How to Be A Millionaire for US $35.32
Step 1- Flight from Manila to Busuanga
Board a Zest Air flight from the congested city of Manila, Luzon to Busuanga, Palawan in the Philippines for PHP 488 (Philippine Pesos).
Note: Cebu Pacific Airlines also offers affordable flights and some might say they are a bit safer.
Total- PHP 488 (US $10.13)
Step 2- Rent a Boat and Crew
Once you arrive in the town of Coron (a 30 minute comfortable mini-bus ride from the Busuanga airport), gather a group of friends and arrange to rent a boat for the day or next few days.
Should cost anywhere from PHP 500-1500 per person depending on how many people you can arrange in the boat.
Total- PHP 1000 (US $20.76)
Step 3- Island/Lake Hop
Gently float in the crystal clear waters, admiring the razor sharp limestone cliffs caressed in greenery and the isolated turquoise coves.
Visit various amazing sights around Coron Island like Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake, Twin Rocks, and Banol Beach.
All have PHP 100-200 entrance charges.
Total- PHP 1400 (US $29.07)
Step 4- Eat Crab and Fish
Before departure in the morning ask the boatmen to purchase fresh caught seafood, rice, vegetables, and fruit for the daily intake.
Stop on an isolated serene private beach (we chose Speed Beach) and really save your calories as the boatmen fix a perfect millionaires lunch.
The people on my particular boat went straight in the direction of engorgement, feasting on whole grilled fish, boiled succulent crabs, rice, and everything garnished with a lemon, soy, tomato, onion, and hot chili sauce.
If that wasn’t enough we had a huge supply of fresh mangoes, bananas, and pineapples.
This all out buffet of tasty items from the sea and land cost approximately PHP 300 per person (and I ate an absurd amount of fish and crab).
Total- PHP 1700 (US $35.32)
Step 5- Relax on a Private Beach
Take the afternoon lazy, sprawling out on a perfectly white sand private beach, floating in the clear bath water, grab occasional fist fulls of ripened pineapple, and really take a mental picture of paradise.
Step 6- Recline on the Bow of the Boat
When the sun starts to make its way downwards, re-board the vessel and start slicing through the water back towards Coron town.
Total Cost- PHP 1700 = US $35.32
Sitting on the front bow of the boat, turquoise ocean spray misting in my face, limestone cliffs passing, warm waters lapping across 10 meter picturesque beaches, I was thinking, “even if I was a millionaire, I wouldn’t have loved this day anymore than I did as a traveler in the same outfit for the last month.”
It’s beautiful times like this that I am a millionaire for choosing to travel.
-Migration Mark
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Absolutely gorgeous photos. Looks and sounds a lot like the San Blas Islands in Panama.. also unbelievably cheap. See my blog for details.
Thanks for sharing!
Awesome Mark! This is a great example that illustrates Tim Ferriss’ point that we don’t want money; we don’t want to be millionaires—what we really want is to be able to live the lifestyle that millions would buy. And it’s actually a lot easier than some people realize if you look in the right places. Cheers!
San Blas look great man. Hope to get there sometime. If you are ever in the Asian area let me know!
Thanks for the input Cody, I agree, it’s not about the money, it’s about the things that can be done with the money. However what so many don’t understand is that to have millionaire experiences doesn’t always take very much money.
so unbelievable jealous
unbelievably*
Yah, you should have stuck with migrationology instead of getting the job with Boeing…ha.
wow that is great. i haven’t been there myself despite it being in my own home country. i should head there soon!
Oh, my! It’s so beautiful. I practice migrationology, myself – and yep, I think I’m going pack up all four of my kiddos and head to Coron. A family of five can live like millionares for <$200, right ?!
So awesome you are a fellow migrationologist! You can definitely live like a millionaire with your family in Coron for $200, enjoy!!!
[...] had already figured out how to be a millionaire and now I was in the process of learning how to become a [...]
what a great way to put things into perspective, Mark. Really enjoy reading this post as this is how we look at travel – we don’t have to break the bank to feel like a millionaire eh? awesome!
Thanks for the input. I absolutely agree that there is no need to break the bank or even have the bank to feel like a millionaire!
[...] How to Be a Millionaire for $35.32 [...]
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that’s excatly the place i was looking for, so bad that we are already in the cook island and with $35 you barely find a place to sleep. i will make sure i would include the philippines on our next trip, it’s look just so beautiful!
Yah, you should definitely check out Palawan, I would highly recommend it. Cook Islands are probably beautiful too. Have great travels!
[...] Migrationology—Mark Wiens is an Arizona kid that was raised in France, Congo, and Kenya. He got the travel bug and now he spends his time vagabonding throughout Asia trying all of its edible delights. Awesome post: How to Be A Millionaire for US $35.32 [...]
[...] a millionaire for the price of $35.32 on the island of Palawan while sitting on private beaches and eating entire crabs by the [...]
I love Palawan!! It is just unfortunate a lot of tourists skip the Philippines and head out to the usual mainland South East Asia backpacker route. Those who are adventurous enough are always pleasantly rewarded. I am glad you also went to Batad and Sagada. Both are places that I would definitely visit again. More amazing travels for you!
True to that Marnie. Philippines has some of the most amazing places I have ever been. I am with you in wanting to re visit Batad and Sagada. Sagada is a place I could stay for a month in solitude and just relax, read, and think. Hope you have great travels!
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