The Philippines has been a favorite destination of backpackers when visiting South East Asia for good reasons. One of them is that traveling to and around this country is very affordable. To prove to you that you can make the most of your visit to this paradise without breaking the bank, we have created a travel guide on how much does it cost to go to the Philippines.
In this article, we will talk about everything from the cost of going to the Philippines and each of its popular islands. We have also compiled some tips on how to save money when traveling to and around this country. Read on to get started with planning your next trip to the Philippines.
How much does it cost to go to the Philippines?
The peak season of traveling to the Philippines is in the months of January, November, and December. The flight cost ranges from $2,500 to $3,000 On the other hand, the cheapest month to fly to the Philippines in September. The flight cost ranges around $1500 to $1800. It is also recommended to travel to the islands between approximately October and April. Keep in mind that the Philippines is a big Catholic country. This means that it can be quite expensive to travel here during the Christmas holiday and Holly Week.
Want to save on your travel flight cost? Here are some tips on how to save when booking flights:
1. Travel Mid-Week and Late at Night
Weekdays are the cheapest days to travel. If your schedule is not that tight and you can spare one to two days in your weekdays to travel, choose to do so from Monday to Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday are two of the cheapest days you can choose to travel for domestic flights. On the other hand, Thursday and Friday are the most affordable days when it comes to international flights.
As for the timings, it is best to travel late at night. They call them red-eye flights and they leave after 9 PM and arrive at your destination before 5 AM. It is cheaper because people avoid these flights since they prefer to sleep comfortably in their beds instead of being in an uncomfortable airplane.
2. Set browser to private mode
Use private mode in your browser when you are searching for your flights online. This trick has saved many travelers hundreds of dollars and has helped them avoid sneaky price hikes. Using private mode helps you avoid airline websites’ cookies which are responsible for tracking your activities or seeing what flights you look up.
3. Compare flight deals
Don’t book the first cheap flight you find on your browser. Use Google Flight or Skyscanner to compare flight deals. This will help you see and compare a few ticket options to your destination all in one place. Let these applications or websites do all the hard work of selecting all the best and cheapest flight options out there.
4. Try connecting flights
In case you want to know how much does it cost to go to the Philippines, and you want it to be cheaper, try connecting flights. If your travel dates are flexible, you can take advantage of connecting flights. These flights can be much cheaper than nonstop. This is because long layovers give you a lot of benefits too. Connecting flights let you explore an additional country as you travel that you probably haven’t been to before. Going to the Philippines, you will probably stop by places such as Dubai, Japan, or Istanbul. If you’re lucky, you can leave the airport and go around the city for just a few hours. This way, you can make the most of your layover and see new places without breaking the bank.
Cost of a 1-week vacation in the Philippines
Since there’s a lot of places to visit in the Philippines, spending just a few days to this paradise is not enough. To help you plan, a one week vacation, here’s how much you need to prepare. Your pocket money should be around $300 to $400 per person. If you want to splurge, you can always add more to the budget. On the other hand, if you are not traveling alone, you can save more as you can share the expenses with your friend or other half. If you’re traveling as a family with kids, it doesn’t automatically mean that everything will be more expensive. Remember that the price often goes down when traveling with kids as their tickets are cheaper and you can always share hotel rooms with them.
Meal prices may vary when you are in the Philippines. However, the average cost of food is $3 to $6 per meal. Breakfast prices are usually included in hotel accommodation for free and they are also a little cheaper as compared to lunch or dinner.
As for the mode of transportation, a taxi ride will cost you around $6 to $9 per day, especially if you are traveling in cities like Manila and Cebu. However, if you go to the islands, you can just rent a scooter for a day and travel around as you wish. This will only cost you around $3 to $4 for the scooter rental fee.
Top Ways to Save on Your Travel to the Philippines
Traveling to and around can be relatively cheap if you have tricks up your sleeve on how to haggle and find the cheapest deals. If you want to know how much does it cost to go to the Philippines, it can be cheaper especially if you follow these tips:
Go backpacking
This is a fun and easy way to go around the Philippines. One of the cheapest and most popular ways to travel nowadays is through backpacking. All you need to do is grab a good backpack, get a map, and set out onto the best islands in the Philippines. The key to successful backpacking is to make sure you pack light. If you are having a hard time lugging around your bag due to its weight, it will be hard to enjoy your trip. You will miss out on going to more places, seeing the sceneries, and trying more activities all because your backpack is stopping you from doing so.
