5 Steps for Finding Affordable Flights to Bacolod City: A Traveler's Guide to Budget-Friendly Travel Part 1

Staying at home in the last couple of months has been challenging for everyone, especially our travel bugs. Raise your hand if you thought 2020 was the year you would fulfill your dream vacation. I’m sure many of us did. We started planning our perfect getaways when the holiday calendar was released in late 2019. We saved up for our travel fund, scouted the most Instagram-worthy Airbnb, and stayed on the lookout for seat sales. But then COVID-19 happened, and the world came to a stop. With a heavy heart, we put our passports back in the drawer, stowed away our luggage in the closet, and quelled our wanderlust by remembering past travels.

But good things happen to those who wait (and follow health and safety protocols). With good news about vaccines being rolled out in Western countries, it will be a matter of time before we can hit the road again. Keeping our fingers crossed, we could spend our summer in Bacolod City. Taking selfies at the Ruins, eating chicken inasal with our bare hands in Manokan Country, frolicking under the sun in Lakawon, and capping the night with a cup of joe and a hearty serving of delicious, flaky napoleones.

While we daydream about the safety of our homes, let’s also start planning for our next trip with this how-to guide to getting to Bacolod City. Then, as soon as the pandemic is over, we can grab our bags and go on our next big Negrense adventure!

Flying High for a Low Price

Piso fare – my two favorite words. Nothing makes my heart skip a beat faster than when airlines announce a seat sale. But I also share the same excitement with a thousand other hopefuls who want to travel within their means. This is why scoring a seat sale is almost like going into battle. So one has to come prepared. But don’t worry because I’ve listed down tested and proven tips to get you that covetable window seat at a discount.

1. Open an account on an airline website

Have you ever experienced finding the perfect flight at the ideal time for the perfect destination during a seat sale? But then lost the seat because it took you several minutes to fill in your passenger and card details during check-out? Yes, it’s such a bummer worthy of smashing the keyboard. As we all know, seat sales are first come, first serve, so one must be ready and alert. Setting up an account on airline websites saves you a lot of time. Your personal information and credit card details are already kept. Once you’ve made an account, ensure all the following are complete and updated: full name, birth date, contact number, email address, passport number, and passport expiration date. If you’re traveling with a companion, fill out the guest details with the same information. Consider this as due diligence because completing all necessary information beforehand will make checking out as easy as 1-2-3.

Aside from that, being a member also has benefits. Airlines have their respective Rewards Programs (Mabuhay Miles for Philippine Airlines, GetGo for Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Big for AirAsia). These give significant discounts and exclusive sales to their registered members. You can get a complimentary flight with enough accumulated points as a frequent flyer. Sweet!

2. Follow airlines on all their social media accounts

When it comes to seat sales, knowledge is power. Airlines usually announce seat sales on their social media accounts at least one day before the booking period. You can check them regularly to keep tabs on random flash sales. Still, you can keep in mind that airlines usually have promos during holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas, New Year’s, etc. So be on the lookout around these dates. You can subscribe to their newsletters if your social media feed is cluttered. Personally, I get notified of seat sales more effectively through my inbox than through my social media news feed.

3. Lay down Plans A and B

Your updated airline account is covered, and your alarm is set for seat sale day. But when D-day comes, you and your companions can’t agree on the travel dates! You argue back and forth until a more decisive customer snatches the seats from your booking. This is a sad story marked by amateur mistakes. To successfully score a seat sale, you must lay down plans A and B.

Plan A is your ideal schedule – your preferred date and time of travel. Plan B is your alternative when you can’t find a flight that matches your Plan A. If you’re up for it, a Plan C won’t hurt. Flexibility is a trait of a good traveler.

4. Book at midnight

This tip is common knowledge that waiting for the clock to strike 12:00 on the first night of a seat sale has already become a tradition for penny-pinching travelers. Thousands of people access the airline’s booking website during the first hour, so it pays to be early because, chances are, you will be asked to wait in line. But if you’re willing to sacrifice a few more hours of sleep, my advice is to wait it out until 2:00 to 4:00 in the wee hours of the morning. Once the initial sale frenzy dies down and people eventually go to sleep, the website becomes much more accessible.

5. Follow these insider hacks

Once you’re in, booking a flight will be fast and easy if you follow these general seat sale tips. But if you want to go the extra mile, try the following insider hacks I gathered from Piso fare legends. Use Incognito mode on your browser to increase the chances of promo fares showing up during your search. Two, limit the number of passengers to two people only per booking. Promo fares appear more frequently for 1-2 passengers than in groups when searching for flights. If you’re traveling with several companions, you either book the same flight right after or book simultaneously using a different computer. And lastly – the most fool-proof hack – have a fast and reliable internet connection.

