Exotic Philippines

Exploring Sapa and Hanoi Vietnam: A Complete Travel Itinerary and Guide (2025)

2025-02-11T18:07:00.015+08:00

Sapa and Hanoi are two of Vietnam's most captivating destinations, each offering a unique blend of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes. Plus, if you're looking to experience your first winter as a Filipino like me, this would be it!

Whether you're exploring the vibrant streets of Hanoi or hiking through the misty mountains of Sapa, this itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. From travel essentials to must-visit attractions, here's everything you need to know about my 7-day adventure in Vietnam.

What You Need

eSIM for Connectivity

I got my eSIM via Klook, which covered both Vietnam and Thailand since I was heading to Thailand afterward. While you can buy a physical SIM card upon arrival at Hanoi airport, the hassle of removing your current SIM and the risk of losing it made me opt for an eSIM. It's an easy and seamless option—just add it to your phone and you're good to go.

No worries, I will provide the link down below to where I bought the esim online, and everything else I booked online so everything you need to book is here in this Sapa - Hanoi travel guide and itinerary.

Winter Clothes

During my visit, the temperature ranged from 5°C to 20°C. To stay warm, I bought Uniqlo's Ultra Heattech, which I wore under my hoodie or jacket—it worked wonders! When I arrived in Hanoi, I visited the stunning Uniqlo shop near Hoan Kiem Lake and picked up Heattech gloves and a beanie. These small additions made a big difference in keeping me comfortable.

What to Do Upon Arrival at Hanoi Airport

Buy a SIM Card

If you prefer a physical SIM, multiple vendors are available before you exit the airport.

Withdraw Cash

I found using my GCash Visa card to withdraw cash at ATMs super convenient, rather than exchanging USD. It made me feel like a local! There are at least three ATMs from different banks at the airport.

My DIY 7-Day Sapa - Hanoi Itinerary

January 2: Arrival in Hanoi

10:00 AM - Arrive at Hanoi Airport
12:00 PM - Left baggage at HK Buslines office in Old Quarter
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch at Bancong Coffee Shop
1:00 PM - City Tour Bus (Book Via Klook)
5:00 PM - Explore Old Quarter
10:00 PM - Board HK Buslines sleeper bus to Sapa (Book via Klook)

January 3: Exploring Sapa

5:00 AM - Arrive in Sapa
6:00 AM - Left luggage at Phuong Nam Hotel
7:00 AM - Early morning photo session at Sapa Station
8:00 AM - Breakfast at Cafe Bao Cap
9:00 AM - Visit Moana Sapa
12:00 PM - Lunch at VietTrekking
2:00 PM - Hotel check-in
3:00 PM - Rest
6:00 PM - Dinner at Family Sapa Restaurant

January 4: Fansipan Adventure

6:00 AM - Free breakfast at the hotel
7:00 AM - Head to Sapa Station for the Sun World Fansipan Legend (Book via Klook)
3:00 PM - Return to hotel
5:00 PM - Van pick-up to Lao Cai Station
9:00 PM - Board VicSapa Sleeper Train to Hanoi (Book via Klook)

January 5: Back in Hanoi

5:00 AM - Arrive in Hanoi
6:00 AM - Left luggage at Golden Moon Hotel (Book Hotel via Klook)
7:00 AM - Breakfast at Tiem Banh Trieu Patisserie
8:00 AM - ATM withdrawal
9:00 AM - Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Uniqlo
12:00 PM - Lunch & coffee at Calina Cafe (across Uniqlo)
2:00 PM - Hotel check-in
5:00 PM - Vietnamese Cooking Class (includes dinner) - (Book via Klook)
9:00 PM - Explore the night market & shopping

January 6: Ninh Binh Tour

7:00 AM - Hotel pick-up for Ninh Binh Tour (Book via Klook)
8:00 PM - Return to hotel
9:00 PM - More shopping

January 7: Halong Bay Tour

7:00 AM - Hotel pick-up for [Route 2] Halong Bay Cruise Tour (Book via Klook)
8:00 PM - Return to hotel
9:00 PM - Shopping

January 8: Departure to Bangkok

5:00 AM - Hotel checkout
9:00 AM - Flight to Bangkok, Thailand

Vietnam Travel Tips

Tet Holiday Precautions

If you're visiting in February, check the Tet holiday dates in advance. Many businesses, including restaurants and grocery stores, shut down as locals return to their hometowns. Prices for tours might also surge due to demand.

