Samal Island: A place to reminisce

If you plan to unwind from the struggling life circumstances, you surely can. You can relax from the challenges months after this global status quo of fear and uncertainty. You may even ask when this situation lasts. While waiting, you can set your plans and cherry-pick one of the fine-looking and over-the-top tourist destinations in the Philippines. You can probably name many of the attractive tourist spots on your list. However, you, most probably, think of El Nido, Coron, or Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Or perhaps, you just select Boracay in Aklan as the starting point of your adventure in the country. Whatever your pick is, you, maybe, are closer to your choice.

However, other destinations are just right in the corner. You may change your plans to do so if you just wish to explore other places aside from what you already knew. You just need to see a map and find the right spot there. You know your friends have so much fun and joy during their exciting excursions at Samal Island, and you won’t let yourself alone. So, you take your trip.

Then, you select Samal Island. Your friends tell you that. You check the map, and yes, you decide to try. You need to know that Samal Island is off the shoreline of Davao City in the southern part of the Philippines. And yet, you don’t have a fixed plan. You don’t know what to do. You just try to set your plans and choose the immaculate and untouched island of Samal. From there you may visit the Pearl Farm where you can see thousands of white-lipped oysters, with once cultured for pink, white, and gold pearls. Quite exciting, isn’t it? But, there is more than that!

Local and foreign tourists these days decide to visit this world-class beach resort in the Philippines. Samal Island with its white shingle and panoramic scenery lets tourists muse over everlasting happiness. So, you set your plans and check the guidelines from the Department of Tourism in the Philippines.

Guidelines on the Entry of Tourists to the Philippines

The Department of Tourism upholds travel guidelines and things to do in the new country. If you wish to visit the Philippines, you need to observe the guidelines.

    • Foreign nationals from other countries can enter the Philippines for business and tourism purposes.
    • They can enter the country and stay in the region without visas.
    • However, the tourists’ stay must not exceed 21 days.
    • As long as they have valid returned tickets back to their countries.
    • Foreign tourists must have their passports, which are valid for at least six months throughout their travel.
    • Of course, you need to know that Immigration Officers (IO) at ports of entry have special jurisdictions. They can exercise their decisions to concede passport holders to enter as long as the passports are valid for at least sixty (60) days.

Bureau of Customs

When you arrive in the Philippines, you know some rules. You can take their duty-free belongings, such as two cartons of cigarettes and two tins of pipe tobacco. They can also bring one liter of alcohol if they want to have it. However, for the Balikbayans, the BOC implements distinct guidelines. Tourists need to check these tourists with their Consulate or Embassy in their home city.

Philippine Currency

Foreign tourists must know the currency in the Philippines. They need to know the value of a Peso (₱) and a Centavo. They need to learn and remember that 100 centavos = ₱1.

Foreign tourists must know the coin denominations in the Philippines. The coin denominations of the Philippines are the following:

    • For centavos: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos
    • For Pesos: ₱1, ₱5, and ₱10

Foreign tourists must also consider the bill denominations, such as 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1, 000 pesos. When you arrive at the airport, please go directly to the exchange counters at the airport. You can also go to your hotel to get your money exchanged. Somehow, you can go to the banks, big department stores, and permitted and approved money changing shops. Please remember that exchanging money somewhere, not sanctioned by the government, is unlawful. For that reason, tourist must be cautious about it.

If you wish to go and conduct cashless transactions, you can use credit or debit cards. These payment methods are available in the country. However, only big institutions, hotels and resorts, and restaurants will accept the following cards, such as American Express, MasterCard, and Visas. If you have travelers’ checks like the American Express, you can also use them. However, only those chic and exclusive hotels and large department stores will accept them.

Now, you are green to go to Samal Island. Enjoy the refreshing water and the serene destination that you probably want to reminisce.

Sources:

http://www.tourism.gov.ph/immigration_custom.aspx#

3 Reasons Why Foreign Tourists Should Visit the Philippines

You probably can’t believe why I am writing this one to you. You may think this topic is unfit for the COVID-19 pandemic that pressures us all – economic, political, and social aspects. However, it isn’t good to remain in the upsetting situations. We need to get out of that fiasco that attempts to hook us forever in social distancing, stay-at-home, and one-meter apart policies. We can’t get away with it if we won’t let our minds slip away from that bedlam. After all the problems going around the world, I still think of you guys to cool down a bit and try to visit the Philippines to unwind. You can also do your businesses, or most probably, find time to relax elsewhere. Before you grimace, you need to hear me first. Telling you this may frown your eyebrows, but I tell you, you just need to pause for a little while and think why you should visit the country. If you think this writing is somewhat a marketing strategy, then please consider this. I haven’t earn money for endorsing; I just share my experiences. However, you may ask why tourists should do that. My answer is, why not?

Lovely Beaches and Resorts

I surely tell you this. You need to pack some of your things and head to Southeast Asia to visit the Philippines. After COVID-19, which may be soon, you need to unwind yourself and get out of your house. You’ve been there for a while . You stay at home for months as required. This time you need to do something in return – to get yourself refreshed with diving into lovely beaches and lodging in great resorts.

And when you do, you can check out the country as one of the fascinating countries to travel with friends. You may think that I am a bit narcissistic about why I love my own country and that I keep on bragging it to you and others. But, you are wrong. I am just excited about you guys to visit the country because of the lovely beaches and resorts. The catch is simple. All beaches are clean and undisturbed for months since the virus spreads. So, you can expect clean fresh, or salty waters that splash on your skin. You can even think of Coron Islands, El NidoPalawan, Siargao, White Islands, and many others. However, you can go deep in the south region and visit Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines if you want a tour.

A Dazzling Array of Wonder in Boracay

Glitzy Hotels

If you may think that hotels are classy and expensive, then you are pretty right. You can try finding a new place just distant to the hotels. You just can roam around and shop somewhere along the streets. And yet, if you can afford to pay for the hotel rents, you can positively go back to the parades of rental rooms and choose some exquisite and accommodating hosts and staff members. Some of these hotels hold five-star titles to secure their positions in the market, which you probably experience the best services in the area. And yes, if you are working online or if you have employees you need to call online, you can do it throughout your vacation. In other words, you take your jobs with you.

Best Spots to Get Lost

Most tourists go to the Philippines for various reasons. One of the reasons is the stunning spots in the country. Whether they choose the metropolis over the province, they still get the chance to search for beautiful spots in the region. If the Philippines is not your first time visiting, you can still sightsee the mysteries of the nation. There’s a lot more to rediscover. Once you do that, you can still find the best stunning regions and tourist spots in the country. Besides, the place and the people are so warm that you need to explore some of the uninvited sections of the country.

A Fascinating Turquoise Water in Palawan

Now, these three reasons may be repetitive. But, what else can I do? I may not have a chance to invite you to visit the Philippines. For example, if you are building your startup business and are looking for people to do the task, you need to visit the Philippines. Here, you can hire employees here and choose the ones that qualify for your needs. And time and again, you may probably ask this to me why I write this topic. Why not? You guys are on the right track.