cheap tips, hurray!
MARIE CALICA MARIE CALICA ROUNDS UP 30 FUN AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO LET YOU SPEND LESS(OR WHILE GETTING NOTHING!) MORE OUT OF YOUR HOLIDAY
| 1 BE AN EARLY BIRD. Book your flights in advance. Cebu Pacific offers PHP0-sale promotions, but seats sell fast. To maximize your savings, visit ww.cebupacificair.com regularly! |  |
| 2 SEE THE LIGHTS. In Hong Kong, head to the Tsim Sha Tsui or Wanchai Harbor at 8pm for the nightly Symphony of Lights show, where colorful lights and lasers are set against vibrant music. It’s free! |  |
| 3 GREAT GIFTS. Osaka’s JP¥100 stores are a cool source for souvenirs. Chopsticks, origami paper, postcards, games, and more for under PHP50 plus sales tax! Locals favor the Daikoku chain, a combination pharmacy and JP¥100 |  |
| 4 SALE AWAY! Chatuchak is not the only shopping haven in Bangkok. Platinum Mall, a five-storey wholesale mall offers 30% discount on every three pieces purchased! |  |
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5 CITY WALKS. In Dumaguete City, stroll along the Rizal Boulevard, a 780m beachfront promenade. Pack a picnic basket on a Sunday and sit and watch the world go by. When the sun sets, the place turns into a night market where you can haggle for great bargains. www.dumagueteinfo.com
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| 6 JAZZ FOR YOU. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free lunch time jazz concert! Drop by the Concourse area of The Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati City. The Vince Lahorra Quartet plays excellent jazz classics from 11.30am to 2pm on Fridays. Visit www.vincelahorra. multiply.com for schedules. |  |
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7 CARD IT! When you purchase an Ayala Malls A Card (PHP300), you can get discounts and freebies from all Ayala shopping vendors, free seats to mall events, exclusive sales, workshops, concerts and movie screenings, as well as access to customer lounges and E-lounges in the Philippines. For more information, log on to www.ayalamalls.com.ph
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8 FILET MIGNON FOR FREE. Here’s a tip for happy hour in Singapore: Go to Morton’s of Chicago at the Mandarin Oriental. They offer their complimentary filet mignon sandwiches at the bar on Mondays to Fridays, 5 pm to 7 pm. While you’re at it, try their popular Mortini’s cocktail although those aren’t free. www.mandarinoriental. com/singapore
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| 9 BUNK WITH A LOCAL. The best way to see a new city is through the eyes of a local. Log on to www.couchsurfing.com to find a host who’ll let you crash on their sofa for a night or two, free of charge, while giving you firsthand perspective. The Singapore chapter hosts food tastings and other events regularly. |  |
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10 FARMERS’ FESTIVAL. Witness the colorful thanksgiving of the people of Lucban in Quezon (three and a half hours from Manila via bus or private car) as they pay homage to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Watch the friendly competition of households outdoing each other with their porches decked out with vegetables and other village delicacies. This annual festival with highlights and parades takes place every May 15 and is absolutely free. www.pahiyasfestival.com
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| 11 SCREEN DEALS The next time you’re in Hong Kong and there happens to be a hard-to-find flick showing in the cinema, opt to watch it on a Tuesday. This is the day of the week when theaters slash their regular prices from the HK$70 (PHP434.50) down to HK$50 (PHP310). Splurge your savings on a big tub of popcorn and you’re all set for a fun night! |  |
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12 SCHOOL DEALS. Make like a student and head to city university campuses for meals priced under PHP100. High school and college students favor Perspolis in Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City for their inexpensive Persian cuisine. A yogurt shake costs only PHP35, while a plate of Keema with eggplant costs only PHP70. Tel: +63 (2) 497 1755
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13 CHECK INTO CHEAP CHIC. If booking a room in a regular hotel in Hong Kong is out of your budget, seek less expensive accommodations in Mirador Mansion along Tsim Sha Tsui. First Class Guest House is a tried-and-tested bet in the heart of the city that is both safe and clean. Tel: +852 272 40595
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14 SEA SIGHTS. Swim with the whale sharks, called butanding by the locals, in Donsol, an hour away from Legaspi. Boat cost of PHP3,500 is shared with other passengers. Tel: +63 (52) 481 0250, email: albaytourism@gmail.com
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| 15 TRAIN YOURSELF. See Bangkok by rail! Fares range from THB15–40 (PHP20–54), depending on the distance you travel. The Bangkok Mass Transit System offers a one-day pass for THB100 (PHP136), so you can hop from one tourist attraction to the next, without going over budget. |  |
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16 JOIN TO WIN! Take part in contests on TV and in magazines as they can lead to the best freebies! Rowena Wendy Lei, a working mom and devoted blogger, saw a contest spot on the Discovery Channel. She logged onto www.discoveruniquelysingapore.com, answered a few questions, and a few weeks later, won tickets to the Lion City, adjoining deluxe rooms at the Mandarin Oriental, and US$1,500 spending money for her family of four. Now that’s a great vacation!
