you can leave the territory of the Philippines by entering black list - ban on visiting the Philippines for 5 years.
In the event that a foreigner lives in the Philippines without a proper visa extension, then anyone who reports on him will receive a reward of 20,000 pesos (approximately $ 400).
If you cannot buy a ticket, you will be placed in a special institution (prison?) And wait for a forced deportation (it can take about six months).
Vitaly Safronov, specially forwebsite
Therefore, I would like to paint some points in more detail. Maybe this information will be useful to someone.
Bank cards in the Philippines.
ATMs accept any bank cards such as Visa and Master Card. For example, VTB, Alfa Bank, Bank St. Petersburg, Tinkoff cards work well for us. And Sberbank cards are often blocked after withdrawing money through an ATM (when paying in stores and supermarkets, everything is ok), so you need to call the bank and ask to unblock it, maybe this problem will be solved soon. Plus, they don't work in the Philippines on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is impossible to withdraw money from banks here, as in, only through ATMs. The commission for each withdrawal is 200 pesos, the maximum amount of cash withdrawal at a time is 10,000 pesos.
Learn more about bank cards in the Philippines.Is it better to fly with dollars or euros? And where is the best place to exchange them?
It makes no difference which one is more convenient for you. The course is about the same. And you can exchange it immediately at the airport, where the rate is no worse. But you will immediately have money for a domestic flight from Manila to your destination, as well as for a taxi and more.
the Internet:
There are no problems with the Internet in tourist places in the Philippines. At the same. But on the island of Samal, he is not everywhere. For example, we had to connect it separately, ourselves. Mail and yandex work fine with the Philippines, nothing is blocked. On the Internet 3g and 4g, the speed reaches 3-3.5 megabits / sec. It works stably, there are failures on holidays, for example, in the New Year.
Flight.
It is more convenient to fly from Moscow to the Philippines via Bangkok or Hong Kong. From some other cities - via Beijing. From there it is better to take tickets from the airline, because she has the lowest prices. At the airport, they will definitely ask for return tickets. If you do not show them, you will not be allowed into the country. They need to be shown only when entering Manila; they are not required for domestic flights. When flying from Manila to Davao (and vice versa), you need to pay 200 pesos per person (you will definitely not pass by the window with payment), and when flying from Manila to another country - 750 pesos per person. The airport has both ATMs and exchange offices. You can change right at the airport, the course is the same there as elsewhere.
From Moscow (Domodedovo) - Etihad Airways RUB 17,500; Emitares 18 300 rub.
From St. Petersburg (Pulkovo) - Rossiya Airlines + Etihad Airways 16600 rubles.
The cheapest flights to Philippines () can be found on the following sites:
http://www.skyscanner.ru
http://mmd.ru.momondo.com
http://www.anywayanyday.com
http://www.trip.ruHow much money do you need to stay in the Philippines (Davao, Samal) per week / month?
Without knowing your requests, it is difficult to say, so you can estimate for yourself based on the prices for basic needs:
- Travel by public transport in Davao: 12-15 pesos per person (8-10 rubles / 0.27-0.34 $)
- Minimum wage for a taxi in Davao: 40 pesos (28 rubles / 0.93 $). On average, a half-hour ride costs (90 rubles / $ 3)
- Bike taxis on Samal: 10-30 pesos per bike (7-21 rubles / 0.23-0.69 $)
- Tricycles on Samal: 20-40 pesos (14-28 rubles / 0.46-0.93 $) for the whole tricycle (accommodates up to 5-6 people)
- One hour of full body massage: 200 pesos (140 rubles / $ 4.6) (Types available: Filipino, Thai, Japanese, Swedish, separate massages for legs, back and head)
- Ticket to the cinema: 130-200 pesos (90-140 rubles / 3-4.6 $)
- Food prices:
Durians: 30-70 pesos / kg, depending on the season (21-49 rubles / kg / 0.69-1.6 $ / kg)
: 30 pesos / kg (21 rubles / kg / 0.69 $ / kg)
: 30 pesos / kg unpeeled, 80 pesos / kg peeled (21-56 rubles / kg / 0.69-1.8 $ / kg)
: 20-80 pesos / kg, depending on the season (14-56 rubles / kg / 0.46-1.8 $ / kg)
Pineapples: 20 pesos / kg (14 rubles / kg / 0.46 $ / kg)
Watermelons: 10-20 pesos / kg (7-14 rubles / kg / 0.23-0.46 $ / kg)
Bananas: 10-20 pesos / kg (7-14 rubles / kg / 0.23-0.46 $ / kg)
: 15-30 pesos / pc (10-21 rubles / kg / 0.34-0.69 $ / kg)
: 40-60 pesos / kg (28-42 rubles / kg / 0.93-1.4 $ / kg)
: 20 pesos / kg (14 rubles / kg / 0.46 $ / kg)
Rambutans: 50 pesos / kg (35 rubles / kg / 1.1 $ / kg)
Mangosteen: 50-200 pesos / kg (35-140 rubles / kg / $ 1.1-4.6 / kg)
: 30 pesos / kg (21 rubles / kg / 0.69 $ / kg)Working in the Philippines.
You can't find a job here, so it's worth going here with a pre-accumulated amount, either remote work, or renting an apartment in Russia and living on that money.
How and where to get a visa to the Philippines? How long is it valid?
Russians can come to the Philippines without a visa for 21 days, after which every 2 months they can renew their visa at the immigration office in Davao for $ 50. Citizens of Ukraine need to apply for a visa in advance, and then also renew it every 2 months. In total, you can stay in the Philippines for no more than 16 months without leaving the country, after which you need to leave the country and re-enter. Read more about the Philippine visa.
What entertainment is there on the island? What are you doing there?
Samal has beaches, waterfalls, a gorge with bats, water slides, the opportunity to ride a water scooter, banana, etc. In the vicinity of Samal there are beautiful islands with wonderful beaches - Island, Vanishing Island, Wishing Island and two Ligit islands (large and small). Mindanao Island, where Davao is located, has hot springs and Mount Apo, where you can go on a 3-day hike and climb to the very top. And also on Mount Apo there is one of the highest rope descents in Asia (about 200 meters).
We go to the beach (the weather is sunny almost every day, it rarely rains), talk to each other, play chess, Mafia, Uno and other games, ride bicycles, walk, sometimes go to, get out to waterfalls, go to the fruit market, once or twice a week we go to Davao, play billiards and bowling, etc. It is never boring!What time of year is it better to go to Davao and Samal?
It's only up to you. The weather is always good here, all year round, but in spring and summer it is hotter than in autumn and especially in winter. The sea is cleaner in winter. All fruits are available all year round.
How much does it cost to stay in a raw food resort in Samal?
This is described in great detail, with photographs and explanations.
What to take with you?
You definitely don't need to take anything warm, it's summer here all year round, it's very warm. Read more about that (the list is mostly compiled for girls).
How to get to the resort
How to get to our raw-food resort, write in a personal message after purchasing air tickets. This is for those who wish to reach us on their own. And there is also a service of meeting at the airport and transfer to the resort ().
I learned that there is an excellent hotel near Domodedovo... Therefore, there is no need to go to the center of Moscow, you can comfortably stop right after the airport. The prices are very nice.
