Travel Archives - Phil & Iva

A Long Awaited Reopening: Guidelines in place to ensure tourists can visit the Philippines in the safest way possible

By: philandiva

December 21, 2020

A Long Awaited Reopening: Guidelines in place to ensure tourists can visit the Philippines in the safest way possible

With Covid-19 still changing the way we live, the Philippines has been hard at work to implement a strict protocol of guidelines that ensure tourism can resume under stringent international hygiene and safety standards

Iva Agüero

@philandiva

More than ten months since it began, the Covid-19 pandemic is still prevalent throughout the world and its far-reaching consequences are affecting industries and economies across the board. Strict travel restrictions brought tourism to a halt but as Stephen Hawking once said, the measure of “intelligence is the ability to adapt to change”.

In the spirit of adaptability and preparedness, the Philippines is one of the first countries that is slowly but surely reopening its doors to visitors. In a brave show of solidarity with its people, the Philippines recognises the importance of the tourism industry for their economy and has prioritised setting protocols in place that will accelerate the return of tourism while maintaining the safety and wellbeing of all those involved as the utmost priority.

With a lot of information out there and the horizon changing quickly, things can get confusing so we decided to put together a simplified summary of the guidelines and safety measures in place for travel during Covid-19.

Across the Filipino Archipelago most tourism protocols are based on a strict and methodical accreditation process. Establishments in the hospitality and tourism sector must adhere to international standards of safety and hygiene so that they can be well equipped to welcome travellers while protecting their safety and the safety of their own staff.

In order to make sure that the hospitality and tourism industry abide by the rules and regulations, the Department of Tourism has set in place a series of accreditations required to operate. From tour operators to restaurants and accommodation, only businesses that have secured a DOT accreditation will be allowed to reopen and operate in the “New Normal”.

If you are wondering what these regulations look like, below is a list of the changes enforced by the DOT in compliance with international Covid-19 safety and hygiene standards.

Tour Operators

The Philippines has such a wide variety of activities to offer that opting for a tour operator takes the stress out of holiday planning. If you are looking to travel by bus, van, rest easy as the following measures are in place to guarantee a safe and pleasant journey.

Routine monitoring of staff’s temperature
Personal protective equipment (PPE) available for all on-duty staff with special training provided to educate staff on PPE use
Use of masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment for staff and customers
Vehicles to be routinely cleaned and disinfected
All trips will be documented to ensure effective contact tracing
Reduced seating capacity for all vehicles
Physical barriers erected with screens placed between driver and passengers

Restaurants

Food is an amazing and integral part of discovering Filipino country. Don’t worry, the pandemic will not get in the way of enjoying the countries variety of national delicacies. Extra bonus actually for the social distancing implemented will make for less crowded restaurants and keep you away from noisy diners!

Restaurants will prioritise and encourage cashless and contactless payment options
Reduced seating capacity at each restaurant
Signing of a health declaration form upon entry for effective contact tracing
Routine sanitisation and temperature checks at all entrances
Physical distancing even for those dining in groups and screens in place to separate diners seated face-to-face from each other at tables
Use of masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment for staff and customers

Accommodation

The Philippines already had a reputation for striving to keep their homes and hotels spotless. Now with Covid-19, expect establishments to be pristine while the warm welcome of Filipino hospitality remains unchanged.

No handshakes at entry. Instead, you will be welcomed with a warm Mabuhay greeting and big smiles that will shine through the masks that hide them
Online bookings are preferred as well as pre-payment and contactless payments
Rigid health declaration system, which involves screening
Routine health checks for staff to ensure guests’ safety
Physical distancing and markers to help remind guests of the safety distances that need to be respected
Use of masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment in public areas for both guests and staff
In-room sanitisation kits for guests provided
Medical-grade equipment for sanitisation and temperature screening at all entrances
Assign and create a COVID-19 holding facility within the establishment in the event there is a symptomatic guest
Thorough, routine disinfection of facilities and rooms

