Index of notes:

Emergency Contact - Emergency Funds - Additional Expenditures - Tipping - Weather and Unpredictables - Meals - Group Leaders and Guides - Arrival - What to bring - Checklist - Visas - Laundry - Share Your Trip - Respectful Dress - Money, Dough, Loot & Booty - Departure Tax - Communications - Expect the Unexpected - Health & Fitness - Travel Insurance - Your Travel Buddies - Responsible Travel - The law and "the man" - Children Rules

Emergency Contact

In the event of a genuine crisis or emergency, Visit Beyond’s Philippines Office can be reached on Tel: +63 2 559 9197 to 98. For further contact details please use the following page: http://www.visitbeyond.com/contact-us

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Emergency Funds

We advise that you keep PHP 20,000 for unforeseen incidents and circumstances beyond our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest, etc.).

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Additional Expenditures

Take into account your personal spending habits when deciding how much money to bring. How much will you drink and party? How many souvenirs you intend to bring home? How many gifts? Remember to include tips in your calculations. (See below.)

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Tipping

Visit Beyond employs local guides who greatly appreciate recognition of services rendered. Tipping about PHP 100 per day (if you are happy with the service) is appropriate, but not compulsory. We suggest PHP 50 per day for porters (if applicable). For drivers who render services for several days in a row, PHP 100 per day is appropriate. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

At small restaurants you may want to round up to the nearest PHP 20. At upscale restaurants, a tip of PHP 50. (Note that upscale restaurants often levy a 10% service charge on the bill. Additional tipping is at your discretion.

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Weather and Unpredictables

Visit Beyond operates trips in Philippines throughout the year—including the rainy season—and changes may result from inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. We reserve the right to change the itinerary according to such circumstances as we see fit to ensure the best experience for our customers.

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Meals

Visit Beyond gives you the opportunity to try authentic Philippine cuisine. When meals are not already provided, your guide will be able to suggest restaurants and the best dishes during your trip. In the case that you have a tour leader, they will normally suggest a variety of dishes to sample. Notify your tour leader of allergies or dietary restrictions. In the event tour leader is not included in your package, you may ask locals as to which restaurant is best to try.

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Group Leaders and Guides

Visit Beyond will often provide experienced, local, English-speaking guides who know the destination and region well. It is sometimes necessary to change the guide at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Your guide is there for you. He will offer recommendations, history, useful phrases and more. We encourage you to ask questions. At Visit Beyond we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit.

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Arrival

If you have booked an arrival package then you can expect a representative waiting for you at the airport with a placard stating your name. If you cannot locate your representative, you may call hotline depending on which airport you will arrive:

Manila Airports: Des – 63 919 564 9096 | 63 (2) 853 5332

Cebu Airport: Carmel – 63 918 929 6167

Other airports in the Philippines: Kristine – 63 927 836 6861

Visit Beyond does not offer refunds for missed transfers due to a change in flight or delays. Any additional cost you may incur to meet with your group is at your own expense.

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What to bring

Pack according to the tour you have chosen. If you’re going trekking, bring appropriate shoes; if you’re going diving, bring your suit, etc. For special cruise like the Han Christian Andersen Cruise, dive suit & equipments are available for rent with a minimal charge. Visit Beyond encourages you to pack only necessities. Although there are some tours and trips in which you can leave your luggage behind for a day’s excursion, we generally require you to carry your own gear. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to pack in a backpack with straps and back support and a smaller daypack. We strongly discourage traditional luggage!

Responsible travel (see below) dictates that we respect local cultures. Bring a camera and take pictures and video, but never intrude on people’s lives.

See our checklist below for more specifics.

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Checklist

This checklist is intended as a reference guide; it is not a complete packing list. Always keep in mind weight restrictions according to your airline of choice.

Travel documents: Passport and visas, travel insurance documents, tickets, Visit Beyond vouchers (if any).

Money: Cash, credit card, money pouch.

