Ferry travel in the Philippines can be an exciting and memorable experience, whether it’s your first time or you ride regularly. While there may be unexpected challenges at sea, being well-prepared can ensure smooth and enjoyable journeys. Consider this your essential ferry travel guide, designed to help you navigate and enhance your future adventures with confidence and ease.
So here are 4 tips to help you get around the Philippines without a hassle:
4 Pro Ferry Travel Tips When Getting Around the Philippines
1. Prepare for Sea Travel
People often don’t think about getting motion sickness once onboard. Even if you are a longtime ferry traveler you could still get seasick. Having the right remedies for this can help when you have a long journey or experience unexpected delays.
Food Remedies
Be sure to pack bland foods like saltine crackers, plain bread or pretzels to alleviate being seasick. Stay hydrated by drinking enough water. Drinking ginger ale or peppermint tea has also been found to help. Avoid caffeine or alcoholic drinks during your trip as their acidic properties can worsen seasickness.
Available Spaces
Depending on where you are staying on the ship can make being seasick worse, so try to pick a cabin or seat that is ideally in the middle of the boat. You can go get a view of the deck to get some fresh air and see the horizon which will help your body balance itself to lessen dizziness.
Breathing Practices
Forms of meditation or breathing exercises can get your body used to the swaying motion of ocean waves. There has also been a study which shows that the smell pleasant odors while avoiding bad odors relieve seasickness.
2. Secure Your Belongings
You might assume that your clothes or bags are safe by your side during your travels. But often the stress and long travel time can make you careless. Secure your stuff by investing in high-quality travel bags and durable clothes. For safety buy waterproof bags or get ziploc resealable plastics to place and organize your belongings.
Also be sure that your important documents have back-ups and copies. If you’re still worried you might lose your possessions, attach a tracking device to them so you can find if they ever get stolen or lost.
3. Check Travel Conditions
A common mistake among first time ferry travelers and even pros is that they book a trip but forget to check the details of their route. This can lead to unnecessary travel delays and unpleasant experiences while enroute to your destination. Keep these in mind to properly consider your ferry travel options:
Ideal Weather
When traveling around the Philippines, places are either too hot because of the sun and or too wet due to heavy rains. Especially accounting for the effects of climate change in the country only intensifies bad weather.
Check the weather forecast before and during your time of travel. Prepare a raincoat or umbrella as well as adequate sunscreen for protection against harsh climates. It’s a good idea to pack bug spray repellent too.
Travel Time
Check the schedules of your ferry and arrive at the dock at least 2 hours before departure, especially when it is expected to be a long journey. Install an app on your phone or go to a ferry route tracker website to be able to plan your trip based on ship traffic and estimated time of arrival.
Suitable Cabin
Choose the right accommodations whether you decide to travel by yourself or with others. Know your needs and see if you are comfortable in your cabin space. See the available options for accommodations on the ship you will board. Review the ferry company’s travel advisories and passenger guidelines to properly prepare before boarding.
4. Book Ahead of Schedule
Remember to book in-advance for your planned departure date. It is also advisable to plan a back-up booking so that if you happen to miss the first ferry route to your destination. This is the most overlooked but obvious among ferry travel tips.
Buying ferry tickets ahead of schedule ensures a smoother travel experience by guaranteeing adequate space for you in the cabin, avoiding long queues and flexible options while onboard.
ALSO READ: Destination Bucketlist for Ferry Travel in the Philippines
Simpler Travels with Starlite Ferries
With all these ferry travel tips in mind, you can now embark on your journeys around the Philippines.
Let Starlite Ferries simplify your travels by checking our schedules and book your next trip with us now.