After traveling around The Philippines for the past two weeks and visiting 4 different islands so far, here are some tips that you might find helpful before visiting the islands...
1) Bring a buddy
Normally I'm an advocate of solo traveling, except when it just doesn't make sense. There aren't as many backpackers traveling around The Philippines (I noticed a lot of couples). Maybe it's because there are thousands of islands to explore, so you don't see them. Or it could be because prices can be a bit higher than other SE Asia countries. Or, maybe because it's not the best solo traveling destination. Hostels and hotels can be expensive on the islands, so it's best to travel with a buddy to take advantage of sharing private rooms (which end up being cheaper than a lot of shared room hostels). Sarah and I have stayed in private rooms with a bathroom for most of our time here, with only 1 night being at a hostel in the past 2 weeks. Also, there's a lot of down time between bus rides, ferry rides, and plane flights, so it's nice to have a companion to pass the time with. I personally wouldn't recommend The Philippines as a solo trip.
2) Plan ahead
For those of you who know me...I HATE planning ahead, and I'm sure you're getting a kick out of me actually writing that you have to plan ahead to make the most of your trip here. It's true. There are thousands of islands to explore, so you have to have an idea of where you want to spend your time while you're here. And, the flights are cheap and fast, but I found that you want to book them at least 5 days in advance to get the best price. You can book them a day before, but you'll be paying a much higher price. And, all the flights have ad-ons for baggage, food, trip insurance, etc. It's best to add your extra baggage before your flight or you'll end up paying almost double at the airport.
3) Smile and talk to the locals
One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to talk to the locals and learn about their life and culture. Luckily, this is easy here because most Filipinos speak English. I've had some great conversations with locals. They've shared a bit about their life and customs, as well as many jokes (some funny and some were definitely lost in translation). They love to joke here!! It's pretty entertaining. I feel like a lot of travelers miss out on the opportunity of connecting with the locals. All it takes is a smile and a simple hello. The people here are so friendly and are always willing to carry on a conversation. On that note, I always like learning at least the basic words in the language of the country I'm visiting. I think it shows a sign of respect and for the most part, I think the effort is appreciated. Some people are even a bit surprised when I say "salamat" instead of thank you! The surprised look usually follows by a warm smile.
4) Look for ATMs
Depending on where you plan on visiting, there may or may not be an ATM available to use. Of course if you're visiting all the most popular and developed spots (I stay away from those), I'm sure ATMs are easily accessible. However, if you stray off the beaten path a bit, you want to make sure you visit an ATM before heading to that secluded beach or town. Right now I'm in El Nido in Palawan and they recently had one ATM installed this past October.
5) Be mindful about the activities you choose
Sure, it's great to swim with whale sharks and explore places that are untouched. But, make sure you are mindful of the activities you are doing and how they are impacting the animals or environment. When I dove with whale sharks, it was in their natural habitat, about 30 meters deep, and we didn't throw chum in the water to attract them. I heard of other places on different islands luring the whale sharks to shallow waters with chum so they could charge tourists to snorkel with them. This is obviously a big no-no. So, as amazing as it would be to see the sharks, make sure you choose the right activity for the gentle giant and don't just serve your own personal agenda.
These are just a handful of tips that I've thought of over the past few weeks. I highly recommend coming to visit The Philippines! It's full of beautiful places and friendly people. I am definitely planning on coming back at some point in the future!