We are regularly asked how we saved enough money to travel, which is a legitimate question! We were recently featured on CNN Money and the post focused on just that – how we saved for our first big trip abroad. This made me realize that we have never really written about it here on our own site.

The idea for a trip came about after we went on an all-inclusive holiday in Mexico in February, 2008. Upon returning, we both made a decision that we loved the tropics, were bored with our current lives in Canada, and we wanted an adventure.

Us setting out on a trip through the jungle by ATV on our all-inclusive holiday in Mexico, look how young!
We started enjoying backpacking and travel programs on TV, and read every guidebook that we could get our hands on.

On November 19, 2008 (just eight months later), we strapped on our backpacks and set off on our very first backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka.

Flight from Vancouver to Bangkok!
So, how did we have $40,000 Canadian dollars in the bank after just eight months? Here’s how:

Taking on a Roommate

When saving for travel, it’s imperative to cut costs wherever you can, and to supplement your income whenever possible.

I owned a condominium back when we were planning our trip. Nick and I both lived there together, with a roommate who occupied the second bedroom.

Having that extra person help to pay the mortgage and utility costs really helped us out. She paid me $800 / month, which allowed me to keep an extra $800 in the bank each month to put towards travel and / or bills.

Downsizing everything Possible

As soon as we knew we wanted to go on a trip, we started cutting our spending. We had the normal cord and Internet packages, and in buy to save some money, we cut them back to the most basic ones possible.

I used to get my hair done at an expensive beauty parlor in downtown Calgary – around $200 for a cut and colour. I would do this every two months. To save money, rather than going to the fancy hairstylist, I gotten boxed hair dye for $10. I would choose a haircut, but not as often, and when I did go, I went to a more affordable place that charged $50 or less.

Instead of spending $800 over eight months that we were saving, I spent about $250 on hair care.

Me and my hair circa 2008! Boxed dye and cheap cut, not bad
Rather than purchasing guidebooks to plan our trip, we rented them from the library. Or, we went into Chapters bookstore and would sit there and read the guidebooks, while having our once a month Starbucks treat in the attached shop (this is a normal thing to do at Chapters in Calgary).

Speaking of Starbucks. I used to get a coffee every day for $5 – $7 depending on the type. That’s $25 / week at a minimum. So, I stopped having Starbucks during the week and would drink the complimentary coffee available at work. That was a savings of $100 / month.

Say ‘no’ to the $5 a day lattes from Starbucks!

Rather than going out to the motion picture theatre for date night, we would rent motion pictures (people rented motion pictures in 2008!). A trip to the theatre cost $13 / person, plus popcorn and other goodies, for a total of about $40. A rented motion picture and microwave popcorn cost about $6.

It’s amazing how much money you can save on small things if you really put your mind to it.

Working Overtime Shifts

Nick was a printing press operator at a factory in Calgary and he was paid hourly for his work. If he worked any overtime (above 40 hours / week), he was paid time and a half. If he were to work statutory holidays, he was paid triple time. If he chose to work on weekends, he was paid double time.

Needless to say, we didn’t see each other all that often while saving money for travel! But, Nick was able to bank a lot of money in eight months, so the sacrifice was worth it.

Nick’s Old office (Right), slightly different From His new office (Left)

Work Payouts and Bonuses

I worked as a real estate paralegal at the time and was lucky enough to earn a good wage, and be given bonuses, holiday pay, and sick pay.

If I didn’t take my allotted holiday time (which was three weeks) or my sick days (which was one week), then I would be able to take that as cash at the end of the year. After the one week trip to Mexico, I was left with two weeks holiday time as a payout. and because I don’t really get sick, I was given my sick pay as well!

The same went for Nick. He was given two weeks of holiday at his job, and after our trip to Mexico, he had one week left over which he took as a cash payout when he quit his job.

All of these payouts together equaled a few thousand dollars.

No taking holiday days to go camping! It was done on a weekend, or not at all

Selling a Vehicle

I didn’t have a car when we were living in Calgary, as I lived close enough to my work that I could walk (30 minutes), or take the bus for cheap when it was really freezing outside, or if I were feeling particularly lazy.

Nick owned a car because he needed one to get to his job, and it was good to have for travelling around the sprawling city. Plus, the public transportation system in Calgary isn’t the greatest.

Nicks car, thankfully it sold so we could have money for travel!

Nick sold his car a few weeks before we set off to Bangkok. After selling his beloved car, Nick pocketed $6,500 (he gotten it for $12K. cars are never a good investment).

Selling real Estate

A large chunk of my contribution to our first trip came from selling my condominium in Calgary. Unfortunately, I didn’t sell it earlier (ignoring recommendations from, well, everyone). had I done so, I would have made much, much more money.

The value of the condominium was very high during the oil and gas / real estate flourish in Alberta. But, when I went to sell the property, it was during the downturn into a recession (remember, this was all happening in 2008).

We had talked about keeping the condominium and renting it out while we were away, but the cost of a property manager was high, and I didn’t want to have to deal with renter’s issues while laying on a beach in Indonesia. Plus, I wanted (needed) the money for the trip, and I just wanted to be finished with that tie in Calgary. It felt ideal to sell.

