Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jfromtheway]

Cheap guy wanting relatively warm beach to sleep on for the first week of March = Philippines? Other options? I only recently found out I have three weeks of vacation starting tomorrow, and was initially planning to just hang around Seoul, but I'm itching to get away. I've traveled quite a bit in Asia, but it was mainly only in SE Asia, and that figures to be quite a bit more expensive, and therefore out of the question.

Philippines: Seeing airfare around $500 RT, and I know I'm cutting it close time-wise, so prices are clearly more expensive. But does anyone know if I might have a chance at grabbing something under that mark, and if so, how much should I expect to pay? One week of expenses... any ballpark figures? Places that aren't infested with tourists, has a decent nightlife, good looking women (not talking working girls)... where are the better spots, given the criteria? I just want a place with an okay nightlife, a bungalow, and a beach.

And the weather, ugh... the 10 day forecast gave me mid-80s, which is alright, and eight straight days of thunderstorms, which is not alright. I would go the week AFTER this forecast. No one can predict the weather... but people (like Tom who I'm desperately hoping reads this) might have some useful information on the weather at this point of the season. Is it too much of a gamble at this time of year to expect a few days of beautiful, revitalizing sunshine? I don't care about rain, but just three days of sun would do wonders for my peace of mind.

If you have even a grain of information, I would greatly appreciate it.

[ttompatz]

Philippines, as a tourist and near the beach will cost you US $100/day.

Can you do it cheaper = maybe, if you want to live like a back packer.
Can you do it cheaper = maybe, if you want to live like a long stay visitor.

Pick an island (there are 7107 to choose from).

Get a ticket (Cebu Pacific). Rates should come down in March to about 500k won return, tax included.

I suggest that you head for the central region of the country. You can do places like Bohol on a budget of about $1000/mo + airfare and be comfortable.

Rent a room in a pension for a month $300. (biggest expense you will have other than restaurants and companionship (g/f's/dating is expensive).

.

[jfromtheway]

Thank you, Tom.

$100 a day, ouch. This would only be for one week starting late next week or in early March. Hell, I could go even lower than backpacker style if I have to, I'd consider buying a tent and pitching it in the woods, though that's probably illegal.

All I want is a bed, three squares a day, and a liquor store, forget the women. And a sunny beach, of course. Weather seems to be the main issue, since eight straight days of thunderstorms starting tomorrow kind of destroys the sunny beach aspect. I'm in desperate need of warm weather and revitalizing sunshine. I'll try to read up more about the weather patterns for early March. Any other input is appeciated.

[ttompatz]

[northway]

ttompatz likes the $100 a day figure, and it's not necessarily wrong, but you can really have a good time for about half of that if you're not looking to go parasailing or island hopping. When I was in Boracay, probably the most expensive place to go in the Philippines outside of some Manila malls, I only spent about $50 a day. A pint of Tanduay rum will only set you back about a dollar, and coke is cheap. Decent rooms are available for around $20 a night, but you could go cheaper than that and do just fine. Avoid seafood grills and your food budget won't be an issue. Given what you're looking to do, I don't think you need to budget that high.

[iselynjenniep]

i highly recommend palawan. went there in january and it was so beautiful. hut on sabang beach for $10 a night if you wanna rough it (limited electricity).

[jfromtheway]

I don��t know if Nipa is the name of a town or a particular kind of hut, but that��s where I��m going. All the motivation I needed, thanks to all three of you.

[ttompatz]

[jfromtheway]

Hah, thanks Tom. I googled Nipa when I got off work, and Anda as well. That's what I was looking for. Unfortunately, I was apparently talking out of my ass when I quoted the airfare at $500. It's closer to $700 which makes the trip even more fiscally irresponsible than it was before, to my bitter chagrin. Maybe I'll try somewhere like Taiwan, even though the weather/environment likely won't be nearly as nice. I'll be trying to work some other options out in the coming days. Thanks again for all of the information.

[ttompatz]

[jfromtheway]

[jfromtheway]

I apologize in advance if my woefully-informed immediacy comes off as a lack of due diligence, but I just want to poke a little more, even if it results in nothing. Outside of random thoughts, I'd never even considered going to the Philippines prior to the last 96 or so hours.

1) I've looked at all of the budget airfare providers I could find (Cebu Pacific, Asiana Air, Jeju Air, Air Asia, Jin Air, and Kayak, Mobissimo, etc. Still trying to get around 072.com, any others I'm missing?), but the only thing under 500,000 is to Manila, and it's 458,000. 523,000 for Cebu. That's not a big difference, but is the locational ability to get to a nice beach/cheap resort worth that difference? Unfortunately, I have to come back by the 12th to evaluate new students, though I don't even work the rest of the week, so my dates are semi-fixed, and dwindling down.

2) Any recommendations for places ON Cebu Island? I looked at a map and did a little research but it's difficult to pin point a location and match it with how to actually get there. I will be looking for a guidebook tomorrow and I speak pretty good Spanish, which will hopefully come in handy. Any cheap bungalows on Bantayan Island? Easy to get there from Lapu-Lapu City without flying there?

I'm simply looking for someplace easy to get to from Manila or Cebu. Just to throw down for a week, nothing more, nothing less. I don't mind spending a few hours on a dirty bus. And I've spent a lot of time in places like SE Asia, Central America, Greece, Spain, Mexico, etc., so I'm not looking for an adventurous island getaway, just someplace beautiful, hot, and cheap. I will smuggle anything you want back in for good information.

[pugwall]

If you get the boat from Cebu to Siquijor, you can get a room with a balcony that is on the beach for 400 pesos at 'Lornas at the End of the World'

http://mywanderingsoles.blogspot.com/2012/02/home-in-siquijor-lornas-end-of-world.html

[jfromtheway]

Thanks Pugwall.

[IslandmanPT]