15 EASY STEPS FOR PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRIP

15 EASY STEPS FOR PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRIP

Step 1 – Decide Where You Want To Go

Defining where you want to go sets a goal to work toward. A lot of people talk vaguely about travel. They never say where they are going, just that they are going. Picking a destination is immensely important, as it gives you a definite goal. It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Boracay” than “I’m going to Philippines.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well.

Step 2 – Decide the Length of Your Trip

How much does it cost to travel? I have no idea without knowing for how long you’re going away. You can’t figure out how much you need to save if you haven’t decided on how long you’ll be in your destination. After you say “I’m going to Boracay,” add “for 5 days.”

Step 3 – Research Your Costs

So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want. Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels? How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and activities? Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. You can begin with my travel guide section or simply buy a guidebook (which are really good for things like this).

If you are going to Boracay for 5 days and need $60 a day (not including your flight), you know you need to save $300 (though round up to $450 since it’s good to have extra) for your trip.

Now you have a concrete goal to work toward.

Step 4 – Start Saving Money

Time to start saving! Write down all your current expenses so you can determine where you are spending money and how you can cut back. People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases: that bottle of water, the dollar for that snack, that extra coffee. All of that add’s up and creating this breakdown can let you know where you need to cut and save.

For example, if you need $2,000 USD for the trip you’re taking in eight months, which means you only have to save $8.33 per day. Couldn’t you find a way to save $8 per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of that! Here are three easy tips that produce big wins:

·         Cut the coffee – That daily coffee costs you $120 per month ($4 per coffee). An extra $1,440 per year pays for three months in Southeast Asia! What’s more important: your daily cup of Joe or getting to spend two more months enjoying the beaches of Thailand or exploring the jungles of Borneo?

·         Learn to cook – Your food allowance will take the biggest chunk of your daily budget, so eating out it not always an option. It would be great if you can cook large amount of food and enjoy the left over for the next day’s lunch.

·         Get rid of cable – In the age of Hulu and free (and legal) streaming TV, there’s no reason for you to be spending $50 USD per month on cable television.

Step 5 – Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card

While you’re working to save money, get a travel credit card so you can earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Most cards have bonuses of up to 50,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement (often $1,000 within a three-month period). That’s a lot of miles — enough for a free flight almost anywhere in the world.

If you want a free flight, use the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. You don’t need to sign up for very many cards; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait — waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.

Step 6 – Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards

Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money. Save every extra dollar you can by using a no-fee ATM card. Since every penny counts for your travel saving, $2 per transaction definitely adds up at the end of the month.

 Step 7 – Stay Focused and Inspired

Keep feeding your desire to travel. Reading inspiring stories, checking different attractions to your target place will definitely provide you courage to continue and reach your goal.

Step 8 – Check for Last-Minute Deals

Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Maybe you can get a seven-day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Palawan for the price of your flight to Boracay, or 50% off sailing trips around Asia.

Step 9 – Book Your Flight

After you’ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus, use your miles to book your flight. It is harder to use miles these days due to less availability, so make sure to book early to insure you get your desired flight.

Step 10 – Book Your Accommodation

If you have a set schedule, feel free to book accommodation for the duration of your trip, but if you are going to be traveling long-term, book just the first few days. Once you know the dates you’ll be in your destination, there is no real reason not to find a place to stay. My view is that waiting will just lead to you losing your top picks.

Love hotels? They won’t save you money, but you can sign up for some hotel credit cards and get free rooms, too.

Step 11 – Plan Your Activities

Sketch out the major activities you want to enjoy and how much they cost. Make any last-minute adjustments to your savings so you can ensure you have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need any reservations for your chosen tours or activities.

Step 12 – Automate Your Bills

Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)

Step 13 – Tell Your Card Companies you’re traveling

No matter how long you’ll be gone, it’s a good idea to let your credit card companies know you will be overseas; that way any transactions that you make aren’t flagged as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There’s nothing worse than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company instead of enjoying your vacation.

