Travel Expenses: Coron 2008

This trip to Coron was certainly one of the cheapest trips I’ve ever had. Of course, it helps that we got to fly for free with Seair, but living in the island is surprisingly cheap. The expensive part of the trip are the island hopping expenses. Apart from the cost of the boat rental for the day (which is actually quite a bargain, since the boatman also acts as your guide and they can even cook your lunch for you), you also have to pay for each of the places in your itinerary.

The cheapest part about this Coron trip was the food. Coron town is pretty small, and there’s plenty of cheap dining options. If you’re not to picky, there’s plenty of carinderia near the market that serves pretty good food at affordable prices. If you love fresh seafood, head on to the market to buy shrimp for as low as Php 180 for a kilo, and a huge lapu-lapu for Php 140. We treated ourselves to a fancy dinner at La Sirenetta after a long day of island hopping. While the food was great, the service was disappointingly slow. This dinner was our most expensive at Php 380 per person.

All in all, Coron was worth every peso. If you’re in a tight budget, it’s best that you travel with a group who can share your expenses. There are places in the island hopping circuit that doesn’t charge for admission: I hear the CYC island is free, and the Twin Lagoons is included in the Kayangan Lake entrance (there are probably more, but I’m too tired to Google. Go research in Owen’s Coron site). My personal favorites among the places we visited were Banol Beach and Kayangan Lake. To further lessen your costs, pitch a tent instead of staying at hotels and resorts.

For the most amazing three days with such a fabulous group of people (not to mention the most spectacular photos), Php 4,593.00 is a bargain.

Coron Weekend
June 7 – 9, 2008

Cost Actual
Air Tranfers (for one person)
Seair Php 0.00 Php  0.00 1
Manila Domestic Terminal Fee Php 200.00 Php  200.00
Busuanga Terminal Fee Php 20.00 Php  20.00
Accomodation
Krystal Lodge
Php 1,500/night/room Php 3,000.00 Php  1,000.00 2
Fan room for 3pax
Ensuite toilet and bath
Transportation
Manila – To and from Airport Php 423.00 Php  423.00
Busuanga – To and from Airport Php 300.00 Php  300.00 3
Tricycle rides in Coron Town Php 151.00 Php  151.00 4
Food
Lunch, snacks, dinner, drinks Php 934.00 Php  934.00 5
Miscellaneous
Boat Rental Php 2,000.00 Php  400.00 6
Skeleton Wreck Php 100.00 Php  100.00
Banol Beach Php 100.00 Php  100.00
Kayangan Lake Php 200.00 Php  200.00
Barracuda Lake Php 75.00 Php  75.00
Siete Pecados Php 75.00 Php  40.00 7
Maquinit Hot Springs Php 100.00 Php  100.00
Snorkel Mask Php 200.00 Php  200.00
Souvenirs Php 350.00 Php  350.00 8
Total Php  4,593.00

1 Because Seair loves us. Hehe.
2 Three of us shared a room, so it comes out to Php1,000 per person for two nights
3 There’s pretty much no choice but to take the jeep from the airport to Coron town.
4 Coron town in small and everything’s within walking distance. However, you have to take the tricycle to go to Maquinit hot springs or to the Mabintangin pool. Or when your legs have turned into jelly after climbing Mt. Tapyas.
5 Food includes carideria meals, fresh seafood from the market, rice, paper plates and plastic utensils, water and an expensive but delicious dinner at La Sirenetta
6 The price quoted by our local fixer was Php1,800 per day, while the price listed in the boat was only Php1,500. We paid Php2,000 because we were supposed to go island hopping again the following day, but the boat sustained some damaged.
7 The fee for Siete Pecados was Php75.00, but the caretaker ran out of ticket stubs, so he only charged us Php200.
8 Souvenirs include 2 bags of cashew and some keychains.

Download:
Coron.xls (14k)

A big thanks goes to Seair for helping make this trip possible, and to Ferdz for keeping tabs of our expenses!


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22 responses to “Travel Expenses: Coron 2008”

  1. freeze Avatar

    you’re so lucky that seaair loves you… i wonder when will they love us? 😉 hehe

  2. Owen Avatar

    hi nina!,

    eran informed me you were there. should i knew it earlier i could have directed you to a much cheaper and better lodging… anyway, it was peak time that date, rooms are almost fully booked…

    anyway, here’s also a cheap way to spend touring in Coron … for only 3k total all-in (i hope, with the gas price increase)… see this link: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showpost.php?p=27158899&postcount=345

    until then, more power to your blog!

  3. nina Avatar

    Hey Owen! Actually, I liked Krystal Lodge. The novelty of the rickety bridge and the shack over the water is made of pure win. But yes, a cheaper alternative is always good 😉

  4. talksmart Avatar

    Hi. This blog is nominated for the Filipino Blog of the Week Award (on its 3rd year – week 117). Please visit the site and vote. Good luck!

  5. dyanie Avatar

    Hi Nina! Wow, I’d love to have that budget too. Hehe 😉
    Btw, how’s flying with seair?

  6. nina Avatar

    Thanks Talksmart!

