Flight chronicles of the backpacker Tutubi, with travelogues, pictures/photos/videos, travel guides, independent and honest reviews, affordable, recommended resorts and hotels (including inns, guesthouses, pension houses, lodges, hostels, condotels, bed and breakfast and other cheap accommodations), commuting guides, routes (sometimes street maps and GPS coordinates/waypoints) and driving directions to answer "how to get there" questions, information and tips on tourism, budget travel and living in Philippines, Exotic Asia and beyond!
Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.
More than the usual tourist spots and "places to see," this blog advocates heritage conservation, environmental protection, and history awareness for Filipinos, foreigners, and ex-pats wishing to explore Paradise Philippines and Exotic Asia!
Is It Safe to Travel to the Philippines After Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan?
Right after super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) slammed into the Visayas islands and caused unimaginable damage, Tutubi started getting several queries from Facebook, usually foreigners, asking whether it's still safe to visit the Philippines
Response: the Philippines is still a safe place to visit with 7100+ islands, about a small number of is are actually affected, some considered no-go zones due to inaccessibility where basic infrastructure were severly damaged
Herewith is a summary of places where you can't go right now, but encourage to visit soon to be of help to the local community. Some of these places mainly depend on tourism, veering away from them deprives the community of the help they need:
Samar
Basey
Guian (Homonhon Island, Calicoan Island, Manirica Island)
Mercedes
Salcedo
Quinapundan
Giporlos
Balangiga
Marabut
Leyte Province
Tacloban City
Palo
Tanauan
Tolosa
Dulag
Ormoc City
Cebu:
Bantayan Island: damaged but resorts are still standing
Camotes Island
Sogod, Daanbantayan
Sta. Fe
Medellin
*Cebu City is ok, only the northern part of the island is badly damaged
Aklan
Antique: northern part is badly damaged
Capiz
Iloilo: four towns under state of calamity
Boracay sustained damage but tourism is still fine there. You may be able to get huge discounts too due to lots of booking cancellations. If you book now, you're also helping restore normalcy to the battered places
Palawan
Agutaya
Araceli
Busuanga
Cagayancillo
Coron: this is now reachable with resorts open for business via Busuanga Airport
Culion
Cuyo
Dumaran
El Nido
Linapacan
Magsaysay
Roxas
San Vicente
Taytay
DISCLAIMER: this post will be updated once confirmed information about places if ok to visit unless you're giving relief aid. After a few weeks, suggest you push through with visits to help the communities get back up on their feet.
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