Tuesday Tips – Page 3 – The Wknd Travel

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS

Some of you know that I flew to Europe last October for 19 days across 4 countries & numerous cities. While I won’t discuss my itinerary yet in this post, I’d like to share with everyone how I got my Schengen tourist visa from VFS Netherlands.

Visa application process is the most-feared process of all travelers. Why? It’s because this determines whether one’s well-awaited trip to his / her dream destination with push-through or not. The fate of one’s visa only depends on the consul approving these applications.

JANUARY 2023 UPDATE – I recently lodged & received a Schengen tourist visa from the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines via VIA PAISI Center. Check out the latest do-it-yourself Schengen visa application post here.

Everything you need when applying for a Schengen visa with VFS Netherlands can be found here.

SchengenVisaInfo.com published in their website that in 2018, the embassies approved 91% of all Schengen Visa applications in the Philippines. The Dutch Embassy ranked 1st with 39,572 approved visas out of 42,341 visa applications. The embassy’s rejection rate is only 4%. The French & Italian Embassies had the highest number of rejection rate of 11% with 6,135 applications rejected out of the combined 56,673 visa applications received.

Given the figures above, I made sure that I will start my Europe trip or I will stay the longest in The Netherlands. The Netherlands Embassy in Manila no longer accepts visa applications in their office. All visa applications have to go through VFS Global (Visa Facilitation Services Global), an outsourced company that processes visa applications for Canada & most countries in Europe.

Last September, I applied for a Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. I’m happy to share that I was able to get my tourist visa a week after. I was given a multiple entry visa valid for 45 days with an allowable stay of 30 days within the Schengen Zone. My world stopped when I saw the visa stamp. I have other approved visas in Australia, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan, but having a Schengen visa is something else.

Did you know that in 2019 I went on a 19-day solo trip around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark for less than ₱120,000 ALL IN? Yes, airfare & accommmodation included. It even included a 12-hour stopover in Singapore. Check out this blog post to know more!

Allow me to share with you my tourist visa application journey with VFS Netherlands. I did the visa application process by myself, without any help of an agency. I’d like to give a shout out to the blogs of Two Monkeys Travel Group & The Poor Traveler for their super helpful Schengen visa application guides. I will also share with you some tips that will help you throughout the process.

Disclaimer: The process below is for those who already have a fixed itinerary, dates, entry & exit points at the time of visa application. Also, this visa process is only for those who are going there as a tourist with no invitation.

TIP: You need to apply to the embassy of the country you’ll stay the longest. If your itinerary has equal several days in all countries, you need to apply to the embassy of the country you’ll first enter in the Schengen zone. If in doubt, contact VFS or the embassy you’re intending to apply to.

1 – Create a VFS Global Log In & Set Your Visa Application Appointment

The first step is to create a VFS Global log in details. Head over to this link to sign up for an account. After signing up for & verifying your account, you can now set your visa application appointment. This appointment is the date & time where you submit all your application form, passport & visa requirements. Make sure to give yourself ample time in completing your requirements.

To set up an appointment, go to the VFS Netherlands web page. Click Schedule An Appointment; log in with your credentials & chooses the necessary details. Usually the visiting country, residing country & the VFS center has already been pre-selected. You just need to choose the purpose of travel. After that, you need to add the name/s of the people applying for the visa, add in some more details, then choose the desired date & time of application & click confirm.

Minutes after confirming your application, you will receive an appointment confirmation e-mail together with your unique reference number & the appointment letter. Keep this appointment letter until the day of your visa applications schedule.

TIP: Apply for your tourist visa at least 1.5-2 months before your trip. It gives you enough time for everything. At least there’s no need to worry if your visa will make it before your flight or not.

ANOTHER TIP: VFS opens appointment dates 1 month before the scheduled date. I applied for my visa last September 4, I set my appointment a month before – August 4. It’s always good to be early in setting an appointment, you can choose the time slot that’s convenient to your schedule. Choose the earliest time slots, there are close to no people during these times.

2 – Book necessary trip accommodations & buy travel insurance

Schengen visa applications need confirmed accommodation bookings. They ask for the details of your accommodation (name of hotel or hostel, address & contact details) during your stay in Europe. Make sure to book accommodation right before you start with the application form.

TIP: Book your accommodation with Agoda & Booking.com & choose those with free cancellation options. You can always cancel these bookings after & choose your accommodation of choice once you get your visa. I booked all my accommodation with these 2 websites & I didn’t have any trouble during the application process.

First part of the travel insurance I bought from Standard Insurance Co, Inc.. Coverage is €37,500!

Another need for Schengen visa application is a confirmed travel insurance for the application. Applicants must secure a travel insurance that will cover the trip & that can cover up to €30,000 in expenses. I booked my travel insurance with Standard Insurance. I got their Schengen Protect Option which covers claims up to €37,500. The insurance cost me ₱1,918 for 19 days coverage, including flight days.

3 – PREPARE the required documents

After booking your trip accommodation & buying your travel insurance, the next step is complete the list of requirements needed for the application. Here are the documents I submitted to VFS.

