The Philippines Budget Travel – Top Tips

The Philippines budget travel requires a little creativity and resourcefulness. Compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, food, accommodation, and transportation are more expensive in the Philippines. However, budget travel can still be done on the cheap provided that you do some research ahead of time.

Is It Possible To Travel The Philippines On A Low Budget?

Backpacking Philippines is a popular choice for getting to know the country’s best sights on a budget. It is possible to spend as little as PhP 500 a day on food and drink if your needs are simple. Hostels are abundant, and so is cheap food; though it’s slightly more expensive in Manila than in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

For example, while you can eat pho on the streets of Vietnam for just PhP 30, you will have to spend around PhP 80 and up for a decent meal in the Philippines since street food is not regarded as the safest, cleanest, or healthiest.

Hostel dorm beds can be as cheap as PhP 300 a night in Thailand, but the cheapest you’ll find in Manila starts at around PhP 700 per bed.

Travelling on a low budget in Manila is possible, but it’s transportation that is expensive. For this reason, it’s smart to book a hostel in the city center so that you can walk around the city instead of hiring a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle through the apps Grab and Uber.

However, when visiting more remote areas and beach destinations, it becomes much easier to find budget accommodation and the cost of transport, food, and activities are also much lower. In remote areas, there are many homestays and hostels with dorm beds as low as PhP 250 a night especially if you don’t mind a fan room with the most basic amenities – after all, you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors and exploring. Food in Philippine provinces, including beaches, is cheap, abundant, and delicious: for a homemade meal you can expect to pay PhP 50 up for a viand and a heaping cup of rice (Filipinos love their rice!).

You can find inexpensive Filipino food served at food stalls (locally known as carinderia, commonly found along the side of the road) in all tourist destinations, as well as mom-and-pop style restaurants where you can enjoy a wide variety of inexpensive and delicious food. Carinderias are not big on ambiance, but it’s the best option for budget travelers – plus it’s a great way to rub elbows with the locals, eat as Filipinos do, and perhaps make a new friend.

Budget Travel In The Philippines: Independent or Packaged Tour?

When planning your Philippines trip, you’ll be delighted at the many ways there are to enjoy your holiday even if you’re on a budget. The Philippines is very tourist-friendly even for price-conscious travelers.

There are two main ways to go about your Philippines trip: choosing between an independent or packaged tour. Here’s what you should know about the pros and cons of each.

Independent Travel

Independent travel is a popular way for budget travelers to visit the many sights and destinations in the Philippines. You can plan everything on your own with the help of a guide book, a map, and some research.

Pros:

• Flexibility: The main benefit of independent travel if being able to choose your own itinerary; see and do what you want, when it’s most convenient for you.

• Relaxed: You can go at your own pace, allowing you to stay longer in a destination that you want. You can skip things included in common itineraries if it doesn’t interest you, even if it’s popular with other travelers.

• Affordable: Creating your own itinerary in the Philippines is generally affordable. Hiring a private guide in the Philippines to take you around is affordable. Even if you arrange the itinerary on your own or work with a tour guide, hiring one won’t burn a hole through your pocket.

Cons:

• Research-heavy: Independent travel will require you to put in the time and effort to create an itinerary that suits you (and your travel companions). Depending on the destination within the Philippines that you want to visit, some places require you to invest more time in planning an independent travel itinerary. For example, in Manila and Cebu, there are dozens of possible itineraries to be enjoyed especially if you want to see the best sights these large cities have to offer. However, remote destinations such as Sagada or the islands of Boracay are much easier to plan.

• Miss out on tourist attractions you might have enjoyed: In some cases, tourist attractions don’t sound as enjoyable when you read about on on a guide book. You might decide to skip the hassles of traveling an hour out of the city proper to see a waterfall, but in real life it actually is worth visiting.

Packaged Tour

Tour operators offer a wide range of packaged tours with generally good prices in Philippines. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s easy to find an organized tour that you can afford.

Pros:

• More affordable than independent travel in the Philippines: Tour operators have connections with the local tourism industry wherever they are based. This enables them to offer add-ons that would otherwise cost you extra money if you planned your trip by yourself. Simple add-ons such as a special dessert with a local vendor after a long day out boating, or hotel pick-up and drop-off services may already be factored in but at a discount with packaged tours.

• Best choice for island hopping: The Philippines is best known for the many tropical destinations, which are best enjoyed via island hopping to nearby beaches. Hiring an outrigger boat privately will cost you a lot of money, but a packaged island hopping tour is generally around PhP800-1,000 for 3 travelers (sometimes up to 5) inclusive of one meal aboard the boat and simple refreshments. On the other hand, private island hopping tours can set you back PhP 800 per person if you’re looking for a more intimate island hopping tour.

• Everything is included: Packaged tours already plan everything for you at a discount: plane rides, car service, snorkeling rental, boat rental, and a meal – there’s no need for you to worry about anything during your tour because your daily cost for a day or more is already accounted for plus you get to see the best attractions of your chosen destination.

Cons:

• No flexibility: With a packaged tour, there is no leeway to do things at your own time. You’ll have to take photo ops within the given time frame allotted to all travelers at the group, and when it’s time to leave, there is no choice or risk getting left behind.

• Travel companions: Unless your own travel companions are enough to make up the minimum number of travelers required to join in a packaged tour, you may end up touring with others whom you may dislike.

