The major factor in keeping your Boracay vacation cost at the minimum is getting low, low, low airfares. Next is knowing the various options in going to and around Boracay Island, plus an efficient itinerary, to avoid unnecessary transportation costs (spoken like a true auditor, eh?).
Cheap airfares are usually offered for the off-peak months (May to October). In our case, we asked our friends from Explore Eight Travel to help us find great fare deals to Boracay. It was important to be in constant communication with them to ensure we get the booking we want right then and there because promo seats sell really fast. On our 3rd attempt, we got round trip tickets priced at P3,818 for two (2) persons for the Manila-Kalibo (and vice versa) route thru PAL Express. The Manila-Caticlan flights for the same dates were priced at P8K. We also opted for a Saturday to Monday schedule to get even lower fares (since Friday to Sunday fares are quite higher).
Side note: If you plan to look for low fares by yourself, there is an app (on Android) called Skyscanner which allows you to search for flights with no particular dates. Just provide the airport of departure and the destination. Since we got our friends from Explor8 Travel to find the cheapest flight available, we didn't get to use this app. We might use them for our future trips though. :)
What follows here is our step-by-step guide on how we went about our trip.
Cheap airfares are usually offered for the off-peak months (May to October). In our case, we asked our friends from Explore Eight Travel to help us find great fare deals to Boracay. It was important to be in constant communication with them to ensure we get the booking we want right then and there because promo seats sell really fast. On our 3rd attempt, we got round trip tickets priced at P3,818 for two (2) persons for the Manila-Kalibo (and vice versa) route thru PAL Express. The Manila-Caticlan flights for the same dates were priced at P8K. We also opted for a Saturday to Monday schedule to get even lower fares (since Friday to Sunday fares are quite higher).
Side note: If you plan to look for low fares by yourself, there is an app (on Android) called Skyscanner which allows you to search for flights with no particular dates. Just provide the airport of departure and the destination. Since we got our friends from Explor8 Travel to find the cheapest flight available, we didn't get to use this app. We might use them for our future trips though. :)
What follows here is our step-by-step guide on how we went about our trip.
Step 1: From our home to the NAIA Terminal 3
Option 1: Ask someone to drive us to NAIA 3. Est. cost: Fuel (500) + Toll fees
((7+25+260+20)x2=624) + Driver (500) for a total of 1,624.
Option 2: Drive our car and park at NAIA 3. Est cost: Fuel (250) + Toll fees (7+25+260+20) +
Parking fee for 3 days (300x3) for a total of 1,462.
Option 3: Commute to NAIA 3.
Tricycle from house to bus stop: 15/pax or 30
Bus fare to Magallanes (via LRT Buendia route): 91/pax or 182
Taxi fare from Magallanes to NAIA 3 via SLEX-Skyway: 100 plus 20 toll fee at NAIA 3 Exit
Total cost: 332 ---> CLEAR WINNER!
Step 2: Checking in and waiting for boarding
The only options available here is whether to web check-in or do manual check-in. I tried to web check-in the night before our flight but after a couple of hours waiting, I was told there was an error and I just had to do manual check-in ("great" work there PAL...)
Option 1: Ask someone to drive us to NAIA 3. Est. cost: Fuel (500) + Toll fees
((7+25+260+20)x2=624) + Driver (500) for a total of 1,624.
Option 2: Drive our car and park at NAIA 3. Est cost: Fuel (250) + Toll fees (7+25+260+20) +
Parking fee for 3 days (300x3) for a total of 1,462.
Option 3: Commute to NAIA 3.
Tricycle from house to bus stop: 15/pax or 30
Bus fare to Magallanes (via LRT Buendia route): 91/pax or 182
Taxi fare from Magallanes to NAIA 3 via SLEX-Skyway: 100 plus 20 toll fee at NAIA 3 Exit
Total cost: 332 ---> CLEAR WINNER!
Step 2: Checking in and waiting for boarding
The only options available here is whether to web check-in or do manual check-in. I tried to web check-in the night before our flight but after a couple of hours waiting, I was told there was an error and I just had to do manual check-in ("great" work there PAL...)
If you're a first-time traveler, it is important that you arrive at the airport at least two (2) hours before your flight. This is to make sure you have ample time to enter the terminal (sometimes the queue is too long). Remember to have your airline tickets / ticket reservation ready when you enter the terminal. Proceed to your airline counters and check at the entrance if your flight number and destination is cleared for checking in. Fall in line and wait for your turn. The airline personnel will ask for your IDs (so make sure you already have your IDs ready) and your tickets. You may choose your seat (at no charge) but make sure you tell the airline personnel as you provide your IDs.
Side note: Airlines have options for seat selection during booking but that option comes at a cost (of course, we skipped that). It's a good thing PAL Express tickets automatically come with travel insurance. If your airline offers this as an option, definitely shed the cash for this. You'll never know so it is best to be covered.
Side note: Airlines have options for seat selection during booking but that option comes at a cost (of course, we skipped that). It's a good thing PAL Express tickets automatically come with travel insurance. If your airline offers this as an option, definitely shed the cash for this. You'll never know so it is best to be covered.
