Category: Travel

2023 Roundup: Revenge Travel At Its Peak

And just like that, another year is about to end. Looking back at this year, I can confidently say it has been a year of peak revenge travel. I started the year without any plans, but I was able to take on more than the usual number of trips I take in a year.

Join me in today’s roundup as I look back on how this year went for this website and my travels, as usual.

Blog Roundup

I am ending 2023 with 36,000+ page visits by over 29,000 unique visitors from all over the world, a big jump from last year’s 16,500+ page visits by almost 13,000 unique people.

Content-wise, I managed to post 38 blogs (including this) that mainly talked about our 2022 trip to France, Italy, and Spain. I also continued sharing my flight experiences with Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Vueling, Scoot, Air France, and many more. I kept featuring hostels from Europe and Southeast Asia; I also shared itineraries, day trips, and travel tips about the places I visited in the past.

I had a busy but fruitful year maintaining this passion project. I am a little bit behind, but I am keen on finishing a lot of content for you in the next few weeks and months. I want to thank you for sticking by and showing some love to all the posts on this site.

A Dream Come True Part 2: 24 DAYS Around FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN For Less Than ₱170,000 ALL IN – Airfare, Accommodation, Food, Museum Tickets & Transportation Included

Trips Roundup

VIETNAM

I spent a week in Vietnam before their Tết Holiday last January. I flew into Hanoi, met new friends, and explored the city. I also spent a day in Hạ Long Bay. After Hanoi, I flew down to Ho Chi Minh City on business class with Vietnam Airlines for the first time. I spent a few days around the city and met with old (and new) friends after not seeing them for more than 5 years.

HANOI Weekend Photoblog: 3 Fun-Filled & Spontaneous Days around the Vietnamese Capital City
Flight Report: VIETNAM AIRLINES VN 219 – Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City – Wide-Body Business Class Product in One of the World’s Busiest Domestic Routes [January 2023]
Hostel of the Day: LONG HOSTEL SAIGON – Family-Managed Homey & Value Hostel Found in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City District 1

SINGAPORE

In March, I flew to Singapore with Scoot with my relatives to celebrate my cousins’ birthdays. We went around Marina Bay, Bugis, Kampong Glam, and Orchard. We also spent a day at Universal Studios Singapore and became kids again with the kids.

I also took this time to reconnect with friends from college dormitory days and my previous 2019 Boracay trip.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 397 – Manila to Singapore – Reasonably-Priced Early Morning Flight to the Lion City [March 2023]
Hostel of the Day: CUBE BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL @ KAMPONG GLAM – Budget-Friendly Property in the Heart of Singapore’s Muslim Quarter
Hostel of the Day: THE POD BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL – Dark-Themed, Futuristic & High-Priced Property Along Singapore’s Beach Road
Flight Report: SCOOT TR 390 – Singapore to Manila – Affordable Low-Cost Afternoon Flight Back to Manila [March 2023]

JAPAN – FUKUOKA & KANSAI REGION

For the first time since the pandemic, I flew to Japan for a week. I started my journey in Fukuoka, stayed only around the city, and hopped on a Peach Aviation flight to Osaka. I spent the rest of the week just walking around Dōtonbori, Shinsekai, and Shinsaibashi. I also took trips out of Osaka and went to Kyoto, to Uji for green tea, and Nara for Sakura.

Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

HOSTED FRIENDS IN BICOL

For the second year in a row, I hosted Manila friends again in Bicol for the Labor Day weekend. Just like last year, we spent two full days on a private coastal beach and spent the rest of our time around Legazpi and nearby towns.

CEBU

Last August, I took a quick hop from Legazpi to Cebu to spend a random food trip weekend with my N9 constants. We went around the city, ate a lot of food, and enjoyed each other’s company for 48 hours. Like my 2022 Cebu trip with high school friends, we also went out of the city to visit the Sirao Garden and Temple of Leah.

AUSTRALIA

Two weeks after Cebu, I flew to Australia with my parents. I took them around Sydney for the first four days. We walked around the city and went to the Sydney Opera House, near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and within the central business district. We also took an afternoon out to the famous Bondi Beach.

