Filipinos live for the season of sun, sand and water which is why it isn’t such an oddity to plan summer getaways six months in advance anymore. With so much to see and do, spicing up that 2012 travel calendar this early will not only give wandering Juans something to look forward to, but also a head start on grabbing great deals fit for your beach budget.

With Cebu Pacific’s lowest year-round fares to the most number of destinations in the Philippines, the country’s largest airline makes it possible for beach lovers to island-hop to and from their favorite beaches in Coron, Siquijor, Boracay, Palawan with Go Lite fares as low as P499. Friendly to any beach trip budget, these flights will let one save up and have more fun under the sun.

Beachbum-kada

A group of friends can set up an online chat to finalize their travel date and begin their summer escapade plans. They can then refer to www.cebupacificair.com for the best possible flight schedules; book their tickets and then move on to the travel itinerary. For activities, they can avail of group rates or packaged group tours. Some group tours even categorize their trips according to the travelers’ hobbies: a tour of picturesque beaches (like Coron or Palawan), popular surf destinations (Siargao) and breathtaking dive spots (Apo Reef, Apo Island or Tubbataha Reef).

More adventurous groups, however, can rely on their instincts, blogs, word-of-mouth or a Lonely Planet guide, and just explore the places by themselves. Some barkada-friendly destinations include Cagayan de Oro for whitewater rafting, Dumaguete for mystical Siquijor, and Naga (Camarines Sur) and the unexploited shores of Calaguas Island (Camarines Norte).

Family fun

Cebu Pacific knows that summer is the perfect time for families to relax and bond, so the airline made it more affordable to fly to favorite family-friendly summer destinations.

Adventurous families can try visiting Davao and experience Zip City’s daring zipline, Davao Zorb Park’s zorb offerings or Deca Wakeboard Park’s whole day wakeboarding packages. Once exhausted, families can refuel their energies by loading up on local cuisine—and a serving of fresh durian, of course. Next up in the family’s itinerary, a mini-photoshoot with the diverse wildlife of Davao—the Philippine Eagle Center and Malagos Garden Resort are teeming with beautiful subjects to capture. To relax after all that adventure, a stroll along the pristine beaches of Samal Island will surely make the trip memorable.

Perfect for families with young students is a trip to Cebu with its interesting and enjoyable historical sites, trademark delicious food, abundance of resorts, and family-friendly attractions such as the Imperial Waterpark Resort and Talima Adventure and Water Park.

Prefer to explore Palawan? Puerto Princesa has a myriad of nature-friendly activities for the family like mangrove paddle boat tour, Honda Bay tour and underground river tour, among others.