Cover Letter – A cover letter is not required but is highly encouraged. I still submitted a cover letter detailing the purpose of my trip as well as how long I will in the Schengen territory.

Accomplished Application Form – I will discuss this in the next step.

Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months at the time of travel. It must also have at least 2 blank pages.

Photocopy of Passport Bio Page – One copy is enough.

Photocopy of All Passport Stamps & Visas – I submitted a copy of all my passport stamps & visas from both my current & previous passports.

Photo – The photo must meet the Dutch passport requirements. Also, the photo must be taken within the last 6 months.

Bank Certificate & Statement – I submitted both my bank certificate & bank statement for the last six months. These bank documents must be original.

Credit Card Statements – I submitted only a month statement of all my credit cards. This is just a supplementary document.

I submitted my confirmed air ticket booking with Singapore Airlines. Also included my Brussels Airlines ticket from Brussels to Prague & Czech Airlines airline ticket from Prague to Copenhagen.

Confirmed Travel Tickets – I took the risk & booked my ticket with Singapore Airlines early this year so I submitted my confirmed ticket. You can make travel reservations with various travel agencies without having to pay for the ticket. The VFS agent also asked how I’ll travel from one country to the other; good thing I also have my confirmed tickets in between countries.

Proof of Accommodation – I submitted all the accommodation bookings I had for the trip. Make sure that all details (including the dates) are consistent with that from the application form.

Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary – I submitted a dummy day-to-day itinerary for my trip. I ended up not following this itinerary. They just need to see where you’ll go & what you’ll do while in the Schengen zone.

Days 1 to 5 of the detailed itinerary I submitted to VFS. I wasn’t able to follow this during the trip.

Certificate of Employment & Certificate of No Objection – I submitted my certificate of employment detailing my position, length of employment & my salary. Our company HR officer also gave me a certificate of no objection where it stated that my employer knows this trip & they are not objecting against the trip. It also stated when I am on leave from work & when they expect me to report back to work.

Income Tax Return – I submitted a copy of my 2018 BIR-stamped income tax return.

Travel Insurance – I submitted a copy of the travel insurance I got from Standard Insurance.

TIP: VFS Netherlands only asks for the photocopy of most these documents. The only documents that they need the original copies are the following: application forms (all pages), bank certificate & bank statements. They also need a photocopy of the passport bio page. Take note that have your documents on A4 size paper only. Some embassies or travel agencies require to photocopy all your requirements. If unsure or in doubt, contact VFS or the embassy.

ANOTHER TIP: You can submit as many financial documents as you can so show your strong ties here in the Philippines. In my case, I submitted statements of all my 4 credit cards & a copy of my life insurance policy. The VFS agents won’t prohibit you from submitting all these documents.

ONE MORE TIP: Make sure your transfers between countries are booked. I took flights from one country to the other so I provided the flight bookings. If you are intending to take the train, mention it in your daily itinerary & tell the visa agent.

For the complete list of requirements for VFS Netherlands Visa Application, check out this link.

4 – Accomplish The Online Application Form & Print

The Netherlands’ Schengen visa application form must be filled out electronically. You can fill out the application form found here. Make sure that all details in your requirements & itinerary are consistent with the one in the application form. After answering all questions, print out the application form in A4 size paper.

TIP: Fill out each question or option slowly & surely. I had to fill out the form 4 times before I got everything correct.

5 – Go to VFS Philippines on your scheduled appointment

After completing all the requirements & printing the application form, make sure to head to the VFS Netherlands Visa Application Center in Makati City. The application center is located in Mezzanine Floor, Ecoplaza Building, Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, Philippines. It is one jeepney ride away from Magallanes MRT Station. Upon arrival, proceed to the mezzanine level & look for the visa application center.

TIP: Arrive at the visa application center at least 15 minutes before your schedule. My appointment was at 8:00 am & the guard allowed me to enter the center even if it’s not yet 8 in the morning.

ONE MORE TIP: Bags are not allowed inside the visa center. They only allow the documents, phones & wallets inside the visa center. There is a locker facility in the visa application center for your bags & things. It is can be found at the right side, after the toilets. From memory, locker fee is ₱75 regardless of size.

6 – Submit Your Documents

The first stage of documents submission is the appointment confirmation & documents check. Once confirmed & check, you will now proceed to the visa application area. Once your number is called, proceed to the designated area & submit your documents. The Embassy of The Netherlands in the Philippines doesn’t require an interview with its applicants. The application is purely based on the submitted documents.

You also need to pay an application fee of €60 (to be paid in Philippine pesos). The rate at the time of my application was ₱4,321 (₱3,420 visa fee + ₱901 VFS handling fee). You will also be give the option to claim your visa once issued or have it delivered via courier. I availed the delivery by courier option & paid a minimal fee.

After submitting your documents & getting your visa fee receipt, you will now proceed to the bio metrics section to get records of your fingerprints. Once done, you may now go out of the application center, claim your bags & leave VFS Philippines.