We spent the remaining 5 days in Brisbane with our relatives, my father’s sister, and her family. We went around the city, drove up to the Australia Zoo, and drove down south to Gold Coast. I will post flight reports about our Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia flights taken during this trip, so I hope you can look forward to those.

JAPAN – TOKYO

In October, I flew to Tokyo for a few days with my high school friends. We have been to Tokyo in 2015, but we have not been to many places. We went around the usual places like Shibuya, Ueno, Roppongi, Tsukiji Outer Market, and Tokyo Disneyland. We also went to Shinjuku, Odaiba, Ginza, and the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Nerima City.

We also took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko and saw Mount Fuji in its glory. We were three days early before its first snowcap, but we just found another reason to go back in the future.

I have so much to write about our Tokyo trip. I hope you can look forward to these contents in the future.

DAVAO

Last month (November), my travel and buffet buddy got married in Davao. My friends and I flew to Davao to witness this very important occasion. We went only for the wedding and nothing else. We also took this chance to spend time with friends whom we had not seen in a long time.

HONG KONG

Early this year, my friends and I joined Hong Kong Airport’s World of Winners campaign and luckily won Cathay Pacific tickets to Hong Kong. We used the free tickets early this month and flew to Hong Kong for 4 full days. We went to the usual places like Avenue of the Stars, Mongkok, Ngong Ping Village, City Gate Outlets, and The Peak.

We also spent one whole day in Hong Kong Disneyland, from park opening to closing. We availed of Klook’s early entry tickets and immediately rode the two new rides in the newly-opened Arendelle: World of Frozen. Please look forward to my Hong Kong blog next year.

Bonus – US Tourist Visa

Another achievement I got this year was getting my B1/B2 United States Visa, which is valid for 10 years until December 2023. A day after arriving back from Hong Kong, I showed up at the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila for my visa interview. I got approved eventually and got my visa after four days.

I will write about the do-it-yourself process of getting this visa soon and post it, hopefully next month.

What’s In Store for 2024

You might wonder what plans I have for next year. At this stage, I am unable to disclose until everything is final or the trip has happened. I do not have a lot booked, but I am looking forward to whatever flight deals come my way this coming 2024.

Of course, I will not stop posting details of my previous trips, flights, and hostels. I have a lot of content planned for 2024. I am looking forward to sharing all of them with you.

2023 has been a great travel year for me. Thank you to friends and families who joined me on all these trips. Also, thank you for sticking with me throughout the year. I look forward to taking you with me on my future adventures! Here’s to more in 2024 and beyond.

I wish you, your families, and your friends a fun-filled and prosperous 2024! Happy new year!

Cheers,
Paolo ✈️

Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

Early this year, I flew to Japan for a week for the first time since the pandemic and since I flew to Fukuoka in 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do. I went there to enjoy being in the country again after not visiting it for over 3 years.

In case you missed it, I already shared a few details about this trip. I talked about my domestic flight experience with Peach Aviation here: Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight. I also shared some photos of Osaka and Nara here: Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog.

One of the new places I explored during this trip is Kyoto’s green tea heaven, Uji. Allow me to share with you what I did and where I went on this half-day trip to Uji. I will also share photos and details of my side trip to Kyoto on the same day.

I have been to Kyoto a few times in the past. I went there last October 2015 during my first trip to Japan. I re-visited the city again in 2016 during my 13-day expedition around Nagoya, Kansai and Hiroshima. In 2019, I spent a day in Kyoto from Osaka with my sisters and explored the city highlights.

Uji

Uji is a small city nestled between Kyoto and Nara. The city became a beneficiary of developments during the Heian Period when Byōdō-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine were constructed.

Today, the city is famous for its quality green tea products. It is one of Japan’s most important green tea production and distribution areas; it is also the place-to-be for green tea and matcha lovers.

