Travel Tips

Here are some travel tips to help you plan your trip:

1. Save on Travel Tickets. You can save a lot on your trip when you book your tickets in advance or when you avail of travel promotions and discounts. Booking your trips earlier allows you to have better ( may be cheaper) options for your trip. It can also give you enough time to save for your trip's expenses. Booking tickets on off peak season also makes a big difference.
   
   The Philippines' local airlines regularly offer promos and discounts. Sign up to receive updates on travel promos by visiting their websites:
   * Philippine Airlines
   * Cebu Pacific
   * Tiger Airways
   * Seair
   * Air Asia
   
   
2. Saving on Travel Accommodation. Smart travelers rather spend more money on food and other trip expenses than on luxurious accommodations. If you don't mind sleeping in a place without some of the less needed luxury and comfort, you can save even 50% of the cost for your accommodation. Some places also offer cheaper alernatives to hotels such as homestays and transient stays. Be sure to also reserve earlier so you would have a lot of cheaper options to choose from.
   
   Baguio City and Pagudpud offers homestays and transient accommodations.
   
   
3. Travel with a company or a group to split the total expenses. Before you start your trip, assign someone to take charge of your group's money. The group should agree how much should be your initial fund prior to the trip. This will be easier rather than ask everyone in the group to give their share every time you divide costs in your travel such as fare and entrance fees, etc. Individual lunch money should be handled by each one separately if each one has different preferences in food, unless otherwise, you are cooking then the cost should still be divided equally.
   
   
4. Travel itinerary. It is advisable to get a travel package if you don't want the hassle of scheduling the activities for your trip. However, if you wish to have a more flexible schedule, then you can also create your own travel itinerary. Doing so allows you to spend more time on exploring the place you would want to visit. To create a travel itinerary, you need to get basic information on the places you would want to check, the travel time, the different transportation options, and of course, the time that you would want to spend on your entire vacation.
   
   
5. Have enough cash on hand. Be sure to check what to prepare for your trip so you'll be able to plan ahead. If the place has no available ATM machines or the establishments don't accept credit cards, then you have to have enough cash with you.
6. Get your stuff ready. If you're heading for the beach, be sure to have the basics such as a set of swimming clothes and sun block, or if you're going to places like Baguio or Sagada, be sure to bring warm clothes with you.
7. Check the weather. The Philippines usually have two (2) different seasons for the entire year. It is best to check the local weather of the place so you would have information on which specific months of the year is it best to visit a particular place. Take note that the best time to visit also says about whether it is a peak season. :)
8. Carry a small backpack or sling bag to carry water, maps, camera, your wallet and other travel essentials. It is also best to bring ready to eat food if you have children with you.
9. Enjoy your trip. Depending on the purpose of your travel, make sure you enjoy every bit of your trip. If you are travelling for photography purposes, also take a short break to enjoy the sceneries aside from watching it from behind your camera's lens. If you are travelling alone, try making new friends and experience the local culture.