địa điểm nước ngoài, du lịch tự túc boracay – 4 ngày tiết kiệm 2017

Boracay self-sufficient travel

The Philippines is a beautiful country with thousands of islands, the most prominent of which is Boracay tourist paradise with long white sand beaches on the clear blue coast and countless attractive sea games. I just had a full trip of 4 days and 3 nights to explore, Boracay self-sufficient travel along with the colorful capital Manila. Now I will share with you a few experiences after the recent journey.

Ticket booking

From Hanoi, only Cebu Pacificair operates direct flights from Hanoi to Manila. As for the route from Saigon to Manila, in addition to Cebu, you can choose Philippine Airlines. Round trip ticket price is about 4 – 4.5 million, but sometimes Cebu has promotions for only 2.5 – 3 million.

The route Hanoi – Manila flies at midnight, while Manila – Hanoi flies late at night. So you need to be mentally prepared to have a rather tiring flight. But we also have to accept it because there is no other choice.

Outside Manila Airport (NAIA) – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

You also need to book a flight to Boracay, the 2 closest airports to the island are Kalibo and Boracay (formerly Caticlan). The advantage of Kalibo airport is that there are many flights (both international) and the price is usually cheaper than going to Boracay airport. Previously, Boracay airport was quite small, only able to accept small aircraft like ATR-72, so airlines often limit the weight of hand luggage to only 5 kg, which is quite inconvenient. However, now the airport has been expanded to accommodate larger aircraft such as Airbus A320, so if you choose to take an AirAsia, Cebu or PAL express plane, you still get 7kg of carry-on, while Cebgo’s flight is still only available. 5 kg, remember this when you book your ticket!

In addition, airports in the Philippines (except Manila airport) you have to pay an additional Terminal Fee directly before each flight, the fee for domestic journeys is 200 pesos. I don’t have to pay in the afternoon from Manila – Kalibo because that fee is included in the plane ticket, and when I return from Kalibo – Manila, I have to pay 200 pesos.

Due to the closeness of the date, I could not book a cheap ticket for the Manila – Boracay route, so I had to book the Manila – Kalibo round trip. In the afternoon, booked by Philippine Airlines, in the afternoon, AirAsia Zest. So the trip experienced enough airlines in the Philippines. In general, the Manila – Kalibo round-trip ticket price ranges from 60 – 120 USD, the Manila – Boracay route is about 30 – 40 USD more expensive.

Traveling in Manila

The Philippines is famous for its “hacking” of tourists, so traveling by private means you have to pay attention to bargains! On the first day of arriving in Manila, a beautiful cut of 3000 Pesos for a 12-seater car to go to the ancient city of Intramuros (9km from the airport), while a Grab taxi only costs about 400 pesos. When returning from Kalibo to Manila, landed at Terminal 4, accidentally caught a Grab taxi counter, they called me a 4-seater car from the airport to Makati (a little closer to Intramuros, 7km from the airport) for 300 pesos, too is cheap.

At Manila Airport (NAIA) there are no official public buses or public transport to the city center, so the best way is to use a taxi, you try to find a Grab taxi stand or ask for help. Who calls for Grab taxi is the best. If not, take a meter taxi. Note that the price from NAIA to the center is only 300-500 pesos.

Moving in the center of Manila, you can use the tram or jeepney which is quite cheap, about 40 -50 pesos / 1 person / 1 way. Manila’s tram is quite old, probably the worst metro system I’ve ever been on. The closest metro station to Intramuros is Central, from here go to EDSA station (the station closest to the airport, 2km from NAIA) for 40 pesos.

The old metro system in Manila – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

Traveling in Boracay

Both Kalibo and Boracay airports are quite small, in the airport lobby you will find ticket counters to Boracay Island. The price of the combo bus from Kalibo airport + boat to the island one way is 250 pesos, in addition, you have to pay an additional environmental protection fee of 75 pesos and a port fee of 100 pesos directly at the pier. You only have to pay the port fee, you don’t have to pay the environmental protection fee anymore. The travel time from Kalibo airport to the pier takes about 2 hours, the natural scenery on the hillside is quite beautiful. 15 minutes from the pier to Boracay Island.