Day pack: First-aid kit, medication/prescriptions (consider carrying a doctor’s letter if you require a large amount of medication), sunscreen, refillable water bottle and purification tablets, flashlight, insect repellent, hat and sunglasses, traveler’s diarrhea tablets, prescription glasses, contact lenses and solution, earplugs, playing cards, phrasebook.

Large pack: Alarm clock, international outlet adapter, swimsuit, lightweight towel, eye mask, comfortable walking shoes, raincoat, umbrella, waterproof jacket, outdoor sandals with good grip, waterproof bags for the rainy season, appropriate clothes for temples and religious sites.

And, of course, your camera, film or memory cards, charger and spare batteries!

Please also check our online check list for this tour.

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Visas

You are responsible for obtaining visas. Consult your embassy’s website in Philippines or Philippines website in your country for the latest visa requirements. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date. We endeavor to keep visa information updated, but rules can change suddenly.

Some Foreign Citizens do not need visas to visit Philippines as a tourist, they will be granted with a 21-days entry stamp provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination. For the list of foreign citizens who do not need a visa, please visit http://tourism-philippines.com/philippines-visa-requirements/. Further inquiries may be addressed to the Visa Division (Telephone numbers: (63 2) 834-4854, 834-3707, and 834-4810), Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City or to any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad.

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Laundry

Some hotels offer laundry services for an additional charge. You can find additional laundry services in all major cities. If you choose to do your own laundries, kindly use non-polluting and biodegradable soap.

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Share Your Trip

Go on, show off a little! Share your pictures on our Facebook page. We occasionally hold contests for those who provide the best shots, so stay on the look-out and you could win a free trip!


http://www.facebook.com/VisitBeyond

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Respectful Dress

Moderate stylist dress or clothing is accepted in the Philippines especially in major cities. You may use tank tops, swim suits on the beach but never sunbathe topless. Men and women alike are often required to wear pants that cover the legs in temples and religious sites.

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Money, Dough, Loot & Booty

We recommend withdrawing money from ATMs, which are widely available in major cities. This has the advantage of keeping your money safe in the bank; not vulnerable in your back pocket. However, we encourage you to bring cash if you will visit some islands. Remember to bring your bank’s emergency contact details in the event that your card is stolen. In addition, notify your bank of your travels before you depart, as banks often place a temporary hold on cards due to transactions in foreign countries or other suspicious activities.

Visit Beyond does not recommend traveler’s cheques. Exchanging them can be a lengthy process and can pose difficulties due to banking hours and holidays. In addition to a commission, unfavorable exchange rates often apply to traveler’s cheques. If you insist on bringing traveler’s cheques then purchase them with a major brand and strong currency. Old cheques are rarely, if ever, accepted.

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Departure Tax

Non-immigrant aliens who have not stayed in the Philippines for more than a year are not covered by the travel tax. This is subject to change without notice and Visit Beyond is not liable for unexpected charges levied on departing tourists. Kindly note that terminal fees are being collected in International Airport which is at Php 200 while for Domestic Airport is at Php 20 but not more than Php 100 per passenger. Port areas also collect terminal fees at Php 10 but not more than Php 50 per passenger.

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Communications

The most reliable method of communication during your travels will be email and cellphone. Internet is widely available in major cities in Philippines. We do visit areas of the country for several days at a time in which Internet and cellphone network access is limited or unavailable. Please take this into account when planning your trip.

It is a good idea to leave your booking agent’s contact details or Visit Beyonds contact information with friends or family in your home country in case of emergencies. English language is commonly used in major cities while locals in islands try to use the language and can understand. Facebook is another handy tool to keep in touch.

Always register with your country’s embassy in Philippines and provide details of your itinerary in order to make yourself available in the event of an emergency.

