What To Take To Philippines Checklist

What to take when moving to the Philippines is an essential question that many expats find themselves asking. Today we will be exploring this very question by covering 10 items what to take when moving to the Philippines, other considerations, what not to take when moving to the Philippines and finally end with some simple but effective tips on moving to the Philippines.

In previous articles, we covered the process of moving to the Philippines in detail. In addition, you may have previously read what it is like living in the Philippines or the comparison between Thailand and the Philippines for retirees. If you haven’t, I have attached these articles above for your reference.

10 Items What To Take When Moving To The Philippines

In this checklist for moving to the Philippines, we will be covering the 10 most essential items to take when moving to the Philippines.

universal adapter

In the Philippines, power plugs have a standard voltage of 220 V and a frequency of 60 Hz, meaning that you may need a power adapter for your electrical items when moving to the Philippines. This will depend on what country you are from as the power format from Europe is different from that of America or Africa, for example.

Compression Socks

One common question is, do compression socks work when moving to the Philippines? Scientifically speaking, compression socks have been found to work from clinical studies, and they have a great deal of scientific evidence supporting their usage. This is especially true for longer journeys into other continents.

Earplugs

Earplugs are one of the most important but often forgot about pieces of equipment that you will need to take when moving to the Philippines. One of the benefits of packing earplugs in the Philippines is that not only are they lightweight, but they are also tiny and affordable. These little treasures can be precious, especially if you stay in a small apartment or hotel.

Blindfold

When looking at what to take moving to the Philippines, I would consider purchasing a blindfold if you have difficulty sleeping in the sunlight. When you are traveling, some form of light will penetrate your eyes, making it difficult to sleep on the plane. Also, depending on the time zone, you may wish to sleep in the day when you first arrive in the Philippines, which makes a blindfold a convenient tool.

Sunscreen

In one of our most recent videos on YouTube, we spoke about just how powerful the sun is in the geographical location of the Philippines. The skin burn temperature can fluctuate, but on average, it can be as little as 5 to 7 minutes before your skin starts to burn. In addition, it’s even possible to burn on cloudy days, so we recommend grabbing some high-quality sunscreen.

Moneybelt

Money belts are essential when looking at what to take when moving to the Philippines. Many belts are not just for pickpocketing reasons but also a great place for other items. If you are in the market and are moving around or talking, you may accidentally drop some money or valuables, thus belts have many advantages. Feel free to take a look at some money belts we spoke about in our recent YouTube video.

Lightweight backpack

Backpacks are also a priority when you investigate what to take when moving to the Philippines, as they are often used when living in the Philippines. The Philippines is known for its beautiful islands, city life, and tropical mountains. All of these venues will require some form of safe storage and backpacks on the way forward.

Suitcase locks

Suitcase locks are not just for suitcases but can be used for lightweight backpacks, as mentioned a moment ago. Although I have never had any personal trouble with safety in the Philippines, I instinctively lock my backpack up, especially when I’m on the beach taking a swim in the sea. Therefore locks are a convenient tool to take when moving to the Philippines.

Masks

As you know, masks are an important part of life in the Philippines as an expat at this current time. Even though this will likely decrease in the future, masks are mandatory. You can purchase masks locally, but for the initial flight and the first few days, you may become very hot, and the masks can become dirty and sticky thus, it is recommended to purchase a small pack of disposable masks before you go.

Battery Packs

Battery packs are also handy for those who need to use their laptop or phone regularly. For example, many expats living in the Philippines often use their mobile devices and Google Maps to find new places and a flat battery in a remote area is a nightmare! This is where the usefulness of battery packs comes in.

Other Checklist Areas To Consideration When Moving To The Philippines

This section will cover other items that you may need to consider on your checklist of moving to the Philippines.

Health Insurance

When investigating what to take when moving to the Philippines, health insurance is often a popular topic. Still, the question is should you arrange your health insurance locally or in the Philippines? There are pros and cons to both arrangements. Often expats arrange short-term insurance and, once in the Philippines, obtain long-term insurance. This is because health insurance is often cheaper and more convenient in the Philippines.

Medicines

Medicine in the Philippines can be costly, and some specific fees and taxes may be included, which increases the price. Therefore it’s genuinely recommended to bring your own medicine when moving to the Philippines.

Home Comforts

I regret not bringing some home comforts, but thinking about what to take when moving to the Philippines was the last thing on my mind. If you are planning to move to the Philippines as a foreigner bringing some small but valuable home comforts may not seem like a big deal but in the long term, they are priceless.

Other Forms Of Identification / Important Documents

As a foreigner living in the Philippines, you may decide at some point to obtain a long-term visa, rent a vehicle or even purchase a condominium. Through these transactions, identity and essential documentation may be needed. Therefore, its offer recommended having a small folder of documents that may be called upon when moving to the Philippines

An Emergency Fund

This one is a huge part of moving to the Philippines as a foreigner. You likely have some income stream or retirement, which is fantastic. But one area to also focus on is to make sure that you have an emergency fund of at least $1000 – $2000. This is a good amount to aim for to avoid any unpleasantness.

VPN

Virtual private networks are designed to create private and protected Internet connections. However, VPNs have been under criticism over the years as some claim they are not as strong as the companies advertise. Nonetheless, if you have some private business matters or financial statements you wish to keep safe, a VPN might be one consideration to make when moving to the Philippines.

Download Relevant Apps

The last item that you may wish to add to a checklist when moving to the Philippines is relevant apps. Grab is one of those apps. Grab is essentially Uber and the Philippines and can save you a great deal of money, especially in airport transfers.

What Not To Take When Moving To The Philippines

This next section includes what not to take when moving to the Philippines. These items can be purchased locally, are available and are affordable. We also recommend visiting the list of prohibited goods in the Philippines.

Alcohol

Books
Cutlery
Flip Flops And Sandals

Sheets And Bedding
Vitamins And Minerals

Final Checklist Tips On What To Take & Moving To The Philippines

The last section of today’s checklist of moving to the Philippines includes some simple tips and tricks to help you start moving to the Philippines.

1. Shop Via Amazon Or a Similar Online Market Place

Some of the links that we have used above are redirected to the Amazon marketplace. Even though I’m not a big fan of Amazon myself, they are the most convenient and cheapest marketplace available. We also found that when adding postage and packaging, Amazon comes out as the most affordable for the items we mentioned today regarding the overall price.

2. Focus On The 5 Most Important Tools

Today we have covered the essential items to add to your checklist when moving to the Philippines, but today’s central question is what to take when moving to the Philippines, and thus there are lots of options. Therefore, I recommend creating a list of the five most essential tools to give you a great head start for your new life in the Philippines.

3. Purchase The Cheapest International Flights

We have spoken about cheap international flights in one of our most popular articles. However, for those who like to watch rather than read, you can visit the YouTube video, which explains different tips and tricks on how you can obtain cheap international flights to the Philippines.

4. Always Have A Financial Safety Net When Moving to the Philippines

As mentioned earlier, if you are moving to the Philippines as a foreigner, then it’s essential to add a financial safety net to your Philippines checklist. If you do not have this, then it’s recommended to build a safety net as soon as possible.

5. create A exit Plan At The Back Of Your Mind

The last tip when moving to the Philippines is always to have some exit strategy at the back of your mind. Life in the Philippines is fantastic, and many expats fall in love with the Philippines. But as you know, anything can happen, both good and bad. Who knows, someone may even give you a fantastic opportunity that you cannot refuse; thus, having an exit strategy is highly recommended.

More Philippines Business Guides

Which Is Cheaper – Thailand vs Philippines