The Best Packing List for the Philippines

After dreaming about the white sand beaches and crystal clear waters I’ve seen splashed across social media, I was thrilled to finally get the chance to visit the Philippines for my first time in 2024.  And while it was all I dreamt of and more, I definitely wish I had packed a bit differently than I did.  Luckily, I was able to spend six weeks exploring remote islands throughout the Philippines, and during that time I was able to craft the perfect packing list for the Philippines.  Here’s what I would recommend packing if you’re a female travel to the Philippines!

 

Are you planning a trip to the Philippines?  Don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to the Philippines
• 2 Day Bantayan Island Itinerary
• Cebu to Malapascua Island – The Ultimate Guide
• The Ultimate El Nido Travel Guide
• The Best Things to Do in Panglao, Philippines

 

The Best Luggage to Bring to the Philippines

First things first when it comes to packing – you need luggage to put your things in.  My biggest tip for traveling – especially through the Philippines – is to not overpack.  Overpacking just leads to hassle and headaches and it’s not worth it.  Especially if you’re going to be carrying your own things around, the streets can be bumpy and some hotels in the Philippines don’t have elevators.  Not to mention, there will be times you arrive on an island and will have to pull your bag through the sand just to make it to the street.  But, with that being said – here are my favorite pieces of luggage to bring with you to the Philippines!

• Travel Backpack
• Carry-on bag
• Checked bag (only if necessary)
• Packing cubes (helps with organization)
• Toiletry bag
• AirTags (this isn’t luggage, but I bought a pack after my bags got lost for 10 days in Saudi Arabia and now I’ll never travel without them!)

 

 

Packing Essentials

Next up:  Your essentials!  These are things that you cannot travel to the Philippines without!  (In my opinion).  Also, as of 2024 you don’t need any special documents when traveling to the Philippines.

• Passport
• Prescription medication
• Travel insurance – I would not travel to Indonesia without travel insurance; I personally use and recommend Safety Wing
• Bug repellent
• Sunscreen – Face & body

 

Pro tip:  If you’re not planning to check a bag, make sure that your bug repellent and sunscreen is < 3.4 oz!

 

Clothing/Shoes to Pack for the Philippines

When packing clothing and figuring out what to wear in the Philippines, the first step is knowing how long you’re going to be gone for so that you don’t over or under pack.  The second thing you should know about the Philippines is that it is generally very hot and very humid.  For this reason, I recommend wearing light, breathable clothing.  Also, if you’re planning on doing an island hopping trip through the Philippines, you might want to focus more heavily on packing swimming suits/cover ups and less heavily on other types of clothing.

This section includes clothing that I’d recommend for any female traveling to the Philippines.  Further down in the post, I’ve added another section on what to pack if you’re traveling to Indonesia during rainy season.  (By the way, if you’re going on an extended trip – I recommend packing at least 12-pairs of underwear so that you’re not constantly doing laundry).

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Beach shoes
• Sandals
• Water shoes
• Light dresses
• Bright colored/printed dresses
• Swimming suites
• Cover-ups
• Pajamas
• Socks/underwear/bras

 

 

Accessories to Pack for the Philippines

When traveling to the Philippines, accessories aren’t only to add to your outfits, but I think of accessories as more functional.  When I travel – whether short or long-term – I love to bring accessories to make my outfits look “different”.  I don’t tend to pack many clothes, but instead like to pack scarves, head pieces, sunglasses, things that don’t take up much room but can make a plain outfit shine!

• Purse (I recommend a purse that has a zipper and is more difficult for someone who might try to pickpocket you to access)
• Sunglasses
• Fanny pack (for crowded places/to put under your clothes)
• Headscarf (to jazz up your outfits)
• Visor (to protect your face from the sun)

 

 

Toiletries to Pack for the Philippines

When packing your toiletries, keep in mind whether you’re planning to check a bag or carry-on.  Depending on which you’re doing, you might need to keep your liquids less than 3.4 fl oz.  (By the way, I like these containers if you’re carry-on only!).

• Tampons/menstrual cup
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Skincare products
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Razor

 

 

Electronics to Pack for the Philippines

Electronics are certainly not a necessity to travel to the Philippines, but in this section I’ll share with you the electronics I took with me when I visited the Philippines.  Of course, if you love capturing pictures and videos, you’ll more than likely be wanting to take a camera and maybe your computer to edit your photos; but if that isn’t your thing – you can skip over this section!

• Drone
• Camera (I use this Canon camera)
• GoPro (for smooth videos and underwater captures)
• AirPods (for the airplane)
• Laptop
• iPad/Kindle (for books)
• Selfie light (to take photos/videos in dark places)
• Portable charger

 

 

Pro tip:  If you’re traveling with a lot of electronics/chargers, I use this to keep everything organized!

 

Health Items to Pack for the Philippines

As a nurse, of course I can’t not include health items that I would recommend packing if you visit the Philippines.  Below you’ll find a few health related items that I took with me and they all came in handy!

• Pill box (this is better for a shorter trip so you can count out your prescription/non-prescription pills and you don’t have to take a bulky bottle with you)
• First aid kit (there are scissors in this first aid kit so if you’re doing carry-on only, make sure to remove them before packing!)
• Bandaids (included in first aid kit linked above)
• Unisom (I always travel with Unisom to help me catch some Zzz’s on the airplane and to help with jet lag – I also use this mask to get some sleep on the plane)
• Liquid IV (I bring this just in case I get sick and dehydrated; but it does not replace a doctor!)
• Advil (included in first aid kit linked above)

 

 

Pro tip:  Make an appointment with an infectious disease doctor before your visit to make sure that you’re all caught up on vaccines and to see if there are any prescriptions your doctor would recommend.  You can check vaccine recommendations for the Philippines here!

What to Pack if it’s Rainy Season in the Philippines

If you’re visiting the Philippines during rainy season, here are some items I’d recommend bringing with you.  The general rule of thumb is that rainy season in the Philippines lasts from June-November.

• Light rain jacket
• Rain boots
• Portable umbrella
• Rain poncho

 

 

Packing Tips & Tricks

1.  If you’re going to be gone a long time and staying in rental properties, make sure to pack miniature Tide PODS to wash your clothes (I purchase the whole box and then pack a few with me – in a bag – on each trip)

2.  Travel with reusable plastic bags – it never fails that I always need a bag for something

3.  For more space, roll your clothes instead of folding them

4.  Weigh your bag before getting to the airport; and know your baggage limits for each airline you fly.  In Asia, airlines can be strict about weight for carry-on bags and I’ve had to check several carry-on bags for not meeting the weight requirement.  (You can purchase this luggage scale to easily weigh your bags!).

 

Philippines Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Traveling to the Philippines

 

I hope that you found this packing list for the Philippines helpful!  If you have any questions about packing or visiting the Philippines in general, let me know in the comments below!

 

Check out more Southeast Asian packing guides here:

• The Best Packing List for Southeast Asia
• The Ultimate Packing List for Vietnam
• The Ultimate Cambodia Packing List
• The Best Packing List for Laos
• The Best Packing List for Thailand
• The Best Packing List for Malaysia
• The Best Packing List for Indonesia

 

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For more information on things to see and do in the Philippines, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinphilippines” or under my highlights for “Philippines”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Philippines” highlight

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