Traveling Alone to Boracay Island

It is better to travel alone than with a bad24-hour telephone hotline. There are also the
companion, so goes a famous proverb. Travelingbarangay tanod, the local officials who oversee
to Boracay all alone can offer several perks. It's athe safety and welfare of the island's visitors and
liberating experience as you are your own boss.residents. The tanod and other barangay officials
You can do exploring at you own pace, decidecan be reached through their respective barangay
what and where to eat, lie under the sun forcontact numbers should you need to coordinate
hours without someone waking you up to tell youwith them.
to pack your bags and get going. It can also give· Put cash in your wallet-and in your other
you more satisfaction and self-confidence sincebody parts. Tuck away a bill in your shoes, inside
traveling alone in a foreign territory requires guts.pockets, and wherever you think it would be
But, there is a big BUT to this equation: travelingconvenient. There's nothing worse than losing
solo also has its disadvantages. Here are someeverything you've got because of your own
tips should you decide to do a one-man trip tocareless action (misplacing or losing belongings
Boracay.while drunk) or because of an unscrupulous
· Spontaneity does not always work.individual.
Maybe in some aspects of your life an abrupt and· When traveling solo, pack only the bare
decisive decision could benefit you, but this is aessentials. A heavy baggage would be an
huge no-no when traveling. Do a lot of researchannoyance; it's like dragging along a reluctant
about the place such as its socio-culturalcompanion and it clearly defeats the purpose of
background (language, customs, taboos, andmaking the trip on your own.
others), and the more practical considerations· Take note of the weather forecast for
including accommodations, transportation, andyour destination. Boracay during the summer
food.months (March to May) can be really hot and
· English is widely spoken in Boracay sohumid. Daytime temperature could reach
you won't have difficulty asking for information.38ºC. December to February would mean a
Unlike in most tropical sanctuaries where youdrop in temperature especially at nights. The
have to be ambidextrous for sign language,lowest recorded is 21ºC and strong winds
Boracay is an easy place to visit since languageusually occur around this period. Habagat, or
barrier is rarely a problem.southwest monsoon, is from July to October and
· Identification is a must. Always carrythis is when tropical storms arrive. Expect
identification. Bring more than one ID and don't putfrequent rains and high waves. Swimmer or not,
them all in one place. Also, know the contactyou must avoid the western portion of the island
information of your hotel, the tourism offices, andwhere two-meter waves are known to occur
the local police.during inclement weather.
· The police station in Boracay has a