Book Tours in Advance

I missed out on some tours because I hesitated to book early. Many get fully booked, especially in peak seasons. If you’re using Klook (highly recommended!), try to book at least a day before since same-day bookings are often unavailable.

Secure Hotel Bookings Early

Hotels fill up quickly during peak seasons. I couldn't stay at my first-choice hotel in Sapa because I booked too late. Plan ahead to secure your preferred accommodation.

You Can Use Grab

Yes, you can use Grab in both Sapa and Hanoi. In Sapa, I opted for their electric vehicles since they operate without waiting for additional passengers. For VND 60,000, they can take you anywhere within Sapa town.

Sapa and Hanoi Travel Expenses

I won't include the flight cost here since I could have booked a cheaper flight, but because I didn’t want to exit the Philippines via Manila, I chose to have a layover in Hong Kong and celebrate the New Year (yes, it was January 1) with their famous Peking Duck.

Note: The amount in pesos shown is the amount deducted from my GCash card.

Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter (GrabCar) - VND 283,920 (P650)
Hanoi City Tour Bus - P650
Hanoi to Sapa Sleeper Bus (HK Buslines) - P1,130
Sapa 1N/2D Hotel - P2,031
Moana Sapa - VND 90,000 (P206)
Sunworld Fansipan Legend - P2,661
Sapa to Hanoi Sleeper Train (VicSapa) - P2,306
Taxi to Hotel in Hanoi from Station - VND 150,000 (estimate,i forgot the exact amount) [P205]
Hotel in Hanoi (Golden Moon) - VND 3,061,000 (P6,997)
Vietnamese Food Cooking Class - P2,067
Ninh Binh Tour - P3,436
Halong Bay Tour - P2,349
Old Quarter to Hanoi Airport (GrabCar) - VND 331,760 (P759)
eSim - P1,285 (10 days for 3 countries, unlimited data)

Total on this part is P26,532

Other Expenses

Food Expenses

I ate at different places and drank a lot of coffee because I loved it! If you have a budget of VND 300,000 per meal, that’s more than enough. I usually paid around VND 100,000 to VND 250,000 (with drinks).

Transportation Expenses

In Sapa, electric vehicle rides cost VND 60,000, but you can easily walk to nearby tourist spots. Moana Sapa and Sapa Station were within walking distance from my hotel.

In Hanoi, I enjoyed walking around, watching young locals in Ao Dai doing photoshoots. The cold weather made it comfortable, and I loved relaxing by Hoan Kiem Lake.

Shopping / Pasalubong Expenses

I shopped a lot and ended up having an overbaggage at the airport! Here’s a rough idea of prices:

Hoodies - Around VND 800,000
Tired City - Shirts cost around P800, the quality is really nice though but ask if they have a promo. Because they had one when I was there - buy 4 shirts get 1 free.
Imitation brand luggage (best quality, they said) - VND 1,900,000
Vietnamese instant coffee - VND 120,000 per box (12 sticks, discounts for bulk purchases)
Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee (various flavors) - VND 86,000 per box (12 sticks)
Dri-fit shirts (likely imitations) - VND 100,000 - 150,000

Total Expenses

Tours / Transpo / Hotel - P26,532

Food (budget VND 250,000 [571] x 7 meals) = P3,997

Total: P30,529

Note: I might have spend less on the meal part since I ate a meal and drinks for VND 100,000 (I have the receipts), also the cooking class includes lunch / dinner since you will eat what you cooked. Plus, make sure to include some allowances because you will eat some street food there and have more coffee than usual and enjoy some pastries.

Also, again. This does not include the flight cost since it was my decision to choose a different route though I can get a flight cheaper. Plus, I booked a month before the flight, so it is of course more expensive.