One way to save on your trip (both in time and cost) is to pack light and ensure you have no checked-in baggage. So here we are boarding the PAL Express plane departing from NAIA Terminal 3 at 8:35 am. I just had a backpack and a transparent bag (the transparent bag allows security to inspect the contents of my bag faster). I placed my backpack in the overhead cabin while the transparent bag went under the seat of the person in front of me.
The internet has links to tips on how to pack light from choosing the types of fabrics to rolling them up to save on luggage space.
The internet has links to tips on how to pack light from choosing the types of fabrics to rolling them up to save on luggage space.
Step 3: Going from Kalibo International Airport to Boracay Island
Option 1: Bus-boat package at the airport to include bus fare and ferry fare. No need to line up at the
jetty port for the boat fare. Add tricycle fare going to hotel/destination at Boracay Island (if
not availing of door-to-door option.
a. Kalibo to Caticlan Jetty Port: P250/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (not sure how much)
b. Kalibo to Cagban Jetty Port: P350/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (P100/pax)
c. Kalibo to hotel (door-to-door): P450/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (depends on port)
Option 2: Van-boat package at the airport to include van and boat fare. Also, no need to line up at the
jetty port for the boat fare. Costs P200/pax plus terminal and environmental fee... plus
tricycle going to hotel/destination at Boracay Island.
Option 3: Tricycle-Van-Boat via Kalibo Poblacion
As advised by the Tourist Assistance Desk officer at Kalibo airport, we walked a few meters to the
airport gate to ride a tricycle (NOT the orange-colored ones) to Poblacion which will take us to vans
going to the jetty port, then we are to take the tricycles to our hotel/destination once we cross over
to Boracay Island.
Breakdown of costs:
Tricycle from airport to Poblacion: 15/pax or 30
Van from Kalibo Poblacion to Cagban Jetty Port: 100/pax or 200
Terminal & Environmental fees: 100/pax or 200
Boat fare: 25/pax or 50
Tricycle from Tabon Jetty Port to D'Mall: 20/pax or 40
Total cost: 520 (CLEAR WINNER!)
Option 1: Bus-boat package at the airport to include bus fare and ferry fare. No need to line up at the
jetty port for the boat fare. Add tricycle fare going to hotel/destination at Boracay Island (if
not availing of door-to-door option.
a. Kalibo to Caticlan Jetty Port: P250/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (not sure how much)
b. Kalibo to Cagban Jetty Port: P350/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (P100/pax)
c. Kalibo to hotel (door-to-door): P450/pax plus terminal and environmental fee (depends on port)
Option 2: Van-boat package at the airport to include van and boat fare. Also, no need to line up at the
jetty port for the boat fare. Costs P200/pax plus terminal and environmental fee... plus
tricycle going to hotel/destination at Boracay Island.
Option 3: Tricycle-Van-Boat via Kalibo Poblacion
As advised by the Tourist Assistance Desk officer at Kalibo airport, we walked a few meters to the
airport gate to ride a tricycle (NOT the orange-colored ones) to Poblacion which will take us to vans
going to the jetty port, then we are to take the tricycles to our hotel/destination once we cross over
to Boracay Island.
Breakdown of costs:
Tricycle from airport to Poblacion: 15/pax or 30
Van from Kalibo Poblacion to Cagban Jetty Port: 100/pax or 200
Terminal & Environmental fees: 100/pax or 200
Boat fare: 25/pax or 50
Tricycle from Tabon Jetty Port to D'Mall: 20/pax or 40
Total cost: 520 (CLEAR WINNER!)
Side note 1: The vans we saw at Kalibo Poblacion are quite new and spacious and clean. The downside of riding the vans from Kalibo Poblacion is that they take more time arriving at the jetty port because they stop at various points during the journey (just like how a jeepney or FX taxi operates on its route). It took us almost two (2) hours from Kalibo Poblacion to Cagban Jetty Port.
Side note 2: You may opt to hire the tricycle (SPECIAL TRIP) from the jetty port at Boracay Island for P100 to 150, depending on the destination. However, you may just tell the driver you will wait it out until other passengers join you in the tricycle and just pay P20/pax.
Side note 3: We booked at Microtel Boracay which offers free shuttle service to and from D'Mall (Station 2). So, we just asked the tricycle to drop us at D'Mall. We had lunch there and waited for the appointed time and rode the shuttle back to Microtel to check-in.
Step 4: Going around in Boracay
We have lots of options here, but the most cost-effective way is to WALK from Station 1 to 3 and back. If your hotel is in Station 2, you'll have an easier time since D'Mall is here. It's also where the pharmacies, convenience stores and more restos are located. Since our hotel is in Diniwid Beach, we had to walk a lot more and rely on the free shuttle service.
We rode the tricycles going along the main road if we had to ride them (P10 to 20/pax depending on the distance). We negotiated tricycle rates for special trips from our hotel to Bulabog Beach and to the church (P100/trip).
Side note: Plan your destinations in the island properly so you won't have to go back and forth unnecessarily. Know which destinations can be grouped together for efficient touring.
