One of the more commons questions I get is whether it is safe to travel in the Philippines. I feel my opinion on this topic is unbiased because of the fact that I don't live there. I live and work in California and from a traveler point of view the Philippines is very safe.

The number one thing to remember is to exercise caution and use common sense. Chances are everywhere you do research on the internet that seems to be what everyone will tell you. I'm not going back on my words about the Philippines being safe by telling you to use caution and use common sense. It's just that you're in an unfamiliar territory and you should always be aware of your surroundings. If you went South Central Los Angeles you would use the same principles.

Every now and then you will read something online or someone will tell you that it is unsafe to travel in the Philippines. The fact of the matter is out of the hundreds of thousands of travelers to the Philippines annually someone will have a bad experience. I'm sure everyone has had a bad experience regardless of where they traveled to. I have many stories to tell you about in regardless of having a bad experience or feeling unsafe during my travels but I can guarantee it was never in the Philippines.

However, there are several regions in the southern part of Mindanao that I don't recommend going because there are terrorist activities from many radical Islamic groups. Now I didn't write this in here to scare you off but just as a general warning. If you stay in the main cities chances are you'll be okay.

Staying educated and being prepared will make your trip more enjoyable. For instance, don't wear any valuable jewelry or take unnecessary gadgets. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid dark places such as alleyways.  Another helpful tip is to never carry more cash than you need. Leave everything else back in your hotel room in a safe if they have one.