The lower level of my condo in Calgary! I cant believe I found this photo ?

After the cost of sprucing up the place with some paint, having a stager come in, paying off all debts and fees (credit card, realtor, legal, mortgage and line of credit), I still made a pretty good amount of money from the sale of the condo.

Totals and Budgeting

Even though we cut down all of our bills and monthly spending, we still had loads of mandatory living expenses during our final eight months in Calgary:

Mortgage, cord TV, cell phones, internet, condominium fees, city taxes, home insurance, car insurance, gas for the car, groceries, electrical energy bill, toiletries, and entertainment.

But, even after spending money on all of those needed expenses, we still ended up meeting our goal of saving $40,000!

On our first backpacking trip! This was in Indonesia, 2009

We planned to travel for one year, but we ended up staying overseas for 13 months. We spent roughly $33,000 for the both of us for 13 months of travel around SE Asia and the Subcontinent.

This amount includes getting all travel gear before departure, our day-to-day travel expenses, travel insurance, flights to and from Asia, travel visas, Nick’s scuba diving certification, and internal flights as well.

Was It worth It?

Spending a little over $30,000 on 13 months of travel was absolutely worth it!

The Taj Mahal in extraordinary India

That money was spent on experiences and activities, rather than material items and superficial things. We learned about other cultures, met terrific locals and travellers, tried new foods and activities, and exposed ourselves to another way of living.

Thinking back now, we can’t believe how much money we used to spend on living expenses in Canada. I don’t indicate anything fun like weekends away, date nights, or any sort of enjoyment – just basic, every day costs.

We calculated that while we were living at home we were spending roughly $3,500 / month on all of the “essentials” before we even woke up.

Putting that into perspective, after we booked our flights to and from Asia, paid for travel insurance and gotten our gear etc., our travel budget while on the road was just $50 per day (or around $1,500 per month).

That’s less than half the cost of living in Canada, and we were enjoying a much a lot more satisfying life overseas.

After our SE Asia trip, we realized just how far our money goes abroad, and how much money we wasted on things that didn’t bring us any happiness in Canada.

At that point, we only had SE Asia and the Subcontinent to compare it to, but having now travelled around the world for nearly eight years, we know that there are lots of countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia where your hard earned dollars will go additionally than in Canada, the USA, England or Australia.

Beautiful Leela beach on Koh Phangan, Thailand.
For $1,500 – $2,000 / month, a couple can travel easily in lots of parts of the world. That same amount is barely a mortgage payment, or a rent payment back in Canada.

Travel has now become our way of life, and we are forever grateful that we had the courage to quit our jobs, sell our assets, store the remainder of our ownerships (which we later lost in a flood), and say goodbye to our familiar lives in Canada. setting off on our first backpacking adventure was eye opening and life altering.

I can’t think of a better way to spend $33,000 ?

Hopefully this article gave you some good ideas to start saving towards your own travel goals. For some a lot more advice and inspiration on saving money for travel, have a look at these posts:

The utmost guide to an early Retirement

7 ideas to save $15,000 in just One Year

How To travel the world When You have absolutely No Money

10 ways To save money For a world Trip

Your turn! have you ever been on a long-term trip before, or have you thought about selling-up to travel? Share your story with us in the comments below!

Like This Article? Pin it!

 

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Posted: 8/26/2019 | August 26th, 2019

When I started my nonprofit foundation for discovering as well as youth travel education (FLYTE), my goal was to make worldwide travel available to low-income youth across the country, who are extremely passionate as well as wise however would never have the chance to travel abroad otherwise.

Earlier this year, we increased $15,000 to send a group of youngsters from visualize Academy to Colombia.

Located in Oakland California, visualize Academy utilizes an ingenious project-based discovering design to guarantee that its trainees — the majority of whom online below the hardship line — are prepared for post-secondary education as well as beyond. (Most are first-generation immigrants as well as will be the very first in their household to go to college.)

Last month, they returned from their interesting trip to the country so I wished to share a few of what they did as well as learned, so you can see what your support accomplished. For many of the students, it was their very first time in one more country and, needless to say, it had a huge effect on them.

Our group started in Bogotá, where they climbed to the top of Cerro de Monserrate as well as explored Plaza Bolívar, where Jeremy, the instructor leading the trip, provided a cross-curricular lecture about Simon Bolívar, Colombia’s history during the medication cartel years, as well as the design around them. They likewise went on a street art trip led by two regional artists, on which they discovered all about art methods as well as the political climate that prompted numerous of the pieces that they saw.

The trainees instantly started seeing commonalities between Oakland as well as Colombia. Darrilyn, a fifteen year old sophomore, remarked that this trip, her very first time out of the country, “changed my perceptions as well as preconceived notions of Colombia a lot, as well as I saw that it’s much more like house than I previously thought.” She likewise “really delighted in this walking trip since I like art as well as I like graffiti since it’s unconventional art as well as it tells the story of a person.”

