Getting to the Philippines
Flying is your only option for getting into the Philippines. International flights come in every day from Australia, the United States, and many countries in Asia. Apart from the major entry points of Manila and Cebu, some regional flights fly into Davao from Manado.
Getting Around the Philippines
Air
The provinces are ably serviced by airlines like Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, and Cebu Pacific. A departure tax of PhP200 is levied for internal flights leaving Manila.
Ferries
The major island ports are serviced by inter-island ships with acceptable accommodation and facilities. Aboitiz SuperFerry is one good example – comfortable if you get a private berth, not so much if you try the lower classes.
Rail
The very busy Mass Rail Transit system in Manila is comprised of three lines. The Metro Railway Transit (MRT) connects North Avenue in Quezon to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, travelling down Epifanio delos Santo Avenue (EDSA). The Light Railway Transit Line 1 (LRT 1), runs from Caloocan terminal in the north to Baclaran terminal in the south. Finally, the MRT Line 2 (Megatren) stretches west to east from Santolan to Recto Avenue.
The rather run-down Philippine National Railway system still chugs south from Manila to Southeast Luzon and back. Trains can only go as fast as 30 mph due to the narrow-gauge track, but it’ll get you as far as Legazpi City and back if you’re not in a hurry.
On the Road
Air-conditioned and regular non-aircon buses cover many major routes throughout Metro Manila and outward.
Taxis are available in cities and in many towns. Make sure the driver uses his meter – some taxi drivers will set an arbitrarily expensive rate.
Wildly colorful jeepneys ply most of Manila's secondary roads, and will set you back at least PhP7 for a short ride.
If you want to drive yourself, car rentals are easy to arrange through your hotel, or directly with a reputable car rental company. The law requires drivers to be at least 18 years old with a valid international driver's license. Traffic in the Philippines drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Other
In smaller towns and municipalities, tricycles (motorbikes with sidecars) and pedicabs (bicycles with a sidecars) can provide a cheaper ride if you’re traveling shorter distances. Calesas (horse-drawn carriages) are popular with tourists, though pricey.
