DECEMBER 2022 - JANUARY 2023
OVERVIEW
In August 2022, I emerged out of COVID-19 restrictions and left Roatan Island, Honduras.
I spent October and November in Gili Trawangan Island, Indonesia.
… next is Boracay Island, The Philippines …
PLEASE NOTE
The currency in The Philippines is the Peso (or the ‘PHP’). I will refer to them as PHPs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were:
| US$1 | EU€1 | GB£1 | |
| Published Wholesale Rate | 57.01 | 58.61 | 68.34 |
| Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate | 56.06 | 57.64 | 67.21 |
You will NOT get this Wholesale Rate … you will get the Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate; expect to lose anywhere between 3% to 6% depending on which Credit / Debit Card deal you have. I lost an average of 1.65% … to find out how, read about the WISE Debit Card.
Over time, these exchange rates will change. It is also late 2022 … so inflation will need to be taken into account. Please check the current rates.
GETTING THERE
It is advised that you check out iVisa before you travel to get the latest entry requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: Requirements may change from time to time without prior notice. Please continue checking with iVisa for the complete current list of entry requirements.
TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINES YOU NEED
1. Passport valid for at least six (6) months at the time of arrival
2. Valid Visa (if applicable)
Guests connecting to or from other airlines must go through applicable immigration and arrival procedures, before going to check-in for the onward destination.
The following are additional travel requirements per passenger type, to be presented upon check-in and / or arrival:
ONE HEALTH PASS eARRIVAL CARD
“All guests bound for the Philippines are required to register for a One Health Pass e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before the flight and save a printed / digital copy of the QR code at the end of the form. Present this upon check-in and / or arrival. Complete the registration before going to the airport to avoid delays in checking in”.
Go online to the One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System and register:
You will need the Q Code.
COVID VACCINATION
For fully vaccinated passengers:
1. Proof of Complete Vaccination for COVID-19 that shows that the last required dose has been administered more than 14 days before departure.
For Unvaccinated, Partially Vaccinated, or Individuals whose Vaccination Status cannot be independently validated:
1. For passengers at least 15 years old: Negative Rapid Antigen (remotely supervised or laboratory-based) administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility and taken within 24 hours before boarding. Those who can’t submit will undergo a laboratory-based Antigen test upon arrival.
2. Accompanied minors below 15 years old shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parents / accompanying guardian.
3. Unaccompanied minors below 15 years old must also present a negative Rapid Antigen test, taken within 24 hours before boarding.
You will be required to show proof of a full course of vaccination (if over 18) and undergo a temperature check on arrival:
- Travelers running a high temperature must take a RT-PCR test and, if positive, will need to isolate or be hospitalized at their own expense
- Travelers who have received a full course of vaccination and a booster do not need an antigen/PCR test to travel domestically with Indonesia after landing in Bali
- However, travelers who have not received a booster may need to show a negative test to travel domestically
PROOF OF ONWARD / RETURN TICKET
3. For temporary visitors: valid onward / return ticket. Foreign spouses and / or children of Filipino citizens are not required to submit this if their Filipino spouse / parent is traveling with them. Former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privileges under Republic Act No. 9174 and their spouse / children traveling with them are also not required to submit this.
PLEASE NOTE: I did not have a return ticket (I am travelling full time) and I intended to extend my visa in Boracay for a further month. Thus, I needed a cheap ‘throw-away’ ticket … it usually ends up cheaper to buy a ‘throw-away’ ticket than to buy a ‘flexible’ date ticket … but, if you know exactly where you are going next, the latter is worth consideration.
I used SkyScanner to search for the cheapest Airline flying from anywhere in The Philippines to any other country any time in December (the extent of my first 1 month visa):
SkyScanner helps you to find the name of the cheapest Airline and that Airline’s cheapest flight date;
- This time, for me, it was Air Asia.
Once found, go direct to that airline’s website to buy your ticket (it’s usually cheaper to book it direct). I paid US$48.80 for this throw-away ticket. Obviously, as a ‘throw-away’, I bought the cheapest available no-frills ticket with only my carry-on allowance.
