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I just returned to Japan from my recent 1-month vacation to the Philippines and gosh I am most overjoyed that I was able to survive all the stress that I have been through from traveling across country boarders! Do I recommend traveling abroad during this pandemic? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But just in case you must do so, worry not because I created this blog just for you so that you will not go through all the struggles that I have been through. I gotchu! 😉

First and foremost, I would like you to think through and through if you really must do thisー if you really must travel abroad during these trying times. Let's go. Let's not be hasty. Breathe. If you don't have to travel abroad this time, please just stay. The stress, the cost, and most importantly, the health risk that this trip may cost you is not for the faint of heart. So just stay where you are unless it's absolutely necessary. But okay. If you really must do this, then let's dive through this lengthy guide. I hope you're ready!

I will laying out this guide in this sequence: From abroad ✈️ to the Philippines, then Philippines ✈️ to abroad. If you came from the Philippines and you're traveling abroad, same travel process may apply. You may just have to start reading from the bottom. Either way, this guide is definitely still comprehensible.

Buying a Plane Ticket

There are 2 things you must know:

Plane tickets are very expensive during these times.
I booked last October 2021 while my flight was still on January 1, 2022 but my one-way plane ticket from Japan→Philippines was already ￥55,000.00 (around ₱25,000.00). Before the pandemic despite booking 1 month before, I could still buy a roundtrip plane ticket to and from Japan and PH for around ₱20,000.00 from low-cost airlines like AirAsia, JetStar, and Cebu Pacific! But now? My oh my you gotta save up, kid! My tips:
- Buy plane tickets at least 1 month before.
- Cross-check flight prices across platforms. For me, I compare prices from Skyscanner.com, Trip.com, and the airline's main webpage itself before I purchase plane tickets. Usually, affiliate websites have cheaper prices. So make sure you cross-check prices before purchasing. You might find better deals.
Constant Flight Cancellations are a Reality
Sorry! there is no such thing as a sure flight during the pandemic. Your flight can be cancelled even hours before you actually fly! That's sad but it's reality! Wake up wake up! I bought my first plane ticket to PH for around ￥50,000.00 and came November 2021, 1 month after I booked it, the flight was canceled. Since I don't know the tips below that I am going to tell you, I didn't have a choice but have the plane ticket refunded and buy a new one. Three months after, still no news from the refund! So I basically spent double just for my flight to the Philippines! If only I am rich, I wouldn't have to stress myself out with this so much! My tips:
- Book flexible tickets. For me, refunds are hopeless. Do not ever believe the word "refundable" anymore during these times. There is a huge question mark if they will be able to return your money or they will be able to, it will not be the exact amount that you paid for. In fact, you will get less than half of what you paid for. So instead of looking for "refundable tickets", look for flexible ticketsー those that offer unlimited rebooking or perhaps an insurance. That way, you can make sure that you'll eventually fly or if not, at least you are insured that you will receive your money back. This is why I love Cebu Pacific Airlines! Aside from offering some of the cheapest flights, they offer many variations of flexible tickets. I booked all of my flights with them.
- Do not trust Travel Credits. Due to constant flight cancellations, many airlines or affiliated websites have resorted to offering travel credits for ticket refunds. Unfortunately, many airlines or affiliated websites' travel credits have lesser value than what your money is actually worth! For example, when I bought my canceled ticket at Kiwi.com (because during that time, they have the cheapest ticket offerings) they only offered me €9.20 credits to a one-way ticket that I bought for ￥50,000.00! Where is the justice in that? So of course, I chose a refund to my credit card account, but 3 months have passed, no refund was received yet! Do not ever trust Travel Credits and do not ever trust Kiwi.com! That's it!
- Do not book connecting flights. At first, I booked a Japan-South Korea-Philippines connecting flight simply because it was the cheapest flight offering. Unfortunately, the Japan→South Korea flight got canceled so whole route got messed up! Other scenarios from friends required them some complications in airports due to COVID-19 restrictions. You wouldn't want that, right? Make sure to book a route straight to your country destination.

That one's pretty lengthy, huh! But I needed to explain that properly because my flight tickets have cost me a fortune and I don't want that to happen to you. I might have not been smart on my trip but let's be smart on yours!