• Only see the most popular sights: Even in the most popular Philippine destinations, there is always a special site or two that are not included in packaged group tours. For example, driving a motorbike on your own may lead you to discover a beach that others don’t know much about but could be the highlight of your trip.

The best travel experiences in the Philippines are usually a combination of both independent and packaged tours, since both can be availed of on the cheap anyway. This is especially recommended if you are going to visit several destinations, instead of just staying in 1 or 2.

Top Budget Itineraries

The Philippines offers a plethora of travel experiences that can be enjoyed low-key. Here are the top budget itineraries to consider for your trip – destinations in the country where budget travelers can choose from a wide range of cheap accommodations, affordable food, and free attractions.

Manila

The country’s capital is abundant in budget travel-friendly experiences. Affordable hostels, inns, and guesthouses are found throughout the city, but your best bet is to stay in Poblacion, a gentrified area right on the outskirts of the central business district of Makati.

Poblacion has dozens of affordable restaurants where PhP 250 will get you a full meal (plus an ice cold San Miguel Beer).

Cheap shopping doesn’t get any better than going to Greenhills Shopping Center, a 30-minute Uber ride away from Makati where you’ll find a thousand stalls selling clothes, jewelry, bags, and more (don’t forget to haggle!).

For free attractions, walk around the free sites within the old historic town of Intramuros, relax at a lush park in Legazpi Village, and take photos with the street art in Bonifacio Global City.

El Nido

El Nido is a quiet beach area located on the northern side of Palawan. It has become a popular choice for travelers looking for that perfect tropical Philippine experience, and is definitely much more affordable in all aspects of the trip especially when compared to the once-popular Boracay (it’s gotten very expensive over the last few years).

Budget accommodations are also easily found in many of the local beaches. El Nido is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches and sights in all of the country, and you can do it all on a budget. You can explore a handful of them for free, such as Marimegmeg Beach and hike on Taraw Peak.

Packaged tours to the best islands around El Nido shouldn’t be missed: choose from Tour A (Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach), Tour B (Pinagbuyatan Island, Snake Island, Entalula Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave), Tour C (Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island, Star Beach, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach), Tour D (Nat Nat Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Bucal Beach, Paradise Beach, Cadlao Lagoon); each of which can be done at roughly PhP 1,000 for a full day of touring plus meals on board.

Baguio

If you’re looking for an affordable mountain destination in the Philippines, look no further than Baguio. Located just 5 hours by bus from Manila, Baguio is steeped in history and there are attractions to enjoy that don’t require you to spend a dime. Go thrift shopping (ask where the nearest ukay-ukay shop is) and visit the numerous gardens and parks around, most of which are free. These include Mines View Park, Burnham Park, People’s Park, and Igorot Garden. Shop at the Baguio public market where you can find fresh produce at a fraction of what they cost in Manila, as well as many inexpensive souvenirs.

Best Cheap Hostels/Hotels In The Philippines

Considering the cost of your accommodations should be the first thing to think about when planning how much to budget while in the Philippines. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive options to choose from throughout the country.

Manila

• Our Awesome Hostel (from PhP 700)
• Wanderers Guesthouse (from PhP 400)
• Pink Manila Hostel (from PhP 450)

El Nido

• Amos Hostel (from PhP 600)
• Outpost Beach Hostel (from PhP 1,150)
• Where 2 Next (from PhP 700)

Baguio

• Upstairs Bed and Bath Hostel (from PhP 1,500)
• Ashburn’s Transient Rooms (from PhP 800)
• Ibay Zion Hotel (from PhP 1,000)

Top Tips For Budget Travel To The Philippines

Investing time into research for your budget trip to the Philippines will save you money and minimize the risk for hassles down the road. Follow these tips for an smooth travel experience:

1. Book your accommodations as far in advance as you can. Due to the reputation of the Philippines as a well-loved budget traveler’s destination, not doing so may lead to difficulty finding affordable accommodation for the duration of your trip.

2. Canvass tour operators in the destinations you’re visiting before deciding on one. Shop around and negotiate before deciding on just one tour operator. Some charge much more, which can take a dent out of the cost of travel. The more travel companions you’re with, the cheaper a package tour usually gets.

3. Use budget airlines for getting around the country. CebuPacific and SkyJet offer the cheapest rates out of all the airlines. SkyJet’s rates from Manila to Boracay, Siargao, and Coron are unbeatable, although CebuPacific flies to dozens more destinations throughout the country for cheap too.

4. Book your trip during the low season. The months between June to September are the Philippines’ low season, which means that flights and hotels drop their prices. However, traveling during this season means you should also be prepared for more rain. Budget travelers are smart to avoid traveling during Christmas and Holy Week, which is when the prices of everything go up.

5. Try homemade food at carinderias: Carinderias, or local food stalls that serve homemade food, are found everywhere in the country. From the big cities of Manila to far-flung provinces, Filipinos rely on carinderias for cheap food where you can find delicious local cuisine on the cheap.

6. Negotiate: Almost everything can be haggled down to a better price in the Philippines. The exceptions to the rule are shopping at malls, hotels, or utilizing services that issue a receipt. You may try negotiating the price of a packaged tour, produce purchased at a public market, and thrift shopping.

Conclusion

The Philippines is a renowned tourist destination in Southeast Asia especially for budget travelers. You’ll meet some of the most hospitable locals, and enjoy breathtaking sights from the mountains to the beaches without having to go for broke. Just be creative and most importantly, approach it with an open mind.