Cebu was my first major trip since the beginning of the pandemic. I knew I wanted to go somewhere familiar for my first trip to reacquaint myself with traveling, so in early 2022 I began researching places within the Philippines that I could potentially go to. I settled on Cebu because I had been there before, so it was a little familiar, and because I discovered new places in Cebu through my research that I had not visited before. Couple this with the cheap flights I found for the dates I was planning on traveling and next thing you know I was booking my trip to Cebu. This would be my first visit to the island in over a decade.
One of the considerations I made when choosing Cebu was if I could do it cheaply. Through my research and my actual trip, I discovered that there were different tips and tricks I could use to make my travels to Cebu more affordable. Because of these tips, I was able to save a significant amount of money on my trip, so I’ve decided to share these tips with you so that you too can visit Cebu on the cheap. If like most readers of this site you have a full-time job and can’t take that much time off to travel, I have itineraries that can help you plan a quick and efficient trip to the island, which you can find at the bottom of this post.
The Philippines, and by extension Cebu, already 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 if you’re on a tight budget. So without further ado, here are some tips I have for you to travel to Cebu on a budget and save on your Cebu trip.
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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 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 still be the cheapest and fastest way of island hopping, and are the perfect way for you to get to Cebu on a budget while also maximizing the amount of time you’ll spend exploring the province. 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 to Cebu from other countries, bypassing the need to transit through Manila. Cebu is considered a hub of the southern region of the Philippines, which is why some airlines fly directly to Cebu. Destinations you can fly directly to Cebu from 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 when visiting Cebu.
Utilize the Jeepney
These colorful but noisy vehicles can be found almost anywhere in Cebu and in the Philippines in general. It might be a bit of a hassle to understand where they go and how they work, but once you figure it out they can be extremely useful for getting you to places for cheap as 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 (southeast Asia’s Uber) or taxi.
Ride the Bus to the North and South of the Island
If you’re going south or north to do the excursions on the island, 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 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 throughout Cebu on a budget.
Rent a Motorcycle to Go Around
If you’re going to the outskirts of Cebu city or want to travel throughout the south of the island and don’t want to pay for a tour or a van, this is the most cost-effective way of getting around Cebu. 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.
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 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 the 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 traveling to Cebu on a budget.
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