Afterward, the group headed to Cartagena. They got a ideal introduction to the city on a walking trip with our partner, Context Travel, during which they discovered a great deal about Cartagena’s history as a port for enslaved people. This resonated with the students, who stressed exactly how essential it was for much more people to have this knowledge. Kai, whose new passport got its very first stamp on this trip, had the realization that “when people believe about Latin America, they frequently don’t believe about people of African descent.”

Myani, who’s 17 as well as just graduated from visualize Academy, was similarly moved: “It’s inspiring in a method since even though our ancestors were enslaved, they made the city what it is. You can see their value to the community. even though there’s an oppressive connotation, since they were enslaved, flip it as well as make it a powerful lesson. Make it your own: My ancestors developed this city.”

On top of all this, the trainees immersed themselves in Colombian cuisine by taking a street food trip with Cartagena Connections. They tried whatever from ajiaco as well as arepas to bandeja paisa, mango biche, as well as a bubble gum soda.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to Cartagena’s Barrio San Francisco with Alex Rocha from Experience genuine Cartagena, whose trips are developed to make deeper connections with the marginalized neighborhoods of Colombia. (Alex’s business likewise operates as a social enterprise, as well as so the proceeds fund an after-school program for the regional community.) Our trainees had an chance to link with a few of these youth with activities like drawing, dancing, as well as soccer, in addition to with truthful conversations about their shared experiences.

Aliza, a sophomore as well as president of the trainee council who had never left the us before, felt that this was the highlight of her trip since she was able to “see the youngsters as well as comprehend their atmosphere as well as exactly how they online every day.” Jany, who is seventeen as well as served as the de-facto translator for our Spanish-speaking parents, showed on exactly how the youngsters she satisfied “make the very best out of what they have. They’re grateful as well as humble as well as always try to discover something positive.”

Tayvion, a 14-year-old who likewise was traveling abroad for the very first time, had a deep conversation with one of the Colombian youngsters about authorities brutality. When Tayvion asked if they had guns, his new buddy replied, “Yes, however they never shoot.” having drawn parallels as well as distinctions with his own community, Tayvion shared his devastating realization: “It made me believe about how, for officers in the U.S.,their very first instinct is just to shoot.” (To me, that’s a unfortunate statement coming from a youngster as well as just shows you up much authorities violence is an daily truth for numerous people in this country.)

Throughout this entire journey, the group took part in everyday reflections. They shared their experiences, discovered from one another, as well as bonded over exactly how they’d altered throughout the trip.

Joshua, a sophomore who had never even left California before this trip, stated that the most significant lessons he’d discovered were: “Do not take the things you have for granted. Do not be scared to try new things. Finally, don’t be frightened to discover about new people.”

Waldo, who is a junior, shared that, “we ought to be open-minded about other cultures as well as people ’cause we may discover some similarities between us as well as them. We shouldn’t judge a people or culture based on their past alone.”

These new experiences not only shifted their mindset, however they likewise made the trainees believe about their future as well as goals. Yasmeen told us, “I have a great deal of dreams. There are so numerous benefits in the US, as well as I’m not going to squander my time. I ought to travel much more as well as discover about different cultures.”

In addition to the understanding that she gained, Veronica shared that her “goals are to assist my neighborhood with any type of of the work that I do. I believe this trip is going to assist me accomplish that since I’ve realized exactly how similar my neighborhood is with the neighborhood of Cartagena. We can utilize other cities from different countries to assist each other with the problems we are going through.”

Similarly, Ronald, a trainee who was thrilled to relay his experiences with his stepmom (who’s from Colombia), shared that “this trip made me open-minded to different cultures as well as makes me suggest solidarity within neighborhoods in Oakland.”

And, in a quote I particularly love, Darrilyn stated of her time in Colombia: “My really hopes as well as dreams are to be a political analyst as well as to travel the world. This trip showed me there is no worry to travel.”

This is why FLYTE exists: to produce moments as well as lessons such as this for trainees so they can see the world outside their borders as well as dream big.

The experiences these trainees had in Colombia left an indelible mark on them. many of them had never been on a airplane before their trip to Colombia. Not only did they discover about the culture as well as history of one more country however they likewise found exactly how a neighborhood can increase up in times of adversity.

On the last days of their trip, the trainees started planning exactly how they’re going to take action back home. one of their concepts was to produce a mural, much like the ones they saw in Colombia, to inform others about exactly how Oakland continues to conquer its struggles.

Because of this trip, these youth now have a bigger comprehending of the world as well as the power they each have to modification it for the better.

***
And, so, our objective continues!

I want to say thanks to you for assisting make this happen! It takes an entire network of passionate individuals as well as companies to run one of these trips, as well as we wished to celebrate a few of our partners who made this trip such an unforgettable experience for our students:

World Nomads, which contributed all of our travel insurance. understanding that they had us covered for any type of unforeseen circumstances, like lost luggage, provided us such peace of mind.

Selian Hostel in Cartegena for offering trips as well as breakfast for the trainees totally free of charge.

Javier from MYGHT travel, who made the daunting process of booking flights for a group of 20+ a seamless as well as stress-free experience.

Context Travel, which dealt with us to craft unique, immersive experiences (at a discount!) for our students.

Alex Rocha from Experience genuine Cartagena for opening up his neighborhood to us as well as offering us with a deep connection to the fantastic people of Barrio San Francisco.

