Filipino is the official language, with Tagalog the most common dialect. There are many local languages and dialects spoken throughout the islands, but English is also widely spoken.
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The official currency is the peso, which breaks down into 100 centavos. Most tourist destinations and cities accept major credit cards, but banks don’t always accept traveller’s cheques. US dollars are the easiest to change, and many tourist areas accept them as currency. It’s best to have some pesos when you’re away from the cities. Major cities usually have ATMs.
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The international country code is 63. To call another country from the Philippines, dial 00 followed by the appropriate country code (0044 for the UK for instance). Main tourist resorts and major cities such as Manila have Internet cafes.
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A tip of 10 per cent is customary for most services. If the bill already has a service charge, you don’t need to add a tip.
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Make sure you’re updated with security and terrorism alerts (from the FCO) before visiting the Philippines.
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If you’re coming from an area infected with yellow fever, you’ll need to provide a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Check with your doctor about malaria prevention advice as malaria and dengue fever are present in the country. The malaria risk is generally confined to rural areas, but dengue fever can be anywhere. Make sure you protect yourself against mosquito bites. Stick to bottled water and refuse ice in your drinks. Protect yourself against cholera and rabies. Make sure you’re covered by health insurance. While medical facilities can be good in the cities, they are very expensive.
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The electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz (both flat-blade and round two-pinned plugs).
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Content Manager at Cheapflights whose travel life can be best summed up as BC (before children) and PC (post children). We only travel during the school holidays so short-haul trips and staycations are our specialities!