Budget Travel - South Pacific Excursions

New to this site! ;;o0

But I am planning a 2 week getaway in february..Unfortunately that's not long enough to see and experience as much as I would like but I'm working with the small amount of time off and a budget.

I plan on touching down in Manilla-flying into Malaysia (KUL)-going to Bali (DPS) for a few days and returning and flying out back to Manilla and meeting up with friends and heading to Boracay...I know a jam packed 2 weeks! I think I have the most efficent flight plan as far as time..but unsure what kind of budget i would need outside of the airfare...People have recommended I not worry @ hotels until I get there bc u can bargain? But I like to set a reasonable budget for things: food, hotels,transportation (taxis,buses,trains,shuttles),entrance /event fees,shopping..)

I wanna see as much as i can for as LITTLE as possible..
Any tips on what would be the best way financially to experience Malaysia and Bali? I definitely want to hit up Pengang, Kuta and Ubud..but there are other places in both countries that I am unsure how to get to and how much certain things would run (cost wise)...Any advice/suggestions, recommendations???

I have someone flying in from the states so I'm trying not to bust their budget considering how much their airfare over here would cost. Thanks!!

I feel your pain. My first 9 or so trips to Asia were done under 2 and 3-week annual vacations. Hopefully you're good at fighting jet lag (am not good with that myself).

Have been to all the places referenced (perchance are you taking Air Asia from MNL to KUL? They & Tiger Airways fly out of CRK, which isn't really MNL. There's also Cebu Pacific).

Bali has tons of supply on lodgings and you can do very well cheaply. With Kuta I went for the $20 or so midrange (private room,lots of atmosphere), while with Ubud I did the $5 cottage with the banana pancake breakfast brought to the porch. This was a few years ago, though. No supply shortage. Do be prepared for tons of hawkers and touts around Kuta and in places like Besakih...too many people from Java trying to eke out a living. Ubud was more pleasant.

Boracay can be a different animal. Supply/demand isn't always on your side and it can be the most expensive place in the Philippines, though if you're not at some really peak period you can find something under $50. It's not, however, like southern Thailand where there are tons of budget bungalows in places like Hat Rin. There are some really beautiful corals, though.

KUL and MNL have gone up a good bit on lodgings vs. just 2 or 3 years ago, but there are still pensions and guesthouses.

This may be beyond the time you have for the trip, but I'd consider taking Air Asia and stopping over in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) between MNL and KUL (as Air Asia flies both legs). Borneo is quite a beautiful and distinctive place, and from KK you can head to Mt Kinabalu or to Sandakan, where they have overnight & longer tours to the jungle (or what's remaining). Did one with Uncle Tan's for about $56 for a single overnight and it was really unforgettable.

Sounds like Rusty has given you some good tips.

You probably already know that the faster you try to travel, the more it costs you.

That said, if Bali is your main destination and if you want to visit a few places there, you may want to consider flying direct from manilla to bali, then either do a triangle back through kl and malaysia, or just save that for another time and do a return from indo back up to the phillipines.

That way you'd avoid doubling back and save 2 maybe 3 days of travel time and have more time in the place you're going to. Depends on if you want to be moving all the time I guess. If your friends are flying in from the US then they may want a day or two after that flight to adjust before dashing off again. If your already in the region it makes it alot easier to hop a couple flights through a couple of countries.


Having a few leisurely days to look around is especially nice for bali. Rusty's comment about the touts are on the money, there are a lot of people there from other places trying to make a liiving and it can be tough to be continually be warding them all off. And the best times in Bali seem to happen when you just kind of happen upon them, like the ceremonies and festivals and things. Long walks around Ubud can find any number of things you'll never encounter on the beach at kuta. Lots of great places in Malaysia too. You're just going to have to plan on going back again...