Ticket counters at Kalibo Airport – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

From Boracay wharf to the center of the island about 5km, you need to rent a tricycle for 300 pesos (seats up to 6 people). Boracay Island is quite small, so in the central area you will mainly walk, and if you want to go to the pier or to distant beaches like Puka Beach, renting a tricycle costs 300 pesos.

Book hotel room

In Boracay, there are 3 zones, station 1 focuses on sea games, station 2 is the most crowded with many dining areas, station 3 is quiet with resorts. It is best to choose a hotel in station 2 for convenient travel and fun. I booked a room at Island Nook Hotel, the price is only about 20 USD / 1 double room / 1 night, the hotel is newly built, so it is quite clean and beautiful. From here, walk 100m to D-mall, the busiest entertainment and dining area on Boracay Island. Overall, room rates in Boracay are very affordable and you have quite a few options when traveling here.

http://www.islandnook.com/

Room at Island Nook is quite new and clean – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

In addition, you can refer to some of the following, affordable and highly rated hotels:

MNL beach hostel Boracay: near Dmall and the tourist pier at Station 2

https://www.agoda.com/mnl-beach-hostel-boracay/hotel/boracay-island-ph.html

Amihan-home: quiet space but also very convenient to travel

https://www.agoda.com/amihan-home/hotel/boracay-island-ph.html

Red Coco Inn de Boracay: Hotel with swimming pool, convenient to travel

https://www.agoda.com/red-coco-inn-de-boracay/hotel/boracay-island-ph.html

As for Manila, the rooms seem a bit more expensive than Boracay, I went in a large group, so I rented a bunk room for 6 people in Makati area. In Makati is very convenient for shopping and the airport is also close. If you want to spend your last day in the Philippines shopping, then Makati is the best. In addition, you can also book a hotel in the old town of Intramuros to enjoy the night and eat.

4-day itinerary Boracay self-sufficient tour

Day 1: Hanoi – Manila – Boracay

My flight departed at 1:15 from Noi Bai, having to sleep overnight on the plane was really quite tiring, the flight time was short, only 3 and a half hours, so I just had a little nap before I landed.

At 5:30 am (Philippine time +8) we were at NAIA airport, immigration procedures were quite fast, but the customs forced me to show the return flight ticket and book a hotel room, probably due to this situation. Security in the Philippines is unstable.

Because in the afternoon we will come back here to fly to Kalibo, so after entering the country, we rest for a while, then leave our things at the airport and go to the center of Manila to play, the shipping fee is 300 pesos / 1 piece. The group rented a 12-seater car to Intramuros, an old town with Spanish architecture with cobblestone streets and a very beautiful Catholic church. The group walked for a while and then took advantage of lunch at a local restaurant at a relatively low cost.

Outside San Agustin Church – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

Then we visited the church of San Agustin, a construction that has been recognized as a world heritage site, inside the atmosphere is very pleasant, despite the hot sun outside. At about 1pm, the group went back to the airport by train, Central Terminal pier was about 800m from Intramuros old town, from here it was a short walk to EDSA station which is the closest to the airport (2km from NAIA), we went up another The jeepney to the airport costs 600 pesos.

The colorful Jeepneys typical of Manila – Photo Post: Boracay self-guided tour

My flight Manila – Kalibo departs at 15:50, Philippine Airlines. Since this is a national airline, it is accompanied by a 10kg check-in and a snack with hamburger and coffee. Around 4pm, I arrive at Kalibo airport, here go right out of the lobby and you will see a lot of ticket booths selling bus and train tickets to Boracay Island.

The distance from Kalibo airport to the ferry port to Boracay is about 70 km, along the way there are many beautiful natural scenes, mountains, fields, beaches. After 2 hours by car, we arrived at the ferry terminal, here you have to pay additional port fees and environmental protection fees.

