What? Where? When? Who? Why? How? If?

Loyalty points

Q. How do I know the value of my PTL loyalty points
A. Send an email to: rewards@philippineholiday.com. stating your account number & we will advise you of your total value which is reedemable against your next order.

Q. Can I accumulate the points.
A. Yes, they are cumulative.

Hotels

Q. Why do you give your own star ratings to the hotels
A. Philippines hotels are allowed to award their own star ratings, we find this unacceptable to most members of the travelling public.

STAR RATINGS
All hotels and resorts are listed by area. Philippine hotels award themselves star ratings, this is of course unsatisfactory and confusing for the travelling public, so in order to stabilise the information, we provide a star rating of our own, these are, of course, subjective and based on our own experiences and client feedback. Points are awarded for:

• Service Quality (SQ)
• Food (F)
• Location (L)
• Staff Attitude (SA)
• Cleanliness (C)
• Ambience (A)
• Value for Money (VFM)
• ‘Overall Visit Experience’ (OVE)

The star ratings cannot be compared to European or US ratings as many of the hotels in the Philippines have been awarded 3 or 4 stars despite having only 12 or so rooms, they score highly in the VFM and OVE categories.

Q. Why is it so difficult to find availability in the hotels there?
A. The Philippines is underdeveloped and there is a consequent room shortage. This causes full occupancy situations in high season but works in your favour in low season when you can enjoy beautiful uncrowded beachfront resorts.

Holidays

Q. When is the best time to travel to the Philippines?
A. May to October is the rainy season, but that does not mean that it will rain. It is always warm there & you can beat the crowds. The prices for hotels and flights are also much lower during that period. November to Easter is the busiest time, try to book ahead.

Scuba Diving

Q. Why do they say that the Philippines is the greatest diving destination on the planet?
A. Because there are more species of fish and corals than any other country. The undersea world there enjoys the oldest geology on the planet. The country has clear unpolluted seas because of the under-development there. See Kent Carpenter’s research on the subject.

Flights

Q. What is an e-ticket?
A. This is a new innovation, soon, paper flight tickets will no longer be available, and this measure has been designed to save the industry billions in theft, lost tickets and errors. With e-ticketing, you only need to arrive at check-in with your passport and a print-out of your e-ticket confirmation to be able to board your flight.

Check-in Times

Q. What is the recommended check-in time?
A. Most airlines recommend 3 hours, although two hours is usually sufficient. Check in online and this time is reduced to 90 minutes.

Q. What is the recommended check-in time for domestic flights?
A. 1 hour.

Baggage

Q. How much baggage is allowed on International flights?
A. The standard is 20 kgs, we can however allow 30 kgs or more on most of our specially negotiated flight deals.

Q. How much baggage is allowed on Domestic flights?
A. 10 kgs is the standard, excess baggage costs however are minimal, and you may also be able to deposit some baggage in your Manila hotel or airport before flying on. Sports and diving equipment is generally treated as allowable if advised before flying. The charge for excess is around $1 per kilo and is often waived for foreigners.

Payment

Q. When do I have to pay for my flights and accommodations?
A. In most cases, in order to avail of the great rates through our agents, payment is due immediately.

Tours

You can choose between a private tour and a seat in coach. When visiting Mountain Province and some of the regions, you will need to wear hiking footwear and carry a light jacket as the temperatures are much cooler. Avoid Mountain Provinces in the rainy season.

Travel Insurance

Q. Should I have personal travel insurance?
A. This is absolutely essential to protect yourself from potentially huge medical and other bills in cases of mishap.

Car Hire

Q. Is it possible to hire or rent a car?
A. We can arrange for a car and driver at great rates. This is generally cheaper than self-drive which attracts large damage deposits.

Transfers

See our Transfers Page

Health

Q. Is it safe to drink the water?
A. It is advisable that visitors stick to bottled water which is readily available in hotels, restaurants, resorts, supermarkets and convenience stores.

Money

Q. What is the local currency?
A. The national currency is the Philippines Peso (PHP).

Q. Where can I obtain the best exchange rate?
A. Money changers offering the best exchange rates, for most major currencies, are located at airports, local banks and other authorized foreign exchange dealers in commercial establishments. Bank ATM’s in larger towns and cities will allow credit and debit card holders to withdraw cash. Credit cards are widely accepted and many resorts and hotels will accept payment in USD$.

Q. How much cash can I carry?
A. Visitors carrying more than US$3000 cash or equivalent in other currencies must declare this in the Customs area. Foreign currency taken out when you leave must not exceed the amount brought in. Passengers leaving the Philippines are not allowed to take out more than 1000 Pesos of local currency.

Q. How much is the departure tax?
A. All departures attract an $11 cash payment upon departure, domestic flights currently charge $4

Time

Q. What’s the time difference?
A. GMT +8 hours

The Law

Q. Are there any special customs requirements?
A. Passengers disembarking in the Philippines must complete the Declaration Form provided during your journey.