Bluffworks, one of our newest business partners, which covered the costs of three trainees to take this journey of a lifetime.

Allyson as well as the team from wikiHow, who highlighted us on their platform as well as sponsored one trainee on this trip.

The worldwide TEFL Academy, for contributing 50% of the proceeds from its instruct Abroad film celebration to FLYTE.

Lo & Sons, for matching donations during our wildly successful #GivingTuesday campaign as well as sharing our story with their audience.

Lia from useful Wanderlust, who paid her own method to join the trip as well as caught so numerous amazing pictures as well as videos. She was likewise the mastermind behind FLYTE’s IG stories during the trip! We like exactly how she was able to file the students’ experiencein such an authentic, powerful, as well as unintrusive way.

Last, however definitely not least, numerous thanks to the countless you that contributed to FLYTE. Your generosity throughout the years has sent 70 trainees on life-changing journeys abroad. The effect of these trips extends beyond just these youth. since of you, the wave of positive modification will ripple with their neighborhoods as well as the world at large. With them taking the lead, I understand without a question that our future is bright. say thanks to you all for making such an immeasurable impact!

As the world develops walls, we’re assisting tear them down as well as showing a new generation that there is much more that brings us together than tears us apart.

If you want to discover much more about FLYTE as well as exactly how you can assist send much more trainees abroad, click right here for much more information.

Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s extensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it numerous times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

Posted: 8/12/21 | August 12th, 2021

Budget travelers love saving money. but one of the expenses that we shouldn’t be cheap with is travel insurance.

After over 15 years of traveling the world, I still never leave home without it.

Why?

Because I’ve seen firsthand how useful it can be — and how much money it can save.

I’ve lost baggage, had my video camera broken, and even needed emergency medical help over the years.

Travel insurance has been there for me each time. Not only has it saved me money but it’s provided me with peace of mind as I explore.

I’ve written extensively over the years about why you need insurance, how to pick the right company, and listed my preferred providers.

But, a couple of years ago, a new company emerged: SafetyWing. It is a fully remote Norwegian start-up based in California that focuses on coverage for long-term travelers and digital nomads. It is run by nomads and expats who know exactly what such travelers need. It offers basic insurance plans for a fraction of what other companies charge, although they are also less comprehensive. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.

So, today I want to review the company and talk about when it is — and isn’t — worth using.
 

What Does SafetyWing Cover?

SafetyWing’s standard plan is the “Nomad” plan. It’s just $40 USD for four weeks of travel (outside the US). That works out to just $1.42 USD per day.

That plan includes the following:

$250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage

$1,000 USD for emergency dental care

$100,000 USD for medical evacuation

$10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval

$5,000 USD for a trip interruption

$200 USD for a travel delay

$12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment

SafetyWing covers the basics. Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low end, but unless you’re heading out into the remote wilderness, that should be fine. (If you want higher coverage, get MedJet.)
Moreover, its travel-delay payout is pretty low, but airlines often provide travel delay support too so you might not even need the coverage offered by SafetyWing. Additionally, it doesn’t really cover expensive electronics, which sucks if you have a pricey video camera or video gear.

As with most standard travel insurance plans, this one doesn’t include pre-existing conditions or certain adventure sports (so it’s not a good policy if you’re going to do a lot of adventure activities on the road).

There is also a $250 USD deductible for most expenses — which is where SafetyWing is different from most other insurance companies. A $250 deductible means that you need to pay the first $250 USD out of pocket before you are reimbursed. So, for example, say you get injured and your hospital visit costs $1,000. You have to pay $250 and SafetyWing pays the rest.

Most travel insurance companies do not have a deductible (which is why they cost more per month) and I’m not a huge fan that they have this.

Obviously, if your bill is thousands of dollars, then $250 USD is a drop in the bucket. However, if it’s only a couple hundred dollars, then you essentially are paying the whole thing out of pocket and won’t get any support from SafetyWing. When I needed medical care for being stabbed in Colombia, it didn’t even cost $250 USD, which means that if I had had had SafetyWing, I wouldn’t have been reimbursed.

SafetyWing is there to help you when big things go wrong. For minor expenses under $250 USD, you’re on your own (which is why its plans are so much cheaper per month than other companies).

In short, if you want some basic medical coverage, don’t really care about trip-delay coverage, and are ok covering the first $250 USD, then get SafetyWing, since it’s only $40 USD per month.
 

Making a Claim

While I am currently using SafetyWing for my current trip, I haven’t submitted a claim with them so I don’t know how good their procedures are yet. I asked around to some readers though. All but one said they were good to work with. based on reading their negative TrustPilot reviews, it seems that most people who had a negative experience either didn’t know about the deductible or hated the length of time it took to get paid.

So, in my opinion, based on that, it looks like they probably have above average but not perfect customer service. (If you have made a claim with them, drop a comment below and let us know.)

 

A note about COVID

SafetyWing does include coverage for COVID-19. As long as the virus was not contracted before your plan starts, then it will be covered. SafetyWing also covers quarantine costs (outside your home country) for up to $50 USD/day for 10 days.

