Tips for the Frugal Traveler

Times are tough, and every penny saved is a penny that can be used for something else. Travel does not have to be expensive for it to be memorable.  If you know how to make adjustments to your vacation budget, you will be able to do more, buy more, and have a much better experience. Here are some tips on how to get huge savings from your next travel adventure.

1. Know Your Options

There are a lot of travel packages options and packages available in the market, each one promising you the best experience or the cheapest vacation. Most of these providers will push their customers into a corner, pressuring them with deadlines and time constraints. You should not allow yourself to blindly close a deal because “it is your last chance” or “it is impossible to find a better deal later on.” If an agent tries to sell you something under pressure, there is a big probability that you are getting a bad deal. Consider your options and look into the details and inclusions of several packages. Here's an example of a package that has excellent inclusions:

2. Avail of Airline Discounts

Every now and then, major airlines offer huge discounts on airfare. Availing of these promotional rates could spell the difference between a “nice trip” and a “fabulous trip.” You can get as much as 80% off from the regular rate if you plan your trip ahead of time. This will come out much cheaper than the “all-in promos” that some travel agencies and groupon sites offer.

3. Travel Buddies

It is less expensive to travel with a group, and travel agencies usually provide substantial discounts for groups of 7 or more. If you find yourself traveling alone or with a small group, it may be best to consider finding travel buddies who can share your costs. You can meet  these people at the airport, or at your hotel. You will be surprised at how much you can save on transportation costs, meals, and other expenses. This will also be a great opportunity to meet new friends and contacts.

4. Get Cheap Transportation

When you arrive at a new place, you should try to get information on your transportation option from the experts: the locals. Cheap transport alternatives are always available if you knew where to look. Airport cabs and tricycles, for example, usually charge more than the public utility vehicles you can catch outside the airport gates. There are also travel agencies and inns that offer free airport transfers to your hotel.

5. Buy Your Own Booze

Some hotels may charge a minimal corkage rate for drinks, but you will still end up saving money if you bought your own beer or liquor from a local supermarket.

6. What Guidebook?

Guidebooks are useful if you want to learn random information about a potential destination, but you should never make the mistake of relying too much on these bulky (and possibly outdated) books. They are usually expensive, heavy, and limited. A much better alternative is to whip out your smart phone and search for good travel blogs. Also, you can always get information from your hotel’s front desk officer, as well a from locals.

7. Cook for Yourself

If you have access to a kitchen (and if you know what you’re doing), it may be a good idea for you to cook your own meals. It will be cheaper if you buy your own ingredients from a supermarket and cook sumptuous meals for your family and friends. Ask your hotel beforehand if they allow the use of their cooking facilities, or if they are willing to cook for your (usually for a minimal cooking fee). Of course, you will end up missing out on local cuisines and delicacies (which is a travel experience in itself). Some hotels like Villa Saturnina allow the guests to use the kitchen facilities, as well as cook for the guests.

Puerto Princesa Group Packages (Great Value!)

Whether you prefer an inn that's located in the heart of the city or a bed and breakfast near the city's premier tourist destinations, we have the right place for you!  

Check out these great and affordable tour packages from Villa Saturnina and Seasons Guesthouse! Look closely at the inclusions and be amazed by how far your hard-earned money can go! 

Villa Saturnina, on the other hand, is located approximately 12 kms away from the airport, and is near the Honda Bay Wharf (also about 10 minutes away from Robinsons Palawan). You can check out the Chinese Temple right across the street, or enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine at VietVille. 

 Seasons Guesthouse is located in front of the Skylight Convention center, and is accessible to most of the local bars and restaurants within city proper. Perfect for tourists who want to spend the day touring, and the evenings bar hopping.

Sabang X Zipline

I'm not exactly a fan of ziplines, but I had the chance to try out the Sabang X Zipline the last time I joined the Underground River Tour. This one is different from the Ugong Rock Zipline and the Irawan Ecotour Zipline (both of which I have yet to try). All of the other tourists on the van were excited to try it out, so I shrugged and decided to go for it as well. After all, how bad can it be? I'm pretty sure the cables are secure (with regular maintenance checks), and should an "accidental slip" happen, the ocean is right there to break my fall.

This quick side trip is available to most tourists, and all they need to do is to request their tour guide or van driver to make a detour to the zipline. The drop off point is on a beach located a few minutes away from the Sabang Wharf. The guests are then expected to take a "short trek" (10-30 minutes, depending on your stamina) to the jump off point (which is on top of a mountain). 