Step 14 – Pack

Now for the things to pack, you definitely have a long list to bring but what’s important it to bring the essentials, if you are not staying for a long time just pack a few spare cloths and lotions and bugsprays. Travelling light is always better compared to hauling your big bags all over the place where you will be travelling to.

Step 15 – Enjoy Your Trip

Now that you know your destination, you know when are you flying, you now started saving. The last thing that you need to remember go on your trip and have fun! Head to the airport, board your plane (don’t forget your passport!), and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

But no matter your trip length, this list will help you stay organized as you prepare to step onto that plane and out into the world.

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THE BANANA BOAT

If you want to experience getting wet, thrill and excitement but you are in a tight budget, then this activity will be the God-given answer to your problems. A famous activity that everyone needs to try when in Boracay is Banana Boat, your island escapade will not be complete without you getting to ride the said famous activity.

The activity requires a minimum of 5 person and maximum of 20 persons per banana boat, if ever that your group is not able to reach the minimum number for the activity, you have 2 options;

Option 1:  You can make the payment for the remaining number of seats to reach the minimum of 5 person which is Php 300.00/seat

Option 2: You can join with other groups so that you will be able to reach the minimum required. With this option there is no guarantee of how long you would have to wait, there are times that you only wait for a few minutes, there are also time that you have to wait for more than an hour.

So upon booking the activity, your guide will either meet you in your hotel if it's within the vicinity or you can also go directly to Astoria Boracay (Station 1).

Upon meeting up, you will need to sign a form with your information. Then proceed to the activity platform in the sea where all water activities are being held.

The staffs will be providing life jackets for everybody before riding the banana boat since YOUR SAFETY IS ALWAYS THE PRIORITY.

Do's and Don'ts

1. Do not wear any jewelry accessories while riding the banana boat. You can keep all your jewelries on your personal pouch and give it to your guide to hold while you are doing the activity.

2. You can bring your cameras but make sure you secure it properly, sealed in a waterproof casing. If in any case it falls into the water, the management will not be held liable.

Once ready, the activity will start. Enjoy your 15 minutes Banana Boat ride!

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ATV IN BORACAY

What happens in your 2 ½ hour activity?

“An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a quad, quad bike, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or quadricycle as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control.”

The earliest time you can book the activity is 9am and the latest will be 3pm, since there is DST (Daylight Saving Time) and the shuttle service pick up location is McDonald’s DMall (the one beside the highway).

Upon getting picked up by the shuttle, you will then be brought to the ATV Park and there the ATV Guide, will provide a quick briefing of the Do’s and Don’ts of the Activity.

Don’ts:

• 1    Do not overtake the ATV Guide since you will be driving in a 2-way one lane public highway, it is a must that you must always be behind the guide.
• 2     Do not place your personal belongings like wallets, cellphones or camera’s on your pants/shorts pockets because there is a tendency that it might fall without you noticing while driving.
• 3      Do not take pictures while driving, you can stop for a quick second, then take a picture but NO DRIVING WHILE TAKING PHOTOS.

Do’s

• 1    Do wear your helmet always. Safety is always a priority.
• 2    Do tell your guide if you are experiencing some problems on your ATV’s or Buggy Car.
• 3    Keep your personal things inside your bag and keep it while driving.

        After a quick briefing, you will the choosing if you want to drive an ATV or Buggy Car.

ATV

ATV’s, this is 1:1 per person, the driver must be 18 y/o and above. Children below the required age limit are not allowed to drive.

Buggy Car, this is a 1 car: 2 person ratio, 1 gets to be the passenger and the other 1 gets to be driver though both seats would still be paid.

BUGGY CAR

Then after choosing which definitely suits your taste, you will then be practicing in a small circuit track to get a grip on how to drive these big toys.

After 2 or 3 complete rounds, you will then proceed to drive on the highway, please remember that you must always follow your guide, no one is allowed to overtake the guide, NO-ONE.

The ride going to Mt. Luho, Ocean tower usually takes 15-20 minutes for the first time drivers. After reaching the top, you will then have a 30 minute stop over for you to be able to take pictures.

