Buzz
Boracay, famously dubbed as the 'pearl island' of the Philippines, embodies all the charms of a tropical archipelago with its long stretches of white sand, crystal-clear waters, and pristine climate.
Insider Tips for Budget Traveling in Boracay from a Hanoi Female Traveler
Prepping for the Journey
Make sure to snag those cheap 1-peso flight tickets from Hanoi to Manila (around 1,2-1,8 million dong for a round trip) and Manila to Kalibo (500,000 -1 million dong for a round trip). The best time to visit Boracay is within the first 6 months of the year. However, March-April marks the peak season, where accommodation and services tend to be pricier. A comfortable budget for the trip would be around 5-6 million dong. Exchange some peso beforehand (with an exchange rate of about 500 dong for 1 peso) and carry some USD as backup.
Pack some light snacks like sandwiches, instant noodles, and sausages to munch on and save on expenses during the flight or on the island. Opt for hotels priced around 500,000 dong per night. Good and beautiful accommodations include Azzurro Di Boracay and Mangoray, ranging from 800,000-900,000 dong per night.
Itinerary: Hanoi – Manila – Boracay: 3 Days 3 Nights
When arriving in the Philippines, avoid buying a phone SIM at the airport as it's significantly more expensive. You can purchase one outside for 100 pesos and load 40 pesos with SmartBuddy. The tourist guide information counters open at 10 am and provide free maps.
Upon arrival at Kalibo airport, explore the transportation services offered by the counters inside the airport. I chose a company with tickets priced at 450-500 pesos per person, inclusive of a shuttle to the ferry terminal (approximately 1.5-2 hours), a ferry ride to Boracay Island (about 30-40 minutes), and transportation to my pre-booked hotel.
Many companies also offer airport pickup services. If your hotel is small and far, it might cost around 100 pesos for 3 people, or you could consider renting a car if traveling in a group.
When disembarking from the boat onto the island, there will be individuals offering to carry your luggage from the boat to the shore for a fee of 20-50 pesos per piece. If you prefer not to pay this fee, be firm and don't let them carry your luggage.
At the Boracay dock, you should try the mango shake; it's both cheap and delicious. A large cup costs 100 pesos. They also serve this on the island, but it's more expensive and not as tasty. I haven't seen this item in Manila.
Another thing to note is that tourists need to pay a domestic departure fee of 200 pesos starting from June 1, 2015.
Day 1
On the first night in Boracay, stroll along the beach and have dinner. I opted for a buffet dinner at a hotel priced at 749 pesos per person. The food was decent but nothing extraordinary. At 9 pm, there was a flashmob performance by the hotel staff. Alternatively, you can dine at ISANA for chicken rice, McDonald's, or indulge in delicious and affordable grilled dishes at Andok's.
Day 2
On the first morning on the island, wake up early and take a walk along the coastline to catch the sunrise.
After breakfast at the hotel, you can join various tours. There are many vendors along the beach offering tour packages. They will show you the price list for different tours and activities. However, it's advisable to negotiate (around 3,300 pesos for 3 people or less if you're good at bargaining). The price for locals is approximately 1,200 pesos for 3 people.
1. Helmet Diving
You'll be equipped with a helmet and descend about 4 meters underwater. The helmet prevents water from entering, allowing you to breathe normally. Once at the bottom, you can walk around to observe fish and corals. They'll give you a piece of bread to attract fish, and you'll be surrounded by beautiful fish. They'll take photos and record a video. After returning to the boat, you'll receive the photos and a clip within 5-10 minutes.
2. Island Hopping
A tour exploring small islands: Magic Island, Crocodile Island, Crystal Cove for approximately 4-5 hours…
3. Parasailing
You'll sit on a sailboat and be attached to two parachute wings, gliding smoothly over the sea.
Additionally, you can fly kites at Bulabog Beach, cliff jump at Ariel's Point, ATV around the island, try ziplining, get a henna tattoo or hair braiding...
On the second night, we took a stroll from station 3 to station 1 to watch fire dances and live music. Since it was the weekend, entry to bars was free, but drinks were chargeable. Prices were reasonable.
Day 3
The whole group wandered around White Beach for photo opportunities. There's a row of Korean and Japanese guesthouses near stations 2 and 3, which provide excellent photo backdrops.
On our last night in Boracay, we decided to have a grand feast that was both delicious and affordable. You should buy seafood at D'talipapa market and hire someone to cook it. The market also has many souvenir shops in the Dry market area.
You must bargain vigorously. We bargained for crabs from 2,000 pesos down to 600 pesos and still felt a bit cheated. Especially for lobsters, opt for live ones even though they're pricier than frozen ones. They're worth the extra penny, around 1,100 pesos per kilogram.
The negotiation saga continues with the food cooking service. The rate is 300 pesos per kg for cooking labor. Despite purchasing nearly 6 kg of shrimp and crab, we managed to bargain it down to just 300 pesos for all cooking labor.
According to Zing News
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourApril 20, 2016