TIP: They only accept payments in cash. Pay in exact amount for faster transaction.

Note: Schengen visa fee per person with The Embassy of The Netherlands will increase from €60 to €80 effective 2 February 2020.

7 – Claim Your Passport / Wait for Your Passport Delivery

The waiting game begins. The standard processing time is 15 calendar days. You can track the progress of your visa application in the VFS Netherlands website by entering your tracking number found at the back of your receipt.

It took my passport about a week until I got it back & voila, I got a multiple entry visa for 45 days with an allowable stay of 30 days. SUCCESS!

I was so happy when I finally got my passport back & when I saw my first ever Schengen visa. I never thought I’ll get one after doing everything by myself. It was an achievement! I recommend applying your first ever Schengen visa with The Netherlands. The process was quick & easy. They don’t ask for other additional documents.

If you have any questions about your visa application or the process in general, feel free to contact VFS Global Netherlands Visa Application Center at + 632 8528 2503 or via e-mail to info.nlph@vfshelpline.com. The phone line is only open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Have you applied for a Schengen visa on your own? Which embassy / VFS application center did you go to? How was the application process? Do you have any questions about the application process or requirements? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. I will try to answer them as soon as I can. If you’re shy, feel free to send your questions & clarifications via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Don’t forget to turn your notifications on for my social media channels –Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Thanks!

Tuesday Tip: 6 WAYS To SAVE MONEY In MELBOURNE

I’ve been to Australia twice (August 2018 to Sydney & Brisbane & April 2019 to Melbourne) in the last 2 years & I can tell you it’s not a cheap country to visit. Everything, including drinking water, has a price tag – not just an affordable price, but an expensive tag on it. A cheapo meal will cost you AU$10 (₱350-ish in our currency) & this meal will probably be a bland or a simple one. A normal meal in a restaurant will cost you about AU$15 – AU$25, drinks not included. A private room in a 2 or 3 star hotel can cost you about AU$100 per night while a room in a branded hotel can cost you double or even triple that price just for a night.

Australia has a high cost of living, this is also supplemented by the high wages & better government services. Filipino tourists like us, with the current cost of living here in the Philippines, will have a hard time coping with the daily expenses when travelling around this country.

Interested to know how I got my Australian tourist visa in 8 working days? Check out this post to know more.

Having been to different expensive countries in the past, I still believe that there are ways on how one can survive & save some money while travelling around these costly places. Today’s Tuesday Tip will be all about ways on how to save some money in Melbourne, Australia. Last April, my friends & I went & explored the city for 8 days & 7 nights. It was not a cheap trip but we managed to save some cash by doing the following:

stay & cook in hostels

Staying in hostels in one way of saving some cash while in Melbourne. Nightly rates range from AU$25 – AU$50, depending on the dormitory room configuration of choice. The more people in one dormitory room, the cheaper it gets. These hostels also provide kitchen & food storage facilities. Guests are allowed to store & cook their own food at any given time the kitchen is open. It is another way of saving money instead of eating outside.

My dormitory bed in Flinders Backpackers Melbourne.. Very basic but I have everything I need! 🙂

Unsure if staying in a hostel is something for you? Check out this article & know the ups & downs of staying in hostels. It might just help you decide.

Staying in hostels is also a perfect time to meet other people travelling around. If you are up for free accommodation & have the courage to stay in a stranger’s place, check out CouchSurfing. It is an application where travelers can find people to host them in their own pads in their city of destination.

Flinders Backpackers provides cook-your-own pancake breakfast, bread & cereals to all its guests!

Now back to staying in hostels.. Last April, we stayed in Flinders Backpackers Melbourne. It is an affordable hostel with a large kitchen suitable for preparing meals & cooking. The hostel also provided free cook-your-own pancake breakfast, including cereals & bread. I actually made a separate post about our stay in this hostel. Check out the Hostel of the Day feature here.

Go For A Supermarket Haul

Supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths & Aldi have wide variety of food & drinks one can enjoy. My friends & I always drop by these supermarkets before going back to our hostel to buy something that we’ll bring in our tour the following day. It helped us save some money, instead of buying expensive snacks in tour stopovers.

You can also get sandwiches, cookies & even cooked meals in these supermarkets for a very low price. You can never go wrong with these supermarkets. Just a tip, I believe Aldi & Coles are cheaper than Woolworths in most items.

Join Free Walking Tours

The best way to explore & know more about Melbourne is by joining free walking tours. The walking tours are conducted by freelance guides who know about the history of Melbourne & Australia in general. The guides will bring you to different interesting locations & spots that have connection to the history of the city.

Currently, there are 3 companies running these walking tours in Melbourne – I’m Free Walking Tours, Walks 101 & Strawberry Tours. These walking tours operate on a tip-based program, where the guests are not required to pay for the tour, but rather give tips on what they think the worth of the tour is at the end of it. From experience, the usual tip is about AU$10 per person.

We took a walking tour with I’m Free Tours in August 2018 & only gave a tip at the end of the tour.

