Top 7 Hacks for Every Student Who Wants to Travel Around the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are so many beautiful places around the Philippines: Boracay, Mactan, Chocolate Hills. The list goes on and on. Visiting the Philippines should definitely be on your bucket list.

Despite having a rather unstable political situation in the country, the Philippines continues to be a very desirable location for tourists. According to Statista, the number of travelers to the Philippines will rise up to 4.3 million by the year 2021. But besides being a very touristy place, the Philippines are a rather distant place and pretty expensive to travel to.

But how can you afford traveling to this paradise if you’re a student on a budget? Let’s take a look at the top 7 hacks for every student who wants to travel around the Philippines and not spend the whole fortune on it.

#1 Plan Your Journey Ahead

Traveling to the Philippines is a very exciting event. However, it can definitely be spoiled by the bad weather forecast. The Philippines have a rather unstable weather with rains and storms regularly flooding the island. Just take a look at the weather forecast for the second week of September 2018:

Despite rather warm temperatures, the Philippines often have storms coming around, so make sure that your trip doesn’t coincide with a rainy period on the islands.

#2 Find Cheaper Tickets

If you’re a student traveling to the Philippines on a budget, you should start saving from the very beginning. Luckily, there are plenty of websites that can help you find cheaper plane tickets. Here are the most popular ones:

Google Flights: of course, Google is a go-to website that can show you the most affordable flights. You can choose the best option by using various filters.

Skyscanner: besides having standard filters to find the cheapest flight, this website also allows you to find one from the airport nearby. This website can also help you find the cheapest hotel and other traveling services.

CheapFlights: with many options to find a cheap flight to Manila, this website also has cheap vacation packages, so make sure to also check this section. Sometimes there are some pretty good offers there.

Tip! If you really want to save some money on a flight to the Philippines, be ready to monitor these websites several times each day. Good offers come and go pretty quickly, so make sure that you catch them right on time.

#3 Pack Comfortable Clothes

Pack your bags smartly: the Philippines have a fast-changing weather, so make sure that you have clothes for every occasion. Alison Gibson, an HR manager at Proessaywriting and an avid traveler, advises not to pack heels and tight clothes: “Unless you’re having a job meeting or something, the Philippines are not the place to showcase your high heels or tight jeans. You’ll be commuting a lot, so make sure that you wear comfortable clothes.”

As you’ve seen on the picture with the forecast above, you’ve probably noticed that it’s usually pretty warm there. So bring only comfortable and simple clothes with you to make sure that you won’t sweat too much. 

#4 Learn Safety Lessons

Despite being a very beautiful location to travel to, the Philippines are a rather unsafe place for tourists. There are some things you should know before you go out to explore the city streets:

Don’t bring all your money with you. There will be many pickpockets around you. But if you do need to carry all your money, insert cash in some other parts of your clothing, like shoes, socks or a bra.

Don’t wear headphones in public. You need to be aware of your surroundings.

Learn about the most common tourist scams before going to the Philippines, like fake travel agents and fake goods. 

#5 Choose Accommodation Smartly

The housing can be pretty expensive around the Philippines. A dorm room for a backpacker can cost you up to $18 a night. However, there are a lot of other cheaper options for a student on a budget, including:

Dorms outside Manila. Choose accommodation outside the city center. You can find a cheaper option, for example, in Palawan, where there are dorm beds for only $5 a night.

Go local! Some locals will gladly offer you a room at a cheaper price. But make sure that you choose a trustworthy host.

If you want an unusual experience, choose to stay in a shack on the beach. Such an option can cost you around $2 a night. Of course, make sure that the weather is warm and clear. 

#6 Go for Cheap Food and Drinks

When in the Philippines, don’t be afraid to try street food and drinks. Food is an integral part of the Filipino culture, with every local reportedly eating up to 5 meals a day!

Trying some street food will cost you only $1. If you decide to eat in a café or a restaurant, be ready to pay up to $20 depending on a location you choose. Food and drinks can cost you some fortune, so make sure you spend your money smart. 

#7 Choose Cheaper Activities and Transportation

When traveling around the Philippines, make sure that you use public transportation. Stick to ferries, if you have some time and travel on a budget. Use long-distance buses if you need to go to a distant location.

While in the Philippines, you’ll spend most of your budget on activities. For example, diving with the sharks can cost you up to $25 dollars. However, you can choose snorkeling: hiring a snorkeling gear can cost you only $5 max. To save on the activities, try to bargain: the chances are that the owner will give in and you’ll get to save some cash. 

Wrapping Up

Traveling to the Philippines is a must-do for every student! Hopefully, these tips will help you plan your journey smartly in order to enjoy every minute of it. 

Author info:

Tom Jager is professional blogger. He works at A-writer. He has degree in Law and English literature. Tom has written numerous articles/online journals. You can reach him at G+ or Facebook.