My travel buddy and I realized that we can save a lot of money if we do a DIY trip instead of booking trips through package tours. After polishing the itinerary, we made a budget plan with the help of some friends. Well, no one is brave enough to go on an adventure with less than P10,000 estimated budget for 9 days, but we did it!
After our adventure across northern Luzon, everyone wants to know how we survived the trip with a minimal budget. Due to public demand, I’m sharing you how 2 brave girls were able to stretch the budget for 9 days in 5 destinations – Vigan (Ilocos Sur), Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Pagudpud (Ilocos Norte), Baguio and Banaue.
To lessen the cost of our transportation, we chose an accommodation that is accessible to the town proper. In doing so, we just have to walk/hike in getting around. We also brought some biscuits, coffee, and candies when we’re in Cebu so we didn’t spend much for these goods during the actual trip.
Also read: 10 Reasons to go Backpacking in the Philippines
Most of the restaurants (except for the fast food) offer big serving. So, we ordered those large serving meals and divided the cost. We are lucky that our drivers were friendly and gave us some tips. Now, I shall present to you the breakdown of our expenses and some budget travel tips.
Buy your tickets in advance. Our round trip ticket from Cebu to Clark airport was booked last September 2014 when Cebu Pacific had a seat sale. It only costs us PHP2,1131.76 each that includes 30 kilo baggage allowance.
| Destination | Cost per night | Cost per person |
| Ilocos Sur (Vigan) at Green R Hotel | PHP750 a/c room with two single beds; T&B | PHP375 (1 night) |
| Ilocos Norte (Laoag City) at UKL Ever Lodge | PHP900 a/c room with one double bed with T&B; hot and cold shower; complimentary free breakfast | PHP900 (2 nights) |
| Baguio City at Bab’s Homestay | PHP500 One double bed with kitchen utensils, but no hot and cold shower | PHP250 (1 night) |
| Hotel 45 | PHP900/night single beds with free breakfast | PHP450 (1 night) |
| Banaue at People’s Lodge | PHP800 2 single beds with T&B; hot and cold shower | PHP400 (1 night) |
| Banaue at Stairway Lodge and Restaurant | PHP750 2 single beds with T&B; hot and cold shower | PHP375 (1 night) |
| Hapao homestay | PHP700 3 single beds with T&B, hot and cold shower | PHP375 (1 night) |
| Hungduan at Happy Homes | PHP500 2 single beds; Common/shared T&B | PHP250 |
Note: We canceled our reservation at Happy Homes as we prefer to stay at Hapao homestay, but we didn’t request a refund for the one night deposit we’ve paid.
| Total cost | Cost per person | |
| Vigan dinner at Café Leona – Bagnet platter (sinigang, pinakbet, Daing na Bangus, 1 cup of rice, and bagnet); Sizzling Thai food; 1 extra rice breakfast at Abuelita’s Ilocano Cuisine (Vigan longganisa with rice and coffee) 4 pcs of Empanada | PHP1,020 | PHP510 + PHP15 bottled water purchased by Kareen |
| Laoag City – lunch and dinner at McDonald’s; breakfast at Jollibee; lunch at Johnny Moon Café in Pagudpud; dinner at Chowking | PHP810 | PHP405 |
| Baguio City Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at McDonalds, Jollibee, Greenwich; dinner at Café by the Ruins (Bagnet Meal, Ernie’s BLT for Kate, and fresh strawberries with whipped cream) | PHP735 Kareen’s total food cost | |
| Banaue, Ifugao breakfast and lunch at People’s Lodge and Restaurant ; breakfast/lunch/dinner at Stairway Lodge and Restaurant; 2 bottles of 1.5 litre water | PHP1790 | PHP895 |
| Dinner at Hapao Homestay | PHP100 | PHP50 |
In getting around Ifugao, your mode of transportation is either PUJ (top load is a must try!), tricycle or motorcycle. By the way, they don’t know what “habal-habal” means. So, we’ve suggested it to the local tourism officer in Hungduan to call their motorcycle drivers as “habal-habal drivers.”
| Destination | Cost |
| Clark airport to bus terminal | PHP250 |
| Clark to Vigan via Partas | PHP500 |
| Vigan terminal to hotel | PHP15/person |
| Calle Crisologo to hotel | PHP20/person |
| Vigan to Laoag | PHP137 |
| Laoag to Pagudpud | PHP70 |
| Pagudpud to Paoay | PHP50 |
| Paoay to Laoag | PHP30 |
| Hotel to Laoag terminal | PHP15/person |
| Laoag to Baguio City | PHP450 |
| Baguio City terminal to homestay via taxi | PHP25/person |
| Homestay to Burham Park via PUJ (RT | PHP20 |
| Homestay to KMS Bus Line terminal via Taxi | PHP30/person |
| Baguio City to Banaue via KMS Van | PHP406 |
| Banaue to Hungduan via PUJ | PHP40 |
| Hapao to Banaue via Van | PHP35 |
| Banaue to Baguio City via KMS Van | PHP406 |
| Baguio City terminal to Hotel 45 via taxi | PHP25/person |
| Burham Park to Bob’s Homestay (pick up our things) | PHP10 |
| Bab’s Homestay to Hotel 45 via Taxi | PHP30/person |
| Hotel 45 to Mine’s View via PUJ & Taxi (RT) | PHP60 |
| Hotel 45 to Victory Liner Terminal | PHP30/person |
| Baguio City to Dau Bus Terminal | PHP306 |
| Dau Bus Terminal to SM Clark | PHP35/person |
| SM City Clark to airport via taxi | PHP175 |
| Tour | Total cost | Cost per person |
| Ilocos Sur Tour: Bantay Bell Tower, Cathedral, Calle Crisologo, Crisologo Mansion, Abel’s pot making | PHP300 | PHP150 |
| Ilocos Norte Tour: Burgos Windmill, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation with horseback riding (two-way) and Cape Bejeador Lighthouse | PHP600 | PHP300 |
| Paoay Tour: Malacanang of the North and Paoay Lake | PHP200 | PHP100 |
| Banaue Tour: Wiewing decks and Hiwang Village, costume rental; Hiwang Village entrance fee viewing deck donations for Igorot | PHP600 | PHP300 |
Also read: 5 Life-Changing Reasons to Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces
If I am to sum up everything, I spent PHP11,412.50 but without the souvenirs, the whole trip should only be around PHP10,000. We survived a 9-day backpacking trip to 5 destinations with that limited budget. Can you believe it?
Contributed by Laagan Na Cebuana
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