Taking a trip to see my fiancé in the Philippines

[Tromo7588 0]

Taking a trip to see my fiancé in the Philippines.   Trying to get an idea of how much money I might need for 2 weeks.  All of my hotel and tickets are already paid for I just need  spending money for excursions in Bohol local transportation Any suggestions for local transportation  I will be in Cebu  for a few days and then I am going to Davao for three days taking a ferry  to Bohol for 5 days then back to Cebu  three more days before I leave to head back to the US I’m planning on taking $2000 for food local transportation gifts and souvenirs  I don’t need fancy restaurants every night when I travel there I want to experience the Philippine culture of food I appreciate any input I even considered renting a car and driving myself versus hiring a driver with a car 

[TBoneTX 47,692]

Thread is moved from Off Topic to the Philippines regional forum, for informed answers.

[doggieandsam 765]

55 minutes ago, Tromo7588 said:

Taking a trip to see my fiancé in the Philippines.   Trying to get an idea of how much money I might need for 2 weeks.  All of my hotel and tickets are already paid for I just need  spending money for excursions in Bohol local transportation Any suggestions for local transportation  I will be in Cebu  for a few days and then I am going to Davao for three days taking a ferry  to Bohol for 5 days then back to Cebu  three more days before I leave to head back to the US I’m planning on taking $2000 for food local transportation gifts and souvenirs  I don’t need fancy restaurants every night when I travel there I want to experience the Philippine culture of food I appreciate any input I even considered renting a car and driving myself versus hiring a driver with a car 

hi there - i will try to answer your questions about cebu as i am from there. will you be mostly staying in Cebu city or outside the city (ie rural areas)? costs in rural areas will be cheaper than city costs obviously. but the biggest question you need to answer is: will it be just you and/or your fiancee you will be spending for? or will most meals / outings include her family? if yes, how large is the family?  because if you will be spending for a family, $2000 will run out very, very quickly. but then again, this will all depend on how frugal or how lavish you wanna be while there. $2000 is doable for a 2 week trip but you will need to be conservative in spending.

cost of meals in cebu are (shocker) almost comparable to prices in the US. if you will eat at a mcdonald's for example, take the US price and convert that to Phil money and the cost will be more or less the same. do the same cost calculation for a mid-range restaurant or if fine dining. there are of course cheaper options ie street food but i don't know if that's something you and your fiancee would be willing to try. if you want to cook at home, it will not be out of the ordinary to spend 5,000php for a barely full cart when grocery shopping.

 

i don't recommend driving yourself because the roads and traffic are a mess and if not familiar with them, then you will just spend all your time trying to navigate the city. yellow airport taxis from the airport to the city center will be around 300-400php one way. normal white taxis within the city center will be average 100-150php - if there is traffic then the cost will spike up. if you want to hire a van with driver for the day that is approximately 4,000php including gas. a roundtrip "tourist economy (read: in a cabin with airconditioning)" ferry to bohol is around 800-900php per person (2 hours travel time).

Edited October 25, 2017 by iamdegie

[Tromo7588 0]

29 minutes ago, iamdegie said:

hi there - i will try to answer your questions about cebu as i am from there. will you be mostly staying in Cebu city or outside the city (ie rural areas)? costs in rural areas will be cheaper than city costs obviously. but the biggest question you need to answer is: will it be just you and/or your fiancee you will be spending for? or will most meals / outings include her family? if yes, how large is the family?  because if you will be spending for a family, $2000 will run out very, very quickly. but then again, this will all depend on how frugal or how lavish you wanna be while there. $2000 is doable for a 2 week trip but you will need to be conservative in spending.

cost of meals in cebu are (shocker) almost comparable to prices in the US. if you will eat at a mcdonald's for example, take the US price and convert that to Phil money and the cost will be more or less the same. do the same cost calculation for a mid-range restaurant or if fine dining. there are of course cheaper options ie street food but i don't know if that's something you and your fiancee would be willing to try. if you want to cook at home, it will not be out of the ordinary to spend 5,000php for a barely full cart when grocery shopping.

 

i don't recommend driving yourself because the roads and traffic are a mess and if not familiar with them, then you will just spend all your time trying to navigate the city. yellow airport taxis from the airport to the city center will be around 300-400php one way. normal white taxis within the city center will be average 100-150php - if there is traffic then the cost will spike up. if you want to hire a van with driver for the day that is approximately 4,000php including gas. a roundtrip "tourist economy (read: in a cabin with airconditioning)" ferry to bohol is around 800-900php per person (2 hours travel time).

