The best fashion and gift stores Philippines

Timetable

Shoppingmalls are generally open every day from 10am to 9pm. The same applies to supermarkets. Smaller shops, such as souvenir or clothing stalls, have more variable opening hours, but in general, in tourist areas, they are also open every day between 9am or 10am and 7pm. To buy souvenirs, markets are a very good option. Every town has at least one. Opening times vary, from daily to weekly (weekends) to occasional.

Budget & Tips

There's something for every budget. Buying clothes or shoes in the malls is not particularly advantageous if they are international luxury brands or big names (imported and therefore subject to taxes). Prices will be similar to those in Europe. If you want to bring back souvenirs, the best thing to do is to shop at local markets. For small budgets, Filipino snacks make excellent souvenirs (dried mangoes, banana chips, sweets, etc.). Prices range from 1 to 10 euros (50 to 500 PHP). For handicrafts such as hammocks, rattan baskets or mats, pottery, carved wooden objects, etc., depending on size and quality, prices range from 500 PHP to 5,000 PHP. The best place to shop is in local stalls outside the tourist centers.

Payment methods. Apart from stores in malls where credit cards are accepted, the vast majority of your purchases will be made in cash.

Sales

A trip to the Philippines is not really an opportunity for a shopping spree but there are indeed sales periods all year long in the medium and large stores of the cities: Black Friday (end of November), Christmas and New Year sales (December-January) and summer sales (April-May and June-July). In smaller cities or islands, the practice is more random and you will find more occasional offers in some shops.

What's very local

The places. Malls, airport duty free, souvenir stores, stalls and handicraft stores, markets and sari-sari (the small local stalls found on every street corner, along the roads and in every village or barangay, attached to the houses).

What to bring back. Filipino snacks, handicrafts (pottery, wood carvings, hammocks, rattan objects and supplies), beads, miniature jeepneys, etc.

Merchandising. While it's not common to haggle in the big stores, for transport, accommodation and restaurants, it is possible to haggle in the markets and local stalls, while remaining reasonable and, of course, courteous and non-aggressive. The practice remains less common than in other countries.

Tourist traps

It is not in the habits of the Filipinos to try to swindle the tourists. Scams are therefore quite rare but it can happen that the price is a little inflated in the very touristy areas. Transactions are almost always done in cash, so always carry cash. Be careful and attentive in the big markets of Manila and Cebu which are extremely crowded, like the Divisoria Market, pickpockets are frequent.