 With the highest peak in the island, Ocean tower can provide you a breath-taking scenic beauty of the view of the entire Island of Boracay. A great place to selfie and see the entire island of Boracay.

After taking photos to your heart’s content you will then proceed where you parked your ATV’s and drive back to the ATV Track. The drive back usually is about 10 minutes since you already experience and you know the basics of driving. After reaching back the track circuit, your local guide will bring you directly to Trick Art 3D museum, which showcases different 3D paintings on walls and floor section of the building.

Then the last stop of the tour is you will have a 15 minute shuttle ride going to Yapak, straight to Puka Beach which is located in the northern most part of the island. The name itself came from the puka shells which mixes with the sands in the beach, that’s why it was called by that name. A serene place where you can enjoy lying in the sand, facing the sun, getting that sun-kissed skin without any disturbance, since this part of the island is conserved by the local government, so you will not see any cemented structures, just bungalows selling fruit juices.

 After that, you can ride back with the shuttle going back to the pickup station or you can choose to stay and spend the rest of your day, lazing under the sun but you will have to charter a tricycle which costs Php 150.00/unit going back to your hotel.

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PARASAILING ADVENTURE

Every now and then, you have to do something outside of your comfort zone. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. Be a little crazy !

The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the weather incredible for our last day of adventures on the island of Boracay. You will take a short stroll to Station 1, the departure point for all water activities on the island. And you will meet up with your guide, before jumping on a little speedboat out to a floating pontoon about a kilometre off the coast.

There is an incredible choice of water-based activities in Boracay. Helmet diving, banana boat’s, flyfish, island hopping, cliff jumping, paraw sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, jetski’s, kiteboarding and more – it’s an adrenalin junkies dream!

Our target for today is Parasailing!

The main departure point for all water sports in Boracay.

After arriving on the pontoon, we jumped aboard a larger boat, owned and run by Diamond Watersports to head further out to sea for our parasailing adventure. We were so impressed with the beautiful boat and the quality and how comfortable it was.

The beautiful boats that form part of the fleet of Diamond Watersports are next level!

After getting comfy on the boat, you will then be strapped into your harnesses which clipped under your legs and across your chest and over your shoulders – designed to sit in whilst being suspended from the sail. Then you will climbed up to the back of the boat where you will then clipped into the parasail, the winch rope then attached to the sail.

Up, up and away!

“It’s a hard feeling to describe – we were both screaming out in joy/fear, laughing and freaking out all at once as we were slowly let our further and further, higher and higher – the boat becoming a small speck in the distance! It took a minute or so to get to the full height – the rope length was 150 metres in total, and we were flying well over 100 metres high.” – Amy.

Our tiny little speed boat in the distance!

“We really had no idea what to expect parasailing – I think we were expecting this stomach churning, fast flight behind the back of a boat – but instead, it’s incredibly peaceful. We sat in our harnesses, legs dangling feeling as though we were floating through the air. It was so quiet, and the views were magnificent. Boracay is only a small island, and at 7 kilometres in total length we could see the entire stretch of it from the sky. Flying late in the afternoon was particular scenic as the sun was low in the sky, casting an incredible glow over the island and the ocean.” - Mike

The setting sun over Boracay was stunning from a bird’s eye view.

“Whilst floating above the speedboat below, we spoke to each other about our present feelings – Mike was a little fearful and explained that even though he’d done way scarier things in the past (having been a member of our State Emergency Service back in Australia), parasailing was unnerving him a little – he felt that it was the lack of control in our current situation that was the likely reason for the fear – we were completely at the mercy of the equipment and the staff below us. Despite the fear though, we both knew we were completely safe and decided to enjoy the view and peacefulness that surrounded us.

