Philippines

The culture is a mixture of indigenous people with Spanish and American influences. This makes it the most Western country among the South-East-Asian states when it comes to their way of life. Over 80% of the Filipinos are catholic. 

Maybe you should think about Malaria prophylaxes, especially when you want to visit Palawan. Also check your previous vaccinations like typhus or hepatitis A+B. There is also rabies and Japanese encephalitis, so better talk to your doctor in advance. There is Dengue Fever and the Zika-Virus, too, but there are no vaccinations for these diseases. 

Also, tap water is not safe and not drinkable. 

There is Visa-on-Arrival possible for over 150 countries. It’s valid for 30 days and it’s possible to extend it once for another 30 days.

The Philippines are pretty safe in the touristy areas, but there are some regions you should avoid like North Mindanao or South Palawan. There are also pickpockets and bad areas in the bigger cities like Manila or Cebu City. 

In our opinion, the Philippines are one of the more expensive countries in South-East-Asia. In comparison to the US or Europe, it’s still cheap, but not as cheap as Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia. You wanna know what we spent in the Philippines, click here.