We joined the I’m Free Walking Tour in Sydney back in August 2018 & decided to skip the Melbourne one. We found out that most (not all) of the tour information / details are the same as that of Sydney’s – basically about Australia’s history & how everything started in the country. I recommend that you take these walking tours. You will know a lot about Australia.

Hop On & Hop Off The Free city Trams

Tram rides within the Melbourne Free Tram Zone do not incur any charge. These includes the city circle trams & all trams that operated within the Spring St, Flinders St, La Trobe St, Victoria St, William St, Elizabeth St & part of Docklands. Anyone can just hop on & hop off in these trams at any time of the day for free as long as you don’t go beyond the free tram zone.

My friends & I used these city trams a lot. We got tired of walking around at some point during the day & decided to just take the trams around the central business district. They’re free of charge anyway.

Explore Places For Free

Melbourne has a long list of places where you can go & explore for free. You can go & walk around Federation Square & continue to the famous mural street of Hosier Lane. You can also walk towards the State Library of Victoria & view the main hall from the topmost floor. You can also go to Queen Victoria Market, Shrine Gallery of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens, Yarra River & Chinatown all for free.

These places found around Melbourne can be visited for free. Yes, no fees & absolutely for free!! 🙂

We walked to & through these places several times without even spending a dollar. They were all for free & these buildings, streets / lane ways pretty much make up most of the major places to visit in the city. I recommend going back to these places after the free walking tour to take your time in exploring.

Take Advantage of Lunch Sets & Happy Hours

Restaurants & bars around Melbourne have regular promotions on lunch sets & happy hours (for alcoholic drinks). They offer the meals & drinks for cheaper prices at specific times of the day. Make sure to always ask the waiter or bartender before ordering your food / drink.

Bonus Tip – Share Meals With Friends

Most of the meal size servings in Melbourne are big enough to stuff 2 people. These sizes come with the price – they’re expensive that’s why they’re served big. We, Filipinos, were used to regularly sized meals & we were shocked by the amount of food served to us in some restaurants.

*We ordered these dishes in 3 different restaurants. Too much for one person; they’re all for sharing!*

I ordered a chicken parmigiana meal worth AU$ 14 that was as bigger than by hand. It came with some chips (we call these fries) & salad. I was not able to finish the whole meal. It looks like a normal meal for the locals but I see it as something I can share with my friends.

If you’re travelling with friends, it pays to share these kinds of meals with them. You save some cash, you can even try more dishes in the menu!

There you go! I hope these tips will help you save some money in your upcoming Melbourne trip. Melbourne or Australia in general may be expensive to explore, but there are ways on how you can get away with these high costs. In case you are wondering about the details of my previous trips o Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne, I have compiled all posts into a list below:

SYDNEY

N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours
N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute
N9 in Straya Series: HUNTER VALLEY Day Tour – Australian Wine Tasting At Its Finest
N9 in Straya Series: SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS – Nature & Adventure In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

BRISBANE

N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD

MELBOURNE

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 1 – Parks, Gardens & Heritage Sites
N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 2 – Hipster Laneways, Communal Spaces & Modern Areas
N9 In Straya Series: BRIGHTON BATHING BOXES – Iconic & Photogenic Bathing Boxes Found In A Coastal Melbourne Suburb
N9 in Straya Series: GREAT OCEAN ROAD – A Day Trip To The World’s Largest War Memorial
N9 In Straya Series: PHILLIP ISLAND – A Perfect Day Out With Nature & Australian Wildlife
N9 In Straya Series: PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY & YARRA VALLEY WINE TOUR – Victoria’s Heritage Steam Railway & Wine Region In A Day
Hostel Of The Day: FLINDERS BACKPACKERS MELBOURNE – Budget-Friendly & Extremely Popular Hostel In The Heart Of The City

Can you think of other money-saving tips in Melbourne? Feel free to share your suggestions & experiences in the comments section below. You can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll surely have a look at ’em. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you very much for joining me in today’s set of Tuesday Tips! Until the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: 4 TRUSTED HOSTEL GROUPS To Check When Looking For AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION in JAPAN

We can’t deny the fact that Japan accommodation prices are very high compared to those of our neighboring countries. From someone who’s been to a number of countries, I can vouch that it actually has one of the most expensive per night rates (both in hotels & hostels) in Asia.

I’ve been flying to Japan every year since 2015 & believe it or not, I’ve never stayed in a hotel. I always go for the cheaper & comfortable option of staying in hostels. I have the tendency to be very picky on which hostel to choose & what time of room or dormitory configuration to book but so far, I’ve never made a bad decision. All rooms & bed types I got in the past are decent, secured, comfortable, some are a little bit over the usual price but totally worth every yen.

In the last 5 years of flying to & travelling around Japan, I discovered 4 trusted hostel groups that offer affordable & over-the-top services to its guests. Note that I’ve stayed in at least one property of these hostel groups in the past. If you’ve been following my Hostel Of The Day posts in the past, you’ll see some of featured hostels coming from these hostel groups. These hostels are located in places or cities where most foreigners go or visit.