DIY Your Travel in Sapa and Hanoi: You Can Do It Too!

This was a DIY trip, and I planned everything myself and booked everything myself. If I could do it, so can you! Below, I will list down all the links you might need to book your hotels, transportation, and tours. Traveling on your own allows for flexibility and a more personal experience—so go ahead, plan your adventure, and enjoy Vietnam at your own pace!

Flights

I used Google flights to find flights that I want (which is not a layover in Manila) since there's no direct flight from Cebu to Vietnam, I have to do a layover somewhere - choices are Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok Thailand.

Transportation

HK Buslines Sleeper Bus (To and From Hanoi / Sapa) (Book via Klook)

VicSapa Sleeper Train (To and From Hanoi / Sapa) (Book via Klook)

I booked this two companies because both offered an inclusion of transportation to and from the hotel. The sleeper bus offers a FREE hotel pick up if your hotel is within Old Quarter, and a FREE hotel drop off in Sapa if your hotel is within the town - so be careful on which accommodation you booked since some are too far away.

I booked the VicSapa since it's the only company that time that offered a transportation from your hotel in Sapa Vietnam to Lao Cai train station, it's not free but they'll arrange it for you. But if you book a different sleeper train company, you can book your transfer here.

Tours

Tours in Sapa Vietnam

The only tour in Sapa Vietnam that I booked online was the Fansipan. But you may book these online in advance, especially if you decided to stay longer (which I recommend unless you're only after Fansipan).

Sunworld Fansipan Legend (Book via Klook) *Book this in advance, limited tickets per day

Mong village alpine coaster (Book ticket here)

Glass bottom bridge *far from town, pay around P1500 for transpo RT (Book ticket here)

O Quy Ho Heaven Gate (Book ticket)

Village Trekking

Love and Silver Waterfalls Tour (Book tour here)

Bac Ha Market and Ban Pho Village Day Tour from Sapa (Book tour here)

Here are the other tours not available online that you can do, but you can do it yourself. You can opt to ride their electric vehicle or hire a motorcycle (yes with driver, we call it Habal-Habal or Angkas in the Philippines).

Moana Sapa
Catcat Village (you can book this online but not necessary, they said you really don't need a tour guide but if you want a guide and have a waterfalls tour book here)
Sapa Olong Tea Hill (I wasn't able to visit this but this was recommended by a fellow Cebuana (Filipino) that I should visit and get a taste of Sapa's own Olong tea plus a tour around. She said it's like cherry blossom but not in full bloom)

Tours in Hanoi

There are a number of tours or tourist spots that I want to do and visit in Hanoi, but here are the top I wish I've done (I could've done it but because of my aging body, I didn't booked it because I was too tired). I'd definitely come back to Hanoi just to do these.

Mega Grand World in Hanoi (Buy Gandola Boat Ride Ticket here, cheaper)
Old Quarter Food tour with Trian Street (Book 4 Hour Experience here)
Hanoi Instagram tour with Ao Dai (Book tour here)
Hanoi Sightseeing Motorbike Tour (Book tour here)
Hanoi Coffe Workshop (Book Brews & Bites)
Thang Long Water Puppet Show (Book ticket here)
Hanoi Sky Lotte Observatory (Buy ticket here)
Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour with Cyclo Ride *Recommended for Elders (Book tour)

Please note that tours above are those I wish I booked and have time to do it, but I was not able to because my old body wants to sleep and/or I need more time. So I cannot really endorse or say they are great.

Hotels

Recommended Hotels in Sapa Vietnam

The hotel I was able to stay at is very affordable with a great view, plus it's walking distance to Sapa station.

Phuong Nam Mountain View Hotel

(Book via Klook)

But if you want a hotel that has the view of the Fansipan rail? train? You might want to book these hotels:

VTK Homestay (Viettrekkeng Sapa via Klook) *Book in advance, best view
DHome Homestay (Book via Klook)
La Do 2 Homestay *Recommended, great view
Sapa Yen Hotel
Joville Hotel Sapa (Book via Klook)
SaPa Retreat Condotel

Note: The hotels above is a bit secluded from the town center, so if you want to eat in a different resto or roam around through walking you have to exit the road from that hotel area. But if you just want to have photos with that view, an overnight stay would be fine but I think you'll also enjoy your stay there. No worries, there are locals that are waiting around to provide you transportation in town, even taxis are there.