Emergencies

Q. Are there any special health regulations?
A. A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers coming from infected areas. Children less than one year old are exempted but may be subject to isolation. Hospitals are listed in the "Yellow Pages" of the local telephone directory. Health centres provide emergency medical attention in remote towns and cities.

Airports

Q. What airport facilities are available?
A. The international airports have adequate facilities: tourist information & assistance counters, hotel & travel agency representatives, banks & ATMs, postal service, telephone booths and medical clinics. Baggage carts and porter services are available.

Q. Are there any disabled facilities?
A. The airports are handicapped-friendly. Wheelchairs are available on request from the airline ground crew. Smaller airports are more basic.

Q. What are the international access airports?
A. The Philippines is well connected by a network of domestic flights, with Manila, Davao, and Cebu acting as the main international hubs. There are numerous ferries and boats operating between the islands and long distance buses provide connections between major towns and cities.

Boracay

Q. What are the other local taxes?
A. Each visitor to Boracay has to pay 50php ($1USD) Scuba divers may be asked to pay some small local conservation taxes in some areas.

Visas

Q. Do I need a visa to enter the Philippines?
A. Unless you are a stateless person or from a country which doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the Philippines, you may enter the country without a visa and stay for a period of 21 days, as long as you have an onward ticket. You may be able to extend this, to stay beyond 21 days you can visit an immigration office whilst in the Philippines or visit a Philippine Embassy or Consulate before you travel.
Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports must have special permits which can be obtained from Philippine Embassies and Consulates.
For more information visit the official website of the

Philippines Bureau of Immigration

Philippine Travel can arrange all your visa and document requirements through their own Visas and Documents dept. click here for more info:

Payments

Q. What credit cards are accepted?
A. International credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted in most major establishments.

Terms & Conditions

Q. Where can I find your terms and conditions?
A. http://www.philippineholiday.com/conditions/terms.php

Weather

Q. What’s the weather like?
A. Although there are some regional variations, the weather in most of the Philippines is as summarised below:

March-May – Hot and dry
June-October – Some rainfall with occasional storms.
November-February – Cool and sunny
Average conditions – Temperature 25c/78f to 30c/90f Humidity 77%

Clothing

Q. What kind of clothing should I bring with me?
A. Light clothing is ideal all year round; remember even in the cooler months it can be very hot! Bring some warm clothes, such and long trousers and a warm top, they maybe useful on cooler evenings, if you travel to more mountainous areas or in air conditioned environments.

Make sure you have some water proof gear or an umbrella just in case.

Language

Q. What language is spoken?
A. There are approximately 111 languages and dialects in the Philippines, but English is widely spoken Tagalog/Filipino is the national language.

Electricity

Q. What is the electricity voltage?
A. 220v A.C. 60 cycles. Many hotels and resorts have 110v outlets. Plugs are US type with 2 flat pins.

Accomodations

Q. Where can I stay?
A. The Philippines has a wide range of accommodations available, from simple huts with no facilities, up through to five star luxury.
All the resorts and hotels featured on the website have been selected on the basis of accommodation standard, service, value for money.

Travel

Q. Can you arrange all our transfers and tours?
A. We offer efficient and reliable transfers with a meet and greet service from your incoming international flight and all onward transportation.

Local Transport

Q. Can I travel on jeepneys, taxis and local buses?
A. Airport taxis are expensive and unreliable, metered and fixed rate taxis are available in key cities across the country but along with jeepney’s, they are not recommended for foreigners. Use our first class transfer service.
In smaller towns and cities buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs are the usual forms of transport. These can be great fun for the more adventurous traveller. Visit the local tourist office for information and always carry small money, change may not be available for higher denomination notes.

Business & Banking Hours

Q. What time do the businesses & banks open?
A. Most private and government offices are open either from 8am to 5pm or from 9am to 6pm. Most commercial establishments are open from 10am to 8pm daily. Banks are open from 9am to 3pm, Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.

Tipping

Q. How much should I tip?
A. Tipping is expected for many services. Standard practice is 2.5% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills already including service charge.

Philippines Travel Tax

Q. What is Philippine Travel Tax?
A. The travel tax is a levy imposed by the Philippine government on the following individuals who are leaving the country irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and the form or place of payment, as provided for by Presidential Decree (PD) 1183, as amended:

