Cheapskate Bohol Getaway Budget

I recently visited Bohol for a much needed refresher. Since my friends and I are in tight budget(thanks to global recession!), we needed to plan carefully our expenses. Aside from the airfare from Manila to Tagbilaran, here’s how we spent our money in Bohol.

Accommodation

For cheapos like me, you can stay at Tamblot Inn in Tagbilaran. Yes, that’s far from Panglao where the beaches are but hey, you can still go to Panglao, right? You’ll always be outside anyways so you won’t need first class amenities. Again, We’re El-Cheapo here and if there’s one thing that you can save on, it’s the accomodation. And in Tamblot Inn, their PHP500 room per night(no meals) is a real steal! The room can accomodate 3-4 persons.

Foods

Since Tamblot Inn is in the city, food is everywhere. Take a tricycle and you’ll already at the ICM mall, their biggest mall there. If you happen to be in Panglao during the night, you can try the restaurants and grills that dot the stretch of the Alona beach. Of course, if you try the restaurants in hotels and resorts like Bohol Beach Club, you’ll pay more.

Bohol Tours

It’s a must for all tourists in Bohol. You can rent a van or a car and even mini-SUV to bring you to popular tourist attractions in and around Bohol. You can find one just outside the airport. You can haggle with them. There’s a lot of choices so you may ask around. The usual price is PHP1,500 per day (NOTE:circa2007) for the usual route if you rent a car. But you can ask the driver to bring you to more places at an additional fee. Gas/Diesel isn’t cheap, anyways.

The usual route is as follows:

• Blood Compact site
• Baclayon Church
• Chocolate Hills
• Man-Made Forest
• Loboc River
• Hanging Bridge
• Giant Phyton
• Loboc Church

If your driver is kind enough, he can bring you to Hinagdanan cave which is in Panglao island. Other optional places to visit are Rice Terraces, Tarsier Sanctuary and Bohol Bee Farm among others. For usual route alone, you’ll need one whole day and by the time you go back to the city, you’ll be very exhausted. But nevertheless, the trip is fulfilling and for sure you’ll want to go back!

Balicasag Island

This iterinary is optional but since you’ve already saved from accommodation, you may want to take it. And for sure, you will love it!From Panglao island, you can hire boats that will bring you to Balicasag island. It usually costs between PHP2000 and PHP3000. The boat will bring you to the island and fetch you on agreed time.

In Balicasag, you’ll need to hire a banca to bring you to snorkeling area. It costs around PHP300 for the whole day. You can go on and off the shore as much as you want. Usually, the bangkeros have snorkeling gears for rent that will cost you PHP150 for a pair of goggles and flippers. Before you go there, make sure you bring food and water.

Loboc River Cruise

We timed our visit to Loboc such that when we reached Loboc, it’s lunchtime. It’s part of the tour and it costs a around PHP280 per head. That already includes buffet lunch that you’ll take while the boat traverses the river. Before you board the boat, you’ll also see some tarsiers.

And before I forget, there’s a local tax that you have to pay before boarding. I don’t know what that’s for but it’s a small change. Forgot how much but I think around PHP15.There are also nominal fees (or “donation”) in such places as Chocolate Hills, Baclayon Church Museum, Tarsier Sanctuary and the Phyton.

Pasalubong

We bought ours near the Tagbilaran port. Our driver was kind enough to bring us to one of the popular souvenir stores. Of course, you can also buy them in the city. At ICM, there’s the Island Souvenirs tee shirts which we really recommend.

That’s pretty much about it. I hope that somehow, this will help you in some way. As there’s a lot of places that we were not able to go to, we’ll definitely come back. Hopefully, money is not tight that time.

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This is contributed by Noelle Luarca. She’s currently working in Singapore as a Quality Analyst.

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