The aim of these hostel groups is to provide the best quality of hospitality in the most affordable price or rate. I can assure you that all hostels under these hostel groups provide the best comfort they can at such low prices. Allow me to share with you which hostel groups you should check for your next Japan trip.

Have you read the article I posted about the pattern in getting the best travel accommodation deals online? If not, better check out this post.

Oak Hotel Group

Oak Hotel Group is a hostel group owned & managed by Oakhouse Co Ltd. The group started in 1992 as living spaces for foreigners in Japan. It has transformed into share houses for both foreigners & locals. A few years after, the hostel is operating in 6 locations in Tokyo & 1 in Nara. The hostel group’s concept is ‘enjoyable living.’ True enough, all their properties are equipped with facilities that provide comfortable & enjoyable experience.

Here are the current Oak Hotel properties: Oak Hostel Sakura in Oshiage, Oak Hotel Edo in Morishita, Oak Hostel Fuji in Asakusa, Oak Hostel Zen in Ueno, Oak Hostel Cabin in Tokyo, Oak Hotel Ikebukuro in Ikebukuro & Oak Hostel Nara in Nara.

Check out these photos of Oak Hostel Zen’s common lounge, wash, kitchen & dining areas. Neat!

My favorite Tokyo hostel is under this hostel group – Oak Hostel Zen. In fact, I already stayed in this property for 3 times (2015, 2017 & 2018) & I am planning to go back in the future. Check out the hostel of the day feature of Oak Hostel Zen.

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group is a combination of 2 smaller hostel groups – J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels. J-Hoppers started in 2002 in Kyoto, Japan in a small building near Kyoto Station. Different branches have been added since then. The owner’s vision in creating this hostel group is to give foreigners a ‘home’ during their ‘Japan-hopping’ trips.

This hostel group also operates J-Stay, a shared-house business for those who want to stay in Kyoto for a longer time, J-Hop Tour, a bus-tour that runs from Osaka or Kyoto to Shirkawa-go & Hida Takayama & hana SAKE bar, a sake bar located on the ground floor of the Osaka property.

The hostel group currently has 12 properties across different locations: J-Hoppers Kyoto, J-Hoppers Hida Takayama, J-Hoppers Lake Biwa, J-Hoppers Kumano Yunomine, J-Hoppers Osaka, J-Hoppers Osaka Universal, J-Hoppers Hiroshima, Kyoto Hana Hostel, Osaka Hana Hostel, Hiroshima Hana Hostel, Fukuoka Hana Hostel & Gion Ryokan Q-Beh.

This is how a bed in a Hana Hostel dormitory bed looks like. It’s spacious, clean & comfortable. 🙂

One of my recent hostel of the day features is that of Fukuoka Hana Hostel where I came back for the second time. I stayed in the same property (& same room) last November 2016 when I went hopping around different cities. I also stayed in Osaka Hana Hostel & Hiroshima Hana Hostel in November 2016.

K’s House Quality Hostels

K’s House Quality Hostels is a multi-awarded hostel chain that started business in 2003 in Kyoto. As per the company’s website, their group’s concept is to provide ‘inexpensive, convenient & comfortable accommodation for travelers.’ They aim to be true to this concept by providing all guests with quality service, spacious communal areas & comfortable bedding be it in private or dormitory rooms. The group currently operates 12 properties & plans to expand to more locations in the coming years.

The hostel group also operates an affordable Mount Fuji One Day Tour & another accommodation branch, K’s Villa which offers affordable vacation rentals in various locations.

The operating hostels of K’s House are the following: K’s House Kyoto, K’s House Tokyo, K’s House Tokyo Oasis, K’s House Hiroshima, K’s House Mt Fuji, K’s House Fuji View, K’s House Hakone, K’s House Ito Onsen, K’s House Takayama, K’s House Takayama Oasis, K’s House Kanazawa & K’s House Hakuba Alps.

K’s House Kyoto’s spacious common area. This area is the best place to meet people traveling Japan.

K’s House Mt Fuji’s 8-bed dormitory room. Stayed in this dormitory room last November 2017.

I’ve always been a fan of K’s House. I stayed in K’s House Kyoto in 2015 when I flew to Japan with my high school friends. I went back to K’s House Kyoto following year with another friend from work. In 2017, I stayed in K’s House Mt Fuji & K’s House Takayama Oasis when I visited Kawaguchiko & Hida Takayama for a few days.

Khaosan Hostel Group

The last of my 4 trusted hostel groups is Japan is Khaosan Hostel Group. The group is owned by Manryo Co Ltd which started business in January 2004. The owners of the group have transformed old buildings, love hotels & restaurants into shared accommodation & now have 9 operating properties in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. The company’s goal is to create a community of travelers having a great time together regardless of nationality, background & companions.

Khaosan Group currently operates & maintains the following 9 properties: Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Samurai, Khaosan World Ryogoku Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory, Khaosan Tokyo Origami, Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki in Tokyo, Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse in Kyoto & Khaosan World Tennoji Hostel & Khaosan World Namba Hostel in Osaka.