Make sure that you have an onward / return ticket. You will need it.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
I did not see any official website state that proof of Travel Insurance was a requirement to enter The Philippines. Also, The Philippines have recently removed the requirement for guests to have proof of COVID-19 medical insurance.
I insure myself with World Nomads. If you prefer to have Travel Insurance, I suggest that you start here: Get Travel Insurance from World Nomads.
If you read the ‘small print’ you will discover that, if your target country is not listed on your certificate, you are NOT covered. Also, there are additional coverage restrictions because of COVID. Make sure that you read the ‘small print’.
PLEASE NOTE: When you apply for a World Nomads policy, make sure that you get as much world-wide coverage as possible. I tell you how to get this extra coverage for free … read more here.
‘MY EXPERIENCE’
I was flying from Bali, Indonesia to Boracay (via Manila) on Cebu Pacific. My connection in Manila was short: I was in transit for only 2 hours. For an extra US$12, I included a transfer from Caticlan Airport to my Boracay Hotel. My one-way ticket price was about US$200.
At Cebu Pacific’s Bali International Airport check-in desk, all of the (above) entry requirements were checked before I was given a boarding pass.
I LOST MY LUGGAGE
I landed in Manila. My eArrival Card was checked and my Q Code scanned before I was allowed to enter Baggage Claim.
To cut a long story short, Cebu Pacific in Bali gave me a leaflet that contained the wrong instructions about how to clear customs in Manila. This resulted in me (unknowingly) leaving my checked bag going around in circles on the carousel at Manila Baggage Claim.
After checking in with Cebu Pacific to connect on my domestic flight to Caticlan, I headed for the Departure Gate.
PROBLEM CLEARING SECURITY
I had a power extension lead in my backpack. Customs were going to confiscate it. I need it.
I had to go back into the Departure Lounge, find someone to wrap up the power lead (PHP200), go back to check-in, and check-in the power lead as ‘extra luggage’ (PHP300) before being able to clear Security. I got to my Departure Gate just in time … 5 minutes before they started boarding.
AIRPORT ATMs
To make these payments, I had to find an ATM in the Departure Lounge. I took out PHP10,000 / US$180 (the maximum allowed).
RECOMMENDATION: ATM Fees at the airport are expensive. I was charge 6% in ATM and Foreign Currency Conversion fees. Avoid using them if you can.
CATICLAN
I arrived in Caticlan Airport. It is not an International Airport. They do not have Customs. The bags arrived. My power lead was there. My main luggage was not.
I found a Cebu Pacific representative. I showed him the erroneous instructions that I had been given. He said that Cebu Pacific were not responsible! He helped me to fill out a Customs Declaration Form for the missing bag. I also had to fill out a Feedback Form to explain why I did not collect my luggage in Manila!
TRANSFER TO MY BORACAY HOTEL
The Cebu Pacific connection to Boracay uses Southwest Travel & Tours. 1 day before my arrival Southwest contacted me to confirm my arrival time and to give me a reference number. I needed to show this reference number at their travel desk in Caticlan Airport.
It took over 1 hour to sort out my missing bag documents. Thankfully, even though I missed the time of my connection to Boracay, Southwest were able to put me on the next shuttle. My transfer ‘ticket’ was a sticker on my chest.
I had to pay an extra PHP250 for Southwest to deliver my missing luggage to my Boracay Hotel.
Southwest provide a Minivan to take you the short distance to the Caticlan Boat Dock. At the boat dock, you enter the Southwest terminal and pay a PHP300 Boracay Environment Fee.
Within 20 minutes I was on a boat to Boracay. This is a local ferry (nothing fancy) and I had a seat number. The trip to Boracay Island takes about 15 minutes.
I disembarked in Boracay. I went to the Southwest terminal. They put me in a Minivan to my hotel.
I was very happy with Southwest … they were very helpful and organised.
IN CONCLUSION
When you are in transit and connecting from an International flight to a Domestic flight on the same airline, ALWAYS check the Baggage Claim Carousel for your checked through luggage. NEVER trust an airline to send it through to your final destination without error.