About 30 minutes there is a ferry to Boracay, when I arrived at the island it was already 7:30 pm, there were many tricycles waiting to take everyone back to the hotel, all for the same price of 300 pesos/car. At first, I thought that Boracay island was small, only a little walk was enough, but it took more than 20 minutes to ride a tricycle to get to the hotel. In the evening we walked to find food, in general there is nothing too special on the island, including seafood, but Mc Donald and Jolibee are everywhere. Boracay self-sufficient travelI must say it’s very fun at night, the bars around Dmall play pretty good music, a great island for those who like to play at night like me.

Day 2: Boracay island hopping

In the morning of the 2nd day, we went to the beach to buy the Island Hopping tour which is the most worthwhile tour on Boracay Island, this tour you can sit on the island’s typical boats, with wooden frames spread out on both sides to help the boat balance. Actually, I have never been to a place where people cut and slashed like in Boracay, sometimes paying up to 1/5 is still a mistake, after haggling for a while, I bought a tour for 800 pesos / 1 person including snorkeling gear and lunch buffet.

Hopping boats are waiting for guests at Station 2 – Photo Post: Boracay self-guided tour

The sea in Boracay is extremely clear, the tour takes me around the small islands like Crystal Cove, Crocodile, etc. and stops for scuba diving to see the corals. Around 12 o’clock, the boat docks to the mainland for everyone to have a buffet lunch, in general, the food is quite basic. After eating, the tour guide gave me 2 options: going to Crocodile island to swim (the most beautiful pristine beach in Boracay) or to Aron Magic Island to play diving, because we were all hyperactive, so we decided to go. playing bridge jumping, this game must be said is very fun and interesting, it is worth trying when going on an island hopping tour. You will have to pay an additional fee of 150 Pesos to get to Aron Island.

In the afternoon, the tour takes you to Puka beach, a very peaceful place in the North of Boracay island, everyone is free to swim and transfer to the hotel by tricycle, of course, still for 300 pesos. In the afternoon, we went to watch the sunset with very impressive sailing boats. In the evening, the group walked around Dmall drinking beer, shopping, listening to music. I like guitar very much, so I went to a bar to play guitar and sing with the owner until the night.

Sand castles are checked in a lot in Boracay – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

Day 3: Boracay – Kalibo

In the morning we got up early to swim and take pictures, Boracay is lively at night, so the early morning is quite empty and quiet.

The sea games in Boracay are diverse and cheap, but you have to bargain to get the best price. After nearly half an hour of betting, we decided to play two games of banana boat and skydiving for 700 pesos / person.

Banana boat ride is very interesting – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel

Parachute panoramic view of Boracay blue sea white sand – Photo Post: Boracay self-sufficient travel tự

After lunch, we return to the mainland to return to Kalibo airport for a flight to Manila at 19:25. Because of the delay, it took us around 9pm to get back to Manila. Luckily, I found a Grab counter thanks to calling 2 taxis to Makati district at a pretty cheap price.

We went to find a place to eat late at night, but the restaurants were mostly closed, partly because of the heavy rain, so we had to eat at 7-eleven.

Day 4: Manila – Hanoi

Since it’s right in the Makati area where most of the biggest malls of Manila are located, we spent the last day shopping. If you are not very interested in shopping, you can visit Taal Volcano volcanic lake, a quite famous spot about 100 km from the center of Manila.

High-rise buildings in Makati district – Photo Post: Boracay self-guided tour

My flight back to Vietnam departs at 22:15, arrives at Noi Bai at 00:30. End of a short but interesting trip.

Some notes when traveling self-sufficient Boracay, Philippines

You can exchange pesos in Vietnam in advance or bring USD, the exchange rate is also quite good
Currently, the security situation in the Philippines is not good, but in the capital Manila and famous tourist destinations such as Boracay, Palawan, El Nido, … are still quite safe. You should be careful when going to crowded places or going out at night in Manila.
Always remember to bargain when taking taxis and buying tours and services in the Philippines, they often slash 3-5 times the real value.