I was out of shape that morning (understatement of the year), so I had to take a couple of stops to catch my breath. But the effort was worth it when I saw the breathtaking view on top of the trail. It was so beautiful, that I totally forgot about the fact that in a few minutes I was going to be hooked to a metallic wire and pushed into oblivion. 

When I was finally sliding down from the mountain top to the beach, all I can think about was how beautiful the scenery was. I actually wished that the line was longer, and I had to consciously prevent myself from grabbing the wire just so I can dwell on the experience for a while longer. It was truly worth the effort and the P550 entrance fee.

Butterfly Garden and Tribal Village

The Butterfly Eco Garden and Tribal Village is not typically part of the guided city tours, but is conveniently located near Baker's Hill. As such, it is easy enough to ask the van driver/tour guide to drop by this location for a few minutes of education and entertainment. For a minimal fee of P50 (discounted fee is P35), you get to spend as much time as you can spare enjoying the tourist attraction and learning new things in the process.

Located a few meters away from the main highway, the entrance is hard to miss. It also has a reasonably sized signage for those who are unfamiliar with the place. Upon entering the garden, one of the first things that you will notice is the huge net that covers the entire place. Obviously, they don't want any of their fluttering creatures escape and move on to other places. They also have a mini fountain that is reminiscent of a river or a stream. The colorful insects fly around freely, seemingly oblivious to human presence. The guide was also helpful enough to explain how these creatures start from humble beginnings, and end up being creatures of beauty and grace.

As added attractions to the garden, exotic animals such as the Bearcat, Palawan Peacock, scorpions and geckos are also on display.

For me, the best part of the tour was the Tribal Village. They set up a couple of bahay kubos, which actually serve as dwelling places for the Palaw-ans (tribe name) who were there. They also have musical instrument, weapons, baskets, and livelihood paraphernalia on display. One guy was playing music using his kudyapi, while the lady explained how these villagers spend a typical day in the mountains. Another guy was kind enough to demonstrate how to use the supok, a weapon used for hunting wild boars and animals.

The experience and interaction was awe-inspiring. It brought me back memories of immersion during college days. I couldn't help but feel envious of how simple their lives are, and at the same time feel blessed that modern conveniences are available at my disposal. In my opinion, everybody needs a humbling experience like this once in a while.

Enjoying Puerto Princesa on a Budget

They say it can't be done, but it is actually possible to spend only 6000 and have the FULL Puerto Princesa experience!  All you need is a little insider information and minimal planning skills!

Here's the basic computation of what you will be spending:

Airfare - 1,160

Room (2 nights) - 798

Tours - 4,000

Total: 5,958

*** add extra for one dinner, trike fare and pasalubong shopping.

So here's what you need to do:

1. Book a cheap flight! Piso fares from major airlines come more frequently than all your employment bonuses combined, you just got to know when they happen! Check out www.facebook.com/VillaSaturnina for updates, or you can also check the airline websites! Obviously, you will have to spend more than 1 Peso to book a flight, but you can still get a cheap round trip ticket for only 1,160 (inclusive of fees and taxes). Not bad! 

2. Get reasonably priced accommodations! You don't need to spend more than two thousand pesos for a room if you're gonna spend the whole day on tours! Who needs a pool when you have the ocean at your disposal? It would be best to choose a hotel that will take care of your needs and assist you every step of the way! Choose between Villa Saturnina and Seasons Guesthouse! You can get nice air-conditioned rooms with breakfast, airport transfers, and hot shower starting at 399/head/night! (Room rates vary depending on location and number of guests). And did I mention we have decent TripAdvisor reviews from previous guests?

3. Find the best tour rates! Starting at 4000, you get the best tours that include Underground River (with lunch), Honda Bay (with lunch, up to 5 islands), City Tour, and Firefly Watching (with dinner). Groups of 5 or more also get exclusive tours. It truly doesn't get better than this.

For inquiries, you can leave a message at our Facebook Page.

Changes in Tour Pricing and Inclusions

Hello Everyone!

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the following changes have been implemented by the local travel agencies as far as tours are concerned:

1. The Honda Bay Tour short distance option will now include the following islands: Cowrie, Pambato and Luli island. Lunch and transfers are still included in the package.
2. The Honda Bay Tour long distance option now only includes 2 islands: Pandan island and Luli island. Lunch and transfers are still included in the package.
3. These changes have been brought about by the sudden increase in the entrance and cottage fees of some islands, as well as the revisions in the boat rental fees from the Honda Bay Association. Supposedly, this is standard among all local travel agencies.
4. For now, the rates for the Underground River, City Tour, Firefly Watching, and Dolphin Watching tours remain unchanged.

