i would really like to go to the philippines, specifically bohol to see the chocolate hills and the tarsier preserve they have there. Obviously i would also like to spend time on the beautiful beaches and just see some fo the country. Is this safe? I have read on the fco website that they advise against travel here due to terrorist threats and kidnapping etc. I really want to go but find this a bit of a worry. Any first hand knowledge would be appreciated. If it makes any difference i am a white male from the uk. Thanks.
2007-01-09 08:25:57 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Philippines
The Philippines would have to be a lot safer than many parts of The US. I have travelled there many times and have never felt threatened.
I do advise against wearing too much jewellery or flasing a thick wallet. Nabbing mobiles (cell phones) is the latest craze so be careful how you look after yours.
Don't be an obnoxious tourist and always remember that it is their country and you are their guest.
One thing going for you seeing that you are from the UK they don't play cricket and therefore won't know about the white wash we netted out to you.
c'mon Aussie c'mon-------sorry mate.
2007-01-11 20:17:56 · answer #1 · answered by PC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its safe? Think again coz you haven't been to the place. Second hand information kills.
They take advantage of you? All tourists are always being taken advatange. Would it be different if you are in Brazil, Mexico or Bali? Locals will always find ways to squeeze a penny out of you. Petty crimes cannot be avoided. Would you wear expensive jewelries if you go to the Bronx? Use your common sense.
Murder is rife? Since when did the Philippines had a school shooting? or even drive by shootings? Armed escort? My question is, did this happen in Bohol? I doubt. Unless you are diplomats or VIP's which is needed.
I have read a lot of questions about this and I usually tell these people to go to travel forums like Lonely Planet ( http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com ) or Trip Advisor ( http://www.tripadvisor.com ). They are the real travellers who have traveled off the beaten tracks and knows the dangers involved. If you have observed, most of the questions being asked here are not travel related which shows what type of answers you will get.
Bohol is the Philippines top tourist destination. Since the 1990's it has attracted tourists all over the world. My hometown which is located in Mindanao has a lot of white people roaming around the streets. Some of which have already married and stayed. Why do they feel safe while others are not? Buy a travel book about the Philippines. I highly recommend Lonely Planet Philippines 9th edition, their latest edition ( http://www.lonelyplanet.com ).
If you check the FCO website it gives travel warnings to Australia and Thailand. Terrorists in Australia? Spain has experienced several bombings with the recent airport bombing in Madrid. The USA, the mecca of all terrorists. Everyone wants to bomb the US. Would FCO also advise people not to go to the US? Finally London has experienced bombings not only from terrorists but also from IRA. Heathrow airport has been disrupted for terror threats. Would FCO make travel advisory against its own government?
If you push through with your travel to Bohol and find it safe (without those kidnappings and other paranoid warnings) Please do me a favor. File a legal complaint against the FCO for almost ruining your vacation in the Philippines.
You can also check this website http://www.mindanao.com which is owned and managed by an American who has traveled the Philippines since 1990 and is now living in Mindanao with his Filipina wife and children.
2007-01-09 17:07:24 · answer #2 · answered by CDOguide 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Bohol and Cebu are good places to visit. Stay away from Manila. Most of the Visaya area respect white people and have some form of lawful behavior. I've spent a lot of time there the past 3 years. I have a friend from UK lives there in Southern Leyte. He's from Manchester. Have several friends there actually. Enjoy tour trip and don't use the money changers on the street. Use a real bank. I never had any problems there with the locals other than they all want to con you out of your money. No violence or anything like that. Avoid going about alone if you can. You should be ok. Good luck, Mate
2007-01-09 14:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes extremely safe, much safer than London.
I now live on the island of Cebu with my Filipina wife, and our daughter. We have been to Bohol and the Chocolate Hills a couple of kilometres from Carmen.
All I would warn you about is the tour, there will always be extras added on, and it will cost you more. Having said that it's worth the money, and the Chocolate Hills complex isn't bad if you stay there.
You can easily catch a ferry or aeroplane from Cebu, and all the ports on Bohol have buses to Carmen. It is well worth the visit, and all the positive posts are from people who know Bohol and the Philippines well. I will be visiting the Chocolate Hills again soon. It's the place twelve years ago that we planned our future, so it's special to us.
Enjoy your trip.