After a flight of about 15 minutes, we slowly began to be winched back towards the boat. We were given the option to be ‘dunked’ in the water but we decided we’d rather stay dry, and landed back aboard the boat instead. What a crazy experience! Even though I’d not been scared or fearful during the flight, the second I got up to sit back on the boat my legs were total jelly – I could barely walk!” – Amy

Coming into land and capturing the moment on the GoPro!My post-parasailing progression as the adrenaline wore off and the motion sickness set in!

As what they have said, it would be best to spend with someone special and experience the rush together. Now, that’s what parasailing is!

Parasailing in Boracay is glorious!

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MOUNT LUHO ZIPLINE ADVENTURE

We love to seek out adrenaline-fueled activities when we travel. Experiences that you can’t have elsewhere are always on our must-do list. Boracay is the adventure capital of the Philippines – you can do pretty much everything on the island – whether young or old, solo or a couple or a family with children, there’s something for everyone!

Zip-lining is one of the most favorite activities of all time –loving that rush and the feeling of flying! And one of the best option is the zip-line in Boracay, which is about 620 meters long, 100 meters above sea level.

So you will start the activity by getting picked up by the company shuttle from the center of town along with your tour guide and be taken to the Happy Planet Zip-line and Cable Car Station. Located on the highest point of the island, the station offers a beautiful panoramic view over the island’s only golf course, resorts and one of its beautiful beaches.

Unlike the other zip-lining courses you’ve done, this one differed – you’d be flying superman style! That’s right – instead of sitting upwards and holding on – and being in charge of stopping ourselves – this time you’ll lying down on our bellies, strapped in from above, arms outstretched! Rather than having to essentially be your own ‘brakes’, the zip-line came to a gradual stop with someone at the other end to catch us. I loved the idea of that – coming to a stop is usually the scariest part when zip lining, so I was glad to know I wouldn’t have to worry so much!

The other fantastic part of the zip-line was that there were two lines running – this meant that you had the option to go along with your travel buddy! You have the option to either zip-line tandem style – sharing the same line – or at the same time but on your own line each. It’s great to have the option, as because there’s always two of you there’s usually one person always having to go first, rather than getting to enjoy the experience together.

Helmets strapped firmly on and clipped into your ‘superman’ style harness, you will hold onto the barrier, looking over the edge…. and we were off! There’s nothing that quite describes the feeling of flying through the air, arms outstretched, soaring over the trees and buildings! You will definitely enjoy superman style of zip-lining – You could look all around you, back towards your buddy without it throwing my balance like sitting upright does.

Then you will slow down in the last ten seconds of the zip-lining, coming into a gradual stop before connecting with a weighted barrier on the line, and then a second one that stopped us completely – it’s so great to know there’s no chance of you slamming into the wall, like the other zip-lines we’ve been on!

Climbing up a flight of stairs, the way back to the station was via an open air cable car – it’ll give you an opportunity to view all the things you’d missed as you whizzed by moments earlier! The aerial view of the island of Boracay gives you the opportunity to see just how much of a paradise island it really is – everywhere you look, green leafy palm trees, white sandy beaches and turquoise waters!

 We highly recommend it! Even if heights aren’t your thing – it wasn’t too high, and didn’t go too fast – so give it a go! It’s a fantastic way to see the island from above and get that picture perfect selfie!

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4HRS OF ISLAND HOPPING ADVENTURE

So what happens during your 4 hour island hopping activity?

The beautiful island of Boracay in the Philippines was recently named the number one island destination in the world. When you step foot on it’s famous White Beach, it’s easy to see why it was awarded such a title.

To really see the beauty of Boracay though, you need to step away from White Beach – whilst beautiful, it can get quite crowded in the busy season. It’s most magical when it’s seen from the water – and an island hopping tour in Boracay is the best way to experience this!

At only 7 kilometers long and 500 meters wide at the most narrow point, an island hopping tour around Boracay can be easily done in a half day. 

On a beautiful blue sunny day on White Beach. We hopped aboard a bangka –  a traditional Filipino boat moored directly on the shore and took off to explore the island.