Since most travel insurance plans still don’t offer coverage for COVID, this is a huge plus — especially as countries reopen and variants continue to spread.
 

Who is SafetyWing good For?

SafetyWing is designed for long-term travelers. Specifically, it’s the best choice for:

Super frugal, long-term budget travelers

Someone looking to only cover big expenses

People without lots of expensive electronics

Digital nomads who need coverage for long-term travel

 

Who is SafetyWing Not good For?

If you are traveling with a lot of electronics, want comprehensive trip delay and cancelation coverage, or want more coverage for adventure activities, I wouldn’t go with safety Wing.

NOTE: SafetyWing also offers expat plans for remote workers, which are more expensive but more comprehensive. These plans are $153 USD per month. Unless you’re an expat working abroad, however, you’ll likely get by with just the “basic” Nomad plan.

***
Travel insurance is something I never leave home without. I know it’s a boring topic to read about and research, but it can literally save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in bills!

So, the next time, you’re on the road, consider SafetyWing. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.

You can use the booking widget below to get a quote:

safety-wing-logo
Insurance that covers you wherever you go.
Age range0-39 years old40-49 years old50-59 years old60-69 years oldIncluding travel in the US?Coverage that includes travel to the us and us territories. Not applicable to us citizens.

Specific travel dates?When you choose set travel dates instead of a subscription, you pay for the whole trip upfront. minimum 5 days, maximum 364 days.

Start date
End date

$
36.96
/ 4 weeks (28 days)

Buy now

For a comparison with other companies, check out this post that lists my five favorite travel insurance companies, along with their pros and cons.

Book Your Trip: Logistical tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

traveling can be much different experience when you look physically different from the regional population. It can include a whole new set of difficulties as well as issues to solve.

Roobens Fils is no complete stranger to being a Black person in a foreign country as a travel blog writer as well as author from France who has traveled extensively throughout the world. He has even written a book on of his experiences of being Black as well as abroad.

But what is it truly like to travel separately as a Black person?

…

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need help with planning your trip to Puerto Galera? Here’s our diy PUERTO GALERA travel guide with suggestions on how to get there from Manila or Batangas Port, ferry schedules, and hotel and trip recommendations. We also added a sample PUERTO GALERA schedule that you may use!

If one would condense my growth as a beach chaser into the life span of a butterfly, Puerto Galera would be somewhere in the caterpillar stage. back when I was not yet capable of flying, when Boracay, Palawan and the Maldives filled my flights of fancy, I had my eyes on places that was a little bit much more realistic. First, I wanted to just hit the beach, a nearby beach, any beach. Then, I wanted to go farther, ride a boat, and set foot in an island. I always had a destination in mind — Puerto Galera.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING PUERTO GALERA
WHERE TO stay IN PUERTO GALERATOP PUERTO GALERA RESORTS
Search for much more Hotels!

HOW TO get TO PUERTO GALERAMANILA TO BATANGAS BUS SCHEDULE
BATANGAS PIER TO PUERTO GALERA SCHEDULE

HOW TO get around PUERTO GALERABy Tricycle
By Motorcycle
By Boat

THINGS TO do in PUERTO GALERAIsland Hopping Tour
Land Tour
Diving Courses
White beach and Nightlife
Water Sports

SAMPLE PUERTO GALERA ITINERARY
More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

UNDERSTANDING PUERTO GALERA

Even before the colonial era, Puerto Galera has always been a busy port area because it is a good natural shelter for ships and boats. In 1570, the Spaniards arrived in Batangas and later crossed the Verde Island passage to this coastal settlement. They named it Puerto Galera or Port of Galleons.

Photo by Pycan Leynes
Today, Puerto Galera is a first class municipality in Oriental Mindoro, about 130 km south of Manila. Although occupying the northernmost suggestion of another island (Mindoro Island), it can be easily reached from Luzon. This accessibility from the capital and CALABARZON, the country’s many populous region, made it one of the most popular beach destination for decades.

Puerto Galera faces the Verde Island Passage, which is described by a 2007 Smithsonian Institute study as the “center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity citing the high concentration of marine species. In 1973, it was declared a UNESCO man and Biosphere Reserve.

Here are much more helpful bits about Puerto Galera.

Location: Oriental Mindoro, Philippines.

Languages: Iraya and Tagalog. but many residents, especially tourism workers, can communicate in English too.

Currency: Philippine peso (PHP, ₱). PHP100 is around USD 1.90, EUR 1.69, SGD 2.57 (as of may 2019).

Modes of payment: CASH, primarily. Some establishments accept credit report cards, but bring cash to be safe.

WHERE TO stay IN PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera’s jagged coastline is hemmed by over a dozen fair-sand-filled coves. Of all these beaches, these three are the most optimal places to stay for tourists:

White Beach. Puerto Galera’s many popular beach. This is Galera’s answer to Boracay’s White Beach. (And yep, they bear the same name.) This is where many of the tourism action happens. You’ll find a broad range of lodging and dining options here. Nightlife is also here.

Aninuan Beach. located just next to White beach but this is much much more tamed and quiet. This is a good place to stay if you’re after a much more unwinding stay but want easy access to White Beach.