Step 5: From Boracay Island to Kalibo Airport
Practically the same as Option 3 in Step 3: We took the free shuttle service from Microtel to D'Mall, then walked a few steps along the main road to flag down a tricycle to take us to the jetty port. We did not take the packaged transfers and chose to ride the van to Kalibo Poblacion from the Caticlan Jetty Port. The van to Kalibo Airport was P175 while the van to Kalibo Poblacion was still only P100.
Breakdown of costs:
Tricycle from D'Mall to Boat Station: P20/pax or 40
Terminal fees: 100/pax or 200
Boat fare: 25/pax or 50
Van to Kalibo Poblacion: 100/pax or 100
Tricycle to Kalibo Airport: 20/pax or 40
Total Cost: 430
Side note: Our tricycle fare costed more because we dropped by Gaisano Mall to buy some stuff. Basic tricycle fare within Poblacion area is P8/pax. We walked a bit from Gaisano Mall to the tricycle terminal going to Pook then rode the tricycle to the airport.
Side note 2: You may opt to hire the tricycle (SPECIAL TRIP) from the jetty port at Boracay Island for P100 to 150, depending on the destination. However, you may just tell the driver you will wait it out until other passengers join you in the tricycle and just pay P20/pax.
Side note 3: We booked at Microtel Boracay which offers free shuttle service to and from D'Mall (Station 2). So, we just asked the tricycle to drop us at D'Mall. We had lunch there and waited for the appointed time and rode the shuttle back to Microtel to check-in.
Step 4: Going around in Boracay
We have lots of options here, but the most cost-effective way is to WALK from Station 1 to 3 and back. If your hotel is in Station 2, you'll have an easier time since D'Mall is here. It's also where the pharmacies, convenience stores and more restos are located. Since our hotel is in Diniwid Beach, we had to walk a lot more and rely on the free shuttle service.
We rode the tricycles going along the main road if we had to ride them (P10 to 20/pax depending on the distance). We negotiated tricycle rates for special trips from our hotel to Bulabog Beach and to the church (P100/trip).
Side note: Plan your destinations in the island properly so you won't have to go back and forth unnecessarily. Know which destinations can be grouped together for efficient touring.
Step 5: From Boracay Island to Kalibo Airport
Practically the same as Option 3 in Step 3: We took the free shuttle service from Microtel to D'Mall, then walked a few steps along the main road to flag down a tricycle to take us to the jetty port. We did not take the packaged transfers and chose to ride the van to Kalibo Poblacion from the Caticlan Jetty Port. The van to Kalibo Airport was P175 while the van to Kalibo Poblacion was still only P100.
Breakdown of costs:
Tricycle from D'Mall to Boat Station: P20/pax or 40
Terminal fees: 100/pax or 200
Boat fare: 25/pax or 50
Van to Kalibo Poblacion: 100/pax or 100
Tricycle to Kalibo Airport: 20/pax or 40
Total Cost: 430
Side note: Our tricycle fare costed more because we dropped by Gaisano Mall to buy some stuff. Basic tricycle fare within Poblacion area is P8/pax. We walked a bit from Gaisano Mall to the tricycle terminal going to Pook then rode the tricycle to the airport.
Step 6: From NAIA Terminal 3 to home
Since we opted to commute going to NAIA 3, we had to commute going back. We took the airport shuttle to Pasay Rotonda, rode the jeep going to Buendia (Gil Puyat) bus terminal and took the bus home.
Breakdown of costs:
Airport shuttle: P20/pax or 40
Jeep to Buendia bus terminal: P8/pax or 16
Bus going home: P96/pax or 192
Tricycle: P20/trip
Total Cost: 268
SUMMARY:
Airfare: 3,818
From home to NAIA Terminal 3: 332
NAIA Terminal 3 Fees: 400
From Kalibo Airport to Boracay Island: 520
From Hotel to Bulabog Beach: 100
From Hotel to Church: 100
Other destinations: 36
From Boracay Island to Kalibo Airport: 430
Kalibo Airport Terminal Fees: 300
From NAIA Terminal 3 to home: 268
TOTAL TRANSPO COST (TANAUAN CITY to BORACAY and back): 6,304
Since we opted to commute going to NAIA 3, we had to commute going back. We took the airport shuttle to Pasay Rotonda, rode the jeep going to Buendia (Gil Puyat) bus terminal and took the bus home.
Breakdown of costs:
Airport shuttle: P20/pax or 40
Jeep to Buendia bus terminal: P8/pax or 16
Bus going home: P96/pax or 192
Tricycle: P20/trip
Total Cost: 268
SUMMARY:
Airfare: 3,818
From home to NAIA Terminal 3: 332
NAIA Terminal 3 Fees: 400
From Kalibo Airport to Boracay Island: 520
From Hotel to Bulabog Beach: 100
From Hotel to Church: 100
Other destinations: 36
From Boracay Island to Kalibo Airport: 430
Kalibo Airport Terminal Fees: 300
From NAIA Terminal 3 to home: 268
TOTAL TRANSPO COST (TANAUAN CITY to BORACAY and back): 6,304