Passport, onward ticket, eTravel, dengue, cash, grounded ferries and tours with hidden costs: everything to know before you leave for the Philippines, gathered on one page, with a final checklist to tick off before your flight.

Six Philippines itineraries of two and three weeks: Palawan only, the classic Best of with Palawan, Bohol and Boracay, the secret islands with Siquijor and Camiguin, and the summer loop with Siargao. Stops, days, connections and links to every island guide.

Guide to Siargao: how to get there, where to stay in General Luna, surfing Cloud 9 and the beginner spots, the Tri-Island tour, Sugba Lagoon, Sohoton Cove, the Magpupungko rock pools at low tide and the northern beaches. Prices and how many days to stay.

Guide to Camiguin: how to get there, where to stay in Mambajao, the White Island sandbar, Mantigue, the sunken cemetery, Katibawasan and Tuasan falls, the hot and cold springs and the Hibok-Hibok volcano trek. Prices and how many days to stay.

Guide to Siquijor, the island of healers: how to get there from Dumaguete and Bohol, where to stay in San Juan, Cambugahay and the other waterfalls, Paliton and Salagdoong, snorkelling at Tubod, the Apo Island turtle tour and the island loop by scooter.

Guide to Boracay: why the island was closed in 2018, when to go to avoid the seaweed, the three White Beach stations and where to stay, the other beaches, the paraw sunset sail and the activities. Prices, the rules since reopening and how many days to stay.

Guide to Bohol and Panglao: Chocolate Hills, the right tarsier sanctuary, the Loboc river, the rice terraces, snorkelling with turtles at Balicasag, Alona versus Dumaluan and the best areas to stay. How to get there from Cebu, prices and how many days to stay.

Guide to Cebu: what to see in the city and where to stay, canyoning at Kawasan Falls, the Moalboal Sardine Run, why you should think twice about Oslob, treks and waterfalls, and the islands of Bantayan and Malapascua. How many days to stay and how to get around.

The part of Palawan almost everyone skips: Puerto Princesa and the Underground River, Port Barton with its empty beaches and 1,500 PHP tours, and Balabac, the wild archipelago you camp your way through on a 4-5 day tour. How to get there, where to stay, prices.

A guide to Coron, Palawan: the difference between Busuanga, Coron town and Coron Island, tours A, B and Super Ultimate with prices, Kayangan and Barracuda Lake, the Japanese wrecks, snorkelling with dugongs, where to stay and how many days to give it.

A practical guide to El Nido, Palawan: the four areas to stay in, the beaches actually worth your time, tours A, B, C and D with prices and which two to do if you're short on days, how long to stay and how to get there from Puerto Princesa or Coron.

How much does it cost to travel in the Philippines? Real prices for accommodation, food, transport and tours, the hidden costs agencies don't mention, and three daily budgets, from backpacker to resort, so you can work out what you'll really spend.

The Philippines doesn't have a single climate: in the same month you can find sun in Siargao and rain in El Nido. This guide covers the three seasons, a month-by-month calendar with weather, crowds and festivals, and which islands to choose in each period of the year.

Withdrawing cash in the Philippines can cost a lot in fees if you don't know how. In this guide, I explain the cheapest methods using Revolut, Wise, GCash, and Maya to drastically reduce ATM fees.

Smart or Globe? I used both at the same time across Manila, Cebu, Boracay, El Nido, Bohol and Siquijor: identical in the cities, and neither works miracles on remote islands. Where to buy a SIM without paying tourist bundles, and why the official 99-peso eSIM is the best choice.