If you don’t live in the Philippines but are eager to plan your next trip there post-COVID, visit philippines.travel and DOT’s official Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The photos used in this article were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cruise Control: Slow but Safe Travels When Planning Your Next Road Trip

By: philandiva

November 30, 2020

Cruise Control: Slow but Safe Travels When Planning Your Next Road Trip

With international travel still a ways away, now is a great time for anyone in the Philippines to discover the amazing destinations surrounding them

Iva Agüero

@philandiva

When it comes to choosing holiday destinations, we often look at the far off destinations because the grass always seem to be greener on the other side. Sadly, we often end up overlooking the amazing possibilities just outside our doorstep.

Once we let the idea of travelling far and fast take a backseat, land travel becomes the obvious choice. You will find that there are so many discoveries to be made along the way.

One of the best things about a road-trip is that the trip becomes as important as the destination and you have the freedom to stop, take a detour and let yourself be amazed by new experiences along the way. This is what happened to Phil and I while we were filming for Dreamcatchers, as we drove a car around the incredible island of Luzon, in one of our favourite road-trips to date.

Discovering Filipino history on the streets of Vigan

One of the things that struck us on our Luzon road trip was the great infrastructure and ease of traveling. Well maintained roads and clear signage made it super easy to navigate from one pit-stop to the other.

Vigan was our first stop out of Manila and it immediately transported us to another time. The cobbled streets and charming facades of the buildings reminded us of the rich history of the Philippines while the empanadas delighted us with their fusion of Spanish influence and delicious local ingredients.

Sand Dunes of Laoag

As we drove from Ilocos Sur towards Ilocos Norte we couldn’t help but stop in the surprising sand dunes of Laoag. Here, visitors are invited to grab a board and surf down the sides of the dunes, or get an adrenaline rush speeding through the dunes on an ATV. A few sandy tumbles later and we were back in the car continuing our journey north.

Patapat Viaduct on the Northern coast of Luzon

Rounding the northeastern tip of Luzon we drove through the striking Patapat Viaduct and enjoyed the magnificent view along the north coast before heading into the jungle of Adams, a small mountain town lost in time among the rice fields and the mountains that may sound familiar from a previous article that we wrote (yes, I like that place a lot)!

For those seeking cooler weather, the Mountain Province of the Philippines will show you that you don’t need to travel to Europe to stay in a log cabin and sip hot chocolate! From Sagada all the way down to Baguio you can enjoy a chilly breeze and changing landscapes as you drive through imposing pine forests, ancient terraced rice fields and lush strawberry farms.

As we drove down from the mountains and into the plains, heading back to Manila after a few weeks in the car, we couldn’t help but wonder one more time at the variety of picturesque sceneries we saw along the way as well as short distances and beautiful roads that had more than lived up to expectations in one of our most epic road-trip to date.

Covid-19 Road—trip checklist:

Choose a car rental service that you trust

We had a great experience with Hertz Philippines during our road trip. They go the extra mile to get you to your destination safely and now even offer to deliver the car directly to your home address. Of course they also apply rigorous hygiene and safety standards. Regardless of who you choose as your provider, make sure that they have adequate cleaning and safety regulations in place.

Plan your itinerary in advance

Check the reopening policy of places you plan to visit. For example, Baguio has introduced a travel regulation system called Visitor Information and Travel Assistance (VISITA) that serves as an extra layer of security to ensure their guests a safe and stress-free stay.

Know your pit-stop options

While spontaneity is a wonderful part of traveling, keep your options open by having a list of accommodations and activities that have already been vetted by the local tourism authorities.

Put together your Freedom Playlist

Don’t forget the music! As you venture out for what may be your first post-Covid trip, put together a playlist with the best vibes to celebrate the epic adventure. If you’re traveling in the car, blast your music and sing along at the top of your lungs. If you’re travelling by bus, maybe best to keep the noise down… although who knows – maybe your fellow travellers will be up for an impromptu karaoke session!