Davao 3D4N Solo Trip Under 5,000 Pesos
I know what you’re thinking.
Yes, that already includes airfare.
I am notoriously frugal on just about anything. I am always in constant pursuit of ways to save money and traveling is no exemption. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you would know how I prepared for my first ever solo DIY frugal trip in Davao because I blogged about it. If you haven’t read that post yet, then here is your chance.
Sharing here my expense breakdown for my Davao trip, with some suggestions and witty comments LOL.
DAY 0
| 2300H | Arrival at Davao Airport | |
| Taxi from Airport to my Couchsurfing host’s home in Tigatto | FREE (c/o host) |
DAY 1 DAVAO CITY TOUR
| 1000H | Breakfast at host’s home | FREE |
| 1200H | Jeep from Tigatto to University Mall | Php 20 |
| Jeep from University Mall to San Pedro Cathedral | Php 8 | |
| (Because I was such a genius doing my tour in midday, I almost fainted due to the heat of the sun. After stopping by the Church to pray and thank the Lord for the safe trip, I then walked and looked for a place to buy an umbrella and ended up at an air-conditioned store, Unitop, a godsend, but my expenses here were totally unnecessary) | ||
| 1400H | Unitop (I bought a ballpen, umbrella, 2 blouses, and a rash guard) | Php 946 |
| 1422H | Late lunch at Jaltan (rice, Afritada, a bottle of soda) | Php 98 |
| 1500H | Davao Museum (walking distance) | FREE |
| 1600H | D’ Bone Collector Museum, Inc. Entrance Transpo (two-way pedicab ride) Water (1 Liter, I was thirsty) | Php 80 Php 10 Php 25 |
| 1700H | Osmena Park (chill, contemplate on life, audit expenses so far) | FREE |
| 1800H | Met Couchsurfer Rosa at Osmena Park, she volunteered to introduce Davao’s food to me | |
| Jeep (Route 10) to Magsaysay for 2 persons | Php 16 | |
| Bought Durian and Marang (not in season) | Php 310 | |
| Walked from Magsaysay to Roxas Food Market | ||
| 1900H | Dinner at Roxas Food Market (isaw, barbeque, rice, coke) Kwek-kwek with seaweeds Mang Dany’s ice cream Paniza ice cream | Php 70 Php 10 Php 20 Php 20 |
| 2100H | Jeep from Roxas to host’s home | FREE (c/o host) |
TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 1:PHP 1,633 | ||
DAY 2 TALIKUD AND SAMAL ISLAND ADVENTURE
| 0730H | Breakfast at host’s home | FREE |
| Jeep from Tigatto to MDRMC | Php 13 | |
| Water 1.5 L and chips | Php 52 | |
| Jeep from MDRMC to Magsaysay | Php 8 | |
| 0830H | Boat ride to Talikud Island (CAUTION: long line, hot weather) | Php 80 |
| 1030H | Isla Reta Beach Resort, Talikud Island Entrance for Day Tour | Php 100 |
| 1200H | Lunch (rice only, I brought canned food) | Php 30 |
Food was cheap at Isla Reta (PHP 80 per meal, but I wanted to make my stuff lighter, so I need to consume the food I brought) Beach bumming, took photos, made new friends (I need to ride a 3PM boat back to Magsaysay) | ||
| 1600H | Haha, still on the beach! Rode a boat to Kaputihan Beach, Samal Island | Php 30 |
| Upon arrival, aimlessly looked for a place to stay | ||
| 1630H | Found a transient room at Purok Solid, stayed for the night | Php 400 |
| Walked back to the beach to take some photos | ||
| 1700H | Dinner (Fried chicken and rice from a sari-sari store) | Php 30 |
| Habal-habal to transient home (already tired) | Php 20 | |
| 1930H | Lights out | |
TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 2: PHP 763 | ||
DAY 3: HAGIMIT FALLS, BACK TO DAVAO CITY, THEN MANILA
| 0530H | Breakfast, packed food | FREE |
| Charged gadgets, checked if clothes placed on the balcony were now dry (they weren’t), texted my host and my family informing them I am still alive | ||
| 0730H | Habal-habal ride from Purok Solid to Hagimit Falls and pier | Php 280 |
| Outing food (bread, zesto, softdrinks) | Php 33 | |
| 0800H | Hagimit Falls Environmental Fee Entrance | Php 5 Php 40 |
| (Took amazing photos, made friends with the guide and some tourists, jumped on one of the falls. I did not stay long at Hagimit Falls as I was actually chasing the 12NN mass at San Pedro Cathedral as that’s the only English Mass I could attend, the next would be at 6PM, which is too late. I can’t speak nor understand Cebuano) | ||
San Pedro Cathedral Schedule Sharing here the mass schedule at San Pedro Cathedral, for everyone’s reference
| 1000H | Left Hagimit Falls and went to pier to Davao City, still via Habal-habal | |
| 1030H | Reached pier, rode barge (water vessel) | Php 10 |
| Zesto (my favorite, now you know) | Php 8 | |
| 1100H | Jeep from Sta. Ana Warf (Davao City) to San Pedro Cathedral | Php 13 |
| 1200H | English Sunday Mass at San Pedro Cathedral | FREE |
| 1300H | Jeep from San Pedro Cathedral to GMall | Php 8 |
| 1330H | GMall Late lunch at Penong’s | Php 120 |
| 1430H | Walked to Ice Giants Sta Ana | |
| Dessert (Mango Giant) by Ice Giants | Php 125 | |
| Walked back to GMall | ||
| Eurobaker bread (pasalubong for host) | Php 60 | |
| Jeep from Gmall to host’s home in Tigatto | Php 15 | |
| Chill, pack clothes | ||
| 2000H | Abreeza Mall | |
| Jeep from Tigatto to Abreeza Mall | Php 10 | |
| Dinner S &R | FREE (c/o host) | |
| Jeep from Abreeza to 7/11 Laurel Avenue | FREE (c/o host) | |
| 2230H | Chill at 7/11, waited for flight, bought water | Php 30 |
| 2300H | Jeep from 7/11 to airport for 2 persons | Php 30 |
| 2310H | Davao Airport | |
| Terminal Fee | Php 200 | |
TOTAL EXPENSES FOR DAY 3: PHP 987 | ||
The flight was delayed, I boarded the plane at 0015H and reached NAIA 3 by 0225H. My family fetched me so free transportation home 🙂
In short…
| 3 Days 4 Nights Escapade: | Php 3383 |
| Airfare (round-trip, Cebu Pacific promo): | Php 1474.20 |
GRAND TOTAL: | Php 4,857.20 |