Sabang Beach. A little bit detached from the first two coves, but it also harbors lots of accommodations. This is a terrific base for divers because of the number of dive resorts.

TOP PUERTO GALERA RESORTS

Here are the top-rated resorts in Puerto Galera as scored by Agoda reviewers.

Image courtesy of Agoda

Edgewater Dive & medspa Resort. check rates & Availability!

Bamboo house beach Lodge & Restaurant. check rates & Availability!

Ara beach Resort. check rates & Availability!

Utopia resort & Spa. check rates & Availability!

Jalyns resort Apartments & Restaurant. check rates & Availability!

Veronica Inn. check rates & Availability!

Sunset at Aninuan beach Resort. check rates & Availability!

Steps garden Resort. check rates & Availability!

Tribal Hills mountain Resort. check rates & Availability!

Search for much more Hotels!

HOW TO get TO PUERTO GALERA

The most affordable and many typical way to reach Puerto Galera from Manila is through Batangas. From Batangas Pier, you will need to catch a ferry to either of the two ports in Puerto Galera. Balatero Port is closer to White beach and Aninuan Beach, while Muelle Port is closer to Sabang.

Head to a JAM liner bus terminal. There’s one in Cubao and another in LRT Buendia area.

Catch a bus bound for Batangas Pier. Some buses pass through and make several stops in Sto. Tomas and Tanauan. If you want a quick journey, board a bus with the CALABARZON sign. This implies that the bus will be taking the star Tollway, which bypasses many towns and cities betweenSLEX and Batangas City. travel time is 2-3 hours. Fare is P197 if you’re coming from Buendia or P207 from Cubao. See bus schedule in the next section below.

Get off at Batangas Pier. You can also tell the conductor that you plan to go to Puerto Galera so he knows where to drop you off.

Upon arrival at Batangas Pier, head straight to the ticket counters. You may be approached by touts saying that there are no public ferries to Puerto Galera that day. DON’T believe THEM. They’re just trying to get you to charter an expensive private boat. walk straight to the ticketing counters.

Purchase tickets to Puerto Galera. You may choose a roro or a fastcraft. You can find the schedule as of April 2019 here. Fare: P300.

Pay the Batangas Pier terminal fee. P30 per person.

Board your booked ferry. travel time: 55-100 minutes, depending on the type of vessel.

At Balatero or Muelle Port, pay the environmental fee. P50 per person. Balatero Pier also collects an additional P20 terminal fee.

Ride a tricycle to your resort. If your resort is within short distance, fare is P200 per trip or P50 per person (if you’re a group).

MANILA TO BATANGAS BUS SCHEDULE

Here’s the schedule of Jam liner buses as of may 2019.

BATANGAS PIER TO PUERTO GALERA SCHEDULE

You can board a roro, a semi-fastcraft, or a fastcraft to Muelle Port or Balatero Port.

There used to be outrigger boats that carry passengers straight to White beach or Sabang Beach. but during our last trip to Puerto Galera, we didn’t see any outrigger boats to Puerto Galera. The Maritime industry Authority (MARINA) had plans of phasing out wooden-hulled boats last year, but I’m not sure if they have implemented this already.

For the schedule of authorized ferries, you may refer to this: BATANGAS-PUERTO GALERA TIMETABLE.

HOW TO get around PUERTO GALERA

By Tricycle

The jeepney is the most affordable mode of transportation in Puerto Galera. However, as in any other place in the country, jeepneys follow a fixed route and tentative schedules. If you want better control of your time, the tricycle is better.

For short distances, many tricycle chauffeurs charge P150-200 per ride (good for 3 pax). If you’re a group, that’s fine, but it’s a pain on the pockets if you’re traveling solo. A pal said that this is the traveler rate and that it is much lower for locals. I don’t know what the local rate is. However, for budgeting purposes, you can assume that it’s P200 per trip so you won’t go under.

You can also charter a tricycle to take you on a trip and see inland attractions like Tamaraw Falls, Virgin Beach, Mangyan Village, Infinity farm and others for P800 (good for 3 pax).

By Motorcycle

If you have a driver’s license and you know how to drive a motorcycle, you can rent one and explore the town freely on your own. rates vary depending on the type of motorcycle and the shop, but the conventional rate is P400 per day.

If you choose to travel on two wheels, take extra care. always wear a helmet even if numerous of the locals you see don’t.

By Boat

To get to some islands and other coves, chartering a boat is the way to go. here are the boat rates for trips from Muelle Port as of may 2019. A boat can typically accommodate up to 6 pax.

DAY RATES

Sandbar: P200 one-way, P400 round trip

Buri Beach: P200 one-way, P400 round trip

San Antonio: P230 one-way, P460 round trip

Fridays: P250 one-way, P500 round trip

Coco Beach: P250 one-way, P500 round trip

Big La Laguna: P300 one-way, P600 round trip

Small La Laguna: P350 one-way, P700 round trip

Coral Garden: P400 one-way, P800 round trip

Sabang Beach: P400 one-way, P800 round trip

Long Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip

Haligi Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip

Bayanan Beach: P500 one-way, P1000 round trip

Tamaraw Beach: P700 one-way, P1400 round trip

White Beach: P1000 one-way, P2000 round trip

Talipanan Beach: P1200 one-way, P2400 round trip

You can also ask the boatman to trip you around. You may choose three destinations and they will show you around for around P2000.