	1. Citizens of the Philippines;
	2. Permanent resident aliens whose immigration status maybe any of the following:
	Sec. 13 A Married to a Filipino citizen Sec. 13 B/13 C Child of a Mother previously admitted as Permanent Resident Sec. 13 D Filipina who lost her Filipino citizenship Sec. 13 E Returning Residents Sec. 13 G Previously Natural born Citizen of the Philippines RFC (Recog #) Recognized Filipino Citizen RA 7919 Illegal Aliens who have entered the Philippines prior to 30 June 1992 RA 7837 Filipino Veterans of World War II
	3. Non-resident aliens who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one (1) year.
	Note: Non-immigrant aliens who have not stayed in the Philippines for more than a year are not covered by the travel tax. However, PTA F356 need to be prepared by the ticketing officer for passengers with the following immigration status except for FGO & their dependents (Sec. 9E) who have stayed for more than a year, they have to secure Travel Tax Exemption Certificate.
	Sec. 9A/EO 59 59 days stay Sec. 9B Military contract workers & dependents, transit passengers Sec. 9C Foreign Seamen Sec. 9D Treaty Traders, businessmen Sec. 9E Foreign Government Officials & dependents Sec. 9F Foreign Students Sec. 9G With Alien Employment Permit EO 21 21 days stay EO 408 SRRV/LOI 1470/LOI 911/EO 1037 Retirees SIRV/PD 1623/PD 1034/C 1631 Investors RA 8756/EO 226 Executives of Multinational Companies 47 A2/EPZA Special Non-Immigrants TRV Temporary Residents Visa 47 B Refugees BB Balikbayan BF Balik Fiesta PD 117 10 days without visa RA 7227 Unrestricted visitors SSWV Special Subic Working Visa SCWV Special Clark Working Visa

As mandated by the law, the taxes are divided among the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Commission for Higher Education (CHED), and the General Fund of the National Government for use in government programs.

Q. What are the Travel Tax rates?
A.

	First Class Passage	Economy Class Passage
Full Rate	PHP 2700	PHP 1620
Standard Reduced Rate	PHP 1350	PHP 810
Priveleged Reduced Rate for Overseas Contract Workers' (OCW's) dependents	PHP 400	PHP 300

Q. Who can avail of a Travel Tax exemption/ reduced rate and what are the documents required?
A. (Presentation of passport required in all cases.)

1. Section 2 of PD 1183, as amended, provides that the following are exempted from the payment of the travel tax:
	Foreign diplomatic representatives
	Certification from the Office of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs or Embassy/Consulate
	Employees of the United Nations (UN) Organization or its agencies
	UN passport Certification of employment from the UN office or its agency
Note: Dependents are also exempted if travel is paid for and certified by the UN. For dependents of employees of other UN agencies, a certification and proof from the organization/agency is required. United States (US) Military Personnel including dependents and other US nationals with fares paid for by the US Government or on US Government-owned/chartered transport facilities.
	Government Transport Request (GTR) or certification from the US Embassy.
	Filipino Overseas Contract Workers
	If hired through POEA, Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from POEA If directly hired abroad, a Certificate of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the place of hire or an employment contract authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate
	International carrier crew
	Certification from the Bureau of Air Transportation that crew member is joining his aircraft, indicating name of crew member, position and location of aircraft
	Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one (1) year.
	Copies of the ID pages of passport and stamp of last arrival in RP Proof of permanent residence in foreign country (e.g. US Green Card, Canadian form 1000, etc.)
	Philippine Foreign Service personnel assigned abroad and their dependents
	Certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs to this effect
	Philippine government (excluding government-owned and controlled corporations) employees on official travel
	Certified true copy of travel authority or travel order from Secretary concerned to this effect (Malacañang approval of travel needed for two or more employees and for those with rank of Asst. Secretary and above)
	Grantees of foreign government-funded trips
	Proof that travel is provided/funded by a foreign government
	Students with approved scholarships by appropriate government agency
	Certification from concerned Philippine government agency
Note: "Student" is defined as a person attending formal classes in an educational institution for the purpose of taking up a course leading to a diploma the duration of which is not less than one year.
	Infants (2 years & below)
	In case where original passport cannot be presented, original Birth Certificate and photocopy of ID page of passport.
	Personnel (and their dependents) of Philippine offices of multinational companies not engaged in business in the Philippines
	Certification from the Board of Investments
	Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines
	Written authorization from the Office of the President which explicitly entitles the passenger to an exemption
2. RA 6768 provides for the exemption of the following from payment of the travel tax:
	Balikbayans whose stay in the Philippines is less than one (1) year
	ID pages of passport and stamp of last departure from and arrival in the Philippines (duration of which is at least one year) Ticket used in traveling to the Philippines
	Family members of former Filipinos accompanying the latter
	Foreign passport of former Filipino or other evidence of former Philippine Citizenship Birth certificate or adoption papers of children and/or marriage contract of accompanying spouse
Note: Exemption under RA 6768 is available only if the individual does not fall under any of the exempted categories provided under Sec. 2 of P. D. 1183, as amended.
3. Section 2-A of PD 1183, as amended, states that the following are entitled to a standard reduced travel tax rate:
	Minors from 2 to 12 years
	In case where original passport cannot be presented, original Birth Certificate and photocopy of ID page of passport.
	Filipino journalists on journalistic assignment
	Certification from the Office of the Press Secretary Certification/Accreditation from the journalist's editor or station manager
	Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines
	Written authority from the Office of the President which explicitly entitles the passenger to a reduced rate
Section 2-B of PD 1183, as amended, states that the following are entitled to a privileged reduced travel tax rate:
	Legitimate spouse of overseas contract worker (OCW)
	Passport POEA Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) / balikmanggagawa form Marriage contract
	Legitimate unmarried children of OCW below 21 years old
	Passport OEC / balikmanggagawa form Birth certificate

MORE INFORMATION UPON REQUEST