So I've finally gotten myself into the blogging mode after the weekend beach getaway in Bataan. Since I've just been to an amazing beach and camping site I will share with you what you can do there to have fun and enjoy your short summer holiday!
If you're not keen on booking hotels and spending your thousands of pesos just to sleep in a comfy room with aircon when all you will be doing the whole day is swim swim swim and explore the sea/beach/mountain/place then do it the way we budget travelers do it.
1 . Join travel groups and find the best deals
If you are in the Philippines, you should know that there are a lot of travel groups who organize travels to anywhere in the country. Not only travel agencies, but some traveling friends do it freelance. Of course you better choose the reputable ones if you're going to join freelance groups. Maybe go with your friends instead but if you want to join a tour group then why not? š
First things first though. Decide which place you want to go to. There are a lot of places to travel to in the Philippines and too many choices can make you crazy and take too much of your time if you don't know where to go. It's true because I spent like 10 hours finding the perfect group to join because I kept thinking I should go the free booking route or the paid route, if I should go solo or with a friend, etc. Oh there's so many travel destinations too I tell you so narrow your plans down first before looking for a tour group.
Most of the time Filipinos go to Facebook travel groups to find the best and affordable travel tips and tours to join. Others use search engines and watch YouTube videos but I went the Facebook route because hey, it's the in thing and a lot of people post their travel experiences there. š
(source)
Joining big travel groups can offset the high price if traveling on your own or with a small group. Those who are not part of a big group are called a joiner or joiners especially if there's a bigger group going to the place and you will just tag along.
There are solo travelers and couple travelers and of course group travelers so if it's just you and your friend or significant other then find a group that accepts joiners. This is what I and my friend did. We joined a travel organizer group which had an official Facebook page that still had open slots for Five Fingers & Laki Beach tour during the weekend. This group also had some celebrities whom they guided to tour some other places at some point so it's definitely a good group to join.
We were 27 people in total who went to Mariveles, Bataan in 2 vans. I didn't think we'd reach that number but wow. Haha. That's a lot of people huh. It was fun.
2 Always ask what you need to bring and check the Tour Itinerary so you know what to expect
Remember, it's you who will travel and you know best which places you'd like to go to. If you are not familiar, canvas several travel groups and ask for the itineraries and compare the two. Find out the time frame and the places to go to and plan ahead.
(source)
The difference in itinerary can spell a difference in price too. Some groups don't offer to cook food during the travel tour, other groups do. Some groups don't do side trips while other do. Ask if they have vans or transportation included in the fees or not. Check everything you can before making a payment.
Also don't forget to ask what you need to bring because the tour organizers know more on what you will need when you get there. If you need to bring liters of water, ask away. If you don't have any camping tent, ask if you can rent one from them. Anticipate your needs during travel, ask the tour organizer for any tips and tricks before committing to book with them.
(source)
3 Reserve and Pay thru Bank Deposits or During Meet up/Pick up
So you've chosen the place, and you've chosen the group, and know all about the trip you're gonna have, now all you need to do is to make a payment.
Some groups don't require any deposits but will ask full payment at the meet up place. Others require 50% downpayment via bank deposit then 50% upon meeting at the pick up place. As for other methods of payment, well you can always ask them if they are open to accepting remittance payments and such.
Always check the fine print in their online posts. Look for testimonials from other people. Ask if there's any hidden charges etc. It is your money so make sure you are paying a legit traveling group/organizer/agency.
We chose to join the tour that's more affordable and had food included in the package but lesser travel itinerary. Well I just wanted to swim in the ocean anyway so good food is good enough + some Five Fingers cove to cove travel.
Wouldn't you wanna swim in the above pictured ocean?
4 When you get to your destination, explore, have fun and make new friends!
Yes, make the most out of your money and go everywhere you can. Explore the beach, the island, every nook and cranny that can be explored. You did go there for an adventure/vacation right? So make the most of it.
Unless you lack sleep or got sick then drink your meds (be sure to bring some while traveling!) then rest for a bit. Then you can also swim for a bit and let the salt water do it's magic.
See if you can find a lot of things at the beach, be it jellyfish, sea urchin, sea creatures or plain old seaweed. Who knows what's there to explore unless you go and look? I even found a baby sea urchin hey!
Find out what the place has to offer and have fun swimming even if you can only swim in shallow waters! Haha.
5 Before you leave any place you travel to, make sure you clean up your trash.
Do you want the sea turtles to eat plastic? Do you want to swim with floating trash in the smelly ocean in the future? Make sure you dispose of your trash properly if you want to enjoy clean beaches during vacation. If you have to bring your waste home then bring it home.
(source)
If you see some garbage out there pick it up and throw it in the trash can. If you can't do that then at least remind your travel mate to dispose their waste properly. Please remember that throwing trash anywhere, even if it is a candy wrapper, is going to affect you and your family in the future. Even if you are in the city, your trash will make an impact, maybe to the flooded streets one of these rainy days or who knows if it will reach the ocean too one day?
Let us all try our best to be responsible travelers and keep the oceans and mountains and other natural travel destinations as clean as we can.
Okay that's it for me. Have fun traveling and take care too!
XOXO,
@artgirl
P.S. Don't forget to join my Draw your previous Steemit Post Pet/Animal Contest! Draw that animal/pet photo you previously posted on Steemit and get a chance to win some SBD! :D Contest sponsors are also welcome!
WARNING:
Spam comments will be FLAGGED / DOWNVOTED if it is not revised upon warning.
Images are copyright of their respective owners unless not indicated as belonging to someone else then images are mine.
All rights reserved.
Written by @artgirl for Steemit.
Ā© Art x Stephanie Rue
@artgirl is a freelance artist and also a sales person. Currently an agent for resort-type condo communities in Metro Manila.
For any art or property inquiries, you can chat me up on steem.chat or send me a Facebook message. Link in my bio.
For more of my latest posts still within the 7 day period upon posting this, do check below:
š Photos Fresh from Laque (Laki) Beach, Bataan!
ā„ Hey Steemit, Here's my Steem Poetry For You
ā£ Look! a Baby Sea Urchin! + Contest Winner announcement this week!
ā¦ Fun Way to Earn Extra $$$: Join Bitlanders!
For my art, writings and other posts, feel free to check my blog page.
Like it?
Upvote, Follow and Resteem for appreciation.
ā„ Thanks! ā„