Budget Biyahera was born after recognizing the need to share past trips that were arranged according to a specific budget while traveling with different types of people and gears. Everyone has their own financial perspective on things, whether you’re a big spender or the economically-conscious type. But as a constant wanderer, I’ve managed to keep my previous trips budget-friendly by allocating my resources.
Every type of traveler, whether a big-spender or the budget conscious kind, will always have their own financial perspective. For me, I think I've still managed to keep my trips budget-friendly without having to spend beyond my means and without compromising the value in every journey made.
*A Budget is a plan that outlines an organization's financial and operational goals. So a budget may be thought of as an action plan; planning a budget helps a business allocate resources, evaluate performance, and formulate plans. - About.com*
In my own way, I get to travel without having to sacrifice the comfort and thrills of my trips. That to me is always an awesome plan. And as long as I stay in my budget, I will always consider myself to be the budget traveler. =)
A 2013 Philippine Statistic Authority study says that around 9.4 million Filipinos aging fifteen and up traveled within the country for leisure in 2012. That number sounds like a lot of people. But in fact, that is just barely 15% of that age group, and not even 10% of the country’s total population. Roughly 85% of Filipinos stay within their home and work vicinities all year long. For Filipinos, traveling usually means visiting relatives. Leisurely vacations are something we rarely give priority to.
Explore dozens of temples and ruins in Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor temples. Discover what the Angkor Archaeological Park has to offer by getting on an adventure-packed day by trying the Small Tour Circuit and.or the Grand Tour Circuit (recommended to do both when traveling to this side of Cambodia). TIP: Try to get on the Grand Tour Circuit first as it offers the longest route.
[Trip from September 2008]It was F1 season in Singapore back when me and the boyfriend vacationed in September 2008. We were actually bummed about being a week early from the actual date of the event. But the good part of it was that we got to see firsthand the actual tracks and sidelines. Anyway, it was my first time to visit Singapore, and I must say that being in this country was a sight for sore eyes! Seeing the Merlion was a superb treat for a tourist like me. And to start off, let me show you what we did on our first day in the Merlion City.
DAY 1
ARRIVAL @ SG’S BUDGET TERMINAL Singapore’s Budget terminal was literally just like a receiving area. It seemed like it was smaller than NAIA Terminal 1. Nonetheless, the terminal maintained a good flow and process. And as we got our passport’s stamped, we immediately rolled our trolleys outside the airport.
Siem Reap City, the gateway to the Angkor temples, can be traversed through the Angkor Archaeological Park. You can even explore its significant areas via the Grand Tour Circuit or the Small Tour Circuit (either start or end your journey with the smallest circuit). The latter option might be the shortest route, but it's also the one with the best views.
My husband and I spent five days in Georgia. That was exactly a year ago today. Going back, I initially thought that this trip would be easy to prepare for (in terms of packing our clothes and travel essentials), but I thought wrong. It was our first time traveling to a country that had actual snow, so we were a bit clueless if what we brought to Georgia would get us through the cold. Thankfully, we survived the weather, though wished that we had packed more thermal wear. Lesson learned.
We almost didn't get to explore the War Museum during our city tour because it heavily rained the entire afternoon. But good thing our Motodup's tall built helped endure the mud-covered streets on our way to the open-air gallery.
What better way to say thank you to all of my readers than to host another giveaway, right? It's been months since I hosted my first ever giveaway. And since Budget Biyahera has been blessed with so many awesome surprises from then on, I would like to give back by surprising my readers with my own set of travel goodies! =)
So what's in Budget Biyahera's Goodie Bag? Let's see!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, BIYAHERAS! Here's to starting 2015 by sharing to all of you a few tips on how to start your own travel blog.
I started blogging when Live Journal and Tabulas were still in fashion. But I never really focused on a specific niche back then. But when I started traveling more, I decided to create a blog for most of my explorations.
It's always been a challenge, especially for me, to look for accommodations when traveling with a big group. I've experienced this countless times, particularly when I have a certain budget and schedule to consider. Thankfully, I've found homey lodgings that cater to specific needs, just like in 1896 BNB in Baguio City.
When I was about to launch my shoe business (3 years ago), my family and I, and a few workmates traveled to Baguio to do a quick shoot for Lakhambini. Now, given my Kuya's request to have a comfy and safe space for his wife and baby, I booked 1 chamber for them, and two more - one for the boys and one for me. Good thing (and good timing), I discovered 1896 BNB. Their rates ranged from PHP1,500-1,800 per night (non-peak/regular), which was perfect for our budget for two nights. Our package also came with complimentary breakfast, which was the best deal that I could find given our many conditions. It was simply perfect!
I've never been the techie type. So when Supremo sent me to try their latest action camera, I was both excited and worried because it's been a long time since I used one like it. I really felt challenged given the many features that I needed to learn from scratch. But I soon got the hang of it, and I could say that it’s an entry-level camera that you can definitely use on your travels. It’s both hardwearing and affordable. Plus, it has an attractive black matte coating that I absolutely love.