The family deluxe room with tatami-style beds we got at Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel.

I stayed in one of their love hotel turned accommodation in Asakusa – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel – last February with my family. We enjoyed our stay in a Japanese (tatami) style spacious room. My high school friends also had nice reviews about their stay at the Namba property last November 2018.

The hostels may be operating under different hostel groups but bear in mind that their goals are one & the same – to provide comfortable, affordable & quality accommodation when travelling around Japan. I’ve stayed in at least one property of each hostel group & I recommend all of them to you my readers. It will now depend on your room choice, price difference & preferences on which hostel group or property you’ll book your next stay. Good luck in making those decisions.

Look how super spacious & clean this dormitory room. Took this when I stayed with Oak Hostel Zen

Have you stayed in one of the properties mentioned above? How was your stay? Are you planning to go back in one of those accommodations? Are there other Japanese hostel groups that I need to know & try in the future? Feel free to mention those properties or groups in the comments below. You can also send the details to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: 7 SAPPORO Eats You Shouldn’t Miss

It’s December & it’s winter time. It only means one thing – it’s one of the best times to visit Sapporo, Japan. Random snowfalls, extremely cold temperature, longer nights & powdery snow sums up winter in this area of Japan. The Hokkaido snow season is one of the most visited season of the region. The Sapporo Snow Festival, which happens to be the biggest festival in the city, also happens every winter – normally in the 1st or 2nd week of February.

Early this year, my friend & I flew to Sapporo for 6 days to experience what it’s like in Hokkaido during winter. We went to different places & tried a lot of activities. We first walked around Sapporo for our 1st few days, then we went to the nearby port city of Otaru. We also went to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort to try skiing & Hoheikyo Onsen to try a Japanese onsen during winter. It was a trip of many firsts; it was a trip for the books. Believe it or not, Shane & I only spent less than ₱45,000 all in – including return flights from Manila & hostel accommodations. We definitely had a winter trip of a lifetime!

Aside from experiencing winter in Sapporo, we also went there for the food. Our goal was to try as many unique eats as we can. Shane, who is a certified foodie, & I kind of splurged on food during our trip. Let me share with you these 7 eats we had which you should not miss when in Sapporo.

Soup Curry

Dinner at Rojiura Curry Samurai – our first meal in Sapporo!

Soup curry is a famous dish in Sapporo. A soup curry is a curry with more soup. Quite weird, eh? Yeah. The dish is basically a curry flavored soup with little meat & different kinds of vegetables. There are a number of soup curry chains in Sapporo. The hostel staff recommended that we try Rojiura Curry Samurai. Shane & I went there for our 1st dinner in Sapporo.

I ordered vegetable soup curry & a cup of rice. The soup was tasty, thick & slightly sweet. The vegetables were fresh. It was the perfect meal for a very cold night. An order of soup curry with a bowl of rice costs a little over ¥1,000.

Jingisukan

Jingisukan is Hokkaido’s famous grilled mutton dish. This dish is basically lamb meat grilled on Mongolian helmet-shaped skillet. The lamb fat is placed in the center of the skillet pan, then slides to all the sides where the vegetables are being cooked. The meat will then be grilled / cooked once the pan is hot.

Lamb meat being grilled in a helmet-shaped skillet. Yum!

Meal comes with unlimited draft Sapporo beer only served in this restaurant.

Shane & I went to the famous Sapporo Beer Garden to have unlimited lamb barbecue & drinks. Drink selection includes a draft Sapporo Beer only served in this restaurant. Buffet cost us ¥4,212 each including taxes. For more information about the buffet & restaurant, head over to Sapporo Beer Garden’s website. It was a bit more expensive than a normal lunch meal, but it was worth the try! Everyone should try this when visiting Sapporo.

King Crab & Fresh Seafood

Look at the variety of fresh seafood available at Nijo Market.

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, is famous for its king crab & fresh seafood. Shane & I went to Nijo Market in Sapporo to have brunch. We came across a stall where the man offered us a free taste of the fresh king crab. We then bought 800 grams of Hokkaido king crab (for sharing) for ¥10,000 & had it cooked in the nearby restaurant. Yes, it was that expensive. A kilogram of Hokkaido king crab costs ¥13,000.. We also ordered chirashi sushi bowls & a bottle of soft drink to complete the meal.

Shane & I bought 800 grams of king crab legs & had it cooked in a nearby restaurant! YUUUUUM~

Shane’s meal with the king crab legs. Fresh seafood at its best in Nijo Market!

It was another ‘worth-it’ but expensive meal. The price of king crab in Sapporo is way cheaper than the price in local Japanese restaurants. This meal was one of the highlights of the trip. The crab meat was very fresh & tasty.

Miso Ramen

A visit to Japan is never complete without having ramen for at least one meal. Each area / region usually have its own ramen flavor. If Fukuoka & Kyushu are famous for their tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen, Hokkaido (especially Northern Hokkaido) is famous for miso ramen. The broth is based on miso paste / seasoning & then served with either pork, chicken, seafood & other add-ons.

