IS it possible to enjoy the summer capital BAGUIO on P500 a day?
The Department of Tourism estimates that a typical tourist spends an average
of P2,500 daily in Baguio City. This includes accommodation, meals, and
local transportation fares around the city and souvenir items.
of P2,500 daily in Baguio City. This includes accommodation, meals, and
local transportation fares around the city and souvenir items.
For a tourist on a tight budget, however, P500 is more than enough to savor
the sights, scents and tastes of Baguio City for a day. Setting aside
transportation and accommodation costs, it’s still quite possible to get
that exhilarating experience of pine trees and cool clean air.
the sights, scents and tastes of Baguio City for a day. Setting aside
transportation and accommodation costs, it’s still quite possible to get
that exhilarating experience of pine trees and cool clean air.
First off, one doesn’t need cash to enjoy a walk in Baguio’s wooded parks
(Burnham Park, Wright Park and Botanical Garden) amid the nippy weather.
(Burnham Park, Wright Park and Botanical Garden) amid the nippy weather.
Still, for adventurous tourists with only P500 in their pocket, here’s how
to enjoy Baguio:
to enjoy Baguio:
1. Aerobics class
Go straight to Burnham Park at 6 a.m. on any day and join workers, students,
the elderly and health buffs for an hour-long aerobics and taebo class. For
donations of at least P20 from each participant, fitness instructors will
lead the workout near the Burnham Lake.
the elderly and health buffs for an hour-long aerobics and taebo class. For
donations of at least P20 from each participant, fitness instructors will
lead the workout near the Burnham Lake.
2. Breakfast meals
After your morning exercise, walk toward Lower Mabini Road and get a P52
breakfast at Dane’s Bakeshop. The meal is a choice of tocino, longganiza,
corned beef or tapa, fried egg and brewed coffee.
breakfast at Dane’s Bakeshop. The meal is a choice of tocino, longganiza,
corned beef or tapa, fried egg and brewed coffee.
Or you may want to try the breakfast meal offered by Pizza Volante on
Session Road for P78.
Session Road for P78.
3. Sto. Tomas trek
If it’s not raining and you want to camp out, the best place is Mt. Sto.
Tomas at the outskirts of the city. The area offers a panoramic view of
Baguio City and the Lingayen Gulf.
Tomas at the outskirts of the city. The area offers a panoramic view of
Baguio City and the Lingayen Gulf.
To get there, take a jeepney bound for Barangay Dontogan (terminal is near
the old Bayanihan Hotel, now an ukay-ukay center) and tell the driver to
drop you off at the “Turning Point.” Fare is P13.
the old Bayanihan Hotel, now an ukay-ukay center) and tell the driver to
drop you off at the “Turning Point.” Fare is P13.
Start the trek to Mt. Sto. Tomas, a dormant volcano, and enjoy the wild
flowers and vegetable plantations along the route. In 30 minutes (depending
on your pace), you can reach the summit, where the satellite dishes of the
weather bureau are located.
flowers and vegetable plantations along the route. In 30 minutes (depending
on your pace), you can reach the summit, where the satellite dishes of the
weather bureau are located.
Wear thick clothes and bring a blanket as temperatures drop at the summit
every afternoon. Frost is common from October to February. During cold
months, thin sheets of ice cover vegetables grown there by local farmers.
every afternoon. Frost is common from October to February. During cold
months, thin sheets of ice cover vegetables grown there by local farmers.
4. Camp John Hay eco trail
If a trek up Sto. Tomas is too daunting for you, try the Camp John Hay eco
trail. Take some friends along – it’s free but you have to spend P10 for
jeepney fare. Take the Scout Barrio jeepney at the Igorot Park near Burnham
Park.
trail. Take some friends along – it’s free but you have to spend P10 for
jeepney fare. Take the Scout Barrio jeepney at the Igorot Park near Burnham
Park.