Three weeks ago, I was invited to this awesome travel website launch party (the country’s newest and most comprehensive travel portal wherein #ThoughtfulTourism is promoted) via Twitter. I honestly didn't know anything about Meet Manila nor the meaning of the word 'Tertulia' then. But I felt truly overwhelmed to be invited as a traveler blogger. Being recognized just that tiny bit made feel so honored! :) So I RSVP'd and got really excited thereafter.
Siem Reap, which is the gateway to the Angkor temples, is a charming destination. You can plan your vacation days to know which sites to see and which activities to do so you can maximize your stay. And if you plan to visit its ancient ruins in the days to come, try to explore the town and its nearby localities on your first day in Cambodia. You won't be disappointed as the city is filled with remarkable places. Just take example of the Angkor National Museum.
It's no secret that I like setting aside a specific budget for my trips. But if I have limited funds (and still itching to travel), I make sure that I 'book and plan ahead'. Here's how I do it:
1) I choose a destination.
2) I book my plane or bus ticket a few months early (look for seat sales!).
3) I check online sources for reviews and recommendations and then narrow down the best affordable rates for accommodations and tours, especially if I'm going DIY.
4) I book my accommodation (eg. Airbnb, Agoda, Booking).
5) I make a projection of my expenses by creating an itinerary based on figures that I've gathered online (list how many meals per day, how many nights in a lodging, how much for commute fees, etc.). Remember, it's okay to work around estimates, as it makes for a good buffer too.
6) I start saving up for the trip by allocating a certain amount from my earnings every month.
Allocating my funds for a trip helps me track how much is still needed to achieve my monetary goal.
I'm happy to announce Budget Biyahera's newest tie-up! :)
The guys from TravelBook.ph are giving away several THE Travel Club cash vouchers worth Php500 each! 12 vouchers are up for grabs, and I'll be handing out 4 of these to 3 lucky winners! You can win these certificates by joining our little contest.
Working on a specific budget is a non-negotiable when it comes to planning my travels. So when I finally set my dates for my Bacolod trip, I started looking for accommodations that would fit my allocated savings. After making lodging inquiries online, and getting recommendations from friends, I eventually found The Hostelry.
You’ve probably already heard a lot about the island of Boracay and
Boracay beach. After all, it has been consistently named as the top tourist
beach destination of 2013 and among the top beach party destinations of 2012,
it is no wonder why a lot of people consider visiting the island and staying at
one of its many Boracay resorts.
However, some people would not consider it as they think they would
need a lot of money in order to afford and enjoy the beach and all the
activities there. The truth is that it is actually possible to holiday in
Boracay even when you have a low budget.
Getting to Boracay
Since Boracay can be reached by air or sea, the trick is to know how
to get the cheapest mode of transportation.
Dubai is a fascinating city. I've only been here for less than a year, and I've already enjoyed exploring this bustling emirate. With its magnificent and towering structures (it's not the City of Superlatives for nothing), this dynamic town doesn't fail to highlight its own culture and heritage, especially its ingenuity - all of the qualities that I absolutely admire about Dubai.
Below is a roundup of some of my personal and budget-friendly explorations in Dubai, along with some very interesting contributions from fellow travel bloggers.
[April 2008] Just a week after my trip from Boracay, a few friends invited me to go with them for a 3-day getaway. It wasn’t completely planned. So it wasn’t something out of impulse either. And since Puerto Galera was only 1-2 hours away by boat from the Batangas Pier (add 2-3 more hours via bus from Manila to the pier), we decided to hit the beach with just some money in tow. We brought with us about PHP4,000 each. Besides the fact that I was already burnt by Boracay’s golden rays, I still obliged to this beach adventure.
DAY 1 My boyfriend and two of our friends met up at the JAM Transit station in Kamuning at around 1 am. We bought our tickets at the terminal, which cost us PHP150 each. After settling on the bus, we went for a quick CR break. Word of advice, breathe in as much clean air before using the facilities! It was a grueling and stinking experience! We left the terminal by 2 am, and was able to arrive at the Batangas port around 5 am. Unfortunately, for us backpackers, we only got a boat ride after 1 ½ hour, due to a delay in their transportation services. But the day was still young, and we were still very early.
By the time 6:30 am clocked in, an available yellow-painted boat arrived. By 8 am, we were already checked-in at the South of the Border. This inn was about 2-3 minutes away from the shores of the famous white beach. We then went straight to this location since my guy friend already stayed here on his previous vacation. A funny thing came up though. When we were reading the ‘house’ rules posted on our room’s door, I noticed a certain phrase that stated “Chick-Out!” Imagine that! Sorry for the bad grammar. But it was just hilarious!
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