Philippine Requirements from Your Country of Departure

Before you decide to travel, make sure to check where your country of departure stands on the COVID-19 restrictions in the Philippines. Is it included in the Travel Ban? What are the requirements? Will you have to do quarantine? And mind you, these requirements and restrictions can change abruptly from time to time. My tips:

Check for requirements on the Philippine Embassy Webpage of your country of departure. You would want to get official entry requirements, so make sure to not read from unofficial pages like blogs or old news. As for me since I am traveling from Japan, I read from the webpage of the Philippine Embassy in Japan. Browse through the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions news in their website. As of writing, these are the latest entry requirements for Filipino Nationals from Japan as per the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
Plan ahead in preparations of your requirements. First and foremost, this will take time. So make sure you have ample time to prepare. If you are required of quarantine upon getting to the Philippines, then make sure to embed that in your travel itinerary. If none, then good. Consider that you can all travel requirements before and after your flights.
I recommend you get yourself fully vaccinated. Life would be pretty hard when you travel unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. For example, I read that starting February 10, 2022, you are no longer required for quarantine if you are a fully vaccinated Filipino National. Your vaccination card will also be checked when you get to the airport. You might not be able to travel if you are unvaccinated due to airline policies. There are public transportation restrictions, etc etc.

About RT-PCR Test Result Certificate

Expect to do many RT-PCR tests all throughout your travel! This is a must when you enter a country. So ready health and your pocket! 😅

Get your Negative RT-PCR Test Result from an officially recognized diagnostic laboratory. Remember that not all diagnostic laboratories are recognized by governments. So make sure you double check where you get yours. I suggest you get your RT-PCR from government laboratories to make sure. If you came from the Philippines and you're in Manila, I definitely trust the Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory (PADLAB).
Make sure to check the currently accepted specimen in your port of entry. When I traveled to the Philippines last January 1, 2022, an RT-PCR tests from saliva specimens are still accepted in NAIA, so I got that since it is cheaper (only ￥19,000.00 w/ certificate in Mishima. There are cheaper options in Tokyo.) Some countries require only nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. Again, this detail is usually found in your country's Embassy page or in your airline's email reminders.
Make sure your RT-PCR Test Result is still valid when you get to your port of entry. Some countries require that you take your RT-PCR result 48 hours or sometimes 72 hours upon your arrival to the country. So make sure to check and arrange your schedules properly.
Make sure your RT-PCR Certificate is in English. You can always request for an English version of your certificate. Make sure to secure one.

Your Travel to the Philippines

If there is one thing that you need to do days or hours before you get to the airport, it is to check your email because for sure, your airline have sent you reminders on the travel requirements to your port of entry. These emails bear the latest requirements so make sure to check them.

Some tips before and on your flight date to the Philippines. Again, this may or may not be applicable to you during your travel so please check your airline's emails.

Register to One Health Pass. Make sure to take a screenshot of your One Health Pass QR code. Board of Quarantine will constantly look for that at the airports.
Check-in online and arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight because you might need to fill out more questionnaires or documents in the airline counter. There are more documents to fill out because of COVID-19 protocols.
Do not forget your travel documents:
- Passport (valid for another 6 months)
- Residence Card or Alien Card or Visa (whatever is applicable)
- Hardcopy or softcopy of your flight itinerary
- Hardcopy of your negative RT-PCR certificate
- Vaccination Card
- Confirmed booking at a BOQ-accredited quarantine hotel for the required quarantine period for non-OFWs if applicable to you.
Do not forget your health protocol requirements
- Loads and loads of face masks.
- Face Shield if required by your airline.
- Hand sanitizer (not required but I recommend)
- Snacks and an empty bottle for your water (recommended, because you will be waiting for quite some time in NAIA for the Bureau of Quarantine to process your arrival. You'll definitely starve.)
Make sure to print all your travel documents, just in case. The Philippines is not yet oriented into e-copies.
Do not forget your utility bills or important matters that you need to settle abroad before you leave. You don't want to go home to an apartment without electricity just like I did when I returned to Japan! Haha!

Your Stay in the Philippines

Not yet, kid! Your travel is far from comfortable yet. During my travel to PH, I still needed to go through quarantine in Manila and travel to Leyte all c/o of OWWA because I am an OFW. Now, at least there is no quarantine anymore so you're free to do whatever you want! However, you must remember to coordinate with your Local Government Unit (LGU) for your city's/town's current COVID-19 protocols. Depending on your city or town, you might need to go through quarantine or you need Acceptance Letters or worst, they will be in lockdown by the time you arrive. So make sure to check and prepare in advance! As mentioned, these protocols change abruptly from time to time.

Your Travel Abroad

This is perhaps for me the most costly because I was returning to a country like Japan, where they implement strict COVID-19 protocols. This guide may also be applicable to those who are not returnees and are traveling abroad for a separate travel.

