La Union is one of the nearest beach getaways from Manila. With TPLEX, travel time has been cut down to about 4-5 hours, making it more accessible for vacationers this summer.

If you want to learn how to surf or just spend time on the beach in Elyu, but are on a tight budget, here are a few tips to help you out.

1. Choose a central location

There are many towns in La Union, but if you plan to spend most of your time at the beach, it’s best to base in San Juan, the main surfing hub. Located right along the national highway, the little surf town is easily accessible by public transport. You can just hop on a bus in Pasay or Quezon City bound for Vigan or Laoag and ask to be dropped off in San Juan in front of the beach resorts (fare is about P425). Once you’re there, you can just walk from your hotel to the beach to nearby restaurants, reducing the need for additional transportation costs.

2. Stay in a hostel

There are a lot of high-end beachfront resorts in San Juan, but for those who want to save some cash, you can always opt for more affordable accommodations. Instead of staying at a hotel, stay in a hostel, rooms for rent, smaller inns across the street or use AirBNB.

The Circle Hostel is an eco-hostel with open-air bunk houses and hammock spaces ranging from P450-P550 per person per night. They currently have two bunk houses; one co-ed bunk house with 45 beds and an all-female bunk house with eight beds as well as 35 hammock spaces (with built in mosquito nets). They cater mostly to surfers, budget backpackers and solo travellers, looking for a more artsy and social atmosphere. To secure your valuables, you can make use of their lockers (bring your own padlock and towel to reduce costs).

3. Split costs with fellow travelers

La Union is a popular summer destination and there are many low-cost weekend travel package tours you can join. You may be traveling with strangers, but at least the cost of round trip transportation, accommodations, toll fees, gas, tours and entrance fees are already factored in, which can help solo travelers minimize costs. Usually these joining tours become cheaper the larger the group is, with some tour agencies offering package rates for as low as P1,800 per person for a two-day/one-night stay.

If you’re traveling on your own, you might want to look for companions for some activities. Hiking to Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel is a great activity, but the guide fee is P500 per group, which can be quite steep if you’re traveling alone. Join up with other travelers so you can split costs. Instead of hiring a tricycle from San Juan (they charge P500 for the round trip), ride a jeepney to San Gabriel (P16) and then hire a tricycle to the start of the trail (P30).

Since you’re already in La Union, you might as well get a surfing lessons, since it’s the top thing to do. Surfing lessons start at P400 per hour (inclusive of instructor’s fee and board rental). You can split the time with a companion and just opt for 30-minute sessions each.

4. Visit free attractions

There are a lot of activities you can do in La Union that are free of charge. Swimming and spending time at the beach won’t cost you anything. Just watching the sunset is a “thing to do in La Union” in itself!

There’s also no entrance fee to visit Ma-Cho Temple, a Taoist temple overlooking the city of San Fernando. Situated on a hill 70 feet above sea level, this impressive temple is dedicated to Ma-Cho, the goddess of the sea. While it was built by the the city’s Chinese community, the temple is open to people of all religions who visit to admire the architecture and view.

5. Share your meals

Food is an essential part of travel and you’d miss out on a lot if you didn’t try the restaurants and food stalls along Urbiztondo Beach and the highway. While food may seem expensive at first glance, the servings are usually large, very filling and good for sharing.

If you’re traveling with a companion, split a meal instead of ordering one dish each in top restos like Gefseis Greek Grill, Mad Monkeys and Olas Banditos (meals usually start at P200+, but can be shared by two). Popular La Union desserts like Halo-Halo de Iloko and Smores from El Union Coffee are also best when shared with friends.

There are lots of smaller eateries along the highway that serve Filipino all-day breakfast meals for less than P100. If you’re in a big group, it may be cheaper to head to native restaurants where you can order home-cooked Pinoy comfort food served family-style.