I am going on vacation to the Philippines at the end of the year and I'll be staying with a friend in Manila for about a month then I will travel south to Boracay island. I will be in the Philippines for a total of 50 days and I am wondering if $3000 U.S. dollars will be a fair amount to bring? I will be staying in Hostels and such and I don't drink so that cuts out alcohol. I know this is somewhat of a broad question, but just a general rough idea of how far $3000 U.S. dollars will go is all I'm asking. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Logan
Reply to this Hi Logan,
For me I must say that having that kind of money is really a big one. You can go and live here for 50 days with that kind of money. You can go and visit many places like boracay , palawan, puerto gallera and many more. Definitely you dont need to worry for that amount of money that ur going to use while u were here. The cost of living here is very cheap for you especially you are from western country. Shopping and dining in some nice restaurant u can do that also. A lot you can do for that money and maybe at the end u still have an excess money and u can bring it back to you when u go home.
Just let me know if u need help dont hesitate to contact me. Im born and raise here in Manila. Goodluck.:-)
Sheng
Reply to this Yeah, I guess $3000 will be enough for your entire stay here in Manila, also in Boracay. It'll be much cheaper if you stay in a non-beachfront resort. Resorts fronting the beach are bit pricey. You have a lot of choices of places to eat and stay when you get to Boracay. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help. Enjoy! 😊
Reply to this and ... it's better to book accommodations and flights in advance, as it would be cheaper ... GoodLuck!
Reply to this How long $3000 lasts is really up to you. Would $3000 last you 50 days in your country in a different city where you would have to pay for your own lodging and food?
If you are real thrifty and stay in relatively cheap places or with friends you might be able to make do. If you normally eat in fancy restaurants and stay in good hotels all the time when you are on the road - maybe not! I imagine you will contribute some money to your friend and not be a cheapskate and a burden on him/her - so take that into consideration.
You can also use a debit card in Manila and other cities. I use debit cards in the Philippines that have MasterCard and Visa affiliations. Some ATM fees are high for overseas withdrawals - check first. My credit union pays for the first 5 ATM withdrawals overseas after that it is only $2 US so for me it is not real problem. If you do bring a debit or credit card you must notify that bank or credit union that you will be out of the country so any ATM use will be authorized.
This $3000 might be okay for me, my biggest expense is hotels but I eat and drink cheap. I won't stay in a place that does not have a security box so that single requirement eliminates a lot of really cheap places. (Plus I like my air conditioning and hot water too!) I use those security boxes to secure my spare cash and other valuables.
Have you sorted your visa situation out? Traveling with a US passport I get a free 21 day visa on arrival stamp in my passport. Without knowing where you are from I don't know what you will get. So, sort that Visa deal out before you make your plans if you haven't done so already.
It wouldn't hurt to have a credit card available in case emergencies come up. Don't advertise or show that you have a large sum of money on you or someone may relieve you of that sum of money! In Manila I usually stay in the Ermita area.
Good luck.
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Reply to this I agree with all of the above. I'd just like to stress 3 things:
1. have the proper visa so you don't get penalized for overstaying and so you keep your $3,000 budget intact.
2. book your flights 2 or 3 months in advance; preferred airline is PHILIPPINE AIRLINES because they have an all-season econolight fares,
3. make the capital city of Metro Manila only your drop-off/take-off point. In many popular destinations now, you will be surprised that hostels have begun to mushroom as well. If you are staying in Manila and don't intend to go around as much, better stay in Makati because it's nearer the airport, the night life is better than in Malate, the surrounding is more tourist-friendly. Search hostelworld or backpackers.net for available hostels. But the one I really recommend is
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4. Befriend one or two Filipinos who can show you around while you're here. Filipinos are easy, even if you just met them online, provided of course a certain level of comfort is established.
tnx. Reply to this 