Tips:

Same as traveling to the Philippines, you must check if you are allowed to enter the country you are going to. For example, as for me, since I am a registered working professional that is a returnee to Japan, I am allowed an entry permit. But normal tourists are currently banned to enter Japan. Again, check for your travel requirements to that country in advance. The Philippine Embassy page to your country is the best page to check on for this.
If you need to acquire Visa or special permit, make sure to process them beforehand.
Same tips above in terms of quarantine, RT-PCR test, health protocols, and many more.
For returning OFWs, I will be writing a separate blog with regards to our POEA and BM requirements. Keep posted and don't worry. I gotchu!
Travel Requirements might slightly differ per country but more or less they are same. So below are the current travel requirements to Japan as of writing. Again, this may change abruptly from time to time so make sure to check your airline reminder emails:
- Certificate of Negative RT-PCR test result issued within seventy-two (72) hours
- Written Pledge for the 14-day quarantine. Read quarantine section below as well.
- Online Questionnaire. Make sure to fill this out before you go to the airport to avoid consuming time in the airline counter. If you don't know your seat number yet, you don't have a choice but to fill this out in the airport, so make sure you go there hours before. Make sure to take a screenshot of the QR code. They will constantly look for that.
- Installed applications on your phone:
  - MySOS application
  - Google Maps
  - COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA)
You have to undergo more RT-PCR tests upon arrival in Japan, make sure you're ready and don't drink or eat anything 30 minutes before your arrival to Japan.

Quarantining Abroad

About the length of your quarantine period, it depends on the country you're going to and it also depends on the country where you are from. Since I came from the Philippines and I am going to Japan, my quarantine period in Japan is 14 days overall, 3 days in the quarantine hotel and the 4th to the 14th day will be spent in home quarantine.

Here are some tips I can share to you that might come in handy:

Work from the quarantine hotel. Don't waste your time in quarantine. If your company allows you to, you can work from the quarantine hotel because all quarantine hotels have WiFi internet connection.
Reserve your Private Transportation from the Quarantine Hotel to your Home in advance. While you are in quarantine or if you just arrived from other countries, majority if not all countries will not let you take public transportation. So you need to book or reserve your ride home in a private car. Lucky for those who have family or friends with car, they will only spend less. But for people like me who have none, I spent ￥63,000.00 just to go home to my house in Shizuoka, Japan from Narita Airport. So make sure you get your pocket ready for that and book in advance or ask for your family or friend's help in advance!
Bring food. Quarantine foods are never enough. In the span of 14 days you will definitely need to fill in your stomach with alternative foodies, especially during home quaratine. In Japan, we are only allowed to go to the convenience store during home quaratine. So it definitely helped that I was able to pack some Filipino foods in my luggage.
Cooperate with the country's quarantine protocols. Unlike the Philippines, other countries tend to be more strict with their quarantine protocols. To avoid sanctions, make sure to cooperate with their process.

Boost Your Immune System

During my whole trip to and from the Philippines and back to Japan, I've taken 5 RT-PCR tests overall and all results are NEGATIVE. It would be as easy as ABC if I stayed in our house my whole vacation in the Philippines, but no! Gosh, I've been in sea ports, airports, markets! I've traveled around Lipa, Batangas! I've been to Baclaran, in malls, in restaurants, in parks! I've been with family, friends, and strangers alike! I've been everywhere with lots and lots of people because why not? I was allowed to and I was in vacation! But ultimately what I have realized in all of this? You can make yourself fully vaccinated, wear all the facemasks you'd like, spray your hand sanitizer the whole time, do social distancing all you like, but you will never be able to avoid the COVID-19 virus when you travel. You need to go places. You need to interact closely to people. The only thing you can do to protect yourself is to boost your immune system; make yourself immune. That way, you can secure your trip, you can save yourself from all the expensive cost and hassle of being COVID-19 positive while traveling.

For me, I have protected myself all throughout my travel with the best and the #1 pharmaceutical-grade supplement in the worldー Usana. I have nothing but gratitude to this brand because you know what, one negative result from any of my PCR tests would mean I would need to spend more money and time during my vacation but thank goodness, all 5 RT-PCR tests yielded negative despite all my travels all around the Philippines for 1 whole month. If you'd like to protect yourself, too, and would like to boost your immune system with nothing but the best, you can send me a message and I can set you up with Usana. Don't worry, I gotchu babe! 😉

That's it!

I have spent a month and around ₱150,000.00 during my trip to the Philippines last January 2022. Yes, I needed a lot of time off work and mygosh, I needed a lot of money. That's because I wasn't as careful and I didn't have any guide for me to decide better and smarter, But it's okay, charge to experience. What's important now is that you don't have to go through what I've been through because this time, you have this guide. I hope this write up will be helpful to you. If you wish for me to add more details or if you have questions, don't hesitate to comment below! I am more than happy to help you with anything and definitely, I will do my best to reply.

God bless you on your travels! Stay safe, healthy, and happy!

All love,
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#TravelTuesdays: An Ultimate Guide to Traveling Abroad this Pandemic