Find a travel partner for the Philippines

What is worth sharing in the Philippines

• Island-hopping boats, which are usually priced per boat, not per seat.
• Rooms and beach huts, where a double is barely more than a single.
• Tricycles, vans and airport transfers between towns.
• Motorbike or scooter days, and the cost of a guide where one is required.
• The waiting: long ferry days and delayed flights are much easier with company.

When people go

The dry season runs roughly from December to May, and that is when most people travel. The wet season runs roughly from June to November, which is also typhoon season — trips are still possible, but ferries get cancelled and plans need slack. March to May is the hottest stretch and the busiest for local holidays. Because boats and flights between islands are the weak link, having someone to rearrange plans with is worth more here than in most places.

The route most people take

• Palawan: El Nido and Coron, the island-hopping heart of the country
• Cebu and Bohol: waterfalls, diving and the easiest connections
• Siargao for surfing, which has become a stop in its own right
• Manila mostly as an arrival and connection point
• Two weeks realistically covers two island groups, not four — the travel days are long

Meeting a travel partner safely

Meet in town before you get on a boat together, and start with a single day trip rather than a week-long island route. Keep your own accommodation booking until you have met in person. Share your plan with someone at home, including the islands and dates. In PlaneMate, every profile carries a visible trust level, face verification is optional, and you can block or report anyone.

Questions before take-off