Subject
- #Boracay Independent Travel
- #Boracay
- #Boracay Essentials
- #Boracay Travel
- #Boracay Tips
Tips from someone who has been to Boracay 5 times.
Yep, I don't own a house in Boracay, I'm just a Boracay lover ❤️. I'm not affiliated with any business, lol.
Must-Do's
1. Exchange only with USD 100 bills
When going to the Philippines, exchanging US Dollars -> to Philippine Pesos locally gives you the best exchange rate.
And you get a better exchange rate if you exchange with $100 bills, which have the highest value among dollar bills. What does this mean??
Station 3 Nikko Money Changer
This is the Station 3 Nikko Money Changer, which offers the best exchange rate,
US Dollars are divided into Big and Small, with Big having the highest exchange rate, which is the $100 bill!
👉🏻$100 USD bill -> Big
👉🏻$5, $10, $20, $50 USD bills -> Small
When requesting an exchange, exchange in units of $100 and receive only $100 bills!
- Station 3 Nikko Forex (NIKKO MART FOREX)
2. Secure a front seat with mobile check-in
You absolutely must get a front seat. Absolutely!!! Don't forget.
Because you've already spent about 4 hours and 30 minutes to arrive at Caticlan Airport, and the check-in line is incredibly long.
If you don't want to get tired and ruin your mood in that hot weather (there's AC, but it's still really hot) due to the large crowd, getting out quickly and getting in line for check-in is the best option.
This is the line, and there's more inside~~~
Going out quickly really helps reduce fatigue. Even after getting out, you still have a journey of about 2 hours to reach Boracay Island, so keep that in mind.
3. Duty-Free Items Caution (Notorious Caticlan Airport)
Foreigners are subject to thorough inspections of duty-free items upon entering the Philippines.
For Boracay, items exceeding the duty-free limit of USD 200 will be subject to taxes collected directly by the airport authorities.
They'll tap away on a calculator and collect taxes in cash, lol🤯
This can also cause delays, as they are busy looking for items exceeding the limit in an attempt to find something to tax you on.
It can be a bit off-putting at times.
I had a frustrating experience where they took money from me, and then, in front of me, they took the Balenciaga shopping bag I had thrown away... and said they would use it themselves.
**If you have duty-free items, here's a tip!**
👉🏻Don't carry duty-free shopping bags.
👉🏻Don't bring expensive brand-name bags (If they think you bought it duty-free and argue that it looks new, there's no arguing back, and you'll end up in a fight).
👉🏻They calculate duty-free items at the original price, not the discounted price, so be prepared for arguments about paying taxes^^
4. Bring a Plastic Knife
If you like mangoes, you can buy them cheaply from fruit stalls behind the D'Mall Palawen area and enjoy them in your hotel.
Disposable plates and plastic knives are all you need.
(Paris Baguette cake knives are great!)
If you don't want ants in your room, you can buy food from the poolside bar at the hotel. They'll cut the food there, so you don't need to bring a knife. However, this depends on the hotel, so you should check beforehand.
5. Travel Tissues
You need to bring tissues for the restrooms at Caticlan Airport and Caticlan Port.
Especially at Caticlan Port, there are no tissues, so it's a must!!
I was waiting for the speedboat at the pier when I had to urgently use the restroom, and it was so old-fashioned, it was a surprise.. lol.
You need to bring tissues even if you don't bring your passport...
It's an open-air restroom, lol.
6. Purchase Beach Hut Sunscreen SPF 100
Upon arrival, you'll immediately experience the intense heat and sunlight, so I highly recommend applying SPF 100 to protect your face and body!
You can find it at Budget Mart or various stores in D'Mall,
but the cheapest place to buy Beach Hut is at Watsons.
(It's located near Budget Mart in Station 2, heading towards Henann Garden, right in front of the Jollibee store!)
I prefer the spray type, which is easy to apply to both the body and face.
- Boracay Watsons
I bought it here for 549 PH, which is incredibly cheap!
It's 705 pesos on the official website, so it's a good deal to buy it here.
7. Keep 784 Pesos in Cash for Airport Tax
On your departure day, you need to pay 784 pesos at the airport to board your flight. They only accept cash, so even if you're having fun, make sure to keep 784 PH on hand!
Things You Don't Need to Prepare
1. Island Hopping Reservations with Korean Agencies
I don't recommend it!
I don't think you need to prepare in advance.
I've tried both local and Korean agencies, and they're just incredibly expensive. It felt like Seoul's Boracay branch, with so many Koreans, and I didn't particularly enjoy it.
Korean agencies charge around 80,000 won per person, while local agencies can be found on Klook or through negotiation for around 30,000 won.
It's the same sea you're going out to, the only difference is that Korean agency island hopping tours include food and drinks??
But the beer is some cheap brand, not San Miguel, so...
Below is a photo of snorkeling during a local agency island hopping tour!
2. Pocket WiFi Rental
I've tried both pocket WiFi and SIM cards, and SIM cards are much more convenient.
With pocket WiFi, you have to carry it around constantly, it's heavy, and you have to charge it.
Once, I had trouble because it wouldn't connect properly.
Just go to Globe (Globe) in front of the airport or inside D'Mall and say "SIM card, please." They'll put it in for you and even check if it's working.
It's incredibly convenient, so I recommend skipping the pocket WiFi.
(Globe Telecom)
7 days, 8GB for 150 pesos! You can get a SIM card for less than 4,000 won.
3. 220v Adapter
Most hotels in Boracay are compatible with 220 volts, so you don't need to bring an adapter, but this can vary by hotel.
3-star or lower hotels and local accommodations might require an adapter, so check in advance!
4. Tube
I bought a heart-shaped clear tube for my trip to the resort.
It popped right away, so I ended up throwing it awayㅜㅜ
Just play with the many affordable tubes sold there.
You don't really need to bring a tube...
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