Can you believe that my little money book has been sitting at the bottom of the bag since I got back from the Philippines over 2 months ago, and that I’m just getting around to writing this post? I can’t! Part of the reason I’ve been putting it off for so long is that I’ve been a little bit too scared to actually look and see what I spent. I was definitely in holiday mode while I was in the Philippines- I treated myself to massages, sunset cocktails and loads of seafood. Plus, it was mine and the Wee Gypsy Boyfriends first trip away together (awww) so we were both happy to pay a little bit extra to stay in a nicer hotel, rather than the usual rock-bottom budget accommodation.

With that being said, it’s pretty obvious that our travel costs will have been much more than those of someone who is mindfully trying to spend as little as possible. If you’re going to The Philippines to relax, see a few islands in a short space of time and do a few different activities, then this is what you can expect to spend.

Please note, the prices quoted are for one person. I was travelling with my boyfriend, so of course things like taxis and accommodation costs have been split between 2. Prices are in PHP. Conversions to GBP and USD are accurate at the time of writing. (1 PHP=0.015 GBP/0.022 USD)

We spent 12 days in the Philippines and visited 3 different islands- Boracay, Bohol and El Nido. 

Accommodation

Total per Person: 13000 PHP/ 195 GBP/ 275 USD
Daily Spend per Person: 1083 PHP/ 16 GBP/ 23 USD

We booked all of our accommodation using Booking and Agoda before we left as we had been advised that a lot of rooms would be fully booked in the high season. When we got to The Philippines I noticed “vacant” signs at a lot of guest houses, plus a lot of hotel owners hanging around ferry terminals handing out business cards and offering reduced rates. We could definitely have saved some money if we hadn’t prebooked, but I was glad to not have the hassle of bartering for a place to stay since our holiday time was limited.

My favourite accommodation that we stayed in was the Alona Swiss Resort in Bohol- only 22GBP per night in a great location with AC and a swimming pool. Our biggest splurge was the

Our biggest splurge was the Belmont Hotel in Manila but I honestly don’t regret a single penny! We were arriving into Manila at about 2pm and flying back to Korea at lunchtime the next day. We knew that we would have holiday blues and would be dreading going back to winter and work after 12 days of relaxing in a sunny paradise, so we decided to pamper ourselves. The hotel was 68GBP per night (ouch!) but we were right across the road from the airport, had a rooftop swimming pool and one of the softest beds I have ever slept in. I felt like I was floating in a big marshmallow! A hotel of this standard would definitely cost a few hundred a night back home, so it was

The hotel was 68GBP per night (ouch!) but we were right across the road from the airport, had a rooftop swimming pool and one of the softest beds I have ever slept in. I felt like I was floating in a big marshmallow! A hotel of this standard would definitely cost a few hundred a night back home, so it was great sample a wee bit of luxury. One of my favourite things about this hotel was the continental breakfast in the morning. It’s not

One of my favourite things about this hotel was the continental breakfast in the morning. It’s not everyday that we get nice bread, non-processed cheese and cured meat in Asia, so I felt totally spoiled. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to treat their self before a long flight home.

Alona Swiss Beach Resort in Bohol

Domestic Flights

Total per Person: 8200 PHP/ 123 GBP/ 173 USD

The Philippines is made up of around 7,641 islands so, as you can probably imagine, it is a bit of a hassle to get around. Although I usually like to travel the cheapest way and avoid taking domestic flights where I can, this wasn’t possible in The Philippines. Popular islands like Boracay and Palawan are miles away from each other and it would take days to get there on a boat, plus it probably wouldn’t even work out to be cost effective.

We booked all of our flights through Cebu Pacific. They are definitely the most popular budget airline in The Philippines. Don’t expect any frills on these flights, and don’t expect them to take off on time! If you’re planning a trip to The Philippines, I recommend that you sign up to their newsletter as they have quite a few promo sales throughout the year. We bought all of our tickets on the promo and saved a lot of money this way!

Check out Nina’s 2-week Philippines Itinerary– she focussed her travels on the mainland and Palawan, minimising the need for too many domestic flights.

Eating

Total per Person: 7570 PHP/ 114 GBP/ 160 USD 
Daily Spend Per Person: 631 PHP/ 13 USD/ 9 GBP

Food in The Philippines can be as reasonable or expensive as you want it to be. In Boracay, we tended to stick to the touristy restaurants for the sake of convenience. In Bohol, we splashed out on 2 big meals at the

In Boracay, we tended to stick to the touristy restaurants for the sake of convenience. In Bohol, we splashed out on 2 big meals at the

In Bohol, we splashed out on 2 big meals at the Bohol Bee Farm, an eco-farm with a restaurant specialising in the most amazing organic food. These were my favourite meals in The Philippines. If you are in Bohol, I recommend that you check it out!

For the rest of our time in Bohol we opted for local food which was great because we got to try some really authentic Filippino food, and save money! In El Nido, our lunches were included in 2 of the tours, so this isn’t included here. These lunches were amazing! Grilled fish, vegetables, rice and fresh fruit on the beach. Apart from that, we ate at a mixture of tourist restaurants and local shacks for our dinners. I really recommend you check out a few local places. Learn the names of some Filippino dishes you want to try before you go. The main language in The Philippines uses the same alphabet as English, so it should be pretty easy to find what you want on a menu!

