Transportation, along with food and lodging, makes the Big Three of any travel expenditure. And what better way to “squander” spending money than to “throw” it around on rented air-conditioned vans that cost an arm and a leg?
(Of course, if you are the type who goes on a holiday and want to have as little hassle as possible when it comes to transport, rented vans may altogether be a necessity.)
But if you’d rather spend those precious dollars on staying the night on a beachside native bungalow in El Nido Town (which costs more than lodges in Corong Corong or further inland) or island-hopping in Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, then taking public transport should bring down your major expenditure and free up some of it for memorable experiences.
Spending your travel money on activities you are not likely to do everyday makes for unforgettable memories.
Only in the Philippines – Toploading a jeepney
Riding the Filipino tricycle, ideally squeezed in with four other passengers, is a travel experience in itself
If you are pushed for time, it won’t make sense, however, to try to figure out how to get to the Crocodile Farm via multi-cab (a smaller jeepney), or how to get to the Underground River via shuttle van. (Remember that public transport usually wait for the conveyance to be filled to capacity before leaving for their destinations, an easy 10-20 minutes off of your schedule.)
There is a plethora of city tours on offer for only P600 (US$15) a half-day (all-in, which includes snacks and entrance fees) that cover the highlights of the city, and Underground River tours for P1,500, inclusive of transport to and from Sabang (where the Underground River is located) and Puerto Princesa, processing fee for visitor entry permits, entrance fee, lunch and snacks, and boat transfers (no overnight stay). If you are traveling as a group or traveling for a well-deserved holiday, then (expensive) tour packages like these are well worth their price.
But if you are staying longer like I did (two weeks), the same amount of money could be stretched much further if you are willing to brave the circuitous route of finding which tricycle/multi-cab/bus combo brings to desired destinations.
One hundred pesos (P100) on top of the same amount, respectively, bought me 2D/1N days of (rented bed space) stay at Puerto Princesa inclusive of food, transport and entrance fees on self-guided tours of some of the city’s highlights; and 3D/2N on the Underground River inclusive of transport to and from Sabang and Puerto Princesa, food, entrance fees and boat transfers (and the occasional ice-cold beer).
I was able to squeeze more mileage from my lonely travel budget because I traveled like the locals, as self-respecting hands-on and feet-on-the-ground backpackers do. But if travel is something you consider an opportunity to be pampered, then by all means indulge in pleasures which you deem a must for an unforgettable holiday!
Click here for next article (Palawan series) – Meet the Locals >>
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
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Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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