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| 17 ALL ACCESS PASS. In Osaka, purchase a two-day unlimited pass for only JP¥2,700 (PHP1,322) or JP¥2,000 (PHP979.33) for one day — and avail of access to every train and bus in the area and free admission to 27 establishments, including the zoo! www.osaka-info.jp/en |  |
| 18 JUST DESSERTS. Try Café Via Mare’s Summer Shooters promotion. Here’s what you get: three pampalamigs for the cool price of only PHP75. Relish creamy guinomis, sweetened mais con hielo and refreshing halo-halo (below) alone or share them with a travel bud. Available at all Via Mare outlets in Manila until May 31. |  |
| 19 TRAVEL LIGHT… and shave PHP200 off your Cebu Pacific ticket! Since a lighter plane burns less fuel, the airline passes the savings on to you! www.cebupacificair.com |  |
| 20 STREET FOOD RULES! Shilin Night Market in Taipei sells treats like hu jiao ping (shredded pork buns). On Wellington Street in Central, Hong Kong, wanton noodles start at HK$12 (PHP74) and fruit shakes are HK$6 (PHP37). |  |
| 21 CALLING ALL BIKERS… Check out www.warmshowers.org to reach out to other cyclists who help house visiting touring cyclists. |  |
| 22 HORSE AROUND. Spend an evening at Hong Kong’s Happy Valley Race Track. For HK$10 (PHP62), you can see the city’s finest horses outdo each other. For another HK$10, you can actually place your bets and maybe even win! www.happyvalleyracecourse.com |  |
| 23 MAGICAL MOUNTAIN Once you touch down at the Legaspi Airport, you can tick off the first thing to do in Albay: see the almost perfect cone of the Mayon Volcano. Entrance to the foot of the volcano is just PHP15, while a guided tour is PHP100. www.mayonecotourism.ph |  |
| 24 JUST FOR KIDS. Traveling with the kids? Museo Pambata along Roxas Boulevard, Manila is a great place to take them. Enjoy interactive exhibits, recycling workshops, live puppet shows, mini Olympics and more! Entrance fee is child’s play, too — just PHP100! www.museopambata.org |  |
| 25 NATURAL WONDERS. Visit the Philippine Eagle Center an hour away from Davao City, and see 36 eagles up close. Adults pay PHP50, children PHP30. Lectures are free. www.philippineeagle.org |  |
| 26 FINE FINDS. In the Hongdae Flea Market, in Seoul, artists show off their strictly hand-made bags, jewelry, dolls, notebooks, clothes, and art. From SKW3,000– 10,000 (PHP105–349). Saturdays, 1pm to 6pm, through to late November. |  |
| 27 CHEAP DVDS Bongout, a Japanese café on Quayside in Singapore, serves tonkatsu, ramen and rice sets from SG$10 (PHP310), but the treasure is in their shelves. Buy second-hand DVDs of Japanese telenovelas (with English subtitles) and CDs from SG$2–12 (PHP63.50– 381.95). Robertson Quay #01-01, The Quayside, tel: +65 6732 5234, www.bongout-cafe.com |  |
| 28 SHAKE IT UP. Watch the sun set, with your toes buried in the powdery white shores of Boracay Island, with Jonah’s famous fruit shake. Savor a tall glass of blended ice and your choice of fresh fruit — alone or mixed with extras like peanut butter, chocolate or rum — for just PHP75–160. Station 1, White Beach (between Jony’s Resort and Guilly’s Island), tel: +63 (36) 288 3281 |  |
| 29 DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Before flying off to a destination, log on to sites that showcase the city’s highlights. You’re bound to spot a free art show, concert, or workshop there. |  |
| 30 TAKE A TRIKE. Filipino commuters take the tricycle — small sidecars attached to motorcycles— when they travel around smaller streets. You’ll find these in Manila as well as in Surigao, Ozamiz, Boracay and more rustic destinations. |  |
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