The Cebu Pacific representative in Caticlan was very helpful. Cebu Pacific and Customs in Manila were not. After many emails, and a lot of ‘mucking around’, my lost bag was delivered to my Boracay hotel 5 days later.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation in Boracay is EXPENSIVE. Finding accommodation at a GRANDPAcking price will be your major problem.
PLEASE NOTE: I advise you to book into something reasonable for 2-3 nights in advance. Then, once here, walk around and negotiate direct monthly deals. This can save you as much as 50% on the published rate.
This is what a GRANDPAcking Couple can expect to find at short notice for early December 2022 (off season) discounted prices (below, most sites display prices INCLUSIVE of TAXES):
BOOKING.COM
There were only 13 hotels listed under US$30 per night:
HOTELS.COM
PLEASE NOTE: Many search sites (like HOTELS) don’t provide a ‘private bathroom’ filter, so be careful with some of the cheap hotels and make sure that you read the room details.
There were only 10 hotels listed under US$30 per night:
AIRBnB / HOLIDAY RENTALS
I DO NOT advise you to book short-term accommodation using AirBnB. The reason is simple:
- To get a reasonable price out of AirBnB you need to book many nights;
- You DO NOT want to book so many nights in advance;
- Read ‘Long Term Accommodation’, below, to find out why.
SUMMARY
It doesn’t really matter where you stay when you first arrive. You just need to be on the island. You can get around cheaply on eTrikes which have ‘fixed’ prices to get you from A to B … most trips cost about PHP15-PHP25 / US$0.35c-US$0.50c … know the price and pay the driver accordingly so that you don’t open yourself up to being ripped off:
RECOMMENDATION: You want aircon.
GRANDPAckers will need to put some effort into finding short-term accommodation for less than US$30 per night. You should expect to pay US$25+.
SIM CARD
I didn’t have time whilst in transit in Manila to buy a SIM Card. To more easily search for my long-term accommodation I needed one. The locals on Boracay island advised me to buy Globe. Globe have a shop in the D-Mall:
I went to the store when the opened at 10am on my first morning. Their internet connection was down and they were unable to sell any products. I went 3 more times that same day … every 2 hours. Their communications were down all day. At 10am on my 2nd morning I went back again. They were operational! It is not a good look when a telecommunications company has no communications 🙂
Anyway, for PHP150, I purchased a new 5G SIM Card with a 7-day GO+99 Plan that offered unlimited texts and 16GB of data: 8GB of All-Access data (access to any internet site) plus 8GB of Go-Share data (for access to social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp). The assistant in the store helped me make the purchase and set it up for me. You do not need to register with a passport in The Philippines (but, I understand that this may change in 2023).
With this 7-day GO+99 plan, it costs PHP99 / US$2 to top up with another 16GB. Another option is to upgrade to the 10-day PHP129 GO-Extra Plan to get 8GB of All-Access data plus unlimited texts plus unlimited calls to all networks.
RECOMMENDATION: Download the Globe Mobile App before you buy your SIM Card. After getting your new SIM and your new mobile number, register in the App whilst still in the Globe Store. If you have problems, they will be able to help you. The mobile app will let you top up (at a 4% discount) and buy packages … as well as offer you special discounts and promos. HOWEVER, I was unable to top-up using my NZ Credit / Debit Cards and had to top-up back at the Globe Store.
MY SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION
About 1 month before I arrived, I booked myself into a hotel for 3 nights: Seabird International Resort. I found it on Agoda. I got a Superior Delux room with private (hot water) bathroom, wifi, mini bar, TV, outside patio, and Breakfast included for US$21 / PHP1,375k per night (after Cash Back).
This was an amazing discounted price. The ‘rack rate’ was US$109 per night. Seabird included several extra free services in their room rates including free beach towels.
Included in my price was a free Breakfast. You had 5 standard options to choose from. Normally you pay US$4.50 each per Breakfast.