Transportation & Access

Going around Uji is easy and tourist-friendly. The best way to get around the important sights is by foot. The city center is so small to the point where you can walk around the center in one morning or one afternoon. The city’s tourist information center suggests a typical walking route to see and explore the city’s attractions in one loop.

The city is connected to the rest of Japan through two stations: JR Uji Station in the Nara Line (south of the Uji River) and Keihan Uji Station in the Keihan Uji Line (north of the Uji River). JR Pass holders are advised to get off at the JR Uji Station, while IC card holders can take the Uji local train line. Both stations are connected to other major train lines in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Places Visited in Uji

I took the local trains from Osaka and got off at Keihan Uji Station. I dropped by the tourist information center and asked for the recommended walking loop, and I was given a map with the best possible route. I went to the following places:

UJIGAMI SHRINE

Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the north side of the Uji River. It is believed to be one of Japan’s longest-standing shrines and is linked to the Byōdō-in Temple. The shrine was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

UJI SHRINE

Uji Shrine is another Shinto shrine found lower than the Ujigami Shrine, also on the north side of the Uji River.

UJI RIVER

The Uji River is a beautiful river that flows through the city. River cruises and traditional fishing activities happen on this river during peak seasons.

ASAGIRIBASHI BRIDGE

Asagiribashi Bridge is a walking bridge that connects the northern part of the city to Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park.

KYOTO PREFECTURAL UJI PARK

Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park with scenic views of the city and a 13th-century stone pagoda. The park is on two islands – Tachibana Island and Tō-no-shima Island.

UJI CITY MUNICIPAL TEA HOUSE TAIHOAN

After crossing the river and walking around the park, I walked to the municipal tea ceremony house (taihoan) to witness a traditional tea ceremony. I had a wonderful experience watching the tea ceremony. The ceremony has a ¥1,000 fee, and it includes mochi and a high-quality Uji green tea. Photos and videos were not allowed during the ceremony.

BYŌDŌ-IN TEMPLE

Byōdō-in Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the Heian Period. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is also the temple found at the back of the 10-yen coin. Entry to the temple grounds costs ¥600 per person.

AGATA SHRINE

Around 100 meters from Byōdō-in’s exit is Agata Shrine. It is a Shinto guardian shrine of Byōdō-in.

MATSUSAKAYA KAHACHI

I randomly came across this local tea shop named Matsusakaya Kahachi. I was invited by the two old gentlemen to go inside their shop and was taught how to make a hot sencha green tea drink from dried tea leaves.

They offered me three small cups of sencha tea. They do not speak English but tried their best to converse with me using their hands and gestures.

I liked their sencha tea product and bought both sencha tea leaves and matcha green tea powder from this shop. I had a beautiful and heartwarming experience with these two old gentlemen. I want to visit them again in the future and buy lots of green tea leaves and matcha powder from their shop.

PS. I asked for their permission to post their photo on my website.

UJI BYODOIN OMOTESANDO

Uji Byodoin Omotesando is the city’s green tea and matcha heaven. This 300-meter street is full of wooden houses and merchant shops selling green tea leaves, matcha powder, and everything green tea or matcha.

I came across this unique restaurant that serves ramen with matcha noodles. I tried it for lunch and paired it with their signature Uji matcha gyoza. It was weird at first, but okay for the experience.

TSUEN TEA HOUSE MAIN BRANCH

On the way back to Keihan Uji Station, I dropped by Tsuen Tea House’s main branch and tried their sakura matcha soft serve ice cream. I had one of the best and most flavorful soft-serve ice creams in this store!

The soft-serve iced cream costs ¥380. Customers can choose between matcha only, sakura only, or sakura matcha (mixed) flavors.

SURUGAYA KEIHAN UJI STATION

I also dropped by a local confectionary shop named Surugaya and tried their ¥100 green tea mochi sticks.

Kyoto Side Trip

After spending 4-5 hours around Uji, I took the local from Keihan Uji Station to Gion-Shijō Station in Kyoto. I spent the remaining 3 hours walking around Gion, and I visited Nishiki Market, Ponto-chō, Ninenzaka, and the Instagram-famous Hōkan-ji Temple. Here are some photos of these famous Kyoto spots.

