Budgeting Boracay

Oct 11-14, 2011

 

	shared	per person
Day 1
Taxi to Manila Domestic Airport		260
MDA Terminal fee		200
1600H: Arrival Boracay Airport
Van transfer to Ferry Termi nal (c/o Sea Air)		Free
Caticlan Jetty Port terminal fee		50
Caticlan Environmental fee		75
Caticlan-Boracay ferry boat (c/o Sea Air)		Free
Check in: Tans Guesthouse (Station 2)	4,500 (4D/3N)	1500*
Dinner: Mang Inasal		140
Day 2
Breakfast: c/o Tans Guesthouse		Free
Groceries, bread etc	300	100
Lunch: Gasthof Restaurant	755	251
Dinner: La Carmela de Boracay Buffet		270
Day 3
Breakfast: c/o Tans Guesthouse		Free
Trike to port	60	20
Island Hopping	1000	350**
Helmet diving/ Reef walking		300
Trike to Jonah’s	60	20
Lunch: Jonah’s	795	265
Trike back to D*Mall	30	10
Trike to D*Talipapa	20	10
Pasalubong		Xxxxxxxx
Trike back to D*Mall	60	30
Dinner: Smoke		165
Day 4
Brakfast: c/o Tans Guesthouse
Trike to the Port	40	20
Boat to Caticlan (c/o Sea Air)		Free
Van transfer to Boracay Airport (c/o Sea Air)		Free
Boracay Terminal Fee		20
Additional Pasalubong		Xxxxxxxxx
Taxi to reality		240
plus:
Airfare: paid on March 2011		600***
	Total:	4,896.00Php
		exclusive of pasalubong
Disclaimer: Prices may vary.

So how do you spend 3K in Boracay?

* we paid half of the total amount last June as our deposit, we just paid the balance of 2250 upon check in (divide by 3) = 750

**this is really optional (350)

***as stated, we paid our air fare last March, so it's not included in our supposed 3k budget (600)

FROM the total amount of 4,896.00 (minus) 750 (minus) 350 (minus) 600 = 3,196.00Php    (excluding pasalubong which would range from 500-800).


**** Yes, you can enjoy Boracay even if you only have at least three thousand pesos. Try some options:

a. spend less for food and accomodation, spend more for night life and pasalubong (pabongga effect)
b. spend more for food, less for accomodation, spend less (or don't spend at all) for night life and pasalubong (chill lang)
c. spend less for food and accomodation, spend less for pasalubong (tipid mode)
d. spend less for food and accomodation and don't buy pasalubong (kuripot mode)

Boracay, after the storm

Our dull and dreary first day in Boracay didn't disappoint me at all. I had a blast swimming the beach without worryng about gettin tan (?).. oKay,dark.. Haha.. Besides, we had the beach all by ourselves which you cannot enjoy when you visit Boracay on a summer.

It didn't rain, but baha pa rin in some other parts of Boracay, especially our pathway goin to Tan's Guesthouse. While having breakfast, we contacted our guide, Kuya Nino (0915.872.2855) if we can push through our helmet diving/reefwalking activity, and he answered in affirmative.

My original plan was to do reefwalking in the  morning and paraw sailing to enjoy the sun set. But Kuya Nino bargained us with a cheaper price for reefwalking and island hopping and I gave in, surprisingly. Tsk tsk..

**

Island Hopping Boracay
1000.00/boat

This was a big mistake. Unless you are willing to spend another 200 pesos for the entrance fee to Crystal Cove, and you have your reliable underwater camera, I think you will enjoy this. Haha

We first had snorkeling. We forgot to bring bread for fish feeding, but we had cheese rings and dingdong corn bits. So we tried to share some of it to the fish, and they loved it. We even gave them big bang chocolate bar for their dessert haha, but make sure to squeeze it into tiny pieces so more fish can benefit from it. I bet they're pretty much hungry. All water related activities were cancelled the previous day, so they weren't able to eat. Too bad, wala kaming tinapay, mas nabusog sana sila. Haha.



kitang kita ang ebidensya: dingdong! dingdong!


Snorkeling in Boracay wasn't as grand as the one I had in Pandan Island, in Puerto Princesa. Water is greyish, though there were different kinds and colors of fish. We didn't have any underwater camera, but Jen managed to secure some photo taken while she's on board the boat, while me and Donna were busy trying to feed the colorful sea creatures.

We snorkelled for an hour or so, then we proceeded to our supposed island hopping. But we had no plans spending another cent for the 200-peso-entrance to Crystal Cove.

