Guides

Practical, answer-first guides for each section of the site, written by our editors and linked to official sources. 6 guides, updated November 5, 2026.

🍽️ Food

• Filipino food 101: 15 dishes to try and where they come from
  A first-timer's map of Filipino cooking, from lechon and sisig to kinilaw, batchoy and halo-halo, with the province each dish calls home.

🏝️ Places

• When to visit the Philippines: dry season, amihan, habagat and typhoons
  The Philippine seasons explained for travellers: the dry months, the two monsoons, typhoon season and which coast is calm when.
• Island hopping in the Philippines: how tours, environmental fees and permits work
  How set-itinerary island-hopping tours are sold, what environmental and terminal fees you pay, and how to pick a boat operator.

🏙️ Properties

• Buying a condo in the Philippines: the full cost and paperwork checklist
  Beyond the list price: reservation fees, taxes, title transfer, association dues, foreign-ownership rules and what to check before paying a developer.

🧰 Services

• Hiring a service provider in the Philippines: the registrations and licences to check
  DTI or SEC registration, BIR, mayor's permit, and the sector licences (PCAB, DOLE, PNP-SOSIA, DOT, PRC) a legitimate provider should be able to show.

🏥 Healthcare

• How to check a hospital or clinic in the Philippines is licensed and accredited
  The registers to use: DOH licensing, PhilHealth accreditation, PRC licences for doctors and dentists, and what JCI or ISO accreditation means.