Recommended Hotels in Hanoi

There are a number of hotels you can choose from in Hanoi, but I highly recommend to stay in the Old Quarter area since the tour providers offers a FREE hotel pick up there and if not you have to go to a specific place in the quarter where they'll have a pick up. But, I really love the hotel I stayed at and I recommend it.

Note that I can't really recommend the hotels I haven't stayed at because again I haven't experienced their service and all. But they're among the hotels that I've choose from. Again, there are a number of hotels there, depending on your budget and demands on accommodation, they have it. I just need a secure, at least a bit quiet, and clean place to stay and so far Golden Moon Suite Hotel and Travel met it.

Others

eSim

If you're visiting or having a layover in Singapore or Thailand before or after visiting Vietnam, I suggest you get the eSim I have. But if not, you should opt for the one only for Vietnam.

Buy Vietnam + Thailand + Singapore eSim here

Buy Vietnam eSim here

Airport Fast Track

If your flight is the earliest in arrival or departure, the line is not a big issue. But if it is during peak hours. I suggest you go for this fast track, because when I was there the line is starting to pile up that I was so worried I could not make to my flight, but I did and have a few minutes to get some hot coffee. But for me, you really do not need this during arrivals unless you are in a hurry to get out.

Book Fast Track here

This itinerary made my Sapa-Hanoi trip smooth and enjoyable. If you’re planning a similar trip, I hope this guide helps you! Feel free to use my Klook links if you need to book tours. Happy travels!

Note:

I will update this post when I have my videos edited and published so yes there is a video for my tours. I just need more time.

16 Places to Dine Near Kona Airport

2021-07-05T18:53:00.003+08:00

Kona Airport is a small airport in Hawaii built on a lava runway from the 1801 Hualālai flow. With three terminals and 10 gates, the two runways accommodate an average of 1.3 million passengers per year. Although the airport is a nice place with a few eateries, you will have to go elsewhere for a real meal.

You don’t want to stay inside an airport when you could be out enjoying the amazing Hawaiian weather. You are on a tropical island, so get out and soak up the sun. You have to try some Hawaiian cuisine like kalua pork, poi, and laulau. Drop off your bags at a luggage storage site near Kona Airport and go eat.

Breakfast Spots

808 Grindz Café

At 808 Grindz, you can get breakfast all day. Some of the local faves include Kawabanga Breakfast of eggs, spam, Vienna, bacon, Portuguese sausage, rice, and toast or the Da Kanak Attack, which is a three-egg omelet with ham, bacon, Vienna, spam, and ham. But don’t miss their pancakes with Dream-nilla sauce.

Kalikala Cuisine

For breakfast with a view, Kalikala Cuisine has it all and then some. The Lilikoi French toast is famous on the island and they are also well-known for their fabulous homemade hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict. Or get the fresh fruit plate that is truly fresh and comes straight from the local produce providers.

Honu’s on the Beach

If you want a more formal breakfast, go to Honu’s on the Beach at the Marriott Hotel. You can dine outside on the beach or inside but either way, you are going to love the amazing food. Choose from the huge buffet or get one of their specialty dishes like the Kailua Bay Breakfast with fruit, pastries, granola, and yogurt.

Papa Kona Restaurant

This casual and cozy eatery is a nice way to start the day with friendly people and great eats. Grab a garden omelet or the Florentine benedict with spinach, muffin, tomato, and hollandaise. The seared ahi benedict is also perfection with freshly seared ahi and hollandaise over poached eggs and rice.

Fast Food

Loko Wraps

For Hawaiian-style Mexican cuisine, Loko Wraps boasts fusion foods that locals rave about. They only use local and organic ingredients, so you know you are getting the freshest on the island. Some favorites include the jackfruit BBQ wrap, Keiki quesadilla, ceviche fish nachos, and sandwiches made with pork, chicken, or veggies.