While inside Camp John Hay, spend P30 to visit the Historical Core. The area
boasts of the postcard-pretty Bell amphitheater, the house of the American
governor-general, the Cemetery of Negativism and the Secret Garden, where a “history trail” of Camp John Hay is offered to visitors.
boasts of the postcard-pretty Bell amphitheater, the house of the American
governor-general, the Cemetery of Negativism and the Secret Garden, where a “history trail” of Camp John Hay is offered to visitors.
5. Eat out for a hundred bucks or less
Many restaurants offer complete meals for P85 to P100. Try Star Café,
Mandarin Restaurant, Tea House and Jack’s on Session Road; Cathy’s and Jen’s on Diego Silang Street and Good Taste behind the Baguio Center Mall on Magsaysay Road.
Mandarin Restaurant, Tea House and Jack’s on Session Road; Cathy’s and Jen’s on Diego Silang Street and Good Taste behind the Baguio Center Mall on Magsaysay Road.
6. Museums, art exhibits
For P20, tourists and students can learn about and appreciate the culture of
the Cordillera in the Baguio-Mountain Province’s Museum on Gov. Pack Road.
the Cordillera in the Baguio-Mountain Province’s Museum on Gov. Pack Road.
7. Souvenirs and “pasalubong”
For P20, you can buy the ubiquitous Baguio bonnet at the city market or at
the Maharlika Livelihood Center.
the Maharlika Livelihood Center.
Three pieces of walis tambo (broom) sell for P100. Key chains with
strawberry design are offered at P10 to P15 each. Peanut brittle, ube jam
and chocolate flakes can be bought for under P100 at stalls in the city
market.
strawberry design are offered at P10 to P15 each. Peanut brittle, ube jam
and chocolate flakes can be bought for under P100 at stalls in the city
market.
If you want to save on fare money, you can always walk. Baguio, after all,
is a walking city.
is a walking city.
From Burnham Park, you can walk to the Botanical Garden on Leonard Wood
Road. Warm up with a P10 cup of strawberry-flavored taho, available from any
of the vendors you encounter along the way.
Road. Warm up with a P10 cup of strawberry-flavored taho, available from any
of the vendors you encounter along the way.
The Wright Park is a short walk from the Botanical Garden.
Let’s see… How far did your P500 go?
A P20 contribution for the aerobics session, breakfast (P52), cinnamon twist
and pan de coco (P5) and a cup of brewed coffee (P20) for snacks, trek to
Mt. Sto. Tomas (P26), bulalo and rice at Slaughterhouse (P145) for lunch, a
slice of cassava cake (P12) for dessert, museum visit (P20), jeepney fare to
Camp John Hay (P20), Jack’s rice (P65) for dinner, a walis tambo (P35) and a
key chain (P15). That’s P435.
and pan de coco (P5) and a cup of brewed coffee (P20) for snacks, trek to
Mt. Sto. Tomas (P26), bulalo and rice at Slaughterhouse (P145) for lunch, a
slice of cassava cake (P12) for dessert, museum visit (P20), jeepney fare to
Camp John Hay (P20), Jack’s rice (P65) for dinner, a walis tambo (P35) and a
key chain (P15). That’s P435.
You may wish to spend the remaining P65 to shop for ukay-ukay (used clothes) at the Hilltop area, where some clothes can go as low as P10.
Or better yet, save the change and spend the afternoon strolling around John
Hay or reading a book amid the pine trees and the fog. It’s priceless. Read
the complete article here as this is only a summary edited
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/sim/sim/view/20091010-229396/Baguio-on-a-Budget&ct=ga&cd=PRWlYwrh4jo&usg=AFQjCNG2R4jnpwt9
Hay or reading a book amid the pine trees and the fog. It’s priceless. Read
the complete article here as this is only a summary edited
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/sim/sim/view/20091010-229396/Baguio-on-a-Budget&ct=ga&cd=PRWlYwrh4jo&usg=AFQjCNG2R4jnpwt9
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