    Dyanie, flying with Seair is actually pretty good. I’m not saying that because they’re my sponsor, but I’ve flown with them twice and their flights are nice and smooth. Plus, if you’re taking the Dornier 328 to Coron, the flight’s only 35 minutes. My only problem with the small planes are the ear pressure, but that my own personal thing 🙂

  7. estan Avatar

    nina, kayangan lake is beautiful but the last time I was there, there were just too many mosquitos that scared out the s**t from my companions thinking that there are anopheles (malaria vectors) mosquitoes there.

    anyway, just a question, since this was sponsored by Seair, do they also require that all photos be given to them other than the review? did they only handle the airfare?

  8. Rob Williams Avatar
    Rob Williams

    How are the Phillipines? I’ve never been there, but plan on heading up there sometime soon. I’ve been to Asia several times, I love it there, I’ve been to Japan several times, and I can’t wait to go back. It’s great. I bet getting the flight for free helped, hahaha. I’m an official ambassador for Hampton Inn and I thought I’d share this info with you and maybe you’d like to share it with your readers!

    Hampton Inn is offering 10% off the best available rate until September 1st of this year. We’ll also be giving away a bunch of other cool stuff like bikes, vacations all leading up to Team USA competing at the Olympic games!

    You can check it all out at:
    http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/promotions/hx_summerpromo08/index.jhtml?cid=OM,HX,Dreams,Specials&it=Specials,Dreams

    Hope to hear from you soon, I hope I didn’t overstep any bounds by directly posting in here.

    Talk to you later,
    Rob Williams
    Official Hampton Inn Ambassador
    naturalhouse302@gmail.com

  9. Marvin Alvarez Avatar

    I agree that Coron trip can be very cheap 🙂 But it was the scuba diving that actually ruined my budget hehehe.

  10. ARCHIE Avatar
    ARCHIE

    Ms. Nina thanks po sa reply.

  11. freeze Avatar

    does seair provide free transfers to/fr coron? i read it somewhere

  12. nina Avatar

    You mean the transfer from Busuanga airport to Coron town? There’s an authorized jeepney, but it’s certainly not free. The hour-long jeepney ride costs Php 150 one way.

  13. Mhye of Krystal Lodge Avatar
    Mhye of Krystal Lodge

    Hello Nina,

    How are you? Hope you could visit us again here in Coron. By the way, you are always welcome here at krystal lodge and thanks for the positive notes you amplified regarding the lodge. In case, some guests would like to visit us for accommodation, they may inquire at my e mail mhye_310@yahoo.com.ph or get in touch with me at 09284108074 or (02) 4536343. Mabuhay! to your blog.take care and Godbless!

    Mhye

  14. Rina Avatar
    Rina

    For those who wish to visit Coron, my hometown on tight budget you can email me at rinaa_ann@yahoo.com We will be glad to assists you and enjoy the beauty of nature. This way we can protect you on any tourist trap. See you …..

  15. Rina Avatar
    Rina

    For those who wishes to visit Coron, my hometown, on tight budget you can email me at rinaa_ann@yahoo.com We will be glad to assists you and enjoy the beauty of nature. This way we can protect you on any tourist trap. See you …..

  16. Bon Dexter Avatar

    Hello!

    The CALAMIAN ISLANDS TRAVEL AND TOURS, a local licensed tour operator here in Coron offers the lowest rates – only at Php 3,950.00/person for 3days/2nights stay at hotel accommodation, 2 set breakfasts and 1 buffet picnic lunch…

    …including roundtrip airport transfers, Coron Town Tour (horse backriding, mt tapyas trek, maquinit hotspring dip, souvenir shop visit), Coron Island Tour (Skeleton Wreck, Banol Beach, Twin lagoon, Kayangan lake, Siete Pecados), tour guide services, all permits and entrances, land and boat transfers, sheds, government tax

    For a hassle-free tour, email us at coron_islandstravel@yahoo.com or call us at +639298754899.

    For more details, visit http://profiles.friendster.com/93224109

  17. beth s. Avatar
    beth s.

    hi there nina.. wow you have a nice experience there in coron palawan.. can you help me with my tour in coron on july 8-12? i still don’t know what’s the best place to visit, and where’s the cheapest inn/lodge to stay.. please advice me nina.. here is my email add.. iku_dentista@yahoo.com

    Thanks!!!

  18. Kiss Mejia Avatar
    Kiss Mejia

    Hi! We’re planning to go to Coron this August, do you have any suggestions where we can stay? kasi 2 lang kami eh. Pwede ba don on the spot maghanap ng mga bangkero para sa island hopping? Thank you!

  19. black celebs Avatar

    Sign: wdpad Hello!!! yzakt and 8002ktamqnuyam and 2522 : Sorry, what did you mean?? A??

  20. jho Avatar
    jho

    any contact person for boatman.. thanks

  21. Alyssa Avatar

    hi! do you happen to have a contact number of your boatman? 🙂 we’re planning to go to coron on july. please email me at kheizerxhyper(at)yahoo(dot)com

  22. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    This help me a lot.. thank you very much

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