L & L Hawaiian BBQ

The locals call this Hawaiian comfort food, and it definitely meets those requirements. Try the chicken katsu with piquant katsu sauce, the BBQ mix of beef, ribs, and chicken, or the loco moco, which is a common main dish at any eatery. The Spam musubi or saimin are also fantastic ways to eat an old favorite.

Da Poke Shack

Fresh, never frozen poke is done many ways at Da Poke Shack. The Shack Special is sweet miso and honey with roasted seaweed, the Wet Hawaiian is made with roasted kukui nuts, and the Dynamite has avocado aioli. Or try the spicy scallops, kimchi tako, garlic shrimp, sesame garlic edamame, or the teriyaki calamari.

Killer Tacos

If you have never had a Killer Taco, you need to try one at Killer Tacos while you are in Hawaii. Their tacos are special because of a secret ingredient that you will never taste anywhere else. You should also try the Barnyard Burrito with beef, pork, and chicken as well as beans, rice, cheese, cabbage, and guacamole.

Dining in Style

La Bourgogne

You do not have to be French to eat at La Bourgogne, but you may feel like you are after you taste one of their mouthwatering specialties like their veal sweetbreads with Madeira cream sauce or the Osso Bucco veal shank braised in white and red wine. The lavender rabbit roasted in Chardonnay is also fabulous.

Canoe House

At Mauna Lani Resort, try some of the best seafood on the island at Canoe House. The Alaskan king crab leg with black truffle crust is divine and the steamed clam nabe is outstanding. The oysters in sweet onion tosazu and tuna sashimi are also fantastic. They even have steak and lamb chops if you do not want seafood.

Ulu Ocean Grille

Located at the Four Seasons, the Ulu Ocean Grill will treat you like royalty, and the seating right on the beach is enough to make you want to stay forever. Enjoy the view while you try their amazing dishes like the Wagyu tomahawk with charred onion, Chateaubriand with Big Island bone marrow, and mahi-mahi with macadamia nuts.

Huggo’s

The signature entrees at Huggo’s are what keeps the locals eating there on special occasions because you really cannot get them anywhere else. Their teriyaki steak has a special marinade they crafted in 1969 and it is still unmatched. The Kailua Bay cioppino and the Kalbi style short rib and ginger shrimp are amazing too.

Desserts and Snacks

Peaberry & Galette

Get your cakes and crepes at Peaberry & Galette while you check out some of the local artwork. They have seven kinds of dessert crepes like chocolate banana and crepe Suzette or try their strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, or scones. They also have sandwiches and savory crepes with calamari, shrimp, and ratatouille.

Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies

Mrs. Barry has been making her special cookies since 1978 when she won first place in the cookie contest at the Macadamia Nut Festival. She opened her own store in 1980 and now she is famous. Try some of the faves like Kona coffee crunch, coconut shortbread, or the award-winning macadamia nut.

Gypsea Gelato

Where can you get haupia (coconut pudding) mini pies? Only at Gypsea Gelato! They also have rocky road, Bailey’s Irish cream, and lilikoi (like passionfruit). And you should also try the gelato flavors goat cheese mixed berry, Mauka trail, maple peppered pecan, chocolate orange, and Stracciatella.

Gecko Girlz

Don’t miss the shaved ice at Gecko Girlz! They have the most imaginative and delicious flavors. Cherry blossom has macadamia nut ice cream with Kauai cherry & strawberry syrup, and a sweet cream snow cap. Or try Kona Sunset with vanilla ice cream, Waialua lilikoi & lychee syrups, Lilikoi puree, and a coconut cream snowcap.

While you are in Kona, be sure to visit the volcano that is still active and puts on a show every day. Swim with the dolphins or manta rays, go snorkeling with the tropical fish, and see the petroglyphs from right after Columbus landed in America. But don’t forget to pick up your bags on the way back to the airport

5 Best OOTD Spots around Bangkok, Thailand

2021-06-30T17:56:00.012+08:00

Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is an excellent place to begin your travels in Thailand once the pandemic is over. And Bangkok is much more than simply a hub; it's a bustling city with tons of things to explore. From magnificent temples to night markets and busy streets filled with tuk-tuks, there’s plenty to do in this big city.