NIGHT RATES:
Night rates are double the prices noted above.

THINGS TO do in PUERTO GALERA

Island Hopping Tour

Most island hopping trips will take you to the following attractions:

Haligi Beach

Bayanan Beach

Sandbar (sometimes replaced by Maniknik Beach)

Coral garden (snorkeling site)

You can also replace a site with another. check out the list of beaches in the previous section above (HOW TO get AROUND: BY BOAT) and pick 3 from that list.

The boat trip costs P1800-P2000 per boat, good for 6-8 passengers. An additional P200 fee is collected per person for the smaller paddle boat that will take you to the snorkeling site.

If you want to make the most of your trip, you may check out the following sites:

San Antonio Island’s underwater cave

Giant clams site

Coral garden

Prepare to pay an extra P600 per person to see all three additional attractions.

Land Tour

Another way to explore Puerto Galera is by joining a tricycle tour, which will take you to some natural attractions that are easily available by land. A tricycle trip typically makes a stop at the following:

Tamaraw Falls

Virgin Beach

Mangyan Village

You will also be stopping at some lookout spots along the way.

The trip costs P800 per tricycle, maximum of 3 passengers. The price excludes entrance fees and other fees per site including the following:

Tamaraw Falls swimming area fee: P30 per person

Umbrella kiosk rental fee: P140

Barbeque grill rental fee: P50

Table rental fee: P30

Tamaraw Falls table rental and cooking fee: P150 per table

Virgin beach entrance fee: P30 per person

If tricycle is not your preferred mode of transportation, you may also charter a multi-cab or jeepney for P2000+ per vehicle. This will allow you to see other attractions including:

Lantuyan Water Curtain

Infinity Farm

Turukan Falls

Hanging Bridge

Additional fees may apply.

Diving Courses

Puerto Galera’s coast is lapped by the waves of the Verde Island Passage, which is described by a 2007 Smithsonian Institute study as the “center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity citing the high concentration of marine species.

Home to over 40 recognized dive sites, it is one of the top diving destinations in the country. If you haven’t tried scuba diving before, Puerto Galera is also an optimal place to discover your love for the deep. There’s a lot of dive shops and resorts here and rates vary. but fun Dives start at P1500 per dive. You can also find PADI introductory courses for around P3500 (1-2 hours, 1 dive).

White beach and Nightlife

Photo by Pycan Leynes
White beach is Puerto Galera’s answer to Boracay. It is the most popular stretch of sand in the area and the most commercialized. You’ll find plenty of activities to delight in here even at night. On weekends and holidays, there’s no running short of bars, booze, live bands, and fire dancers.

Water Sports

If you want an adrenaline rush, try some of these water rides. best delighted in as part of a group. here are the rates:

Unicorn: P2,500, good for 10 pax

King Cobra: P2,500, good for 10 pax

Flying Saucer: P2,000, good for 6 pax

Fly Fish: P1,500, goof for 3 pax

Jetski: P2,000 per 15 minutes

SAMPLE PUERTO GALERA ITINERARY

Below is a sample overnight Puerto Galera schedule with breakdown of expenses. This schedule assumes you’re a group of 3, splitting some expenses and staying at a resort in White beach or Aninuan Beach. feel totally free to make required adjustments to match your schedule, needs, or preferences.

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL, ISLAND TOUR
05:00 am – Bus to Batangas Pier, P197
07:30 am – Arrival at Batangas Pier
07:45 am – purchase ticket, P300
08:00 am – Pay terminal fee, P30
08:30 am – Board ferry to Puerto Galera
10:00 am – Arrival, Pay environmental fee, P50
10:15 am – Tricycle to resort, P50
10:30 am – check in or drop bags
11:00 am – Lunch, P100
12:00 pm – Island hopping, P600 (P1800/3pax) + P600
05:30 pm – Back to resort, freshen up
06:30 pm – Tricycle to White Beach, P50
07:00 pm – Dinner, P200
08:00 pm – White beach nightlife
10:00 pm – Back to resort, P50

DAY 2 – LAND TOUR, DEPARTURE
06:00 am – Land Tour, P267 (P800/3pax)
06:30 am – drop by public market, purchase food, P200
07:00 am – continue land tour, entrance fees: P60
10:30 am – Brunch at Tamaraw Falls, Grill: P50, Table: P30
12:00 pm – check out
12:30 pm – Tricycle to Port, P50
12:40 pm – purchase ticket to Batangas, P300
12:50 pm – Pay terminal fee, P20; exit fee: P10
01:30 pm – Board ferry
03:00 pm – Arrival at Batangas pier
03:30 pm – Board bus to Manila, P197

If you spend P600 per night per person on accommodation, this schedule will cost you around P4200 (USD 80, EUR 71, SGD 110) per person, with a small allowance for incidental expenses but excluding suggestions and shopping budget.