We will be in Cebu area for just 2 days because that is where she works then travel to Davao for 3 days to see her family then go back to Cebu and take a ferry to Bohol for several days before going back to Cebu for a 3 days before I have to leave. All flights and hotels are already paid for all I need is spending money for food and transportation we are meeting a few of her friends in Cebu. Her family in Davao said I am not aloud to help pay for the food they want to do a cookout for one of the days that everyone comes into Davao to meet me. But I am going to help out with food somehow. Travel around Bohol and go to the Chocolate hills and other various spots and Alona beach. She said we don’t need fancy restaurant she wants me to try local and street foods. I told her I want to Enjoy the culture of the Philippines not the tourist features

[John & Rose 7,241]

51 minutes ago, Tromo7588 said:

We will be in Cebu area for just 2 days because that is where she works then travel to Davao for 3 days to see her family then go back to Cebu and take a ferry to Bohol for several days before going back to Cebu for a 3 days before I have to leave. All flights and hotels are already paid for all I need is spending money for food and transportation we are meeting a few of her friends in Cebu. Her family in Davao said I am not aloud to help pay for the food they want to do a cookout for one of the days that everyone comes into Davao to meet me. But I am going to help out with food somehow. Travel around Bohol and go to the Chocolate hills and other various spots and Alona beach. She said we don’t need fancy restaurant she wants me to try local and street foods. I told her I want to Enjoy the culture of the Philippines not the tourist features

100,000 pesos seems pretty good to me.  When I spend a week in Manila I "host" a pool party for all the relatives and buy a lot of food and drink.  Her family has no problem with me buying the food!!!  LOL  It is really my pleasure and I love them all.  They end up marinating and cooking everything.  That is the biggest expense.  I prefer Grab over cabs but I know Davao taxis are good and honest, unlike Manila.  I spend right around $1000 US for the week but I can do much better if I try.

 

I also take my future asawa and her kids out often for dinners and lunches.  I find the prices very good there on most things.  Some are equal to US prices but most are more reasonable.  

 

Personally, I would consider $2000 for two weeks adequate unless there are expensive excursions (which you can buy online from here) planned.

 

I do not know Cebu but I assume that it will be comparable to Manila.  Just keep a card with no international fees handy.  I use cards for the groceries without a problem.  The ATMs there are fine but you are limited to 10,000 pesos per withdrawal.

 

I strongly suggest that you find a way to get smaller bills for taxis and tips (if you give any).  The ATMs and most money transfer places will only give 1000s...That is way too big for cabs and incidentals.  20s, 50s, 100s and 500s are good to have in your pocket!

 

I am taking my 4th trip there this year in early December.  Is this your first trip?  Feel free to PM me if you have questions.  There is a bit of culture shock at first but that goes away quickly.  I love it there and I love the people.

 

 

Edited October 25, 2017 by John & Rose

[John & Rose 7,241]

Also make sure you download the Grab app for your phone.  Pick up a sim card there or try something like SkyRoam.  Internet is VERY flaky there...

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

2 hours ago, Tromo7588 said:

We will be in Cebu area for just 2 days because that is where she works then travel to Davao for 3 days to see her family then go back to Cebu and take a ferry to Bohol for several days before going back to Cebu for a 3 days before I have to leave. All flights and hotels are already paid for all I need is spending money for food and transportation we are meeting a few of her friends in Cebu. Her family in Davao said I am not aloud to help pay for the food they want to do a cookout for one of the days that everyone comes into Davao to meet me. But I am going to help out with food somehow. Travel around Bohol and go to the Chocolate hills and other various spots and Alona beach. She said we don’t need fancy restaurant she wants me to try local and street foods. I told her I want to Enjoy the culture of the Philippines not the tourist features

Where Davao are you going if you don't mind me asking?

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

Easy Solution. Take 2K USD.

 

Then go to a Western Union before you leave USA and wire yourself a $600 Western Union to your self and do another one for $800 ( or what ever works for you).  If you get low on cash just stop by a Western Union and pick up more cash if needed or if you get robbed etc.

 

 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

Cebu Must Sees  Mango Street.

 

Davao Must See : Soundbox Bar right across the street from People Park, it's Air con and sit in VIP section I think it only like 1000 peso compulsory which mean you must spend 1000 peso on food or drink.  I heard they have a Cowboy Grill in Davao now, I have been to the one in Ermita area of Manila and it's awesome and huge and air con and good food and cold beer.

