10 things I wish I’d known before going to the Philippines

It's Tuesday, which means two things.

We're halfway through the week (thank you, bank holiday weekend) and it's time for your weekly dose of wanderlust. This week it's all about the Philippines. From insane beaches to awe-inspiring temples, the Philippines is the perfect holiday destination if you're looking for sun, culture and amazing Instagram photo-ops. Here's a list of all the things I wish I'd known before jetting off. PS. You're definitely going to want to book flights after reading this. You need to bring proof of exit First things first. When you arrive in the Philippines you will need to be able to prove that you are planning on leaving again (and when). Your return plane ticket or booking confirmation should be adequate. Cash is king You can forget about paying with your credit card during your trip because most hotels, restaurant and shops will only take cash. To make things even more complicated the ATMs in the Philippines are frequently broken, out of money or will not accept foreign cards. The answer? If you do find an ATM that works, take out enough cash to cover you for a couple of days, just in case. Go snorkeling Snorkeling in the Philippines is out of this world and you should definitely try to do it at least once during your trip. Don't forget to wear reef shoes if you decide to go swimming in shallow water as there are lots of sharp rocks and coral.

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Take a tuk-tuk The traffic in the Philippines can only be described as organised chaos. The cheapest and quickest way to get around is definitely by tricycle. Renting a moped might be tempting but it's just not worth the hassle. English is widely spoken Most people have an exceptionally high level of English, which makes ordering food, booking hostels and making plans so much easier.

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The people are seriously friendly Filipinos are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are fantastic hosts, great performers and will always go above and beyond to help. Grab breakfast on the go Smoothies seem to be the breakfast of choice in the Philippines and thankfully you can get them everywhere. There are loads of street vendors selling fruit, smoothies and crepes in most towns. The mangos are the best.

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Bring your own loo roll Trust me on this one. Lots of public toilets don't have any and the last thing you want is to be caught out. You're not supposed to flush your loo roll down the toilet either but that's a whole different story... Go to El Nido Lots of people don't like El Nido because it's a bit of a tourist trap. Granted, there are a lot of backpackers but the little city has a lot to offer. It's a great base to go on boat tours around Palawan. Most boat companies offer the four standard tours, A, B, C, and D, although you can mix and match if you rent a private boat. Make sure you visit The Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon and Hidden Beach.

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Don't forget the waterfalls There's so much to do in the Philippines that you might struggle to fit it all in, but if you have time then you really should visit Kawasan Falls in Cebu. The falls can get a little bit crowded during the day. To get the best photos try to arrive just after dawn when you'll have the place to yourself for a few hours.

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