2007-01-11 00:35:19 · answer #4 · answered by Tropic-of-Cancer 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We went to Bohol in 2001 (height of Abu Sayaf) and were perfectly fine. Mind you, this was at a time when the resorts were EMPTY. Never had a single issue or felt unsafe.
While there are kidnappings, most I hear about are kidnappings for ransom and VERY RARELY happen to foreigners. Usually rich Filipinos/Chinese-Filipinos. Kidnappings from terrorist groups haven't happened for a while.
US also has travel warnings against travel here. We live in Manila now and just spent the past week in Baguio/Vigan/etc. While this is in the north and not south like Bohol, there were tons of foreigners, including white foreigners (talked to a Canadian and a couple of Australians).
2007-01-09 09:57:52 · answer #5 · answered by fakebobjones 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well whether you are a white male from the UK or a blue hermephodite from Mars the Philippines is as about as safe as anywhere else on the world. After all the USA has high crime levels, the UK has botherboys also known as lagerlouts, Canada has murders, kidnappings and blah blah like other countries. If I were you I'd just go and have done with and quit worrying. All you do is not act like some tourist prig showing off all your cameras, money, expensive clothes and any big fat mouth you may have and you'll be fine. Enjoy!
2007-01-09 08:37:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been there a half a dozen times since the 9/11 attacks, and have had absolutely no problems. I am from the U.S., and as long as you stay to the beaten path and stay away from some of the southern muslim populated islands, you should have no problem at all. Bohol is a popular tourist destination. You won't have any problem. I would stay away from the islands of Sulu, Jolo. Palawan I would be careful. and be very careful on some of the places on Mindanao. Zamboanga for sure. Davao, General Santos, keep your eyes open and stay in groups. If you are not going to be visiting Mindanao and the islands around Mindanao, you won't have a problem at all. You will see lots of tourists from all over, and there will not be any Muslim or Abu Sayyef activity at all.
I got married in Bindoy, Negros Oriental, on the island of Negros not too far from Bohol, and had the time of my life there. I didn't worry in the least bit.
2007-01-10 06:02:04 · answer #7 · answered by Travis R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I been to the Philippines (Manila, Borcay, Quezon City, La Reunion, and other parts) when i was 8 with my family. It's pretty safe at all just make sure that you have car that is not expensive. Get a ordinary car like a Toyota or Honda (rental car). If you have an expensive one it is going to get carjacked (Mercedes Benz, Ford, Chevy, BMW, ect) Now i am 13 and i want to go back. I also have family there since i am Filipino/American (Both my dad and mom side)Traffic is bad there since of overpopulation. Go to Borcay or Cebu if you want safe part of the Philippines. Don't go to Mindanao since they are kidnappings there. Don't take the cabs since you can get a risk of being kidnapped. P.S. Borcay has nice resorts. Pinoy Resort is the best. Don't drink tap water. If you go to Borcay, go scuba diving and banana boating. Ive been there. Don't use your Credit Card (if you are american) since they take your credit card number to go on vacation. My family there is rich and it is safe for them.
2016-05-22 23:43:51 · answer #8 · answered by Vernieke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Filipino American & had stayed here most of my life. It is nicer to travel here in the Philippines. Just dont show off your jewelries, dollars and dont brag off.
There are many beautiful places here to explore. I had been to Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Palawan, Boracay, Ilocos. I want to go to Bohol, Sagada and other beautiful places here.
I had been to California x 6 months. When you travel there, it is mostly highways. Unlike here in the Philippines, you wont get bored. There are jeepneys, buses everywhere. Food is cheaper. However, there are areas in which they take advantage of the tourists.
If you want to go to the beaches, Boracay and Palawan are also nice places. My friend had been to Panglao, Bohol & it is really nice.
There are beggars not only here in the Philippines but all over the world. San Francisco, Paris, Seattle and other places have them too. Just ignore this people. If you give alms to one, everybody will follow.
Dont show off your electronics. Be careful with your cellphones!
2007-01-09 15:19:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a US travel advisory against going into the far southern regions of the Philippines, but so long as you maintain alertness at all times, you wouldn't run into any problems. Maintain a low profile and follow the "when in Rome" mentality. While I cannot contradict what the US Department of State says in what they publish, I must say that I have travelled extensively throughout the Philippines, and I don't feel in any imminent danger while I'm there.
2007-01-09 19:18:38 · answer #10 · answered by Robbyo 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