Crystal Cove is an island few meters away from Boracay island. It offers a idyllic and lovely view of the South China Sea. There are two caves you can explore in the island, that according to our boatman, one cave can be found in the middle of the island that leads to the open sea. I would really love to try it, but I didn't have enough funds. Maybe next time.

Upon skipping Crystal Cove, I thought we were going somewhere pa, yun na pala yun. See? Such a waste. We just snorkelled and made 'ikot' to  the cove, then thats it. We were taken to the shore where we are supposed to register for our helmet diving acitivity.

Helmet diving/Reef walking
300 per person

Unlike the island hopping experience, this one I think need not to be missed. If you're on a tight budget and want to try at least one activity in Boracay, you can pick this one. Usual price ranges from 300-500 pesos, with free photos and cd. Try haggling.

Get up close with the corals and the fish. Fret not, the helmet isn't that heavy under water, besides you have expert men to assist you, 15 feet below sea level. This will last for 20 minutes. Do this exciting activity at least a day before you leave the island, as you won't get your photos right there and then. Ours were delivered to our guesthouse that night, because we're leaving early morning the next day.

Just don't expect much of the quality of your photos. Ours were a little terrible. Out of more than 50 photos, only few were presentable. Haha. My bf was the first one to view the photos as I asked him to transfer it to a usb.

me: kumusta mga pictures?
 bf: ok lang, parang mama mo ang kumuha haha

If there's one thing my mama is terrible at, aside from mathematics, kung saan ako nagmana,  it's her dreadful skill in taking pictures. Laging wala sa frame ang kuha. Haha.

**

After our water activities, we had lunch at Jonah's then head back to our guesthouse, as Donna had to catch her flight in Kalibo. Jen and I decided to shop a little in D*Talipapa, the best place to buy your pasalubong, but it was not the best time for us to be there.

Sa ngalan ng budget, nilusong uli namin ang baha. We saw other tourists doin the same, so mag iinarte pa ba kami.

We ended our night with our last meal in the SMOKE restaurant. We're runnin out of funds, so we settled for some low-end yet value-for-your-money restaurant.

Binaha kami sa Boracay

It is said that Boracay is the Mecca of beach lovers in the country. And beaches are best enjoyed during summer, when no one and nothing can forbid you in doin anything you want, unless you fear getting darker skins.

But what can you do in the beautiful Boracay when the heavens deprived you of a clear beach-bright sunny skies?

I purposely woke up as early as five in the morning to catch my first sunrise in the beach, but the sweet pouring rain greeted me.

We managed to squeeze ourselves under Donna's micro-umbrella and went to Tan's guesthouse main building for our breakfast.

Typhoon Ramon joined us for breakfast and his strength was unstoppable. We were advised that all water-related activities are cancelled as the weater was tremendously mad. We didn't want to do land tours either, as they were expensive, besides, it's raining hard, so we thought we won't enjoy it that much.

After breakfast, we went back to our room. This time the alleys to the annex building started to look like the roads in Espania when it's raining, so were the other areas, most especially D*Mall and D*Palengke. Binabaha din pala ang Boracay.

Amid the heavy rains, Boracay virgins we are - Donna and I decided to take our first dip to the wide white beach. We owned it for a while as we were the only ones who mindlessly braved the vastness of the ocean. We played against the gigantic, wild waves who unceasingly slapped our pretty faces like there's no tomorrow.

Donna and I grew up in a town sorrounded with sea waters (El Nido and Surigao). While having full pleasure in the beach, we were talking how different Boracay compared to other beaches we have in our respective hometowns. Indeed, Boracay has her very own distinct charm.

Tired of battling the enormous body of water, we decided buy some food and drinks in D*Mall, then head to our lunch. Gasthof restaurant is just few steps away from the white beach. 

They didn't mind if we're all wet and wild while dining. It has been raining all day, and we were the ones enjoying it, ikaw na ang lumusong galore sa baha, maligo ng bongga sa ulan.  While other tourists especially the Koreans were all geared up with their colorful raincoats and uniformed umbrellas.

After our late lunch, we spent the whole afternoon catching up in our room, as the weather got a little worse outside. 

bread: ensaymada, spanish bread, banana cake





I fell asleep until almost nine in the evening, and my good friends didn't bother to wake me up. We had our late dinner at La Carmela de Boracay. We wanted to try seafood buffet along the beach, but it's a little way our of our budgets.