 

You'll completely be awestruck by the crystal clear waters, Boracay have several laws which helps maintain the cleanliness of the ocean. Every year a coastal clean up is conducted to clean the ocean of any rubbish that might be around. Large fines are in place for practices such as smoking or urinating on any of the beaches.

First stop for the Island Hopping is Puka beach, the water is so crystal clear, pristine, the most stunning turquoise colour and the perfect temperature. Located in the northern most part of Boracay Island, the white beach stretches for approximately 800 meters, which is more than enough for you to find your own cozy space while enjoying the quick stop over.

"Puka Shell" has become more widely used to refer to the beach because of the abundance of crushed shells mixed in within the white sand. This is why walking on Puka Beach is a distinct experience but don't worry, the sand is still smooth on the soles of your feet. Puka Shell Beach is long but has less development. It does not have a plethora of clubs and hotels like white beach. The reason behind it is that the local government tries to conserve Puka Beach, the way it is now for the future generation. Thus, the atmosphere here is more serene and more authentic. 

After a quick stop over, you will be making way slowly around the northern end of Boracay and down the Eastern side, passing more magnificent beaches, stunning coastlines and jagged rocks and picture-perfect resorts. Next stop for the Island Hopping tour is a snorkeling spot adjacent to Crocodile Island, though the snorkeling spot might vary depending on the current.

So ready those waterproof camera's, sports camera's and GoPro's since you will be needing a lot of memory to save everything for the next activity. Leaning over the boat and being able to actually see the marine life at Crocodile Island is something you might call a magical experience and before you knew it, you have donned a lifejacket, jumped into the water and was putting on a snorkel mask. Snorkeling gears will definitely be provided to you!

The 45 minute snorkeling stop on your Island Hopping tour might just be one of the most memorable moments during your Island Hopping Tour. It was just magical –  If it's your first time, you will definitely comeback for a second time. If you missed snorkeling before, you will see what you missed out. The coral, the reefs, the fish! The amount of fish that you will see will make you think that it's unbelievable – every type and colour under the sun, including the famous clownfish – I found Nemo! (that is if you're lucky enough)

After enjoying a good view of the marine life that Boracay can offer, you will now move to your next stop, which is Crystal Cove. Crystal cove has an entrance fee of Php 200.00/ person.  Crystal Cove Island is home to restaurants, eating spots, photo opportunities, little huts and a small museum – a great stop for a respite if you’re out and about on the water all day.

A quick snapshot for the Island.

Below is a mini-map

After you're done taking selfies and photo's to your heart's content, you will move to the next stop-over which is adjacent to Crystal Cove. A small island which is dedicated for the sole purpose of the thrill seekers, the adrenaline rush junkie, the adventurers, the dare devils - an island for CLIFF JUMPING.

Magic Island is known to be a great alternative if you don't want to do the Ariel's Point but you want to try cliff jumping, with an entrance fee of Php 200.00/person - you get to enjoy unlimited cliff jumping and they also have foods and drinks serve if you want to buy something while taking a quick rest. Others may consider cliff jumping a dangerous activity but no worries, your safety is always on top of the list. We have life guards below the planks, waiting and ready to save you in case there is trouble after you landed into the water. We also have security guard, staffs from Magic Island, which manages the cliff jumping activities, giving you signals of when you can jump or when not to jump since there is still someone below the plank. So conquer your fear and jump to your heart's content.

And after an exhausting but fulfilling adventures for the Island Hopping activity, it would do no justice for our hungry stomach not to be filled with sumptuous and delicious meal, so the last stop over for the 4 hour Island Hopping activity is - SEAFOOD LUNCH. Prepared with love. A meal which will definitely satiate your hunger.

 Contact us now so that we can provide you the activity you want!

We're giving FREE Tour guide assistance if you book with us!

For more details and inquiries please contact the following info:

Email: info@boracayadventures.com 

Contact #: 036 288 2032 • +63 920 970 2728 • +63 918 941 6239

WeChat id: masterpetertay

Skype id: boracayadventures

Fb acc: @boracayadventures.com

Website: www.boracayadventures.com

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