Book cheap flights to Cebu

The best time to visit Cebu, in terms of weather, is during its winter season (November – February). While the summer months of March to May are extremely hot and humid, the winter season brings sunny days, cool nights and a lower level of humidity. This is also an ideal time to visit because the colourful Sinulog Festival takes place in January, where you can experience the true culture of Cebu. Unfortunately, this is also peak tourist season in the Philippines, with more tourists coming and hotel rates rising. If you want lower accommodation rates, consider a visit during the summer months, but make sure then to bring a hat, light clothing and plenty of sunscreen.

You will not need a Visa to enter the Philippines for the first 21 days of your stay. Make sure that your passport will still be valid for six months after your return date and that you have at least two blank pages available for stamps.

South African Embassy in the Philippines

Address: 29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, 1227 Phone: 63 889 9383 Fax: 63 2 889 9337

Visit your doctor to find out what routine vaccinations you need to get before entering the Philippines. In addition, you should guard against potential diseases such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies. Malaria and Zika also pose a threat in the Philippines, so make sure to take steps to prevent mosquito bites, such as mosquito repellents, and light, long-sleeve sweaters and pants in the evenings.

Beware of the market areas in the centre of Cebu City, since pickpocketing and robbery are a common problem there. In port areas, be cautious; cab drivers may harass you for a fare and pickpockets will take advantage when you are distracted.

A great number of hotels are available close to the coast of Cebu Island, while some are close to the airport on Mactan Island. Many offer affordable accommodation rates, ranging from ₱ 771 to ₱ 7714. A large selection of them include spas, fitness centres, pools, restaurants, free breakfast and even nightclubs. The most credible establishments include Cuarto Hotel Cebu, Residenz Guesthouse, Haruhay Dream Resort, Queensland and The Henry Hotel.

Most tourists use taxis to get around the province. Plenty of the drivers know where everything is, but if you flag down one that doesn’t, simply flag down another one. The taxis charge around ₱ 33 for getting in, and under ₱ 3 for every half kilometre. The taxis use metres; however, some drivers will not use the metre or demand more payment than the metre states.

Alternatively, there are the colourful and noisy jeepneys, which have specific routes, and which go around the downtown area before heading back to the start or end of their route.

Buses also operate around Cebu Island; most have air conditioning. A 2-hour trip from Cebu City to Dalaguete in the south in one of these will cost around ₱ 100.

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