The do’s and don’ts of traveling on a shoestring budget

MANILA, Philippines - Going on an adventure is probably on every person’s bucket list — be it 100 days of traveling around the Philippines on a P50,000 budget, or cavorting with the family across Asia in a whirlwind tour. Backpacking may be an immensely popular concept, but many adventurous souls still need a push when it comes to actually planning their own itineraries and budgets. Travel bloggers and expert backpackers James Betia and Gay Emami share their insights.

Do as the locals do. In his blog (www.journeyingjames.com), James Betia chronicled a life-changing trip when he journeyed around the Philippines in 100 days on a shoestring budget. There, he narrates how he gets to spend less on his adventures by thinking like a local, whether he was swimming with the whale sharks in Donsol or watching green sea turtle eggs hatch in Davao Oriental.

“You will see me taking the local transit as soon as I arrive at the airport. Then I go to the public market to look for cheap and fresh foods. If possible, I hang my hammock on the beach so I save a lot on accommodation. Sometimes locals would even cook me food or offer a hot cup of coffee,” he said. James also uses the network of friends he has established through his blog, as well as fellow travelers on Couchsurfing.com, to meet with locals in different areas. He suggests planning itineraries for more than three days, since longer and slower travels help travelers build rapport with locals.

“The biggest misconception about backpacking is that it’s only for Europeans or Australians, or that it’s dangerous especially for girls. Traveling has taught me to focus on the essentials. When everything you need is in a 7 kg backpack, you learn that things don’t define a person—relationships and character do. You begin to find good in everyone’s heart,” James shared.

A family of travelers. Meanwhile, Gay Emami of www.pinaytraveljunkie.com defies backpacking norms as she travels with her husband and her two-year-old daughter Luna. “Traveling with the family, especially if you’ve got a toddler in tow, is an entirely different experience. The more adventurous activities take a backseat. We pick our accommodations more carefully, making sure that the hostel is not known for bedbugs or rowdy all-night parties. We know that our daughter Luna may not be able to remember the details when she gets older, but we’re positive that her experiences will somehow influence her to become a better person,” Gay said.

When planning her trips, Gay first chooses a destination that suits the budget, such as her favorite budget-friendly countries the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Then she plans ahead and compares prices. “While traveling, set a strict daily budget for the whole family to follow. If not, jot down the expenses incurred so you could see where your money goes,” she said. Must-bring items for moms with toddlers are a medicine kit, tropical strength mosquito repellent, a child carrier and the child’s birth certificate.

Scoring great airfare deals. To those who want to score great deals on airfares, Gay said, “If schedule permits, book weekday flights since they are almost always cheaper. Flights during lean season are also generally more affordable. I have been subscribing to Cebu Pacific’s email alerts for the past three years, and I also just signed up to be a CEB Club member.”

“What I like about being a member of the CEB Club is having the option to save guest and payment details,” shared Gay. “I always book for the whole family, so now everyone’s details are already in the system.”  To help Filipinos plan their adventureson a shoestring budget, Cebu Pacific continues to offer its trademark lowest fares to 34 local and 21 international destinations. Through CEB Club, travelers can book faster, manage their bookings and travel funds, and stay updated on the latest seat sales.

Like Gay and James, go on the ultimate backpacking trip now and book a flight with Cebu Pacific via www.cebupacificair.com.