The merciless rain stopped, so we were able to spend the whole night for some souvenir hopping because Donna needed to go back to Manila the next day.



650 each

Without the pasalubong, we shelled out around 600 pesos each  for our first day in Boracay, all of which were spent for food. Kami na matatakaw! Haha!



my firsts in Boracay...

Boracay - perhaps everyone's dream destination..!

How can you not dream of  a white beach with  more than three kilometre stretch of talc-and-flour-like sand, youre with your special someone, holding hands while leisurely walking, waiting for the sun to set and capture the haven of a perfect scenery?

This is how I imagined Boracay before I set foot in the place. I got familiar with her during college days, when airfares were a little out of reach by a normal-no-work-no-pay-employee. Even then, I never dreamed of goin to Boracay. A self-confessed-non-beach-lover I am, I think Boracay is one-of-my-least-priority-places-to-go-in-the-Philippines before turning 30.

But words about her exquisite beauty and grandeur continued to intrigue and entice me and my wandering spirit, so when Sea Air announced their once-in-a-blue-moon seat sale last March 2011, I and my friends grabbed our tickets and planned to storm Boracay.

October 2011

First flight with Sea Air.

First out-of-town trip together.

First to Boracay.

Though this trip has been planned months ago, its as if we havent saved a lot penny for this much awaited vacation. While boarding the plane, I was able to convince myself that I only have 3,500 pesos on my pocket, as I wanted to prove to myself that Boracay can be enjoyed not only my dollar signed currencies, but also by some averaged-hardworking-peso-earner individuals like us. haha

So we all agreed to spend at least three thousand in the island.


TOUCHDOWN
Boracay Airport

We arrived Boracay Airport almost 4pm. Hopped to a van going to Caticlan Port. With our limited budget, I got so overwhelmed with the free airport transfer offered by Sea Air. Five-minute trike drive from airport to the ferry port will cost you 50 to a hundred.

From Caticlan port, you need to ride a jetty for another five minutes before reaching Boracay island, and this will cost you 25 pesos. Alas, Sea Air offers free boats transfers as well. Haha. (I am, in any way, not related to Sea Air, I am just a satisfied and overwhelmed first time customer. Haha)

So we only paid for the environmental fee (75) and terminal fee (50) before hopping to the boat.

...took the trike to D*Mall, Palengke side...

this way to the beach

...checked in at Tans Guesthouse...

...mesmerized by our first and only sunset in Boracay...

...strolled Station 2 to Station 1  (at maglway sa mga seafood)...

...and dined our first meal in Mang Inasal. Haha.

Gastronomy: Boracay

MANG INASAL

 

The cheapest meal I had in Boracay.

 

Ok, Ok.. I know what you're thinking.. We went all the way to Boracay to dine in Mang Inasal.Haha.

Well, we arrived late in the afternoon. We're tired and We can't decide where to eat. This is what I hate when travelling with my friends (Donna and Jen). We have this 'ikaw? kayo?' attitude when you're actually on the verge of starvation.

We strolled along the busy, talc-like pathways of the famous Boracay on our first night, looking for a decent and dignified restaurant to fill our empty stomachs. It's our first meal in Boracay, I think we should have eaten somewhere worth remembering, for a first timer. However, our feet took us to Mang Inasal, inside D*Mall. We were actually battling between Mang Inasal and its adjacent restaurant, Andok's. Haha. Ofcourse, the eat-all-you-kanin wins!

Sure you're familiar with Mang Inasal's menu so I didn't bother for a single shot. Haha. But to give you an idea of the restaurant, I obliged myself to borrow one photo.


credits to the owner


Damaged: 140

BREAKFAST @ TANS GUESTHOUSE

Perhaps one of the cheapest and modest accomodations in Boracay is Tans Guesthouse.

I have no other protest except that we were accomodated in the newly built annex of the guesthouse. It's a five-to-eight-minute-walk away from the main guesthouse, and their restaurant is at the top floor. We had no choice but to do this early morning exercise for the next three days, before we can eat our complimentary breakfast.

And to baptize our first day in Boracay, a pleasant welcome from Ramon surprised us. We had but one tiny umbrella, thanks to Donna. We squeezed ourselves into the small umbrella, walked on the small alleys towards the main guesthouse.

So what can you expect for a free breakfast from a 500-per-person-per-day accomodation? 

 

Damaged: free

GASTHOF RESTAURANT

Craving for some baby back ribs, try Gasthof. It's one of the famous restuarants in the island. Very accessible if you're staying near D*Mall, or Station 2.

