Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Time
sections that sell fresh and formula milk, nappies
and baby food.
Department stores
such as
Rustan's and SM sell baby clothes, bottles, sterilizing
equipment and toys. And travelling with children
in the Philippines needn't be a burden on your
budget. Domestic
airlines
give a discount of
around fifty percent for children under twelve and
hotels and resorts offer
family rooms
, extra beds
for a minimal charge, or don't charge at all for a
small child sharing the parents' bed. Most
restau-
rants
with buffet spreads will let a small child eat
for free if he or she is simply taking nibbles from a
parent's plate. Try asking for a special portion - the
staff are usually happy to oblige.
One potential problem for young ones is the
climate
. You'll need to go to extra lengths to
protect them from the sun and to make sure
they are hydrated. A hat and good sunblock
are essential. As for
medical attention
in the
Philippines, there are good paediatricians at most
major hospitals, in five-star hotels and many resorts.
The Philippines is eight hours ahead of Universal
Time (GMT ) all year round.
Tipping
Keep your purse or wallet well stocked with P10
coins and P20 notes for tips. In cafés, bars and hotel
coffee shops many Filipinos simply leave whatever
coins they get in their change. For good service in
restaurants you should leave a tip of about ten
percent. In more expensive restaurants where the
bill could be a couple of thousand pesos, it's okay
to leave a somewhat smaller tip in percentage
terms - P100 is a reasonable amount. Bellhops and
porters get about P20 each and taxi drivers usually
expect to keep the loose change.
Tourist information
The
Philippine Department of Tourism
(DoT;
W
wowphilippines.com.ph) has a small number of
overseas o
ces where you can pick up glossy
brochures and get answers to general pre-trip
questions about destinations, major hotels and
domestic travel. These o
ces are not so helpful,
however, when it comes to information about places
off the beaten track. The DoT has off
ces throughout
the Philippines, but most of them have small budgets
and very little in the way of reliable information or
brochures. The best source of up-to-date information
on travelling in the Philippines is guesthouses and
hotels that cater to travellers, most of which have
notice boards where you can swap tips and ideas.
Travellers with disabilities
Facilities for the disabled are rare except in the
major cities. Taxis are cramped, while bangkas are
notoriously tricky even for the able-bodied. For
wheelchair users the pavements represent a serious
obstacle in themselves. Often dilapidated and
potholed, they are frustrating at the best of times
and simply impassable at the worst, when pedes-
trians are forced to pick their way along the gutter
in the road, dodging cars and motorcycles.
In Manila, Cebu City, Davao and some other big
cities, the most upmarket hotels cater to the disabled
and so do malls, cinemas and restaurants. Elsewhere,
the good news for disabled travellers is that Filipinos
are generous when it comes to offering assistance.
Even in the remotest barangay, people will go out
of their way to help you board a boat or lift you up
the stairs of a rickety pier. Of course once you're on
board a ferry, for example, ramps and disabled toilets
are likely to be nonexistent.
The government-run
National Council on
Disability Affairs
or NCDA (
T
02 951 6033,
W
ncda
.gov.ph) is mandated to formulate policies and
coordinate the activities of all agencies concerning
disability issues, but it doesn't have much practical
advice for disabled travellers. Staff at the group's
Quezon City o
ce can give general pointers on
transport and where to stay. More useful are
local
websites
such as Handi Divers (
W
handidivers.com
/en) of Alona Beach (Panglao Island, Bohol), which
specializes in scuba diving for disabled travellers.
Travelling with children
Filipinos are extravagant in their generosity towards
children, but because so much of the country lacks
infrastructure, specific attractions for them are often
hard to find. Major hotels in big cities such as Manila
and Cebu City have playrooms and babysitting
services, but even in popular tourist destinations
such as Boracay there are few special provisions in
all but the most expensive resorts.
This doesn't mean travelling with children in the
Philippines is a nightmare - far from it. Filipinos are
very tolerant of children so you can take them almost
anywhere without restriction, and children help to
break the ice with strangers. They'll be fussed over,
befriended and looked after every step of the way.
Supermarkets
in towns and cities throughout
the Philippines have well-stocked children's