 

Go to MTS in Davao (Matina Town Square) and hang out there for a evening if you have time. 

[RO_AH 1,685]

I use Remitly app on my phone. If I needed more I just sent myself more, But to me $2,000 USD sounds good since you have hotels paid for already.

[John & Rose 7,241]

Just now, RO_AH said:

I use Remitly app on my phone. If I needed more I just sent myself more, But to me $2,000 USD sounds good since you have hotels paid for already.

I use Remitly too.  Great exchange rates and very low fees!  I have sent myself money in the past when I needed more than the 10,000 pesos from the ATM.

9 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

Cebu Must Sees  Mango Street.

 

Davao Must See : Soundbox Bar right across the street from People Park, it's Air con and sit in VIP section I think it only like 1000 peso compulsory which mean you must spend 1000 peso on food or drink.  I heard they have a Cowboy Grill in Davao now, I have been to the one in Ermita area of Manila and it's awesome and huge and air con and good food and cold beer.

 

Go to MTS in Davao (Matina Town Square) and hang out there for a evening if you have time. 

That would be the best $20 ever spent!!!  LOL

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, Chris Duffy said:

Cebu Must Sees  Mango Street.

 

Davao Must See : Soundbox Bar right across the street from People Park, it's Air con and sit in VIP section I think it only like 1000 peso compulsory which mean you must spend 1000 peso on food or drink.  I heard they have a Cowboy Grill in Davao now, I have been to the one in Ermita area of Manila and it's awesome and huge and air con and good food and cold beer.

 

Go to MTS in Davao (Matina Town Square) and hang out there for a evening if you have time. 

Cowboy grill in DVO say WHAT!!!!!. I have to go see that next time I am Davao. I tried to go to MTS to hang out at night with my now wife and get PISSED because she said only Prostis go there but in reality I think she was jealous because I am a young guy. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, Chris Duffy said:

Easy Solution. Take 2K USD.

 

Then go to a Western Union before you leave USA and wire yourself a $600 Western Union to your self and do another one for $800 ( or what ever works for you).  If you get low on cash just stop by a Western Union and pick up more cash if needed or if you get robbed etc.

 

He doesn't even need to wire himself the money he can get it out of the ATM. I usually have at least $1k on me in pesos at all times when I am in the Philippines but that's usually because I stay out in the provinces where there are no card machines and everything is cash. If I need more then I go to the ATM and draw out $500 a day but I rarely need to do that unless we are doing a big celebration. If you are out away from the big cities you might need $25 a day to live on good, but if you are in Cebu or Davao City you will need at least $1-200 a day at most as a tourist. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

I use Remitly app on my phone. If I needed more I just sent myself more, But to me $2,000 USD sounds good since you have hotels paid for already.

That sounds about right to me as well because he is like me I like to have almost everything paid for before hand so I don't have to worry about the rooms just the food and miscellaneous expenses. 

[Tromo7588 0]

22 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

That sounds about right to me as well because he is like me I like to have almost everything paid for before hand so I don't have to worry about the rooms just the food and miscellaneous expenses. 

I do appreciate the good advice Western Union part wouldn’t be a problem I have the app on my phone and I could send it from my account to my credit card directly to me wherever I’m at for that city.  I’m gonna try doing everything with cash transactions while I’m in the Philippines because my bank charges 5% for every transaction to convert Currency I was thinking about renting a car to drive around but then somebody else suggested to me to hire a driver for those eight hours tours in Bohol.  Plus my fiancé wants time with me without me have to concentrate on where I’m going when I’m driving as a tourist I don’t want to hit any of the tourist location if it all possible once I’m there she’s gonna show me the places that they like to go to neither one of us drink so bars are not for us I know I want to try Lechon I was told Rico’s Lechon is the best in CeAnd when we go to the wholebu And when we go to Bohol we are going to the chocolate hills adventure park That’s the type of excursions that we want to do look at the site go to the market in the town try the street vendor food.  I don’t need to go to five-star restaurant I know we are going to stay at the holiday spa hotel in Cebu The red planet hotel i The red planet Hotel in Davao And the chill out guest house Panglao island I think I spent right around 5-$600  for all the motels including two nights for her parents that way that gives me more time to visit with her parents the plane ticket for two people from Cebu to Davao  was 150 round-trip the company I work for. Used a third-party site that gives us great if discounts  on all of our travel purchases with reward points