Entry to Sapporo Ramen Republic. You’ll definitely have a hard time choosing where to eat.

There are a number of miso ramen shops around Sapporo & Hokkaido. Shane & I went to Sapporo Ramen Republic on the 10th floor of ESTA Complex. Sapporo Ramen Republic has 8 of the top ramen restaurants in Hokkaido. We chose to dine at Misono & tried their miso ramen with pork & grated ginger. The miso broth was different from the other ones I’ve tried, but still very rich in taste. That bowl of ramen cost us ¥700 – ¥800 per bowl. A local advised us there’s another ramen alley somewhere in Susukino – I’ll check that out in my next visit.

Indian Curry & Naan

One of the recommended to-do’s in Hoheikyo Onsen, aside from relaxing in the natural hot spring, is to have a meal in the on-site Indian restaurant. This restaurant is famous for their genuine Indian curry & homemade naan. Shane & I had our late lunch here & ordered their famous curry (forgot if it was pork, lamb or chicken) & naan paired with cold tea & a strawberry yogurt drink. The food was authentic, good & one-of-a-kind. Glad we stopped by the restaurant before leaving the onsen. I am very sorry I forgot how much paid for the meal.

Check out the on-site restaurant’s page for more information.

Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Soft-serve lavender ice cream on a cold winter day? No problem!

Another must-try in Sapporo is the soft-serve ice cream. Shane & I tried the ice cream even if it was below 0 & snowing. Flavors & prices vary from one shop to the other. We saw 2 unique flavors only offered in Hokkaido – Lavender & Yubari Melon. Shane went for the mixed chocolate & lavender flavor while I got the lavender only variant. Each cone cost ¥320. I’ll try the Yubari melon flavored ice cream next time!

Check out the available ice cream flavors in this random Otaru shop. Which one will you choose?

Cheese Tarts

Hokkaido is also known for its distinct, rich & tasty dairy products. These dairy products gave birth to the raved baked cheese tarts. The snack first became famous in Sapporo & then became known around Japan & now all over the world. Famous cheese tart shops include Kinotoya, BAKE, Hokkaido, & Pablo. These shops have branched out of Japan & are now present in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia & many more.

Shane & I bought cheese tarts from the Sapporo-born shop called Kinotoya in JR Sapporo Station. The tart shell was buttery & tasty while the cheese mousse (filling) was sweet & salty at the same time. A piece of cheese tart costs around ¥200. What I loved about this shop is there was no queue / line to buy the tart unlike other cheese tart shops in Tokyo & Sapporo. Make sure to drop by any cheese tart shop when in Sapporo. It’s the perfect snack to pair with your hot coffee or green tea.

BONUS – Royce’ Chocolates

Do you know that Sapporo-born Royce’ chocolates can be bought everywhere in the city? Yes. Royce’ chocolates are found in local stores & tourist shops around Sapporo. This phenomenon is not present in other Japan cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, etc.) where Royce’ chocolates are only sold in major airports. Prices are almost the same, if not cheaper, in Sapporo. Don’t forget to hoard Royce’ chocolates before leaving Sapporo. There’s also a big chance you’ll find limited edition flavors like the Sakuraberry variant I got last time.

This long list pretty much sums up the major eats we had in Sapporo last February. Have you tried some of them? Planning to fly to Sapporo in the future? Don’t forget to put these 7 treats in your list. You’ll surely enjoy them! Do you still have other Sapporo treats in mind? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send your thoughts & comments via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thanks for joining me in today’s Tuesday Tip! See you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: SINGAPORE Tipid Hits – 9 Ways to Explore On A Budget

It’s not a secret that Singapore is a very expensive country to visit. I visited the country two weeks ago & I can clearly say that most of the things in this country (food, accommodation, transportation) are expensive. However, no matter how expensive this place is, there are still ways on how you can explore this country on a shoestring budget.

Don’t miss Haji Lane! It’s free to go around & take photos of area.

It’s been a while since I posted a Tuesday Tip article; I’m very happy to revive this section of the blog. Today, I’ll share with you 9 ways on how you can explore Singapore the cheapest way possible. These tips are based on my previous visits to Singapore so some points may not be applicable to everyone.

Book Tickets Early

There are more than 15 daily flights from the Philippines to Singapore – 12 of them from Manila. The technique is to take advantage of various airline promotional fares & offers. Return tickets to Singapore used to cost a little over ₱2,000. With the recent inclusion of fuel surcharges to airfares, a cheap return ticket should cost you around ₱4,000. Airport fees in Singapore are very expensive (but you get what you pay for – Changi Airport is the world’s best airport) that’s why fares are these high.

Here’s where your high airport fees to go – to the world-class Changi Airport!

Book your tickets at least 6-9 months before your planned trip, I’m sure you’ll get a good fare deal. I’ve posted two blogs with tips on how to score cheap flights – check the articles here & here.