NISHIKI MARKET

PONTO-CHŌ

NINENZAKA

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

After my quick trip to Kyoto, I took the train back to Osaka, dropped by the supermarket to get some food, walked back to my hostel, had dinner, and called it a day.

This sums up my long but fun day around Uji and Kyoto. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blog. I hope you stay tuned for more Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: THE POD BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL – Dark-Themed, Futuristic & High-Priced Property Along Singapore’s Beach Road

Early this year, I flew to Singapore for 5 days and 4 nights for a quick family trip. In such a short span of time, I managed to check out and stay in two capsule hotels: Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam and The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel. A few weeks ago, I shared with you how valuable a property Cube Kampong Glam is. Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature as I share with you my experience with the second property, The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel at Beach Road.

In case you missed it, I flew with Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ budget subsidiary, to and from Singapore. I hope you can check out these two flight reports: Scoot Flight TR 397 Manila to Singapore and Scoot Flight TR 390 Singapore to Manila.

The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel

The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel is a capsule hotel along Beach Road, just outside Singapore’s Central Business District. It opened in 2013 with the unique concept of providing comfortable and fuss-free accommodation with a modern and minimalistic approach.

The capsule hotel has over 100 capsules across different pods and suites. It caters to business travelers who want comfort at an affordable price and to leisure travelers who do not mind paying extra for better comfort and privacy.

In case you do not know, I try to stay and review hostels anonymously during my trips. I have been to a lot of hostels around Asia, Australia and Europe. I hope you can check all of these hostel features under the Hostel of the Day category.

Location & Access

The POD is located at Level 3, 289 Beach Road, Singapore, 199552. The property is 200 meters by foot to Kampong Glam, 250 meters by foot to the Sultan Mosque, 300 meters by foot to the Malay Heritage Center, 350 meters by foot to Haji Lane, and 850 meters by foot to Bugis Street.

The POD is located within a busy retail and dining precinct with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and artisan shops. The nearest MRT station is Bugis Station in the East-West or Green Line, and the nearest bus stop is right in front of the hostel doors.

Major Singapore attractions such as Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and Orchard Road are all less than 30 minutes away by bus or train from the hostel. The property is 45 minutes to 1 hour away from Singapore Changi Airport.

Room Options

The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel offers five room options. They have 3 types of pods and 2 types of private suites.

The first pod type is the front-entry single pod. This is available in mixed shared rooms, male-only rooms, and female-only shared rooms. Each single pod features a personal locker under each pod, cotton sheets, a fluffy duvet with two pillows, a hanger and clothes rack, a personal power socket, a personal reading light, and privacy roller shades. The second pod type is the side-entry single pod. This pod type has the same features as the first type but differs in the entry area.

The last pod type is the queen pod. This pod type features a double mattress instead of a single-type one. It also has the same features as the single pods. Both the side entry and queen pods are only available in mixed shared rooms and female-only shared rooms.

The POD has two suite types: single pod suites and queen pod suites. These individually accessible suites are enclosed in a private room with a single bed and a double bed, respectively. In addition to all the amenities enjoyed in the shared pods, the suites feature a personal workspace with a small table and chair. All these pods, shared or private, are given clean bath towels, slippers, and a bottle of water. These pods also have access to shared, self-contained bathrooms found on every floor.

I booked my 1-night stay with Agoda and paid ₱3,323.43 for a single pod suite. I got a suite with an upper single bed and a workstation. I got a bed with two pillows and a comfortable duvet. I also got a bath towel, bottled water, and a pair of disposable slippers upon entering the room. I believe this accommodation is in the higher price range of value accommodations in Singapore.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Complimentary High-Speed Wi-Fi – The Pod offers complimentary high-speed wi-fi to all guests. The connection is perfect for those who need to work remotely.

Communal Lounge Areas – The property has a few chairs and tables in the communal spaces where guests can chill and talk to other guests during their stay.

Complimentary Coffee & Tea – Coffee and tea are available in the common area free of charge at any time of the day.