Traveling with just a single backpack also saves you money when it comes to airlines because you do not have to pay extra for checked-in luggage or worry about overweight luggage. If you plan to travel to the Philippines for more than a month, you can still do backpacking. Just bring a week’s worth of clothes and be ready to do a little laundry once in a while.
Haggle
What travelers like most about shopping in the Philippines are that almost everything can be haggled and negotiated. Whether you want to buy some souvenirs for your loved ones or you are looking for a decent and affordable room for the night, you can always get a good discount from Filipinos if you know how to haggle. Your haggling skills can help save your money last. Don’t shy away to ask for discounts. Almost everyone else is also doing it. Filipinos are very kind-hearted people, and if you know how to make them smile and joke around they might not give you the discount you’re asking for.
Travel as the locals do
Take public transport, especially if you are in the provinces of the Philippines. Ride a jeepney, a tricycle, or a carabao if you must. It will not only save you money but will also help you experience how the locals live. It’s a great way to observe the locals’ day-to-day activities and mingle with them.
Meet new friends
One of the many exciting things about backpacking is to meet new people who also travel as well as the locals. These people share different stories about their culture and adventures. You can meet new people, whether you are solo backpacking or traveling with a group. Meeting new friends makes travel fun, exciting, and even good for your budget. This is because you can split the costs of almost everything. From transportation and accommodation up to food and other travel expenses.
Rent a place with a kitchen
Accommodation with a kitchen is becoming more and more popular, especially to those people who are offering couch surfing or homestay services. Check to see if the host of the accommodation offers a communal kitchen where you can get yourself a quick breakfast or a snack before you head to an adventure. Often accommodations now have a kitchen with basic utensils and appliances that you can use. If you enjoy cooking or want to try local ingredients, this is a good way to save money as well.
Buy from local markets
If you are a budget traveler, you may be interested to look for fresh produce, local bakeries, and other local shops where they can buy authentic yet affordable food. You can just use your accommodation’s kitchen to prepare your dinner or lunch. You don’t always have to do this. Of course, it is still interesting to try local restaurants. However, doing it once in a while can save you a lot. Some budget travelers even drop by grocery stores just to buy granola bars in order to help fight off cravings in between meals.
Have a flexible itinerary
If you have the time, create a flexible itinerary that you can change from time to time. This is very important when traveling to the Philippines. In this country, buses and other modes of transportation don’t follow schedules so you have to be flexible when traveling around this country. Ask the locals and consult a guidebook or a forum to know if your itinerary is feasible or if you can still squeeze in an activity. Although you may want to schedule a full day’s worth of activities, you still need to ensure that you’re getting enough hours of sleep a night. If you’re still not satisfied with your itinerary, check out websites and apps to help in the creation of itineraries. These apps also give you the ability to look for itineraries from thousands of tech-savvy travelers.
Travel offseason
Every travel destination has an ideal time of year. Japan is frequented by travelers during cherry blossom months. On the other hand, Cambodia’s peak season is during the Christmas and New Year periods. In the Philippines, it’s during Christmas and in summer (February to May). However, as mentioned above, going to this country during the off-season will get you some cheaper deals while still ensuring that you will have lots of fun. Moreover, the travel spots are less crowded so you’ll have fewer travelers to deal with. This also means that you’ll get better and personalized service from the hotel staff, tour guides, and travel organizers since they only have to deal with a smaller number of guests.
Rent a scooter
Renting scooters in the Philippines offers you freedom and flexibility to visit your choice of tourist spot according to your preferred schedule and budget. For just about $3 to $6 per day, you can roam around a city without a fuss. Just be sure to drive with caution, wear your helmet, and take your license with you. This way of traveling is no longer new. You will see a lot of locals and tourists doing it, especially in Siargao. Some provinces in the Philippines are not yet fully developed and don’t have a good mode of transportation. So if you want to keep moving without having to wait an hour for the next bus, rent a scooter.
Final Thoughts
The Philippines has grown really popular in tourism lately. No wonder many are looking at how much does it cost to go to the Philippines. The people, the scenery, and the food are just a couple of reasons why this place is paradise. You won’t regret having your next vacation here, as there will never be a dull moment at this heaven on earth. So don’t wait any longer to book your flight to the Philippines to make memories that’ll last a lifetime. There really is no place that can compare to the Philippines. With this guide, it will be easier for you to visit this country and its beautiful islands. We’re sure your itinerary will be packed with great adventures.
