Dumaguete

Where to stay

Most budget travelers land near Rizal Boulevard, the seafront strip that runs along the port. For lower prices and more local feel, the streets just behind it toward Silliman University on Hibbard Avenue are walkable to everything and cater more to students than tourists.

Getting around

• Take multicabs instead of tricycles for any cross-town trip. They run fixed routes along Perdices Street and Colon Street for a few pesos flat, while tricycle drivers quote tourist rates by default.
• Eat at the carenderias inside the public market near the port. Full rice meals are cheap. The boulevard restaurants facing the water charge two to three times that for roughly the same food.
• If you plan to day-trip to Apo Island, book a habal-habal or jeepney to Malatapay port yourself rather than buying a tour package in town. You can negotiate the boat crossing directly at the port and save a significant amount.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest June through September, when afternoon rain keeps most tourists away. They fill up from December through April, with Holy Week in March or April being the hardest stretch to find a bed at a reasonable price.