BACKPACKING: PINOY BUDGET

Travel is cheap

2006-09-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

Travel is CHEAP AND EASY

2006-09-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Since I was a kid, I am always curious what the people of other countries look like, I often wonder what are their daily activities and their traditions. Differences in culture and language always fascinate me. It has been my wish to travel around the globe.

When I was able to earn my own monies, I thought I can do all the travels I dreamt of. My first international travel was in 2005. I came to realize that traveling is so expensive. During this trip, 4days 3 nights in Singapore costs me 35,000pesos, the amount I earned for 2 months of work! It was discouraging.

Then I was introduced to backpacking. With the help of the internet, I have enriched myself on surviving and thriving on a tight budget while on travel. Since then, I have promised myself not to spend more than 5,000pesos for a 4days 3night holiday abroad.I am proud and glad that I was able to hold on to that.

Traveling then became an obsession, which is why I did not go into specialty training after medschool. I fear that going into training will oblige me to stop my travels.

For some Filipinos, travel is a luxury. In my travels, I seldom encounter a fellow pinoy traveler. However, if given a proper tool, I suppose there are pinoys or other people, like me, who just want to travel, no matter what.

Here are my suggestions how to do it in the least possible expenses- A.k.a. enjoying international holiday while not draining your bank accounts.

Hongkong- Possible cheap routes

2006-09-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Try Clark - Macau via tigerairways, sometimes promofare starts at 1,000pesos, you have to buy return ticket though.

then Macau - Hongkong by ferry details: http://www.turbojet.com.hk/

Singapore from Davao or Calrk (pampanga)

2006-09-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

I have tried the Davao- Singapore- Davao route in July 2005 through Silkair, but it is quite expensive. 25,000pesos for two-way ticket.

A cheaper option i did in January 2006 was Davao-manila- CLark- Singapore

Dvo- Manila (2,300pesos, via Cebupacificair)
Manila- Clark (300pesos by bus)
Clark- Singapore (1,500 pesos promo fare at Tigerairways.com, 4 mos advance booking)

Hongkong from Davao (Mindanao) or Cebu

2006-09-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

Cebu pacific air now flies from Davao (mindanao) to Hongkong (via cebu) Fare starts at 10,000pesos. hotel accomodations plus food and taxes- i think you have to prepare a minimum of 30,000peos to fully enjoy hongkong. I gotta try this route sometime in 2007.

The cheapest fare from Davao to HK I bought was during Christmas 2008. Davao to HK costs 25 pesos only! Checkout for more--http://gil-hongkong.blogspot.com/

Whatchout for updates....

Malaysia from Mindanao- minimum budget 100usdollars

2006-09-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

If you are from mindanao, the cheapest travel possible is to Sandakan, Malaysia from Zamboanga city through passenger ship.

more info at http://www.weesamexpress.com

find cheapest accomodation at http://www.hostelworld.com

more about Sandakan and the rest of Sabah at http://www.sabahtourism.com/

from sandakan, you can extend your travel to Brunei or/and to Indonesian province of Kalimantan.