Philippines: adventure among dream islands

This journey begins at Manila. On the first day, we meet at 18:00.

Your Coordinator will add you to the WhatsApp group for your trip about 15 days before departure.
 It’s a great way to start getting to know your travel mates, receive more details about the first day’s meeting point, and ask any pre-departure questions you might have.

This journey ends at Coron. On the last day, you are free to leave at any time, so whether you need to book a flight, a train, or wish to continue the journey on your own, you can organize your return as you prefer.

For this itinerary, traveling with a backpack is mandatory for logistical reasons and the convenience of the entire group - including yourself! Trolleys, bulky suitcases, or hard luggage are not allowed. The Travel Coordinator will provide guidance on the ideal baggage before departure via the WhatsApp group.

If you are a UK citizen, to find out the entry requirements for the Philippines, you can check this informational page from our partner Sherpa. If you need a visa, you can apply for it through Sherpa. If you are not a UK citizen, you can still use Sherpa by changing the nationality in the 'Passport' section.

Before traveling, always remember to check the government website of your country of origin for updates on the entry requirements for the Philippines – you wouldn’t want to stay home due to a bureaucratic detail!

• UK residents: review the FCDO Travel Advice.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
• Other residents: refer to your government or local consulate's travel advice.

The Philippines is in the Philippine Time Zone, which is 8 hours ahead of GMT/UTC. If it is 12pm in the UK, it will be 8pm in the Philippines. If you're on the East Coast of the USA and it's 12pm, it will be 1am the next day in the Philippines. The Philippines does not observe daylight saving time, so this time difference remains consistent throughout the year.

The currency used in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP). As of the latest rates:

• 1 GBP is approximately 70 PHP
• 1 USD is around 56 PHP
• 1 EUR is about 60 PHP

You can exchange currency at airports, banks, and authorized money changers throughout the country. It's always a good idea to check current exchange rates before you travel.

In the Philippines, you can pay using cash, credit cards, and mobile payment apps. Credit cards are widely accepted in urban areas, especially in malls, hotels, and restaurants. However, in rural areas and for smaller vendors, cash is more common. It is a good idea to have some Philippine Peso on hand. You can also use mobile payment apps like GCash and PayMaya, which are increasingly popular for convenient transactions.

Tipping in the Philippines is appreciated but not mandatory. In restaurants, leaving a 5 to 10 percent tip is common if a service charge is not included in the bill. For other services, such as taxi drivers or hotel staff, rounding up the fare or leaving a small cash tip is a nice gesture. Always ensure you have some small bills or coins handy for tipping.

In the Philippines, internet access can be spotty, especially in rural areas, but it's generally reliable in cities. Buying a local SIM card is a good idea for better connectivity, and you can choose from providers like Globe, Smart, or DITO. These providers offer affordable data plans that will keep you connected throughout your trip. Wi-Fi is commonly available in hotels, malls, and cafes in urban areas, though speeds can vary. If you're visiting remote locations, having a SIM card with a data plan is your best bet to stay connected.

In the Philippines, the official language is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, and English is widely spoken as well. You'll find many locals speaking both languages, making communication easier for travelers. Here are some useful Filipino expressions you might hear or use:

• Hello: Kumusta
• Thank you: Salamat
• Yes: Oo
• No: Hindi
• How much?: Magkano?

These phrases can be handy when interacting with locals during your trip.

In the Philippines, you'll find Type A and Type B plugs, similar to those used in North America. The voltage is 220V with a frequency of 60Hz. Since these plugs differ from those used in countries like Italy, it's a good idea to bring a universal adapter to ensure you can charge your devices without any hiccups.

The main religion in the Philippines is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism being the predominant denomination. Around 80% of the population are Roman Catholics. There are also significant numbers of other Christian denominations, such as Protestantism, and a minority of the population practices Islam, mainly in the southern regions. Important religious holidays include Christmas, Easter, and the Feast of the Black Nazarene. If you're visiting during these times, expect vibrant celebrations and public holidays.

For a trip to the Philippines, you'll want to pack smartly for the tropical climate. Here's what you should consider bringing in your backpack:

• Clothing:
  • Light t-shirts, tank tops
  • Shorts, lightweight pants
  • Swimwear
  • A light rain jacket or poncho
  • A hat for sun protection
• Shoes:
  • Comfortable sandals
  • Flip-flops for the beach
  • Lightweight sneakers or walking shoes
• Accessories and technology:
  • Sunglasses
  • Waterproof phone case
  • Power bank
  • Universal adapter for electronics
• Toiletries and medication:
  • Sunscreen with high SPF
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal toiletries
  • Basic first-aid kit
  • Common travel medication like motion sickness pills, pain relievers, anti-diarrhea tablets

The Philippines is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture, so pack accordingly and get ready to explore!

The weather in the Philippines is tropical and can vary depending on the region and time of year. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Luzon (north): Dry season from November to April, wet season from May to October. Best time to visit is November to February.
• Visayas (central): Similar to Luzon but with less variation. Best time to visit is December to May.
• Mindanao (south): More consistently warm and wet. Best time to visit is December to March.

Temperatures are generally warm year-round, averaging between 25°C (77°F) and 32°C (90°F). The hottest months are usually March to May. Typhoon season runs from June to November, so it's best to plan accordingly.

Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.

Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

An "Available" departure means that the trip isn’t confirmed yet and we’re waiting for a few more bookings… maybe yours!

If you book, wait for the trip to be confirmed before booking your international flights!

This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!

The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 

It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 

It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.

You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.

The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.

It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.

It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.

If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.

The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.

If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Klarna (you’ll pay for the trip in three equal amounts);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. (Deposits will be refunded in the form of a gift card valid for 365 days from issue date.) If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. Deposits will be refunded in the form of a gift card valid for 365 days from issue date.

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.

The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!

Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 

But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements! 

It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.

In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants. 

The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button

which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:

Even if we don't know the flights of all WeRoaders, there are several ways to find out which flights your travel companions have purchased.

1. Each WeRoader has the ability to communicate their flight details after booking within their personal area so that other travel companions can see the details anonymously. Enter your booking and you will find this section:
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2. If you want to find out before booking, instead, you can contact us and we will support you in your search or you can ask your travel companions for direct information by joining our Facebook group 'WeRoad... let's get to know each other before leaving! (official)' – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weroadit) look for a post associated with your trip, or ask the group administrators for help in getting in touch with your future adventure companions!

If the coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you are interested in, you can easily find his/her presentation post in the group through the site: in the shift list click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip tab, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator name] about this shift in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!

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On our group trips, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in WeRoad.com trips.

On average, groups consist of 12 people, with a minimum of 3-4 participants and a maximum of 18-20 in exceptional cases.

The average age varies depending on the age range indicated for each trip: for 25-35 year-olds, it's usually in their 30s, and for 35+ year-olds, it's around 40. However, if you'd like to know the average age of a group, contact us via WhatsApp at 3484231163.

Regarding the gender mix, there's no guarantee that the group will be balanced, as it all depends on you and on when and what you book! We can, however, reveal a detail: many women book well in advance, while many men often arrive a bit last minute!

Want to know the specific composition of your group? Find out how here.

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking – although, in our opinion, that kind of spoils the surprise! You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!

You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!