There are numerous ways to bring the cost down. If you’re part of a bigger group, you can drastically decrease the trip expenses. This schedule assumes you’re a group of 3 but a common boat can accommodate

The Gili’s are a trio of tiny islands situated to the east of Bali in Indonesia. A tropical paradise offering crystal clear warm waters, chalky beaches and rainbow coloured reefs. Each island has its own vibe and all are a haven for travellers looking to live the island life!

Gili Trawangan is known for its party atmosphere, Gili Meno offers a secluded retreat popular with couples, whilst Gili Air blends a perfect mixture of the two!

With so many things to do it’s hard to know where to begin, but after spending nearly a month island hopping between the three, we’ve put together the ultimate Gili to-do list.

Go under the sea

Whether you choose to try your hand at scuba diving or you prefer to stay closer to the surface and snorkel, the Gili islands are renowned for having some of the best dive sites in the world!

Set sail to Turtle City for an up and close experience with turtles, Manta point for rays and a colourful array of fish, and Shark point for the more daring of divers! (This isn’t the most daring thing we’ve done mind you, we took on the Worlds Deadliest Trail…)

These tiny islands have it all and its waters are known as some of the best in the world to start your PADI Open Water course at a price of $428. The Gilis have a fixed price agreement to ensure that all dive shops charge the same for the qualification, meaning that you can shop around for the dive center that floats your boat!

Forget the glass bottom boats it’s all about the see-through kayak

If you prefer to stay dry but still want to see what’s going on beneath the surface, we’d recommend ditching the busy, overpriced glass bottom boats and opting for a see-through kayak instead – for as little as $15 for 2 hours.

Paddle out to your favourite parts of the island and avoid the overcrowded tourists spots consumed by boats.

Chill out on one of the island beach clubs

Beach clubs in the Gilis come in all shapes and sizes and are really the only way to enjoy the dreamy, paradisiacal lifestyle you would expect of tropical island life.

Cocktail in hand, music blaring, sun blazing, life’s a beach!

You really are spoilt for choice on Gili Trawangan. You’ll find beach clubs a plenty along the main strip offering good food, classic and Gili style cocktails, chill out zones, table tennis and even swimming pools.

Over on Gili Meno, travellers looking for a more quiet, secluded escape can find beach clubs dotted around the island’s shores. Take your pick!

Watch the sunset

A more obvious one, but there is a different way to enjoy sunset for every single night you have the pleasure of being on one of the three islands.

From a beach club lounger to secluded sands or a bbq seafood restaurant, the golden glow from a Gili sunset is like no other. We even climbed the lighthouse located on Gili Trawangan for the best seats in the house for sunset. Yes, while traveling, we still know how to keep the romance alive!

Kayak between the islands

The calm, warm waters of the Gilis are perfect for kayaking and it is perfectly safe, not to mention fun, to kayak between the islands. We rented a kayak one afternoon from a beach bar called Lava on the main strip of Trawangan for approximately $15 and rowed across to Gili Meno.

As Charlie got the kayak into shore, Charlotte got the beers in at the beach bar so we could kick back and enjoy a change of scenery for the afternoon. Bliss!

Play beer pong

Exactly what it says on the tin! Play. Beer. Pong. In true USA fashion, this has become most popular on Gili Trawangan with travellers looking to get into the party spirit of the island.

Choose your side, choose your drink and get necking your losses! You may even want to play your neighbour and do your nation proud. We had fun getting to know other travellers this way and trust us, one round will definitely not be enough. It will almost certainly be best of three, best of five, best of… You get the picture!

Ride a bike around the island

Without the need for automobiles or scooters on the islands (they are actually banned), one of the best ways to get by and explore is to rent a bike for as little as $5 a day.

You can bike the 7 mile circumference of Gili Trawangan in just under 3 hours, but you will surely want to stop off as you discover hidden beaches, quiet and quaint little restaurants, beach clubs and hammocks along the way.

For those interested in seeing how the locals thrive on the island, you don’t have to bike far inland for a real insight into their way of life.

Eat BBQ fish

Catch of the day… never has the saying been so apt! head out into the night and look no further than the hearty and plentiful seafood BBQ’s served around the island.

Freshly caught that day from the Java Sea, restaurants cook your selected dish to perfection on the BBQ. Savor the taste, it doesn’t get much fresher than this.

One of our favourite restaurants located on both Trawangan and Air was Scallywags. A outstanding seafront restaurant that served as our final supper on the Gili islands.

Watch the locals battle it out in a stick fighting competition

When we were invited to watch a stick fighting contest, we slightly underestimated the fighting part. hugely popular with the locals, arenas are packed to the rafters as Balinese lads battle it out with bamboo sticks and shields to win over a judging panel, or ultimately draw blood from their opponent.

As brutal as this sounds, and believe us some of the strikes are indeed BRUTAL, the fighters love what they do, love to win and love their adoring audience. put $5 in the ring and be entertained!

Visit the famous swings

You’ve seen the pictures, now get down to the beach and capture those perfect Instagram worthy shots. dotted at locations around each island, many opt to capture the moment as the sun goes down, where you will merely be cast as a silhouette amongst the orange haze of the sunset and the backdrop of the Java Sea.

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