MY LONG TERM ACCOMMODATION
I was in Boracay at a very difficult time of year. The Philippines is a very Catholic country (in the past it was a colony of Spain). At Christmas and Easter everywhere is booked and prices go sky high. Somehow, I had to find a price that I could afford that spanned both Christmas and New Year …
As a Rule Of Thumb, if you book 1 month you should pay 50% of the published rack rate … but NOT at this time of year in The Philippines!
Nowadays, for Long Term Accommodation I tend to avoid online search / booking sites. I use Facebook.
About 2 weeks before my arrival, I joined some Facebook Boracay ‘rental property’ Groups. I joined about 5 groups. I did this in advance because, sometimes, it can take several days for the Group’s Administrator to accept your request to join.
Once I was a member of these Groups, I posted my accommodation requirements including the fact that I was staying 2 months and that I was looking for a monthly rate. I was not exactly ‘inundated’ with replies … but I got enough.
What I asked for was simple:
- A double bed;
- Hot water private bathroom;
- Aircon;
- Wardrobe;
- Good in-room wifi;
- A TV … I wanted to rig up my laptop with an HDMI cable to stream videos / sports;
- A patio / deck / terrace with table and chairs;
- An equipped kitchenette … I wanted to be able to make my own breakfast at home in the mornings … as well as have some cold beers in my fridge 🙂
I stayed in Boracay for 2 months back in 2016. I had a good look around back then … and I knew that I wanted to stay near White Beach in either Station 2 or (the quieter) Station 3: Boracay – Philippines – Where To Stay – GRANDPAcking.
I exchanged messages with several people in advance and reduced my options to a short-list of 4 properties.
The day after my arrival, I went back to where I stayed in 2016. Back then, I paid PHP18,000 / US$325 per month including utilities. Alas, it was closed and now a building site … so, that took that one out of the equation.
Prices have gone up about 50% since 2016 … this is what I found in Station 3 back then:
The connections that I made on Facebook showed me 4 properties. Two of them were ‘bad’ but they still wanted PHP25,000 / US$450 plus utilities (usually about PHP5,000 / US$90 per month depending on how much you use your aircon).
Another wanted PHP35,000 plus utilities but I had to vacate over Christmas week … which would have left me stranded over Christmas with nowhere to stay (or paying over US$100 per night in a hotel).
Another wanted PHP45,000 plus utilities but I couldn’t move in until the 18th December and I had to pay a minimum of 2 months in advance. This was no good to me as I was leaving at the end of January 2023.
I was on the brink of giving in and moving on to Vietnam. Then, I got lucky, one of my Facebook contacts put me on to the Nirvana Beach Resort. The Nirvana had a ‘superior studio apartment’ with outside kitchenette. They wanted PHP35,000 / US$633 per month including utilities … paid in advance. The Nirvana is located on Balabag Main Road, Station 2. It is a 3 minute walk to White Beach:
Compared to what I had seen at similar prices, I was happy with what the Nirvana had to offer and I took it immediately. I agreed to pay PHP70,000 / US$1,266 in advance by bank transfer. To keep my ‘cost of money’ down, I made this payment using my WISE Debit Card.
Utilities were included but not housekeeping. We agreed PHP600 / US$11 for a full room clean and PHP300 / US$5.50 for just towels and bed linen.
Here is a short video of the Nirvana:
PLEASE NOTE: I have no doubt that the person that connected me with the Nirvana was paid commission. I reckon that, if I had gone directly to the Nirvana, I could have gotten it for PHP30,000 / US$535 per month. The problem is that (unless you have lived in Boracay for a while and have your own contacts) you don’t know how to find these places … and you have to accept that you need to pay someone a ‘commission’ for helping you.
VISA EXTENSION
The Bureau of Immigration Field Office in Boracay is located in Station 3.
I went to the office to extend my Tourist Visa by another month. Unlike in 2016, you can no longer just turn up and queue. You have to book an appointment. You are advised to do so 1 week before your current visa expires.
You book your appointment on .
I will tell you how I got on in my next post.
CONCLUSION
You and I got here. We have our ‘home’ for the next 2 months.
In my next post, I will tell you what it is like to ‘live’ on Boracay Island.
TTFN
Why not FOLLOW US to stay up to date with our Postings and Retirement Reviews.