Stay In Hostels

Hotel accommodations in Singapore are expensive. If you want to have your own privacy, there are budget hotels & guesthouses but take note that spaces are very limited & amenities are very basic. If you don’t mind sharing a room with another person, book your stay in a hostel. Singapore has a lot of nice & high-rated hostels which offer better amenities than some hotels. Check out reviews online before booking your stay.

My dormitory bed two weeks ago in Five Stones Hostel

I previously wrote an article about the ups & downs of staying in hostels. Check the article to see if staying in this kind of accommodation is something for you or not. Also, I wrote a set of tips on how to get the best accommodation deals – make sure to also check that!

Book Attraction Tickets Online

Singapore is a country with a lot of attractions to visit. This equates to spending more money on attraction passes & entrance fees. The best way to save some cash is to book your attraction tickets online. There are online platforms such as Klook & KKDay which offer discounted tickets to almost all attractions in Singapore. Check out your attraction of choice & book them before flying to the country. Booking these tickets / passes in advance also help you skip the long queue at the venue.

Going outside the Philippines for the first time? Check out these 5 steps in order to easily pass through PH immigration!

Eat In Hawker Centres

This is how a hawker centre looks like – this one is in Little India

Food in Singapore isn’t really cheap. A normal meal with a drink in a restaurant or in a shopping mall food court can cost from SGD 7 up to SGD 20. Not practical at all. Singapore has what you call ‘hawker centres,’ these are open air food courts where you get affordable local food. These hawker centres can be found everywhere in Singapore. A hearty meal will only cost you around SGD 3. You still have some extra cash for dessert or for a drink. See the difference?

Get An EZ-Link Card

EZ-Link is Singapore’s reloadable transportation card. Instead of paying for each bus ride or topping up for every train ride, you can use this tap card to pay for your fare. You don’t need to queue in every train station, thus saves you a lot of time. Also, you only pay for the distance traveled & not the usual flat fare when you pay in cash.

How an EZ-Link card looks like. Thanks to Junelle for letting me use the photo.

EZ-Link Cards are sold at most train stations for SGD 12 with SGD 7 top up value (card value at SGD 5). Also, don’t buy the Singapore Tourist Pass if you won’t ride the train very often. You need at least five to six rides a day to break even the daily pass cost.

Walk, Walk & Walk

Singapore is a very tourist-friendly country. All the signs are in English, so you won’t get lost. The best way to explore the country is by foot. Remember that the country has a very hot climate so make sure to bring your bottled water & umbrella with you, plus wear comfortable footwear. Places to visit in this country are grouped into locations.

6 attractions in a photo – you can visit all these places in a day by walking around the area!

For example, you can walk from Boat Quay, to Raffles Place, then to the Merlion Park, to Helix Bridge, Singapore Arts & Science Museum, Marina Bay Sands & last to Gardens By The Bay all in one day. You can also easily spend an afternoon walking around Little India, then to Bugis, then to Haji Lane & Arab Street at night. The secret is to plan where to spend the day so you don’t need to transfer from one area to the other.

Take Advantage of Free Attractions / Places

Singapore may be an expensive country but hey, it also has a number of free attractions or places. These clean & well-maintained places don’t need an entrance fee for you to enjoy or take a photo. These places include Merlion Park, Gardens By The Bay (entrance fees required only for the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest & OCBC Skyway), Singapore Botanic Gardens, Helix Bridge, Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, Mustafa Centre, Singapore National Library & a whole lot more. See? You don’t have to spend even a dollar to explore & enjoy these places.

Gardens By The Bay’s Supertree Grove is a beautiful free attraction in Singapore!

Bring Water Container

Water in Singapore establishments like cafes & restaurants are not free. It usually costs 50-cents per glass (₱18-ish like really? Yeah!) so the best way to save some cash is to bring your own water container. Singapore tap water is safe to drink so you can refill it anywhere. The country also has drinking water stations found in touristy areas.

Note that smaller water bottles (SGD2-ish) cost more than bigger bottles (SGD1). If I were you, always go for the big bottle.

Look For The Best Place To Shop

Singapore has a lot of shopping centers & malls – more than you can imagine. Almost each neighborhood has a shopping center or a leisure mall. The best places to buy souvenirs are Bugis Street Market, Little India’s Mustafa Center & Chinatown. Some shops allow you to haggle or to ask for a discount; but make sure to ask for a reasonable discount.

If you’re looking for normal day goodies like snacks, drinks & toiletries, buy them from bigger supermarkets located in the basement of every shopping mall. Don’t buy them elsewhere.

In case you missed it, I posted an article about my 24-hour quick stopover in Singapore about 2 weeks ago. That part of the trip inspired me to share my tipid tips in Singapore. This short list saved me a lot of Singapore dollars during my visit in Singapore.

Do you have other tips to add? Feel free to post them in the comment sections below. If you want to share some experiences, tips & suggestions but you want to remain anonymous, send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Connect with me via my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Don’t forget to like & share my Facebook page!

Thanks for your time. Until next time! 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re.