***Please note that the Honda Bay changes apply to agency-booked tours, and not to walk-in tours (cheaper rate for groups of 5 pax or more, up to 5 islands, and can be availed of from the Villa Saturnina location)

There are also "rumors" about a possible increase in the Underground River permit, which will inevitably result to an increase in the Underground River Tour rates. For now, these remain as rumors, hence our partner agency has decided to stick to the old rates.

Please also note that Villa Saturnina is running the 399/head promo effective July 2013, until further notice. This supercedes previous promos that may have been published on our site. The 399/head promo covers the room accommodation, breakfast and airport transfers, and applies to groups of 5 or more. Seasons Guesthouse has a similar promo, with different rates. Please refer to the photo below for more details.

The Tour Rates provided above are based on current market prices, and may be subject to change at any time (we can only guarantee the room rate, which is within our full control). The tour price changes will depend solely on industry standards/local government mandate and are not within the control of the hotels.

The Iwahig Firefly Watching Experience

Thanks to my friend Kenny and her group of SK kids from Batangas, I finally had the chance to try out the Firefly Watching Tour at the other side of the city: Iwahig. Compared to the one at Baywalk, the Iwahig tour is a bit on the "rough" side. I would say that choosing between one or the other will boil down to personal preferences and choices, but both tours are worth experiencing.

The tour started at 6PM, when the tour guide/van picked us up from Villa Saturnina. The first stop was a buffet dinner at Asturias Hotel. There was a wedding reception at the usual venue/dining area, so they instead setup the buffet at the coffee shop. While it was a bit cramped, everybody was able to comfortably have dinner. The food was nothing exceptional, but a buffet is a buffet. I would say that the highlight of that stopover was the photo ops session with Mayor Hagedorn. I was actually surprised when the kids suddenly became excited and approached him. Luckily, Mayor Hagedorn was very accommodating and allowed the kids to have their pics taken with him.

Back to the tour, we left Asturias after dinner and went on a 15 minute ride to Iwahig. I must say, the road leading to the location was too dark because of the lack of street lights. It probably added to the sense of adventure and thrill, but I wouldn't want to be stuck there with a flat tire or an engine problem. Once we got to the site, however, the excitement of being with the fireflies came back in a rush. Supposedly, these creatures only thrive in a clean and balanced environment. I am truly blessed to be living in such a place.

After registration, we were asked to group ourselves into 3. There were 24 of us so the division was pretty even, although one person backed out because of an uncontrollable fear of the unknown. We were also assigned number tags, representing our turn for the tour. The waiting time was surprisingly fast, and we were on the platform in no time. A few photos were taken by the on-site photographer (sold at 150 a piece for interested parties) and we were off into the darkness of the night.

The Iwahig tour was different from the Baywalk tour in several ways. For starters, we used smaller, non motorized boats for the tour. They say this is more eco-friendly and less disruptive, and I tend to agree. We also did not use any form of artificial lighting, and we had to make do with the moonlight and our natural night visions. I seem to remember seeing more fireflies at the Baywalk tour, but this could be attributed to the season/time of year. The boatman, Anthony, seemed to be very knowledgable with his job and was able to answer all of our questions with authority and confidence.

The planktons were also remarkable. These microscopic creatures glow in the dark when disturbed, and I enjoyed dipping my hand in the water once in a while (half scared that an unseen creature would take notice and bite my arm off). It reminded me on the whale in "Life of Pi." It took every ounce of will power to stop myself from diving in (or pushing one of my boat mates) to see if we would actually glow in the dark.

What made the tour more memorable for me was the stargazing. At one point, we started to ignore the fireflies and focused our attention to the stars instead. I was amazed when Anthony pulled out a small battery-operated contraption that emitted a laser light that pointed straight to the stars! It was like listening to a teacher pointing at the constellations using a giant stick, with the entire sky as the board. 

The actual tour lasted for approximately 20 minutes. It was exciting, educational, and entertaining. It could also be romantic if went on the tour with your significant other. I'm sure the boatmen won't mind if you stole a kiss or two, or make a marriage proposal. Definitely a place you need to visit when you go on a Puerto Princesa vacation.