«» Travel Notes 005: 5-Day Weekend???
Planning for Holy Week, finding cheap destinations, and sample itineraries
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If there’s anything I’ve learned from travel, it’s this: think in months, not days.
During last year’s Holy Week, I visited Cagbalete Island with my friends.
We were fortunate because we began planning months before, so we could find a beach and book a resort before others. Besides this, because we were a big group (10 including me), we could negotiate for discounts.
More time to plan = more destination choices = better destinations
More time to plan = more accommodation choices = better accommodations
More time to plan = more time to invite = more people in the group
Ultimately,
More time to plan = more choices = more control
And if you’re operating under a budget,
More control = cheaper trips
So Holy Week?
By this principle, we must look at our holidays months ahead. Holy Week is the one holiday fixed on the day of the week rather than the date, so we can expect an annual 4-day weekend every April.
If you look closely, though, there’s something special about this year. Holy Week comes right before Araw ng Kagitingan, so our usual 4-day weekend extends to 5 days from April 6-10 (Thursday to Monday).
November gives us another great 5-day weekend opportunity with the help of a Friday leave. Do you see it?
You can bet too that most people will be traveling during this time, so not only will options be very limited, but prices will skyrocket as the dates grow near.
Your best bet is to start planning before most realize what they have.
Let’s start with April.
Where can we go?
I searched for roundtrip prices to all of Cebu Pacific’s 31 local destinations with travel period: of April 6-10, 2023.
Bacolod 7.2k
Bohol 12.5k
Boracay 15k
Butuan 7.7k
CDO 5.3k !!
Calbayog 13.3k (stop over CB)
Camiguin 15.2k (stop over CB)
Cauayan 7.2k
Cebu 8.1k
Coron 19.5k
Cotabato 5.5k
Davao 10.4k
Dipolog 7.7k
Dumaguete 9.7k
General Santos 7.2k
Iloilo 4.5k !!
Kalibo 12.2k
Legazpi 9.1k
Masbate 16.8k
Naga 9.5k
Ozamiz 8.5k
Pagadian 4.6k
Puerto Princesa 9.8k
Roxas 11.2k
San Jose (Mindoro) 7.1k
Siargao 18.1k
Surigao 8.8k
Tacloban 4k !!
Tuguegarao 8.8k
Virac 11.1k
Zamboanga 5.2k !!
** Note: prices above are exclusive of add-ons.
But there’s nothing to do in those destinations that are cheap…
You couldn’t be more wrong. I want to dispel the myth that only a handful of provinces are worth visiting; they all are. Don’t be picky about your destination because they will all hold some form of wonder for you.
Here are sample 5-day itineraries for the 4 cheapest provinces to fly to this Holy Week.
CDO:
Day 1: white water rafting in CDO
Day 2: waterfall hopping (Maria Cristina falls!) in Iligan
Day 3: visit White Island in Camuigin for its sandbar
Day 4: visit the Sunken Cemetery
Day 5: try the zipline in Dahilayan Forest Park of Bukidnon
Day 1: island hopping to Isla de Gigantes, try one peso scallops
Day 2: go for a seafood trip in Baybay Beach, Roxas
Day 3: visit the Guimaras mango farm
Day 4: try the kawa hot bath in Antique
Day 5: try batchoy as part of Iloilo city tour
Tacloban A:
Day 1: visit Kalanggaman Island in Palompon
Day 2: camp in Lake Danao
Day 3: waterfall hopping in Biliran
Day 4: visit Higatangan Island in Biliran
Day 5: food trip in Tacloban, visit MacArthur landing
Tacloban B:
Day 1: island hopping to Cuatro Islas
Day 2: visit Canigao Island
Day 3: scuba dive in Sogod Bay
Day 4: scuba dive in Sogod Bay
Day 5: visit Limasawa Island
Tacloban C:
Day 1: go surfing in Guiuan
Day 2: go canyoneering in the Calbiga Cave system
Day 3: visit Biri Island and admire its unique rock formations
Day 4: go waterfall hopping around Samar
Day 5: visit the Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park
Day 1: try Chavakano cuisine, shop in the Canelar Barter Trade and Yakan Weaving Village
Day 2: relax in Malamawi Beach of Basilan
Day 3: go island hopping in Onse Islas
Day 4: swim on the pink beach of Greater Santa Cruz Island
Day 5: go for a walking tour of Zamboanga City
But I don’t know how to plan a trip…
I’ve written a few articles in the past that might help you:
Ask your friends or family while it’s still early.
Budget with the Dream Adventure Calculator.
Use Google Maps to find places to stay, go, and eat, then use it to visualize your itinerary.
Fit your trip into your budget by spending less and avoiding scams.
But I don’t want to fly…
Go on a road trip! Go on a food trip! Walk around your city!
At a certain point, you’ll need to let go of the 'buts…’ and just commit to the dates.
Happy planning!
Until next week,
Atom
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