In El Nido, our lunches were included in 2 of the tours, so this isn’t included here. These lunches were amazing! Grilled fish, vegetables, rice and fresh fruit on the beach. Apart from that, we ate at a mixture of tourist restaurants and local shacks for our dinners. I really recommend you check out a few local places. Learn the names of some Filippino dishes you want to try before you go. The main language in The Philippines uses the same alphabet as English, so it should be pretty easy to find what you want on a menu!

I really recommend you check out a few local places. Learn the names of some Filippino dishes you want to try before you go. The main language in The Philippines uses the same alphabet as English, so it should be pretty easy to find what you want on a menu!

Activities

Total per Person: 6995 PHP/ 148 USD/ 105 GBP
Daily Spend Per Person: 583 PHP/ 12USD/ 9 GBP

We managed to do A LOT of activities in The Philippines! We only actually spent 2 days lazing around the beach, so we could have spent much less if we spent more time relaxing.

Over 12 days we went snorkelling, cliff diving (well, I chickened out at the last minute…), parasailing, zip lining, had massages on the beach, explored caves and did some sightseeing at the Chocolate Hills and Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary.

If I could give you some advice it would be to avoid underwater activities in Boracay. We went snorkelling there and the conditions were so terrible! I saw about 3 fish and the waves were so choppy that I almost concussed myself when I smashed my head off the side of the boat.

Activities in Bohol were great value for money. We spent just a fiver to zip line across the Loboc River and 75p to see the famous Chocolate Hills!

If there’s one activity not to miss, it’s kayaking around the beautiful archipelago in El Nido on Island Hopping Tour A. This is my most precious memory from my time in the Philippines.

Transport

Total per Person: 4715 PHP/ 104 USD/ 71 GBP
Daily Spend per Person: 393 PHP/ 9 USD/ 6 GBP

This includes all transport around the Philippines, except for domestic flights. We took a few ferrys in The Philippines, and you will need to too if you want to travel to Boracay since there is no airport on the main island. Also, if you want to get to Bohol via Cebu airport, which is definitely the cheapest way to go, you need to take a ferry!

We spent 3 full days of our trip actually travelling between the islands, and covered a lot of ground, so that is why this total is quite high. If you want to get to El Nido, the most budget friendly way is to fly to Puerto Princesa and take a van from there. These are advertised as taking about 5 hours, but with numerous hotel pick ups on the way, it’s more like 7/8! Bring entertainment, snacks and car sickness medicine. The main mode of transport to get around the islands is tricycle- a tuk-tuk with a motorbike attached. Journeys aren’t expensive and I found drivers in The Philippines to be much more honest than in other countries so you’re unlikely to get ripped off- even in the big tourist areas like Boracay!

The main mode of transport to get around the islands is tricycle- a tuk-tuk with a motorbike attached. Journeys aren’t expensive and I found drivers in The Philippines to be much more honest than in other countries so you’re unlikely to get ripped off- even in the big tourist areas like Boracay!

Miscellaneous

Total per Person: 3105PHP/ 47GBP/ 68USD
Daily Spend per Person: 259PHP/ 4GBP/ 6USD

It’s mental how much money you spend on s**te, eh? Buying little things like bottled water (definitely going to invest in a filter bottle or steripen for our next trip!), ice cream and snacks really added up. I also, forget to pack my sunglasses….. Quite ironic, considering I wrote a post about packing tips for girls the night before we left!

Alcohol

Total per Person: 1898PHP/ 28GBP/ 42USD
Daily Spend per Person: 158PHP/ 2GBP (omg!)/ 3USD

I definitely indulged in quite a few sunset san miguels and margaritas while I was away, so I was pleasantly surprised by how little I spent. Alcohol in the Philippines is so cheap! Especially in Boracay where you can get a beer for as little as 25PHP (40p/60 cents.) We met my best friend from home and her boyfriend in Boracay. When Scottish people get together after a while apart, it’s always a bit messy! This was no exception. We consumed a fair few drinks everyday, but managed not to break our budget. Woo!

Fees

Total per Person: 695 PHP/ 10GBP/ 15USD
Daily Spend per Person: 58PHP/ 85p/ 1USD

Do note, that when you arrive at each island in the Philippines, you will have to pay an terminal fee and most places will require you to pay an environmental fee. Always make sure you have cash on hand when travelling between islands.

Total Spent in 12 Days in The Philippines

Total per Person: 46178PHP/ 693GBP/ 1016USD
Daily Spend per Person: 3848PHP/ 58GBP/ 85USD

I definitely spent much more than I thought that I would. And I definitely could have done it for much cheaper, especially if we had decided to stay in cheaper accommodation. Of course, I could have indulged in less seafood curries, did less activities and stuck in the one place for longer. But, I have absolutely no regrets!

The Philippines is an amazing place to see and I’m glad I got to see so much of it in just 12 days. If you’re looking for an action packed holiday in a tropical place, then I think that The Philippines offers great value for money!

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Have you ever been somewhere that really blew your budget? Was it worth it? Leave a comment and let me know! 🙂