Free Guide

Arriving in the Philippines for the first time can be a bit of an eye-opener. This free guide walks you through your first 24 hours, from the eTravel arrival card and the airport to your hotel and your first walk outside. It’s written by an Aussie who has lived here since 2003.

Cover of The First 24 Hours in the Philippines, a free guide for first-time visitors by Dezza, who gives a thumbs up on a Philippine beach
Free guide for first-time visitors

What’s inside

  • The eTravel arrival card, step by step, and how to spot the fake sites
  • Visa-free stays and how to extend them
  • Getting through Manila’s airport and which terminal to expect
  • Your options for getting to the hotel, from Grab to coupon taxis
  • Staying safe on your first walk outside
  • Money, ATMs and getting a phone connection
  • A one-page arrival checklist to keep on your phone
Dezza, an Australian who has lived in the Philippines since 2003, smiling on the beach at El Nido with a drink

From Dezza. I am an Aussie who has lived in Manila since 2003. This is everything I wish someone had told me before my first trip.

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An insider’s guide to the Philippines. Tips, tricks and the places worth visiting, from someone who has been living here since 2003.

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