Tips For Traveling In The Philippines Right Now, From People Who Just Went

Underwater photographer Eric Lucas has been making regular trips to the Philippines since 2014 to give seminars on the underwater world in the Pacific. Then the epidemic spread, and Lucas waited years for it to return. “Tickets were already booked when we announced the reopening without quarantine,” Lucas said.

The Philippines began accepting fully integrated international tourists from its respective countries in February. On April 1, the archipelago will reopen for vaccinated travelers from around the world.

Despite the specific entry requirements of the coronavirus to enter the Philippines, Lucas believed that the final result was worth the extra effort and encouraged other tourists to visit. “Definitely go,” he said.

In preparation for your trip, By The Way brings together tips from new visitors and travel experts to manage an epidemic trip to the Philippines.

Learn the basics of travel

Passengers who are fully vaccinated must provide proof of vaccination (your white CDC card will suffice) and a negative RT-PCR test within 48 hours of departure to the Philippines. This schedule does not include a break while the passenger is at the airport.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from vaccination requirements when traveling with fully vaccinated parents.

Visitors who have not been vaccinated, who are partially vaccinated, or who cannot confirm their vaccination status must submit a negative PCR test within 48 hours of their visit to the Philippines, in addition to the other forty requirements.

All passengers must register for One Health Pass (OHP), apply for an Electronic Health Recognition Card (e-HDC) and present proof of travel insurance covering at least $ 35,000 for COVID-19 treatment. Lucas used Squaremouth to find the travel insurance he needed to meet the immigration requirements in the Philippines.

Upon arrival, some local travel restrictions may apply, depending on your destination. Before traveling to the country, check to see if you need more coronavirus testing.

Follow online travel restrictions

As with all pandemic travel, it is important to keep track of travel restrictions before traveling.

“It’s always changing,” said Pau Belgado, who moved to the Philippines in March to see his family in Manila and Batangas. I went to the Facebook page of the Departmental Committee on Infectious Disease Management (IATF). “It was very timely,” he said, and the website made it easier to understand travel restrictions with easy-to-read graphics.

Belgado also recommends checking messages through the Philippine embassy and contacting their staff if it is not clear. “I had a question and it was emailed to me on Sunday,” he said. "I'm very surprised."

Hans van der Sande, treasurer of the Okada Manila casino and resort complex, cited updates to Philippine Airlines' website. The COVID-19 Travel Guide provides information for travelers traveling to the Philippines.

You can also visit the official tourism website or the Ministry of Health website.

Expect fewer flight options

As soon as Daniel Robbins learned of the planned reopening, he booked a trip to the Philippines. As Robbins was there early in the morning, there was no good chance of a flight from Los Angeles to Manila; The company is still expanding flights to the country.

“[I] had only one [flight] before it was very expensive,” he said. "I had to fly from California to Hawaii, from Hawaii to Guam, and from Guam to Manila. He had to fly forever."

While planning a two-and-a-half week trip to Manila and Cebu, Norman Villaroman, a Filipino born on Go Places With Kids family travel blog, found that tickets were more expensive than before the pandemic.

As demand for flights to the Philippines increases, so should ticket prices. Villaroman said passengers should be assured of flight comfort if they need to cancel or reschedule based on the results of a coronavirus test.

How do you prepare for your day trip?

Passengers must present relevant documents - such as a vaccination certificate and a QR OHP QR code - at check-in at the airport of the flight, before boarding the plane and landing in the Philippines. They must also provide travel insurance and test results before departure.

“They’ve looked at all the steps,” Lucas said, adding that he was surprised that the travel insurance policy was well reviewed.

Robbins arrived at the airport earlier than usual and spent four hours thinking that something was wrong. Before leaving home, make sure you have a copy of all the documents you need to visit. “I don’t want to trust them on my phone,” he said.

What happens when you fall to the ground?

Visitors must submit basic travel documents upon arrival in the Philippines. Belgado says the process is perfect, but recommends sitting as close to the front of the plane as possible to be the first to examine the documents.

Once you have completed the immigration and coronavirus procedures at the airport, you can begin your adventure. Make sure you keep track of your vaccine records during the trip - most hotels require guests to provide proof of vaccination at check-in and check-in.

“Getting a vaccination certificate is as important as a passport,” says Van der Sand.

According to Van der Sande, in addition to vaccination requirements, the only important measure against coronavirus is to request masks in public places.

Moreover, in the Philippines there are not many restrictions that limit the travel experience. Bars and restaurants are open, but facilities may be limited. Belgado says he goes to beaches, shopping malls and casinos and feels “natural”.

Robbins has little ability on snorkeling trips. This means that customers will have to wait a little longer to get on board, as people are not as crowded as before the pandemic.

Coronavirus test plan at home

Please note that all those who come to the United States must pass an approved test within one day of the visit and one day.

Belgado said people living in Manila should have no trouble finding and organizing a coronavirus test, but if you live in a smaller or more remote area, plan your test carefully. While living in Batangas, he did not realize that the test lab had to send samples to another facility, so it took him longer than expected to get the results. He had to spend a lot of money on the second test to make sure he got the results on time.

Belgado says if you are planning your test, ask the tester how long it will take to process the test on your trip.

To reduce the pressure to find a test locally, Villaruman has developed a home test approved for U.S. travel restrictions. If you are following this route, please note that the test must be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and must be conducted via a video call with real-time monitoring of the telemedicine service. Some options include a Qured antigen self-test and a BinaxNOW kit (not over-the-counter versions found in pharmacies; you should apply for the COVID-19 Ag Card Home trial online and make sure it has video call support). The Coronavirus Detect test uses the same technology as the PCR lab test and gives results of about an hour.

Repeating the advice of several coronavirus specialists, Villaruman said, "I also brought some additional evidence home to relieve my head so I could test for symptoms."

Best travel advice from the Philippine Ministry of Tourism