'Para kaming basang sisiw' when we entered the restaurant, as we had our 'playing-in-the-rain-with-Ramon' moment beforehand. We had to ask the attendant of the restaurant if they can accomodate us, as we were totally soaking wet.

It turned out, we were the only ones dining in the place. Ofcourse, we tried their best seller, the baby back ribs. They offer two different servings, 400 good for 2-4 persons, and 700 for  bigger groups.

To ease our cold bodies, we added sinigang na baboy for our menu. Serving was huge, good for 5-6 persons, I think.

Damaged: 755 (divide by 3) = 251 per person

LA CARMELA DE BORACAY BUFFET

The only buffet restaurant we tried in Boracay.

On our first night, we strolled from Station 2 to Station one, looking for a restaurant, and ended up in Mang Inasal back in Station 2.

On our second night, we lingered the dim-lighted walkways towards Station 3. Passed by the famous Regency Boracay, and other known restaurants. Again, we cannot decide where to eat (this time blame it on our budget haha). I suggested we eat in La Carmela de Boracay, as I know it only costs 270 pesos, with unlimited iced tea. Not bad, I think, because other buffet restaurants, especailly seafood  buffets costs from 300 and above, exclusive of drinks.

Upon entering the restaurant, I then stormed the buffet table, and got a little disappointed with what I saw. Few food selections, ordinary menu, ordinary dessserts. They also have a separate table for mongolian food lovers.

It was past nine in the evening when we arrived in La Carmela. A bit late for the buffet. My bad, I overslept

my afternoon rest and my friends didn't bother to wake me up.

Few minutes, one of the crew approached us and told us to secure food from the mongolian table as they're about to close it. So Jen and Donna hurriedly took a plate of some mongolian noodles I can barely recognize.

A little later, they again asked us to get our dessserts. There was nothing special about it, just macaroons, brownies and sago-salad.

 

facade of La Carmela de Boracay

Damaged:  270 per person

JONAH'S FRUIT SHAKE AND SNACK BAR

'Never leave Boracay without tryng this one.' 'You've never been to Boracay, if you never tried Jonah's fruit shake.'

These are the few signature statements I read about Jonah's fruit shake when I was still doing my research for our Boracay trip. And when travelling, it's always a norm to experience your destinations' must-trys, and I thought this place was one of them.

After our island hopping and reef walking, we instantly agreed to visit Jonah's. Our trike driver halted in two other branches of Jonah's located along the highways, but we were actually looking for the one along ther beachfront, facing the famous grotto in the island.

Maybe you can tell your driver it's the one near Waling-Waling, that's what Jen told the driver (it's her second time in Boracay.)

After few minutes, we were there. And then, my awe-wow-moment.

the most photographed view of Boracay

We ordered shrimps, chicken curry and of course, their famous fruit shakes. I have never seen such a number of different flavors. Most of the choices are weird combinations.

I had banana-choco-vanilla, Jen ordered Mango Rum and Donna had Mango-Pineapple. Strawberry and avocado were not available.

While taking our order, Donna asked the attending crew what's the secret ingredient of their special fruit shake, that made them undoubtably famous? The crew just smiled, and said, 'wala naman po.'

True enough. There was really nothing extraordinary with their fruit shakes. So frustrating. Haha. It taste normal, just like Fruitas or the ones bein sold in the streets.

I think what made them different from others is that they offer a lot flavor combinations, which I can't even remember one. And instead of placing it in your  usual fruit shake cups, they put it in a bottle (think of an empty, recycled, plastic bottle) which I think is unhealthy.

Good thing, they have the most amazing view in the island, I can forgive their overhyped, overrated fruit shake ever. Haha.

Damaged: 795 (divide by 3) = 265 per person

SMOKE RESTAURANT

Last supper in Boracay.

Forget the fancy, expensive and high-end restaurants, and have a seat in one of the famous karenderias in town, SMOKE.

You won't notice this restaurant, unless you knew it exist.

Since, we're on our last night, and our pockets were almost empty, Jen and I decided to grab a bite in SMOKE, just like our FEU days. Haha. 

Jen had their best seller, beef salpicao. Shrimps weren't available, so I settled for a single serving of prawn sinigang (incluide 4pcs of prawns.)  I also tried their calamansi shake.

If you on a budget, you can also try different karenderia's along SMOKE restaurant. It may not be beachfront, but it's worth the value of your money.

Damaged: 165