Meeting Room – The property has a meeting room that guests can use in case they need to go into a meeting with some people during their stay.

Business Pods – Guests coming to Singapore for work or business can use the business pod for important meetings and quiet work hours.

Vending Machine – Guests can buy water or carbonated drinks at the vending machine found in the common area.

Self-Contained Bathrooms – The hostel has self-contained bathrooms on all floors. These bathrooms are clean and well-maintained.

Self-Help Laundromat – The Pod has a self-help laundromat that can be used for a small fee. Feel free to approach reception if you want to use this facility.

Express Check-In & Check-Out – The hostel has self-check-in and check-out machines that guests can use upon arrival or before leaving the hostel.

Air Conditioning Systems – The hostel premises are equipped with air conditioning systems. However, these systems are only opened at specific hours during the night.

Luggage Storage – The Pod offers luggage storage for all incoming and outgoing guests. Please approach the reception staff if you want your bags stored.

24-Hour Reception – The Pod’s reception is open 24 hours a day. There is no need to worry about arriving at the hostel late at night or leaving the property in the wee hours of the morning.

Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel staff speaks several languages. They are also good at speaking the English language.

Lift Access – Guests traveling with large bags or suitcases do not need to worry about bringing their bags up to the property. The POD has lifts for guests to use.

Secured Room Access – Each guest is provided a key card that only works in the common doors and in the door of their assigned room.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with surveillance cameras. Also, room areas can only be accessed using hostel keycards. These room areas are restricted to non-guests.

Hostel Experience

I had a brief but remarkable stay at The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel in Singapore. I enjoyed every single bit of my stay, even if I was only there for a night.

The amazing experience started with the quick and easy self-check-in process. I did everything through the check-in and check-out machines available in front of reception. The following day, I checked out of the property in seconds.

I was also impressed by the single-pod features and amenities. I got a pod with a quality single bed equipped with two pillows and a thick but comfortable duvet. I also got bottled water, a pair of slippers, and a bath towel upon check-in.

Another thing I liked about this capsule hotel is the meeting room and business pods available for guests who need to do some work during their stay.

There are also a few things that happened during my stay that will make me think twice about staying here again in the future. First, the air conditioning systems in the rooms and in the common areas only work during the night. These are turned off during the day. I am all for environment-friendly measures, but I hope they also add ventilation options inside the rooms.

Second, the lift stopped for a while during my stay. I took a shower on the higher floors, and I had to take the stairs down because the lift stopped working. Lastly, I believe the price is a little bit on the higher tier for a capsule hotel. There are other capsule accommodations in the same area that offer better value for money.

Putting these things aside, I still had a wonderful stay with The POD. The hostel itself is an experience. It is unique, modern, and futuristic. I highly recommend The POD to those who can splurge a bit more but stay within a budget while traveling around Singapore.

Curious about The POD at Beach Road? You may contact them directly on these platforms:

The POD Boutique Capsule Hotel
Address: Level 3, 289 Beach Road, Singapore, 199552
Phone Number: +65 6298 8505
Email Address: info@thepodcapsulehotel.com
Website: www.thepodcapsulehotel.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepodcapsulehotel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepodcapsulehotel

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

In case you missed it, I wrote about a nearby capsule hotel – Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam in the last hostel of the day feature. Show some love by checking out that post.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: CUBE BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL @ KAMPONG GLAM – Budget-Friendly Property in the Heart of Singapore’s Muslim Quarter

Early this year, I flew to Singapore for a few days to celebrate my cousins’ birthdays. We flew with Scoot on their TR 397 Manila to Singapore and TR 390 Singapore to Manila flights. Singapore has one of the most expensive and strict accommodation rules. I stayed separately from where my cousins stayed and decided to try Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam, a budget-friendly property in the heart of Singapore’s Muslim Quarter. Allow me to share with you the details of my stay in today’s hostel of the day feature.

Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam

Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam is one of three operating properties under the Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel brand. According to the property’s website, the Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel brand was established in 2015 under RB Hospitality Pte Ltd by a husband-and-wife tandem.

The Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel brand’s goal is to bring out the best in capsule-style living while maximizing space and technological innovations to address contemporary travel needs. Currently, the brand also has 2 operating properties in Chinatown, Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown and Cube Family Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown, and has 1 upcoming residence or suite-type accommodation called Cube Residences.

In case you do not know, I try to stay and review hostels anonymously during my trips. I have been to a lot of hostels around Asia, Australia and Europe. I hope you can check all of these hostel features under the Hostel of the Day category.

Location & Access

Cube Kampong Glam is located at 54, 55, 56 Bussorah Street, Kampong Glam, Bugis, Singapore, 199471. It is located at the heart of Singapore’s Islamic Quarter, Kampong Glam, alongside the Masjid Sultan Mosque. It is 100 meters away from the famous Haji Lane, 500 meters away from the nearest Bugis MRT Exit, and around 700 meters away from Bugis and Bugis Junction.

The property is in a bustling retail district with numerous restaurants, souvenir shops, and artisan shops found outside Cube’s doorstep. It is also a few minutes by MRT (train) to major Singapore attractions such as the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, and Orchard Road. It is 30 minutes by train (MRT) from Bugis Station to Singapore Changi Airport Station.

Cube Kampong Glam’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is practically near and accessible to everything.

Capsule Options

Cube Kampong Glam offers four types of capsule options: single capsule, queen capsule, female single capsule, and private capsule.

Solo travelers can opt for a single capsule in a mixed shared room. The single capsule features a thick single bed within a cocoon complete with a pillow and blanket, a reading light, a small table, and a vanity mirror. Female solo travelers can opt for the female single capsules, which are found in female-only rooms. The number of single capsules in a room can range from 4 to 16, depending on the type of room booked.

Couples or pairs can opt for the queen bed capsule. This capsule features a spacious and thick queen bed, including all amenities found in a single capsule. Travelers who want to have the whole capsule room to themselves can go for the private capsule room. The private capsule rooms at Cube Kampong Glam can accommodate 2 or 6 people in a room.

I booked my stay with Agoda, got a lower bunk single capsule, and paid ₱5,952.82 for 3 nights. I believe this rate is already reasonable for an expensive country like Singapore. I got all the capsule bed amenities, including a bath towel, a bottled water, and a dental kit. I also enjoyed three buffet breakfasts at the property.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Complimentary High-Speed Wi-Fi – Cube Kampong Glam provides high-speed wi-fi access to all guests.

Complimentary Breakfast Buffet – The property provides a complimentary breakfast buffet to all checked-in guests. Selections include fried rice, toast with butter and jam, egg station, noodles, cereals, and fruits. Breakfast hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Complimentary Drinking Water – The property provides a bottle of water to all guests upon arrival. They also have a small water dispenser near the dining area for quick water breaks.

Communal Lounge & Co-Working Space – Cube Kampong Glam offers a communal lounge and co-working area for guests who want to chill or do some work.

Individual Communal Shower & Toilet – Shower and toilets are located outside the capsule rooms. These are found on the ground floor or on the 1st floor.

Complimentary Bed & Bathroom Amenities – Cube Kampong Glam offers complimentary bed and bathroom amenities. Each capsule comes with a pillow and blanket, a reading light, a small table, and a vanity mirror. It also has a bath towel, a dental kit, and a bottle of water. Bathrooms include shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap.

In-Room Air Conditioning Systems – All capsule rooms in Cube Kampong Glam are equipped with air conditioning systems.

Complimentary Luggage Storage – Cube Kampong Glam offers luggage storage to guests who need to leave their bags before check-in or after check-out. All bags stored need to be claimed before 10:00 p.m. every day.

Lockers & Storage Spaces – Guests can store their valuables in their assigned lockers and storage spaces. These lockers can only be opened using the guest-assigned key cards.

24-Hour Reception – Guests arriving late at night or leaving in the wee hours of the morning do not need to worry about checking in or checking out. Cube Kampong Glam’s reception is open 24 hours a day.

