USEFUL FACTS FOR TRAVELERS

VISAS
For most foreign visitors visas are not needed for stays of less than 21 days. Three-month visas can be obtained in advance and cost around $35. Multiple-entry visas (lasting six and 12 months) are also available but are expensive and only allow for stays of 59 days at a time. Visa extensions are possible and generally faster to obtain in regional areas.

TIME
UTC plus eight hours.

WHEN TO GO
Generally, the best time to travel is from the middle of December to the middle of May–off-season for typhoons. In the Christmas and Easter breaks, however, everyone is travelling and you'll have trouble getting a seat on any form of transport.
January and May have the most colorful festivals, the rice terraces of Luzon look best in March and April, and this is also the best time for island-hopping.

GETTING THERE
Basically the only way to get to the Philippines is by plane; Manila and Cebu are the only major entry points. There are flights between the Philippines and plenty of Asian cities, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.

GETTING AROUND
There are several airlines offering internal flights between Philippine cities. There is only one operating railway line, from Manila to Naga in southern Luzon, so long-distance buses are the main overland alternative. There are plenty of ferries and boats operating between islands. Car rental is also available, and international agencies have offices in most major cities. Local transport includes jeepneys (originally reconstructed jeeps), metered taxis, PU-Cabs (small taxis without meters), tricycles and trishaws.