Philippines Cheap: How to Save on Your Trip

The Philippines is more than 7,000 islands with untouched nature, unique colonial buildings in the Spanish style and active recreation on the water. You can find both luxurious tourist complexes with all the amenities, and simpler options of guesthouses and picturesque wild beaches away from the crowds.

Many tourists are afraid that they will have to spend a lot on their vacation here, but there are also budget options. We will tell you how to save money in the Philippines. And you open the air ticket search service and build your own route or use the services for organizing group trips .

Prices in the Philippines for tourists

The most expensive items of expenditure on a trip to these islands are air tickets and accommodation. A standard flight with a transfer from Moscow costs between $350 and $600. A night in a hostel starts at $7, in a hotel - about $35, and resorts will cost at least $70 per day. But food prices are low: from a couple of dollars for a snack in local street cafes to $15 for lunch in a restaurant with European cuisine.

Consider the cost of travel between the islands. Low-cost airlines and private jets will cost at least $25, and a ferry ticket will cost about $7. Public transport in the cities is represented by taxis (a few dollars for a short trip), jeeps (less than a dollar) and motorbikes that can be rented (from $5 per day).

So a trip to the Philippines can cost as much as $800 for a week, or several times more. It all depends on the level of comfort you choose.

Budget Itineraries in the Philippines

A budget trip to the Philippines is possible if you choose the islands for your vacation wisely. The cheapest resorts are Bohol and Mindoro, as well as the capital, Manila. But the latter is famous for its high crime rate, so it is better not to stay there for long.

Tips for Saving Money in the Philippines

Air tickets

The most effective way to save on a trip is to plan a vacation in the off-season, when the flow of tourists decreases significantly. Cheap flights to the Philippines can be found from June to November. This is the rainy season, but precipitation occurs in short periods, and the sun shines in between.

And take into account the route features. You can save money if you fly via Asia. This can reduce the cost of tickets by several hundred.

Housing

Inexpensive accommodation in the Philippines - guesthouses and hostels. In large cities (Manila, Cebu, Boracay) there are especially many of them. On small islands, the choice is small. In this case, to save money, it is better to rent a room in a hostel in one place, and from there go exploring other islands every day. Open a hotel booking service and look for suitable ones. And if you are planning group trips , you can choose the cheapest rooms for several people.

Food

Want to eat inexpensively? Then forget about European restaurants. Your option is snacks and lunches in local cafes with Filipino cuisine. So one meal will cost from $1 to $6. Bonus - you will try national dishes with a bright taste. It is even cheaper to buy products in supermarkets, and fresh vegetables, fruits and seafood - at the market.

Transport

To travel between the islands, use ferries, they go several times a day on a variety of routes. And at the resorts, the cheapest way to travel is by jeep (analogous to a minibus), rented bike or bicycle.

Entertainment

An inexpensive entertainment option is active recreation on the water. Rent snorkeling or diving equipment and go to the nearest reef to study the local underwater fauna. For those who do not want to dive, SUP boards or kayaks are suitable. On average, this costs from $3 to $8 per day.

You won't be able to save on excursions, but they are quite budget-friendly (from $25). Choose trusted guides to go to Kawasan Falls in Cebu or the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Another option is snorkeling with whale sharks.

If you plan your vacation in the Philippines on your own, you can save a lot and spend a week of unforgettable vacation on unique islands for just a few hundred dollars. You can find great deals on hotels, air tickets, and transfers on TravelHub.