The Philippines, and by extension Cebu, has a reputation for being a cheap place to visit, especially now with the Philippine Peso being as weak as it is (as of this writing). That being said, there are ways for you to cut costs to if you’re on a tight budget. Here are some tips I have for you to save money on your upcoming Cebu vacation. These are based on my experience and my research into what the best travel saving tips are for this island.

To read my Cebu Travel Guide, click here.

To know how best to travel the island, check out my Cebu itinerary here.

To read my 3-Day Cebu City Itinerary, click here.

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Ride the Ferries to Cebu

When coming from nearby provinces like Bohol, consider taking a ferry to reach Cebu. They depart pretty regularly from other islands and and arrive at Pier One (which is near Fort San Pedro) in Cebu City. They’re the most cost effective way (and sometimes the only way) to get from one island to the other, given that the islands are so close together that flights sometimes don’t operate between them. But even if they did, these boats would be the cheapest and fastest way of island hopping. Just don’t forget to take a dramamine if you get seasick.

Book a Direct Flight from Outside the Philippines to Cebu

If you’re coming from another country and want to get to Cebu, you should know that some airlines fly directly from other countries, bypassing the need to transit through Manila. Cebu is considered the hub of the southern region of the Philippines which is why some airlines fly directly to Cebu. Destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, and Taiwan. If you’re coming from these countries, and don’t plan on visiting Manila, then taking a direct flight could save you a ton of money.

Utilize the Jeepney

These colorful but noisy vehicles can be found almost everywhere in Cebu and in the Philippines in general. It might be a bit of a hassle to understand where they go and how to ride one, but once you figure it out, they can be extremely useful for getting you to places for cheap. Check this website to see Cebu routes. They pretty much go everywhere in the city. It may take a few jeepney rides to get to your destination, but you would be paying a significantly lower price compared to if you booked a grab or taxi.

Ride the Bus to the North and South of the Island

If you’re going south or north to do the excursions, you can save money by riding a local bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal or Cebu South Bus Terminal. While not as comfortable as hiring and riding a van, it is undoubtedly a lot cheaper and, at the end of the day, still gets you to where you want to go, which is the important thing. If you do take the bus and want a more comfortable experience, I recommend riding with Ceres. They offer air conditioned buses (which, like all Philippine buses, will be as cold as Siberia so bring a sweater) that are pretty comfortable. The alternative for this would be to hire a van, which will set you back a few thousand pesos, so this is the best option if you want to travel cheap.

Rent a Motorcycle to Go Around

Created with RNI Films app. Preset ‘Agfa Optima 200 Warm’

If you’re going to the outskirts of Cebu city or want to travel throughout the south of the island for the various excursions and don’t want to pay for a tour or a van, this is the most cost-effective way of getting around. Renting a bike costs about Php 500 ($8.51) a day and some providers will even drop it off at your accommodation. Riding a motorcycle is one of those experiences you will eventually encounter if you travel through enough of Southeast Asia as they are reliable and cheap. Read more about renting a motorbike in my Cebu Travel Guide.

Base Yourself in Moalboal

Basing yourself in Moalboal, at least for when you’re doing the excursions down south, will save you a ton of money not only because the hotels and resorts in Moalboal are cheaper than their Cebu City counterparts, but it would also limit your going back-and-forth between the south of Cebu and Cebu City. This means you wouldn’t have to rely on tours or van hires to do the excursions. Then, when you want to explore Cebu City, you could just take a bus back there from Moalboal and stay for a night or two, which also minimizes your costs. 

Hopefully these tips aid in your planning process for visiting this island. Cebu has a lot to offer and it is possible to see everything even if you’re on a strict budget. So go have the best time ever! And if you have any other money saving tips, comment them down below! I’d love to know how you guys are making your experience in Cebu more affordable.

Click to READ the first installment of my 2022 Cebu Trip Report Series!

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