Frequently Asked Questions
A travel agent takes all the very difficult job of planning a trip and handles virtually all aspects of your travel which is absolutely for free upon agency’s discretion. The combined experience of the team and the feedback from our thousands of travelers provides an invaluable resource to the traveler planning an important trip. Ecotravelers Agency have empowered and trained the people to work on travel planning and make everything more effective and efficient.
Yes, we work within any and all realistic budgets, and an honest sharing of ideas and goals helps us immensely when making recommendations and suggested edits to travel plans.
No, there is no fee for our vacation planning services as the travel vendors involved recognize our value and compensate us from the gross amount paid (what you would have paid even without our assistance). For those complicated itineraries that require custom crafting and significant involvement of our international on-location partners, we do request an intent-to-travel deposit to begin the process. This deposit is applied to the reservations that are made on your behalf.
Ecotravelers will set a certain wait time to finalize the itinerary including the tickets, vehicles, service transfers, hotels and everything about your entire travel. We will send the itinerary along with the air tickets and all the necessary transfer needs within a maximum of 10 days from the confirmation of booking. Short trips can receive the itinerary within 24 hours.
We don’t require travel insurance upon booking however, it is recommended to protect your travel investment. Many trips, such as tours and cruises, involve non-refundable funds paid months in advance. Travel insurance protects you from losing this investment. Perhaps even more important is the ‘during travel’ coverage and assistance that comes with the top-flight insurance companies we carry, Trip interruption due to illness or unforeseen circumstances can be very expensive, and medical care abroad is often not covered by domestic insurance plans. Also, an increasing number of countries require proof of medical insurance for travelers entering their country.
Upon deciding to cancel a trip, contact us right away so we can immediately make necessary changes according to the terms and conditions set prior to you confirming the booking. Cancellations and refunds will be based on the terms and conditions. Requests that do not follow the guidelines will be subject for approval which will not guarantee a positive response.
Ecotravelers is extremely cautious when it comes to choosing our business partners and vendors. We are dedicated to delivering top level service every time. We choose to work only with known, reliable providers in order to maintain a high standard of quality service. We also have testimonies in the website and other booking and social media platforms. You can make background checking by trying to reach the people who have left reviews about our service.
We are very proud to tell you that we are consistently meeting the expectations of our customers when it comes to travel. We conceptualized our services into a unique way to handling the entire travel which is making memories through surprising nature, local and cultural understanding, friendly environment and happy people to guide you along the way. We don’t care about our extended services just to achieve your travel goals.
We always consider perfect time for your travel destinations. You can send us a message through email and an expert Travel Consultant will definitely give you information fit your travel time. Normally, the favorite months of our travelers are sometime in the 1st and 2nd quarter of the year. Regardless of your availability, you can always expect the best experience with us.
What makes it easy and best choice to book your travel to Philippines is that, over 90 million people in the Philippines can speak English, which is up to 80% of the population. The Philippines is the 4th largest English-speaking country in the world. It is also second in Asia for English proficiency and is in the 27th spot out of 99 countries worldwide. The national language on the Philippines is Tagalog but since Philippines is naturally an archipelago, we may encounter different dialects anywhere in the country. But rest assured English spoken.
Yes. Filipinos can communicate in English at any level.
The currency used throughout the country is the Philippine peso. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in major hotels and tourist attractions. In some tourist areas, you may be able to use US Dollars or Euros. It is always advisable to use local currency in cash when you are shopping from small/ street vendors.
A visa is not required when travelling from Canada or The United States as a tourist for up to 30 days. A passport is valid for 6 months after travel and an onward ticket is required.
Internet access is good in most major cities but will be spotty in remote and rural areas.
It is possible to purchase a SIM card on arrival. But, we suggest you check with your cellular provider to know what your options are. You might be able to get an affordable roaming plan.
It is strongly advised NOT to drink tap water in the Philippines. It’s best to stick to boiled, treated or bottled water.
Western sit-down toilets can be found in large hotels and some tourist areas but the standard option will be the squat-style toilet.
The Philippines are hot year round due to the tropical climate however, the best time to travel to the country is between October through May which is the dry season. Monsoon season is from June – November.
Domestic flights between major cities and islands can be quite convenient and reasonably priced. Traveling within cities or short distances can be done by taxi or hired driver. Locals will use jeepneys but these can be quite crowded. Rural areas use rickshaws or tricycles. Ferries are available to travel to and from surrounding islands.
There are several attractions throughout the Philippines that will attract the whole family! With plenty of beautiful beaches, the ability to explore different cities, or view the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, there is something for the whole family.
The Philippines has been ranked one of the most gay-friendly nations in Asia and is very welcoming.
The main festivals is the Sinulog Festival held on the 3rd Sunday of January and lasts a week. Panagbenga Festival is the month of February in Baguio. Pahiyas Festival is During the month of May in Lucban and more.
Hotels and bars include a 10% service charge so only tip if you are feeling generous or get exceptional service. A small tip is appreciated by cab drivers, hotel workers and salons. Exceptional services of the tour guides who are generally making the trip special and memorable deserve a complementary tips.
Bohol, Palawan, Cebu and Boracay offer some of the best beaches and island destinations. Palawan is more secluded and Boracay has nightlife. Bohol has combination of beaches and natural attractions. Cebu has beaches and islands which has longer travel durations.
Lightweight and comfortable clothing is recommended with breathable fabrics like linens or cotton. Conservative dress is recommended as well as comfortable walking shoes. Warmer clothing is needed for the mountain regions. Formal clothing is required when visiting religious sites.