Beginning the Journey

After scoring a much-coveted promo fare to Bacolod City, you deserve a pat on the back. Now you’re one step closer to your journey of endless sugarcane fields, mesmerizing orange sunsets, and an unlimited supply of sugary treats. So, how do we begin our vacation? Let me count the ways.

Sea Travel

Suppose you have 20 hours to spare and to look to make memories at sea. In that case, consider traveling to Bacolod via ferry. 2Go Travel is the only company that provides direct and roundtrip ferry transportation between Manila and Bacolod. They offer trips four times a week (every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) and depart at North Harbor Pier 4 in Tondo, Manila.

Contrary to popular belief, traveling by sea is actually refreshing and fun. If you’re worried about getting seasick or bored, this will make you think again. Passenger vessels offer a variety of accommodations that suit any traveler’s level of comfort and budget. For example, it ranges from a simple bunk bed priced at Php 800 to a staycation-worthy suite at Php 6,700 a night. They also have several amenities to entertain guests, such as a salon, spa, restaurant, charging stations, and even an entertainment area where singers and stand-up comedians perform! But the cherry on top is the access to the roof deck, where passengers get 360-degree views of the Philippine seas.

After a long day of seafaring, the ferry arrives at Bredco Port, right in the heart of Bacolod City. You can immediately check in at nearby hotels and start exploring the town right after arrival. If you feel a little hungry, you can quickly drop by several pasalubong centers nearby. Grab a half dozen napoleones and have your first taste of Negrense sugar rush. Sweet, isn’t it?

Air Travel

The faster route to Bacolod City is, of course, via plane. Before COVID-19, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and Philippine Airlines had regular daily flights from Manila to Bacolod and vice versa. Their schedule is currently subject to change depending on government rules and regulations. Yet, it is important to note their designated terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). For Cebu Pacific, it’s Terminal 3. For Philippine Airlines, it’s Terminal 2. As of this writing, Air Asia’s domestic flights are temporarily moved to Terminal 3 from its previous location at Terminal 4. Check-in 3 hours before your flight, whether manually or online. But more than that, expect a massive volume of people – probably huge than the crowd during the holiday break. Since people have so many unused vacation leaves, traveling will make a grand comeback after the pandemic.

Once you’ve safely boarded the plane, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the “show” outside your window. As you take off, watch the Metro urban jungle grow smaller and fade in the horizon while the plane whisks you away to sweet paradise. In 45 to 60 minutes, feast your eyes on the lush, green landscapes of Negros Island. Once you see an airport runway surrounded by sugarcane fields, then you have arrived. Welcome to Negros!

A Warm Welcome

Once you get off the plane at Bacolod-Silay International Airport, you instantly meet friendly faces and sweet smiles. It almost feels like a warm embrace from a friend. But like any new destination, it can get disorienting to the unfamiliar. So here’s a quick guide on how to get around the airport.

All flights to Bacolod City land at Bacolod-Silay International Airport, located in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City, approximately 30 minutes or 15 kilometers from Bacolod City. Like Bredco Port, there are many hotels, restaurants, and pasalubong shops that passengers can check out upon arrival. But if your first order of business is to get to the city properly, there are several modes of transportation.

Shuttle service: Vans are constantly available to shuttle passengers from the airport to the drop-off point at SM City Bacolod. They are parked in front of the Arrivals area and cost Php 150 per head. This is the most cost-efficient and recommended transportation. However, please note that vans don’t leave until seats are fully occupied. If you’re in a bit of a rush, consider the following options.

Taxi or Grab: A taxi ride will usually cost you Php 250 to Php 300, depending on traffic. Fortunately, there’s Grab in Bacolod if you want a sure estimate.

Tricycle and Jeepney: This is the cheapest way to get to Bacolod, but definitely not the most convenient and comfortable, especially if you have luggage. But if you’re down for some adventure, you can ride a tricycle outside the airport that will take you to Silay City Center for Php 100 per head. You can take a bus or jeepney to Bacolod North Terminal for Php 15 per head. North Terminal is already in Bacolod City but situated on the outskirts. Another 15 minutes and you’ll be at the city proper. You can take a jeep, bus, or taxi, depending on your next destination.

Private car: If you have a relative or friend residing in the city, why not ask them to pick you up at the airport and take a short road trip? A rental is also an option. Roll down the window and savor the cool breeze with hints of fresh sugarcane and the scenic views of Mt. Kanlaon, saying hello in the background.

The Journey is Already an Experience

Whatever choices you made - whether traveling by sea or land travel, and commuting by shuttle, jeepney, or car – the journey to Bacolod City is already a memorable experience. There’s never a dull moment when a heartfelt smile from a stranger comes. A whiff of chicken inasal aroma, the sound of a sweet Negrense accent, and the taste of creamy, confectionary napoleones remind you of the simple joys of traveling. This is just the start. You’re in for a treat!