Safety & PracticalitiesBy Clever Tourists · Published
The Philippines' tourist scams are mostly at the first and last steps of the trip: taxis at Manila's NAIA airport that quote flat fares or run up the meter, tricycle and van drivers who quote tourist prices, ATM skimming, and tours whose real price is higher than the quote. The country is safe for most visitors on the usual route if you stay out of the far south, as our Philippines safety guide explains. We spent four weeks on the route in November and December 2022: 2 days in Manila from 8 November, then Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido (6 days), Coron (4), Oslob, Moalboal and Cebu City. This page covers scams and who to call. It draws on the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advice, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and news reports, and does not describe any incident involving us.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.This is the best-documented scam. Our safety guide cites a 2026 case in which the transport regulator, the LTFRB, summoned an operator after a Thai tourist reported a fare of about 5,500 pesos, and a June 2026 Manila police report of tourists who took an unmetered taxi and had a phone stolen. The tricks are touts in the arrivals hall offering a flat fare, a driver who says the meter is broken and a long route.
The FCDO adds a more serious point: it says to use only taxis from a reputable company, including to and from the airport, because some taxi drivers and their accomplices have robbed and harmed passengers, and suggests arranging an airport pickup or hotel transfer. Use the official metered or coupon taxi lines, or a Grab ride where the fare is shown before you start. Our Manila airport guide lists the options, and our Philippines tips page gives the same advice.
Outside Manila, the usual transport is the tricycle, a motorbike with a sidecar. In beach towns such as El Nido, Coron and Moalboal, drivers may quote tourist prices, and the fix is to agree the fare for the whole tricycle before you get in, and to ask your guesthouse what the usual price is for that run. Keep small notes: a driver who says he has no change on a 500-peso note is common.
Between towns, shared vans and buses may charge extra for luggage or a seat. Confirm the price and the drop-off point before you set out. Our 4-week Philippines route shows the legs, and the cost guide gives a sense of normal prices, so a quote that is wildly higher stands out.
Island-hopping tours from El Nido and Coron are sold by many shops, and the scams are mild: unclear extras for lunch, environmental or entrance fees collected on the day, and fuel charges added to a private boat. Ask what is included in writing, which islands are on the route and what fees are collected separately. Book through your guesthouse or a licensed office with a shop front, and compare two quotes.
Weather is the other point. A boatman who wants to go in rough seas is not doing you a favor, as our safety guide notes; the coast guard cancels departures when the sea is rough. If a tour is cancelled for weather, ask for a refund or a new date rather than accepting a replacement route. For tipping boat crews and guides see the tipping guide.
Skimming at stand-alone ATMs is the standard card risk, so use machines inside banks, malls and hotels, cover the keypad and check for loose parts. In islands such as Palawan, ATMs can be out of cash or absent; withdraw before you travel from a town to a remote beach. Do not hand your card to a staff member to take away.
Carry small notes for tricycles and market stalls, and know that a 'service charge' is often added to restaurant bills. Counterfeit notes exist in many countries, so check the note when you receive large bills as change. For online safety, our guide to staying safe online while traveling helps with card and Wi-Fi security.
The FCDO says there are high levels of street crime and robbery in the Philippines, sometimes involving weapons, and that armed hold-ups on jeepneys and buses can happen, particularly in Manila and other large cities. It advises being alert on public transport and avoiding displaying cash or jewellery. For a visitor that means using Grab at night, keeping the phone out of sight in crowds and avoiding unlit streets.
The FCDO also mentions an extortion pattern: people who have befriended single male tourists and then threatened to report rape or abuse. It reports rape and sexual assault in some locations popular with backpackers, and warns that counterfeit alcohol can contain methanol, which cannot be identified by taste or smell. Buy your own drinks, keep them in sight, and be cautious about a new friend who steers you to a particular bar or room.
The emergency number is 911 for police, ambulance and fire, as the FCDO states. The Department of Tourism launched a 24/7 tourist assistance call center in October 2023, reported by GMA News with the hotline 151-TOUR (151-8687); we found a second DOT number (1-386) on another agency's page, so check the DOT site for the current line. Ask your guesthouse to help with a police report, which you need for insurance.
If you are the victim of a tourist-priced taxi or tour, a photo of the plate, meter and receipt helps with a complaint to the transport regulator or the DOT. See our travel insurance guide and register under the eTravel guide before you fly.
Taxi overcharging at Manila's NAIA airport: touts with flat fares and drivers who avoid the meter. Use official metered lines or Grab, where the fare shows before you ride.
Not a scam, but drivers often quote tourist prices. Agree the fare for the whole tricycle before you get in and ask your guesthouse for the usual price.
The FCDO says to use only taxis from a reputable company, and notes some drivers and accomplices have robbed passengers. Consider a pre-arranged transfer or Grab.
911 for police, ambulance and fire. The Department of Tourism runs a tourist assistance hotline reported as 151-TOUR.
Yes, but use machines inside banks, malls or hotels to avoid skimming, and withdraw cash before heading to remote islands.
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