How to get to the Philippines

This article has been translated from Russian language using an artificial intelligence-based translation algorithm. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the quality of the translation. You can read the original of this article in Russian here, and ask questions on the topic of our travel forum in English here.

Overview of ways to get to the Philippines

The Philippines is an island country, which can be reached from Russia and other countries only by plane. Previously (until 2019), there was a single regular ferry service between Malaysia (Sandakan port) and Zamboanga port on the island of Mindanao, but it is currently suspended and there is no information about the resumption.

There are several international airports in the Philippines that can be accessed from other countries, but for tourists from Russia and other CIS countries, the most convenient entry points are:

These are the three largest and most modern airports, and they have the largest number of international and domestic flights. They are convenient in location, since they are geographically located in the tourist centers of the country, from where you can further reach popular resorts and islands using domestic flights or ferries.

Landing on Panglao Island, Philippines Landing on Panglao Island

And here are other international airports in the Philippines, where international flights are also operated. They make sense to pick up tickets directly if you are already in one of the neighboring countries of Asia.

Cebu International Airport Terminal Mactan-Cebu International Terminal

How long to fly to the Philippines

A flight to the Philippines to Cebu or Manila from Moscow will take from 17 hours, depending on the duration of the transfer at the connecting airport. From Vladivostok to fly from 10 hours, and from Novosibirsk more than 12.

Of course, the cheaper the ticket, the more inconvenient the docking. For example, at the end of 2019, Vientam Airlines twice sold Moscow-Manila tickets with a transfer to Hanoi for only 22 T.P., although the round-trip connection to Hanoi was one day, i.e. in any case, you would have to leave the international zone for an overnight stay in a hotel, for which you would have to get a Vietnamese visa on arrival (for Russians it is free).

Long transfer Long transfer

How to get there, and ticket prices

Direct regular flights from Russia and other CIS countries to the Philippines are not carried out, but you can get relatively inexpensive ready-made flights with connections in Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Hanoi, Istanbul and other cities and countries. If you do not plan to stay in the country of transfer, it is more profitable to buy a ready-made ticket from airlines, rather than independently select separate flights. But if your destination is not Cebu, Manila or Clark, sometimes it is more profitable to buy a separate ready-made ticket with a transfer to Manila or Cebu, and from there fly to your vacation destination with domestic airlines Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines or Philippines AirAsia, since domestic flights to the Philippines are inexpensive.

Local Airlines plane, Philippines Local airlines aircraft

Ticket prices to the Philippines are subject to seasonal fluctuations, and also depend on airline sales. The high tourist season is the months from January to May, and at this time it is difficult to wait for sales, and the minimum price of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 500 US dollars and above (500 USD). But for flights in the low season from June to December on sales, tickets can be bought from $ 400 (400 USD).

Current minimum prices for flights from Russian cities to the Philippines:

Minimum prices for flights from Moscow to Cebu:

How to get to the Philippines cheaper

If you set a goal, then it's really 20-30 percent cheaper to fly to the Philippines than the average price. But for this you need to follow a few rules::

  • Wait for airline stocks

    Promotions-airline sales and erroneous air ticket prices-are a reality. But to "catch" tickets on sale, you will have to wait a while and work a little, using these methods:

    • Get updates on the lowest prices for flights and tours in our groups in social networks and instant messengers. We're keeping an eye on ticket prices for the Philippines, and will be sure to release the news as soon as cheap options become available. And to do this, connect to our groups in social networks and messengers:
    • Connect yourself and set up low price bots by directions: Telegram bot, Viber bot, Facebook bot.
    • Periodically visit this page and see table with current minimum prices from Russian cities to the Philippines, we are constantly updating it.
    • Follow the prices yourself by subscribing to newsletters from different airlines.

  • Plan a trip in the low season from June to December

    Usually it is for flights at this time that there are the most chances of launching sales, but you need to start monitoring prices earlier.

  • Don't get tied to specific dates

    Usually inexpensive tickets for airline sales are only for individual departure and arrival dates, and not for all days. Therefore, you will have to adjust your trip to the dates that the airline offers.

  • Be prepared for long connections at the transfer airport

    If you want to fly cheaper-be prepared to wait at the airport for 8 hours or more.

  • Buy ready-made flights with transfers from airlines, and not separate ones yourself

    It will not be possible to buy tickets separately, for example, to Bangkok, and separately to Manila, so that it is cheaper than a ready flight from an airline with a transfer. Therefore, if you do not have plans to visit another country on the way to the Philippines, do not even waste time on such searches, but immediately look for ready-made options offered by the airline.

  • Choose flights from Moscow, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk (which one is closer to you)

    It is more profitable to get to one of these cities by a separate flight or train than to buy a ready-made flight from your region. Including from St. Petersburg it is cheaper to fly through Moscow.

Flight to the Philippines Flight to the Philippines

Philippines tour

If you do not want to get involved with self-organizing a trip to the Philippines, you can purchase ready-made tours. They are offered with departure from different regions of Russia, and the price includes an individual and group transfer directly to the hotel with all transfers so that you do not have to puzzle over this. Now it is most profitable to purchase tours directly from tour operators, and not from intermediary travel agencies. Compare prices and pick up tours from many tour operators you can on one of the trusted sites:

Отзывы и комментарии

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Мы будем очень благодарны, если вы оцените это место или оставите свой отзыв

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Admin   ★★★★★
Куда поехать на Филиппины в первый раз?
Нужны ли права категории «А» для аренды мотобайка?
Можно ли поменять рубли?
У меня просрочен сертификат о прививке, будут ли проблемы?
Заходите по ссылке, здесь местные и бывалые путешественники все расскажут - https://t.me/philippines_travel_chat
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💥 Спасибо, полезная ссылка 😊!
  ★★★★★
Раздельные билеты дешевле, ну если это билеты в одну сторону, а не туда и обратно. Брать билеты туда- обратно дешевле но некомфортно. Да и о чем речь? Выгадаете максимум 10 тыщ, но будете привязаны к датам, сдать/обменять нельзя. Захотите остаться подольше, а у вас фиксированная дата. Пересадки длинные. Да и если половить билеты то можно найти, например от Москвы до Гуанчжоу за 16500(14 часов лету) и из Гуанчжоу в Манилу (2 часа) за 8000. И пересадка короткая.Есть нюанс - на Филиппины могут не пустить без обратного билета или билета в любую другую страну. Можно взять билет Манила - Гонконг тыщи за 4. И нет проблем. Можете его потом выкинуть или сгонять в Гонконг 14 дней там можно пробыть без визы(другие правила чем в Китае) Правда обратно Гонконг - Манила билеты дороже. Можно подловить билеты Москва Гонконг тыщи за 22 и из Гонконга в Манилу за 6500. Но между ними будет дня три. Ну потусите в Гонконге эти три дня. Плохо что ли? За такие деньги еще и в Гонконге по дороге побывать! Отели на любой вкус. Отличный отель обойдется за две ночи в 15 тыщ. Хороший тыщ 8. Но можно и в хостелах перебомжевать. Вообще за копейки. Всем удачного полета!
Admin   ★★★★★
Еще здесь посмотрите, там местные и бывалые путешественники отвечают на вопросы