I want to travel to philippines but the travel guide I bought is scaring me so much, is it really that bad?

The travel guide talks about all these vaccinations to get and the diseases you can get from mosquitos and to keep covered up and take your own mosquito nets and to get rehydration salts and repellant and don't go out at night and your luggage will get stolen if you let it go but then the Jeepney drivers will put it on the top of the Jeepney and someone will slash it open with a knife and steal all your stuff.....

obviosly I am re thinking the whole idea, but I was going to take the family to see a friend for their birthday and have a holiday at the same time.

I am a filipino working in the U.S. as a healthcare profession. I have only one advice to you.....That is unfair travel guide advisory.....Once you visited our country, I bet you would like to go back for another visit....

No, not at all. I agree, that travel guid is so bias talking about the downside of the Philippines.

A lot of foreigners come and visit the PH every once in a while and they loved it. Reading is totatlly different from experiencing. Kepp on travelling and I assure you you'll love PH.

you have a spurious guide book. who published it anyways? is it some firm from another south east asian country?

it all depends on where you are going...

if you are going to the deep rural area, you would need those vaccines. but if you would stay in the urban areas you would not need them. though wearing long sleeves shirt would be a good precaution against heat and mosquitos.

If you drink liquids at least 8glasses a day you do not need those rehaydration salts, and I dont think you would be staying out under the sun for a long time at a stretch.

like in other countries, you bags can get stolen, hey even in the US and France you can have your luggage stolen. Be alert wherever you are. I know of friends having their handcarry laptop missing after taking a toilet break, and they had it with them inside the toilet even.

No jeepneys are not the only mode of transport. We have other vehicles. Would you take the jeepney?

Bottomline: take precautions, but the guidebook is a bit on the WILD EXTREME side. Have a safe trip by being careful. Do not bring lots of cash, we have ATMs and Banks you know. Credit Card works as well in the CITY.

There are places in the Philippines which have mosquitoes basically because it is a tropical country, so for that one, follow your travel guide. BUT, I don't agree with the "slashing of the bags" stuff that your guide is telling you. The probability is very remote that out of 80M plus FIlipinos plus foreigners within the country you will be chosen as the victim. Everybody should be careful everywhere you are, even the rich countries have lots of bums who will scare you in the streets and the Philippines doesn't have those.

Focus on enjoying your trip!

Your travel guide sounds like the 'book made in HELL' or at least written by someone who may have vested interests with you travelling somewhere else.
Yes there are mosquitoes in the Philippines and yes you CAN get diseases from them BUT this is predominantly in the rural areas.
As for the luggage, yes that has been known to happen but a similar fate could occur anywhere in the world if you stop being vigilant.
Trust me the Philippines is an experience that you will remember and cherish for a long time.

now that's unfair!

our country is a nice place to visit..