Free English planning guide and offline checklist. Choose what you want from a Leyte and Samar trip, leave room to explore, and keep the details you have checked in one place. No payment or email address is required.
Food, history, coast and time with local communities run through ExploreTraveler’s early Eastern Visayas writing. Use those interests to shape your own journey rather than trying to fit every stop into one visit.
The checklist is also printed below, so you can copy it or use your browser’s Print / Save as PDF option.
Start with the kind of trip you want
Choose three priorities before choosing a long list of destinations. A food-focused visit, time exploring history, a coastal break and a guided nature outing can lead to very different plans. Pick one main outing per day, then allow for meals, transport, rest and something unexpected that catches your interest.
For a little inspiration from our own archive, read our Tacloban City story and Panaon Island story. These are travel stories from earlier visits; check the practical details for your own dates.
Build a journey you can comfortably finish
Write down your arrival point, departure point and proposed base. For every outing, check the whole return journey as well as the outward leg. Ask what happens if weather changes or a connection is missed. A nearby alternative and an unhurried final day can be more useful than another distant stop.
When a plan depends on a boat, a guide, a cave visit or access to a protected area, confirm the current arrangements directly with the relevant tourism office or operator before committing. Keep the date and source of each answer in your notes.
Make room for food and culture
List the dishes you want to learn about, then note any ingredient or dietary questions to ask. Give yourself time to speak with the people preparing the food. Ask before photographing people or entering a private space, and follow the host’s guidance when visiting a home.
Food and heritage are also part of current local tourism work: the Provincial Government of Samar describes its Secret Kitchens of Samar initiative as a way to celebrate traditional recipes and community cooks. Use local sources to discover what interests you, then confirm the details with the people offering the experience.
Keep your budget in your own numbers
Choose one currency and record the cost for your whole travel party. Include accommodation, meals, long-distance and local transport, activities, other costs and a reserve. Note what each quote includes. An old guide’s boat fare or hotel price is a research lead, so request a current quote before adding it to your total.
Save what you need before you leave
Download the English text checklist, fill it in with an app of your choice, and save a copy on your device. The saved text can be read offline. Linked websites, maps that have not been saved, videos and new information need an internet connection.
Your blank trip-planning checklist
Dates and travel party: ____________________
Arrival / departure / base: _________________
My three priorities: _______________________
Main outing and nearby alternative: ________
Operator / official source / date checked: __
Access and booking requirements: ___________
Outward and return transport: ______________
Whole-party budget and currency: ___________
Food and ingredient questions: _____________
Offline copies saved: _____________________
Weather check and alternative plan: ________Places to continue your research
- Eastern Visayas tourism directory — browse its destination, accommodation, transport and service listings.
- Provincial Government of Samar — local tourism and community information.
- Biliran Provincial Tourism Office — a starting point if you are researching a separate Biliran extension.
Planning themes adapted from Eastern Visayas Uncovered, an early manuscript prepared for ExploreTraveler by Maryjane Gadin in 2016. The ExploreTraveler editorial team rewrote this short planning resource in October 2026. It is a worksheet, not the full book. Official resource pages were checked October 18, 2026; opening times, transport, prices and availability should be confirmed for your dates.
Planning a different journey? Our free Penang trip planner and printable Penang workbook are also available.