Are you also thinking that Boracay on a Budget can’t happen? Think again. If we managed to follow a smart budget travel list to Boracay, so can you! As a mom, I know how important it is to enjoy life moments, but it should also realistically meet our finances. This is why I decided to tackle our expenses from our last Boracay trip and share here with you what we’ve done so you can also create an epic dream vacation, without having to bleed dry your pockets.
ONE OF THE MANY ICONIC LANDMARKS OF BORACAY
Boracay island is globally known for its finest beach, sand, and pristine water. Truly a tourist haven, but can be very pricey even for us, locals.
As intentional parents, we felt compelled to make this family travel to Boracay to finally happen.
In this fast-paced age we know we only have a few years to capture our children’s innocent fascination for nature and travel. We also want them to understand that both can be enjoyed without breaking the bank. It was quite a challenge, yes, but memories and family time together cannot be overlooked.
BORACAY ON A BUDGET
Boracay have always been in our itinerary slash bucket list since our honeymoon. But getting pregnant a little shy over a month after our wedding, life had us shoving this trip aside – always waiting for our finances to keep up. Pandemic had us thinking otherwise, together with the many other ways we learned from some budget conscious couple. One February weekend, we finally booked for our family’s first ever travel via land, air and sea.
Back in the days, when group deals or travel promos are scarce, we thought this dream trip will just remain just that – a dream. But now, we’re just so lucky that budget travel existed within our lifetime. We reckoned, we have to leverage that.
Nothing beats the calmness brought by the sound of the waves
and the feel of the sand on the feet.
Boracay offers prime experience on both.
PLAN BORACAY AHEAD
When you are bound to travel on a budget, you have to keep in mind these two words: TIME & DEALS.
Since we want to break the gloom effect of the pandemic on our family, we planned for the trip 6 months ahead for our November triple celebrations.
This semi-impromptu decision became our best impulsive buy so far. Semi, because we can choose to travel within Luzon and do it immediately, but because Boracay requires three-way means to travel, we have to delay even though we really, want to jump into it.
As a budget junkie, I tried my best to make this trip convenient and affordable at the same time. After all, Boracay is not cheap, even foreigners would agree – but as a thrift mom – there is always a way!
OUR 10 TIPS AND STEPS TO LESSEN THE COST
So here are some of the things I did to help ease-in the most reasonable budget to the extravagant vacation we can just handle once in a year.
TICKETING and ACCOMMODATION
1. Checked the booking seasons – Summer is jampacked. February to May would be the peak season and prices are really high at this time. We picked the dates after the All Soul’s Day holidays, when the sea is still relevantly calm and monsoon rains have passed.
2. Checked the weather forecasts / lunar activities. Although there are peak and lean seasons to guide us, there’s also the climatic changes to consider, this may not be 100% accurate, but at least we are aware of high tide season and the ports we will go to.
3. I immediately checked the prices and deals. Always keep an eye on both airline and hotel deals. Consider all the details (amenities, feature, add-ons, price inclusions, etc.).
When booking, find a competitive booking site. We preferred Booking.com among all the accommodation booking sites. I love how transparent they are down to the smallest detail. Most of Booking.com listings are flexible on cancellations and transparent on their deals and pricing. They only allow reviews from verified tenants/guests. We always use this site every time we travel – so much so, that we used our GENIUS (Booking.com’s loyalty program) privileges to book the Hennan Lagoon Boracay and we enjoyed a free room upgrade.
Booking.com
We had a very bad experience with another booking site (no cancellation policy even though we booked 6 months in advance!) *Determining the fine print makes a lot of difference! Be careful on hitting the Book Button without reading the fine print. Try to book on your desktop to avoid glitches and to help you read the fine print visibly.
PACKING
4. As Boracay is an island, we expect it to be humid mostly, so I packed only light clothes. I only brought us a set of warm clothes for each in case of cold nights or during transfers.
Knowing what amenities the hotel or accommodation would provide, I also ditched bringing toiletries and stuff that are available in the island. *** Ladies, don’t underestimate the diverse power of your shawl or beach kimono! It is light and versatile. This garment can give you more than 10 attires!
5. We invested on water proofing. We bought aqua bags (and gadget water protectors) that we towed along to safe-keep all our keycards, wallet, gadgets, etc. You don’t want to handle the hassles and pain of paying the restoration or replacement of water damaged gadget / electronics, wouldn’t you?
6. Don’t buy too much souvenirs. You don’t want to over stuff and the excess baggage when you travel back home. On this day and age, you can buy the souvenirs online, less expense, less travel problems.
ACTIVITIES
7. I listed all the activities each of the family members would like to do. I then cross referenced the activity with open resources using Google, Youtube, and Travel reviews. Youtube was, and still is my favorite reference on all things visual. I get to see what the activity or place really looks like. From there, we can already decide if that place or activity is not meant for us. It saves us a lot of money for skipping the stuff we learned we don’t really need.
Researching before the trip also helped us avoid being tourist trapped.
8. Eat Local. The YT reviews I watched were really our game-changer. I got to see where to find these hole in the wall supply of fresh seafoods. I get to see how to order them, how to deal for the best price and judge by the look of the place, the people enjoying it, and may help us enjoy the experience as well. Eating from local eateries also adds up to the travel and culture experience. Take note that Boracay is teeming with pricey joints, YOU NEED THIS.
9. ENJOY other beaches aside from the White Beach stretch. Don’t stay too long where most of the tourists flock. If you have the energy and time, walk along the beach stretch rather than taking the e-trike using Google Maps to help you traverse the island.
On the other side of the White beach is Bulabog beach that is just a few meters away, be hungry for new discoveries. Best to do this at daytime so you can enjoy the walk, while sight seeing the roads.
