How safe are the Philippines for U.S.citizens to visit?

Answer 1

Safe as any other place provided you're smart and use common sense. Southern and Central Mindinao are said to be hot spots of muslim terrorists but I have a friend who just came back from visiting his wife there in Zamboanga.

I was very conservative but I made 3 trips to Northern Mindinao without incident. My fiancee was my very cautious caretaker, so we didn't venture far outside the city. It also helps that I stand 6 feet tall - almost a foot taller than a filipino.

Yes, read all the travel advisories, and be cautiously attentive wherever you go. AND ALWAYS ALWAYS take an airport taxi no matter what. You pay in advance the set price to your destination, and they record the taxi number before you get in. Good Luck

Answer 2

I have lived in Iloilo City Philippines (Island of Panay) since 2002 with my wife. I have traveled all over the main island of Luzon and other nearby islands here in the visayas (Guimeras, ******). I feel perfectly safe here and never had a problem. I am 6"2 and weigh 260 lbs , so I stick out like a sore thumb. I avoid the western side of mindano (split the island in half from Davo) and the sulu archepelico. That's also the area that the U.S. Embassy warns about. Anyplace else I don't see a problem. It's been my experiance that generally Filippino's are very nice and friendly people.

Answer 3

Depends. I lived in the Phils. before the insurgency flared up down south. It was as you would expect for the most part. For the past ten years I have stayed away because it is obvious that foreigners were being targeted by the insurgents to get leverage in one form or another. Now it seems things are getting back to normal and there is hope of some sort of resolve with the Muslim community. I'll wait a couple more years before returning to my favorite island of Siquijor!

Answer 4

It depends if what part of the Philippines would you visit...

I think the safest place would be in the visayas region, like Cebu City, Dumaguete City, Bacolod, in Luzon Baquio, Olongapo, or the province. Metro Manila is too crowded and not as safe, or as clean, would not recommend the Mindanao area either as it is also in the advisory from the US Embassy.

Answer 5

The Philippines is a safe place to travel as long as you exercise discretion and common sense. You'll find the same con artists and hustlers that you'll find anywhere else, but most Filipinos are friendly and helpful.

Be a wise traveller (you must know the safe travel guidelines & it depends on those places where you are going). Then be prepare to be interrogated by everyone you meet. Some of my fellow Filipinos will want to know where you are from, why you are in the Philippines, how old you are, whether you are married, if not why not and so on and so forth. We pride ourselves on our hospitality and are always ready to share a meal or a few drinks. Don't offend us by refusing outright.

A sense of 'delicadeza' is also important to us Filipinos. This is what you might refer to as propriety, a simple sense of good behaviour, particularly in the presence of elders or women. Some of my fellow Filipinos who don't speak good in English will often answer any question you ask them with a smile and a nod. Be careful: a smile and a nod doesn't always mean "yes". It can also mean "no", "maybe" or "I have no idea what you are talking about". Don't be offended if everyone in the provinces thinks you are a 'kano'. or somebody will cheerfuly greet you like 'Hi,Joe!'. American people left its mark on the national psyche, Protestations that you are from Britain, France or Australia will often be greeted with the response, "Is that in America?"

It's not advisable to lose your temper in the Philippines. We Filipinos hate to be embarrassed in front of others and our culture of revenge is strong, so you might end up being the one that is sorry. <*-*>

Answer 6

Safer than in most countries and definately safer than some cities in America.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of foreigners living large in the Philippines.....most of them Americans

The only Americans that have a problem here.....are those that forget they are"guests" and cause trouble for themselves.

Answer 7

Cebu is mostly safe in day time . Would not travel alone , even there . Bohol is maybe the safest place I have been . Dont carry all your money or credit cards with you at one time , and always carry wallet in front pocket .

Answer 8

if you are a U.S. citizen of the same ethnic background with Filipinos, it would be safer since you would just blend in with the crowd. but, it is also safe for U.S citizen of European background.

even here in Cagayan de oro in Mindanao, there are tons of Americans roaming the streets and malls together with the Koreans and Australians. no foreigner has been harmed here.

smaller cities are safer than bigger cities. just don't go to somewhat Islamic places like marawi or cotabato.

Answer 9

yeah...it's not like if I go to the states I'll go where there are drive-bys and klan meetings. A country is a big place, to say that it's dangerous is so easy since it takes more effort to actually know what it's like for us to live here. Are we dying here or something????

Answer 10

VERY SAFE! just exercise the usual precautions same thing you do when you visit other countries.