Friendly Staff – The staff who manned the reception during my check-in and check-out were hospitable and friendly.

Ticket & Tour Desk – The property also has a ticket and tour desk where guests can buy attraction tickets or book tours.

Concierge Services – Cube Kampong Glam offers concierge services to all guests. Local phone calls are free of charge. Printing services are also available for a fee.

Self-Help Laundry – Guests who need to wash and dry used clothes can use the self-help laundry and drying machine for a minimal charge.

Secured Property Access – Only guests have access to the communal areas and capsule rooms. These areas can be opened using the guest-assigned key cards.

Secured Hostel Premises – Cube Kampong Glam is equipped with 24/7 surveillance systems. The property is safe for all types of travelers.

Hostel Experience

I had a great stay at Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam. I enjoyed my 3-night stay, even though I was out most of the time.

The property stood out on these merits. First, Cube Kampong Glam offered budget-friendly prices for its central location. In general, Singaporean accommodations are on the expensive side, except for some properties like this. Second, their complimentary buffet breakfast was a big plus to the experience. They offered great selections, given the limitations.

Third, Cube Kampong Glam offered ‘extra’ amenities you do not usually get when staying in shared dormitories, hostels, or capsule hostels. Bath towels, dental kits, and even a bottle of water are already in the bed when you open your assigned capsule.

Fourth, the single beds found in single capsules were thick and comfortable to sleep in. Cube Kampong Glam’s mattresses have excellent quality. Lastly, Cube Kampong Glam maintained the pleasant shared room smell during my stay. The room never smelled bad throughout my entire stay.

Like any other stay, I noticed something that the property could improve and a case where the property might not be the preferred option for some travelers. First, the common toilets and showers need frequent cleaning and maintenance because they are used by most, if not all guests. Second, the property does not have lifts. Travelers who bring large suitcases or big luggage need to carry them up to the upper floor in case they are assigned to the upper floor capsules.

Overall, I still preferred this capsule-type property over other budget-friendly accommodation options in the country. I will still stay at Cube Kampong Glam the next time I fly to Singapore.

I hope I have convinced you to check out and consider Cube Kampong Glam as your accommodation in your upcoming trip to Singapore. For any questions or booking-related inquiries, feel free to reach out to the property in these platforms:

Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam
Address: 54, 55, 56 Bussorah Street, Kampong Glam, Bugis, Singapore, 199471
Phone Number: +65 6291 1696
Email Address: reservationskg@cubestay.sg / reservations@cubestay.sg / info@cubestay.sg
Website: www.cubehotels.com.sg/kampong-glam
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cubecapsules

This pretty much sums up my stay with Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam. I hope you can consider this as your accommodation for your next trip to Singapore.

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023]

Last April, I went on a quick trip to Japan for the first time since Fukuoka in October 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do since I revisited the same places I had been to a few years ago: Osaka and Nara.

I booked my ticket in November 2022 when Cebu Pacific Air offered a ₱1 base fare sale during 11.11. I flew in via Fukuoka, and then I took a domestic flight to Osaka afterwards. I stayed in Osaka for 6 nights and decided to just go around the city and the nearby cities for the rest of the trip.

In case you missed it, I have been to Osaka and Nara several times in the past. Here’s the list of blogs related to these 2 cities: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Going Solo in Japan Series: NARA & KOBE (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019) and Japan Highlights 2019: NARA – A Morning Visit To The Deer Park (2019).

This post will be different since I will not talk about where you should go or what you should do in these cities. I will only share random photos of the places I have been on this trip. Spoiler alert! I still saw some cherry blossoms in Nara. Enjoy!

Osaka

Dōtonbori
Hozenji Yokocho
Kuromon Ichiba
Shinsekai

Nara

Todai-ji Namdaimon
Tōdai-ji Chumon
Nara Deer Park
Kōfuku-ji Chukondo & Kofuku-ji

It felt surreal visiting Dōtonbori again after a few years. It also felt amazing to see the world-famous cherry blossoms for the first time in x years of going to Japan.

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. I hope you stay tuned for Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.