10. Budget Date: Boracay can romance trick you (and rob you of your planned budget). This is why planning ahead is important. We had our Anniversary Date on the sand while watching the epic sunset. Talked about life plans and enjoyed our night while the kids are playing on the sand near where we spread my trusty shawl, to sit on and enjoyed each other’s presence.
When in an island, enjoy nature at its finest. Sit on your beach mat and sip store bought wine while watching the golden spread made by the sunset, refrain checking your gadgets and absorb the beauty around you.
OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE THE TRAVEL BUDGET
To book months before the travel date, made us more intentional with all our actions. We displayed a marked calendar on our refrigerator door, this helped us avoiding schedule overlaps and we filed our vacation leaves aptly.
Also, putting the schedule obvious and in the open, it reminded us to let go of unnecessary spending like buying expensive coffee, impulsive buying online, cooking food instead of going out to eat, etc. We really saved our way to our vacation.
A SIDE HUSTLE WOULD HELP
I myself tried to do some side hustles, to add pocket / emergency fund for the trip, inspired by that pinned calendar where I can daily see them. One of my side hustle as a homeschool-work-at-home mom was to open an online store that offers homeschooling and home decor ideas. Before the “BER” months arrived, we stocked up on my best seller, the duster slippers. We were truly blessed that it sold out even before we have to head off for our trip. I will add a section in my site about it in Hustle with Care in the DIY page soon. If you are curious as to what my online shop looks like, do visit it here: https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.5X3o5
We were impulsive on booking and deciding where to go, but we delayed the gratification.
What a perfect budget friendly combination!
THE TRAVEL IMPACT
This trip happened November 2022, but till raking raves from my boys and friends, TO DATE.
There are a lot of things that sparked after this trip. For instance, the kids are now more inclined to travel and explore nature trips such as camping and watches a lot of beautiful places’ history on YouTube. They desire to travel more with us, their parents and elders. Family time with extended families got more and more frequent.
In the process, the connections we make when we travel opens a lot more potentials and opportunities, as well. You have to realize that the money spent on each travel is just a tool to a better understanding on life itself.
It pushed me to write down the things I did prior and during the trip. This is to remind me that we can reproduce the plan or do better. Praying and hoping we can travel the Philippines, yearly.
For the time being, I am still stoked and grateful, that once, while the kids still adores us and weren’t busy with their own life, WE DID IT!
LESSONS I GATHERED FROM THIS TRIP
AS A CHILD ONCE
Being the first family trip via air, it left an indelible mark on me. As a child once, I find it sad that my parents was not able to fly us. I can’t blame them, even though they weren’t always cash strapped, the cost of traveling back then was unrealistically high!
This is me just realizing how we can do things differently this time.
I guess this is why they say that TRAVEL is a different level of a teacher. I get it now.
AS A PARENT
I have been assessing what I can do to help make my children’s life a far cry from what I, as a child lack on experiences. Traveling really helps. It is grounding and inspiring us to dig more to what life can offer beyond our comfort zones.
From planning and preparation of going to an expensive trip like Boracay, I learned two valuable lessons:
- TIME – we sometimes forget to factor that in whenever we plan family activities. We don’t know until when we’ll still have a chance or be strong enough to make a trip, or to gather our loved ones complete, AND still be able to reproduce the money we’ve spent on a trip. THINK: we have no power to take back the lost time, the youth and the moment. Indeed, the saying “seize the day” is such a meaningful 3-word phrase.
- Yes, MONEY is a big, important factor. But you can always take advantage of the many thrifty offers around us these days. A little elbow grease and research will make a long way. All the work we do in our life boils down to what we really value in life. DECIDE which is most important to you. The money you protect from spending? or the memories you desire to create? Choose.
IF YOU REALIZE THESE THINGS, NOTHING SHOULD HOLD YOU BACK.
Lastly, If you still have qualms and excuses on traveling with your kids (which is pretty scary when you are hanging on a lean budget). Keep in mind that in this time and age, anything can be possible.
The list I gave here is just one of the many probabilities we can do to make MEMORIES happen.
Remember, the kids will grow and outgrow us. You will get old and easily get tired, or worse, die passing the chances life has given you.
Two big reasons for you to do it now, right?
One big travel plan a year or after every two years rather than not having one, is better.
As I have mentioned, there are so many ways to make it happen.
To which, now you got me invested.
“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell
PLANS THAT MAKES ME PLAN EVEN MORE
Inspired by all these thoughts, I think I will write a series of articles focusing on how to help every family get on that TRAVEL WHILE YOU CAN bandwagon.
I may soon have some experts on board, who knows? RESEARCH and CONNECTING is a wild crazy idea that never fails to make things happen. And part of my advocacy to better family relations can push me to another level and that all starts with you, my audience, telling me your wishes.
THIS TRIP therefore validated one of my Parenting rule of thumb: Focus on what matters and you will never go wrong.
OH, HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND?
The amount could be irrelevant by now, but I’m sure the steps and hacks can still be applied. I have made a simple travel budget template that a budget conscious person would love to use. If you want a copy, just send us an email here: thegeecreatives@gmail.com with subject line BORACAY BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS
Looking back, the money we spent has given more value than any money we’ve spent on any spur of the moment trips to a nearby Batangas beach or Laguna hot springs (which upon reckoning, I find to have amounted just a tiny less we shelled out our Boracay trip).
I’ll reiterate that until now, we have been talking about every inch of that trip. We still remember the smell and taste of the sea, the feel of the powdery sand on our feet, the perfect heat of the sun, just warm enough to make us feel we’re alive. I know we will definitely go back and might stay longer.
For now, please consider a thing or two on the list above and find it beneficial to travel with your family without having to spend like a rich kid.
it was a great experience
Thank you! Experience can bring us to another perspective and another level on doing things in our life. Travel is one of the best way to gain one.