Mid-Year Summer at Boracay

So allow me to start my blogging spree with a super super late video upload of our trip to Boracay last year August. :D I just looove how good vibes was all over the video, not to mention that I really love the song! Passion Pit's Carried Away!  :) :)

Its more Adventurous in Boracay | Travel with great buddies | Natures Best from Pheltheray Segismar Mayol on Vimeo.

We took advantage of the long weekend towards the end of August to hit a happy vacation to Antique to visit my lola from my fathers side and went straight to Bora with cousins from Cebu (Will post a separate one for the Antique trip :P).

Hi pogi! This was taken at the airport

Now this is the year where I didn't have a job and I was merely living off my DOST stipend. So I had to save up by taking freelance writing jobs a couple of months prior the trip. Needless to say we definitely were on a budget! I listed down how much we spent during the Boracay trip just so some of you guys would get an idea if you haven't been there and you're planning to visit. 

I think August would be one of the perfect months to visit Boracay because the weather's great, well there was an occassional drizzle so the rough roads were a little muddy but most of the time the sun was just shining his big yellow smile, and the crowd wasn't hellish. Have you seen photos of the beach during summer? Jeez! When we went there the crowd was just right. There were people enough to keep the place lively but you could still get some quiet time in the sand. 

And the rides, well I'm not exactly an adventurous person, but when you're a group you really have no choice but to join in, hahah! I think we got pretty good deals because it was the off peak season. It was fun, i admit it was definitely fun, but there were water sports that were tooo much for my appetite just like the flying fish dear Lord you do not want to be sent flying into the open sea and realize that your life vest just snapped OPEN. I still get goosebumps whenever I remember. HAHAH.

Screenshot from the video of the Banana boat ride. Sarap ng mga ngiti!

My favorite would have to be the ATV ride, the view of the whole island was just breathtaking. :D

We stayed in an affordable place called "Coco Rimas" at St.Vincent. The rate then was Php5000 for 10 people, so we only paid php500 each per night :D Cool yeah? It's got its own CR, a cable tv, a small fridge, air-conditioning, and a balcony. You can also ask them for hot water during mornings. So yeah it was cool.

Taken at Coco Rimas 

Another good thing about Bora is the wide array of food choices. From the really expensive to the really affordable. LOL. It's like a city near the beach really, so you got all assortments of restaurants and tyangges and small businesses to check out. Of course the ones near the beachside are more expensive. As for us, we were happy with Mcdo, Mang Inasal and Andoks. Haha! We also scored a free dinner buffet during our last night because of our guide. Pwede!

Van from Antique to Bora: 120 per person

Terminal Fee and ferry boat at Caticlan: 200 per person

Tricycle Ride (special): 100

Lodging: 500 per person per night (10 people in a room, price can vary depending on arrangement)

Flying Fish and Banana Boat: 600 per person

ATV ride with Sky Cycling: 550 per person

Boracay-Kalibo van transport: 225 per person

Pasalubong (just in case you're wondering how much they are over there lol)

sleeveless top with 'Bora' label - 160

Tshirt - 170

scarf - 140

magnets - 150 for 3 pieces (in fairness cute naman)

boracay mini-bracelets - 100 for 12 pieces 

One of the tyangge's at Boracay

Our total Bora expense (lodging, transport within the island and to airport, rides, food, water) was roughly Php6000, that's already for me and Ray so that's around Php3000 per person. That doesn't include the pasalubong and airfare yet. But not bad for more than two days of stay!

Of course a lot of people will say that Bora is not like how it used to, that it has become too commercialized and et cetera. Those are all true. But the good news is, there are a whole lot of other beaches that can offer a real break from the city and that virgin-paradise feel. 

Nonetheless, the sand of Boracay still remains to be its number one charm. The beach will always be beyond compare and the sunset. The convenience of having a whole lot of familiar stores and fastfood chains is also a plus especially for people from the city. You won't run out of things to do even under a budget, most especially when you're with really great company. And yes, Boracay is still very beautiful. :)

One of my favorite pics of us :) :)