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Expect the Unexpected

Visit Beyond, as the name implies, brings you places that are beyond the well-worn tourist path. Out here, things sometimes go wrong and if they do, it is imperative that you tell your guide or tour leader immediately. They are best suited to help however they can. If this does not suffice, your guide will contact our manager.

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Health & Fitness

There are no health requirements for this trip. However, to get the most out of your trip, all travelers should be in good physical health. You should consult your doctor or physician before leaving your home country and you should honestly assess your ability to complete your vacation based on the detailed Visit Beyond trip itinerary. In general, the more you physically prepare for the trip, the more you will enjoy it. We do not walk at altitude nor set distance records, but some treks can still be demanding. Expect hilly terrain and high temperatures. Visit Beyond and its guides reserve the right to exclude a participant without refund if said traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to him/herself or to the group.

Small and very handy first aid kits should be readily available in your home country. We recommend you purchase a kit before departure along with any personal medication you may require. Read the trip itinerary closely and bring medicine accordingly, as many trips entail travel on long, windy roads and require that you eat Philippine cuisine. Do not rely on trip leaders or guides, as they are legally prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache medicine and antibiotics.

Visit Beyond is well aware of the health risks of bird flu and SARS. Therefore, Visit Beyond reserves the right to make unannounced changes to all itineraries in the very unlikely occurrence of an outbreak of bird flu, SARS or other disease. Please contact us at philippines@visitbeyond.com should you require any clarification.

*Special Health & Fitness for diving

Before you begin your dive course, you must complete a medical test. If you suffer – or have suffered from asthma, hay fever or allergies, you must bring a doctors certificate stating that you are physically capable of withstanding the kind of strain that diving can cause. We recommend that you obtain a doctors certificate in advance in case you are suffering from any of the above mentioned diseases.

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Travel Insurance

Although travel insurance is not obligatory to join a Visit Beyond trip, we strongly recommend you purchase insurance before departing your home country. Traveling without insurance is done entirely at your own risk. Visit Beyond is not liable for the uninsured. We recommend Gouda Travel Insurance for our European customers.

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Your Travel Buddies

Traveling in a group can be a very positive experience. You are likely to find that your travel buddies hail from all over the world. Therefore, you will get the double pleasure of experiencing a new part of the world and new friends to enjoy it with. In order to get the most out of your trip, each traveler must respect every member of the group, arrive on time according to the trip itinerary, and practice patience with one another. These are your responsibilities as a member of a group and we expect each member to follow them. For reasons of privacy, Visit Beyond will not provide personal information or contact details of your fellow travelers prior to departure.

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Responsible Travel

Traveling responsibly is a pillar of the Visit Beyond philosophy. To us, it means two things: respect for the environment and respect for local cultures. We practice low-impact tourism and make every effort to preserve the environment. We refuse to treat local people as mere photo-ops and insist that you engage with locals as human beings. You will have a better trip for it. Please refer to our Responsible Travel page for further details and suggestions for responsible travel.

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The law and "the man"

Visit Beyond does not tolerate illegal drugs nor do we tolerate visiting prostitutes. Both of these may be present among certain communities we visit but they are illegal nonetheless. Engaging in such activities puts you and your group at serious risk. Possession of illegal drugs is a crime punishable by law in Philippines. Visit Beyond and group leaders reserve the right to immediately expel from the group anyone engaging in these activities.

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Children Rules

*Children are defined from age 2-11. That means 12 years and up will have to pay adult price.

Children can either stay with the parents in the same bed or we can book an extra bed if possible at the guest house / hotel. Only one child sharing bed per room.

*Some trips have special rules for children.

Children rules for SCUBA diving:

Children can do special dive courses from the age of 8.

Children aged 8-9 can do a course named bubble maker

Children aged 10-11 can do a course named Scuba diver

Children aged 12 and up will be able to do Open Water course.

It's still up to the instructor to decide whether a child is mature enough to dive. Being 10 does not create a right to be certified.

Children are defined from age 8-11. That means 12 years and up will have to pay adult price.

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