Things To Do During Your Homestay 2020 #CommunityQuarantineph

BALER SUMMER ESCAPADE ON A BUDGET
(SAMPLE ITINERARY, DIY TOUR, COSTING, FEES, etc)

Eager to take that summer escapade but nervous to go because of budget constraints? Got more time but no big cash to splurge? Fret no more! Here's a simple Baler tour that you can take and still enjoy the sun, sea and sand!

First of all, why Baler? Why am I recommending it?
Well, Baler has got the most awesome waves! And I mean awesome! You would really appreciate the beauty and wonder of God's creations! Even if you're a non-swimmer like me, you would still enjoy frolicking on the sand and playing with the crashing waves!

Second, you don't really need to have a lot of cash to spend on an overnight stay in Baler. All you need first is to gather some of your equally eager friends and find a date when all of you are free! Oh, and for the budget? Believe me, you can survive on a budget of P1,000 to P1,200 only!!!

Third, the locals are very friendly and lots of budget-friendly eateries lined the poblacion and anywhere near the beach! So no problem if you love to eat but not so happy with the heat of the kitchen! Hahaha. For P50 - P75 you would already have a steaming cup of rice, soup, tortang talong or fried tilapia, and a banana.

Lastly, entrance fee to Sabang beach is free! If you want to learn to surf, instructors are there offering surfing lessons ranging from P300-P350 per hour.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BUDGET WORK

1. Find a nice transient house. Transient houses are a lot cheaper than hotels. You know that, of course! Heheh...Anyway, we were lucky to find one which is also very near the poblacion. The owner of Isles Transient House is friendly and accommodating. He even gave us permission to get some indian mangoes from the tree in front of the house. The room where we stayed is good for 6-8 pax. It has its own kitchen, dining, T&B with shower, an airconditioned room, and a fridge. All these from @islestransienthouse.

The poblacion, btw, is where the wet market, the Museo de Baler, Dona Aurora house, Baler Church and the famous Baler signage can be found.

2, Cook your own food. It will help you stick to your budget and makes for a good bonding time.

3. Make your own tour plan or itinerary.

4. Research on the places where you should visit. Find out how much are the entrance and parking fees.

PLACES TO VISIT IN BALER PLUS ENTRANCE FEES

1.  Sabang Beach - Surfer's paradise but even non-swimmers can and will enjoy the waves! Don't forget your sun block lotion and goggles as the water may be a bit too strong and salty for the eyes. Btw, you could find a lot of affordable lodges and eateries just beside the beach. Good deal for backpackers and solo travelers. Entrance fee to the beach - free

2. Museo de Baler - Travel back in time as you admire and take a closer look at the kind of life lived by our foreparents.  Entrance fee - P35 (includes Dona Aurora house tour)

3. Dona Aurora House - Ancestral house of Dona Aurora, the wife of the Philippine Commonwealth President, Manuel Luis Quezon. She was the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 -1944. Souvenir items are sold at the entrance of the house.

4. Baler Church - San Luis Obispo Church was built in 1611 and is famous for The Siege of Baler that happened in the late 1800's.

5. Ermita Hill - The historic place where a a certain number of families fled and survived the great tsunami that hit the town in the 1700's.  Here you will also see the breathtaking view of the Baler Bay. Entrance fee - P15.00; Parking - free 


SAMPLE DIY 2 D/1 N BALER TOUR

DAY 1

6:00 am –     Depart to Baler

7:00 am –      Breakfast along the way (boiled eggs, boiled bananas, biscuits)

12:00 noon -  Arrival in Baler, buy food from Baler Market (for dinner day 1, and breakfast day 2)

12:30 noon -  Check-in transient house

 1:00 pm -    Lunch (pwede sa labas, budget P100/each)

 1:30 pm -    Back to transient house, Rest, freshen up

 2:00 pm -    Baler Tour:
  Baler Church (San Luis Obispo church), 

            Museo de Baler & Dona Aurora Ancestral House 

            Millennium tree (Balete tree)

3:00 pm -     Sabang Beach

6:00 pm -     Back to transient house, prepare dinner

7:30 pm -     Dinner

8:30 pm -     Socials

9:30 pm -      Lights out

DAY 2

6:00 am -      Wake up, prepare for breakfast

7:00 am -      Breakfast

8:00 am -      More of Sabang Beach!!!

10:00 am -     Baler Souvenir store

11:00 am      Early lunch

12:00 am -    Check-out from transient house

1:00 pm -      Tour Ermita Hill

1:30 pm -      Off to Manila
8:00 pm -      Home Sweet Home

Note: You might want to depart early to avoid the traffic build-up. One more tip for the budget-conscious: have breakfast on the road; bring food like boiled eggs, bananas, bread, and lots of drinking water. 

SAMPLE BUDGET
Baler Tour for P1,000
2 DAYS/ 1 NIGHT 

3,000  Transient house rental

1,000  food 

1,000  gas
----------

5,000  TOTAL

5,000 divided by 7 pax is P714.00
Each one of us gave P1,000 instead of P714.00

P.S. Better to have a little extra to cover the cost of miscellaneous items like entrance and parking fees, dirty ice cream, peanuts, balot, etc...

So there you have it! Baler on a budget!!! Remember to stick to your budget.
Don't worry much. You'll be fine. Just have fun!

Enjoy the waves, the beautiful colors and designs of the surfboards, fall in love with the sunrise, explore the rich history of the town, taste the local delicacies, be lost in the endless choices of the souvenir items like shirts, key chains, beautiful hats, and so much more!!!