JustWandering by Nina Fuentes | Travel blogging from Manila, wandering through the Philippines Asia and Australia
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Aug
22

Post Trip Accounting: Cebu Budget

Posted by nina under Cebu, Philippines, Post trip accounting

I was looking through my archive and in my personal files and I was surprised to find out that I didn’t have any spreadsheet on my first Cebu trip’s expenses. I’m pretty certain I wrote down all my expenses, but I guess after tallying it, I passed out because it was pretty darned expensive. I *am* quite a high maintenance traveler. I can rough it out, but as long as I’m traveling with people who doesn’t mind splurging, my weekend jaunts will always be over 10K >_<
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1 COMMENT
Feb
27

Donsol: Post trip accounting

Posted by nina under Donsol, Philippines, Post trip accounting

After several months of planning, I finally made it to Donsol. Actually, I didn’t really make any plans or did any research. I just signed up for a trip already organized by Owen, from my PEX mailing list. (He’s also organizing a couple of trips to Coron, Palawan. Anybody interested?) It was great to just show up at the airport and have somebody else tell me where to go. Given the busy weeks I’ve had, I haven’t had the chance to read about Donsol, except for that small bit in the Lonely Planet Philippines book.

The trip wasn’t *that* cheap. It could have been much cheaper if: 1) I bought my ticket during a Cebu Pacific promo and not one and a half weeks prior to departure; 2) We moved to the Donsol town proper or to Legaspi for cheaper accomodations on the second night, and; 3) I went for cheaper food options in Donsol. Of course, this is when I realized that I *am* a flashpacker, and not a backpacker, as I’ve always said I was. Indeed, I am just a backpacker wannabe.

Donsol Whale Shark Experience
February 23 – 25, 2008
Cost Actual
Air Tranfers (for one person)
Cebu Pacific
Regular Go Fare Php 2,690.00 Php 2,690.00
Manila Domestic Terminal Fee Php 200.00 Php 200.00
Legaspi Terminal Fee Php 30.00 Php 30.00
Accomodation
Amor Farm Beach Resort
Php 1,200/night/room Php 2,400.00 Php 1,200.00 1
Aircon room ensuite toilet and bath
Without breakfast& transfers
Transportation
Manila – To and from Airport Php 435.50 Php 435.50 2
Donsol/Legaspi – To and from Airport Php 205.00 Php 205.00 3
Food
Lunch, snacks, dinner, drinks Php 851.50 Php 851.50 4
Miscellaneous
Firefly Tour Php 1,100.00 Php 220.00 5
Whale Shark Interaction Fee Php 100.00 Php 100.00 6
Whale Shark – Boat and Guide Php 3,530.00 Php 530.00 7
Snorkel Mask Php 150.00 Php 150.00 8
Books Php 225.00 Php 225.00 9
Souvenirs Php 295.00 Php 295.00 10
Total Php 7,102.00
1 There were two of us sharing the room, so the room cost was divided in two
2 I took a combination of jeep, bus, mrt and taxi to the domestic airport in Manila. Go me!
3 This involved a tricycle ride and an hour-long ride inside a van with no airconditioning
4 I hardly left Amor. Food in their restaurant costs an average of Php125 per meal
5 One banca costs Php1,100, arranged by the nice people at Amor. Since there were five of us in the boat, the cost was split 5 ways
6 Filipinos pay Php100, foreign visitors pay Php300
7 The Php3,530 includes a boat, boat crew and one Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). Only seven passengers are allowed in one boat. You can easily ask other tourists to share the boat with you. Since there were 7 of us in the boat, we only had to pay Php530 each.
8 Snorkel mask and fins are readily available in almost all of the resorts and in the tourist centre. In our resort, the mask costs Php150, the fins another Php150
9 National bookstore is ebil.
10 I bought Php240 worth of pili goodies, and one butanding magnet

 
Download: Donsol.xls (14k)

There you have it. If you have any questions about the budget or the trip, just post them in the comment section :)

28 COMMENTS
Oct
14

Post Trip Accounting: Bohol

Posted by nina under Bohol, Everything Travel Related, Philippines, Post trip accounting

It’s been three days since we got back from [tag]Bohol[/tag] and I’m still recovering from my vacation. How ironic. The things that happened when I got home was just too stressful and I still couldn’t shake it off. Hopefully, I’ll be back in good working condition by Monday.

Something good came in the mail the day after I got back which cheered me up a bit, and I was able to use my computer again without having to take it (and paying lots of money) to the repair shop.

On a lighter note, I was able to stay under my [tag]budget[/tag] for this trip yay . Unfortunately, with the loss of my MP3 player and some cash, that still brings me over my budget. But what the heck, I’m just glad I was able to come home in with all pieces in tact.

A detailed breakdown of my Bohol budget right after the jump.
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Nina Fuentes | Lovin' ManilaNina, going through quarterlife crisis, decided to stop talking about traveling and actually start traveling. Starting with a solo weekend trip to Cebu to a backpacking trip in Thailand and Singapore, she finally made it out of Asia and into Australia. After spending close to six months down under, she's happily settled in Manila (for now), intent to explore the best things the Philippines has to offer.