Bangkok is studded with stunning photo locations suitable for a quick OOTD (Outfit of the Day) photo session, not to mention its mouth-watering street food and meandering rows of inexpensive shopping options.

Image courtesy of noina @shutterstock

Regardless if you're camera-ready or not, you'll want to strike numerous poses at these spots if you get the chance to visit this beautiful city. We’ve put together some of the best places that are worth your time and feed. Do it for the ‘gram gurls!

Airplane Graveyard

Image courtesy of VladislavPichugin

Abandoned locations are usually a little spooky, but they're also rather hipster, don't you think? The airplane graveyard in Bangkok is a one-of-a-kind attraction. Have you ever wished to sit in a cockpit? This is your opportunity!

The Bangkok Airplane Graveyard is exactly what it sounds like: a wide area in the city where broken aeroplanes are laid to rest. Tourists, Instagrammers, and photographers all love playing, climbing, and shooting the ruins.

There are several planes to explore, and you may capture the best OOTD out of it. However, Some of the empty shells have been taken up by locals, so be considerate and don't go into any sections that belong to someone else. To visit the property, expect to spend about 200 baht each person. You may take a cab or a river taxi to the aeroplane cemetery (way cheaper). It's a short walk from Wat Sriboonreun (the last stop on the Khlong Saen Saeb).

Address: Ramkhamhaeng Alley 103, Khwaeng Hua Mak, Khet Bang Kapi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10240, Thailand

Chang Chui Plane Night Market

Image courtesy of Chris Radley Photography

Another decommissioned airplane spot on the list. The Chang Chui Bangkok Plane Night Market offers a diverse range of retail and food options, as well as modern, urban, and often bizarre art pieces. This market is easily accessible by taxi for people staying in the Old Town and Khao San. It's advisable to visit early in the day if you're coming from Bangkok's central neighbourhoods of Sukhumvit or Silom.

The major attraction of the night market is a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar aircraft shell. There are several unique art sculptures that make wonderful insta-worthy photos. Slides, treehouses, and swings are strewn around the market for families to enjoy.

Address: 460/8 Sirindhorn Rd, Bang Phlat, Bangkok 10700, Thailand

Wat Sampran aka Dragon Temple

Image courtesy of lifeofbrit

Wat Samphran, or often known as "the Dragon Temple," stands out among the many temples in Bangkok city. This 17-story temple used to require stairs to reach the top, but now there's a walking tunnel that takes you all the way to the top.

The temple is actually rather large, and if you decide to include it in your itinerary, you should certainly spare yourself at least two hours to explore the complex. Wat Samphran and its guardian dragon may be seen at one end of the temple complex. Not only is the dragon temple itself worth a visit but there are also other beautiful structures throughout the complex. There's a turtle cove that connects to a pond via a concrete tunnel.

A magnificent statue of a white elephant stands between the two. A staircase near the elephant statue leads you up to the golden Buddha, which is also the perfect spot for your OOTD session.

When visiting a temple, remember to dress modestly, with knees, shoulders, and cleavage covered. You should not attempt to climb the dragon or the temple's exterior. It is also inappropriate to yell or play music. Taking your shoes off when signage directs you to do so is a gesture of respect.

Address: 92 Sam Phran, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110, Thailand

Mahanakhon Skywalk

Image courtesy of bestofwhere.com

The King Power Mahanakhon glass skywalk, which is 314 metres tall, is located at the top of Bangkok's highest skyscraper and offers amazing 360-degree views of the city! It is known as the highest observation deck in Thailand! It includes an indoor and outdoor observation deck, as well as a Skyride for those who want to try something new. The admission fee is slightly higher, ranging from 712 baht to 880 baht depending on timing and ticket type.

To avoid slipping on the podium, guests are required to wear a pair of canvas shoes outside their shoes. This location draws a huge number of travellers who want to snap a memento photo with luxurious and exotic coordinates, especially catching up the sunset - undoubtedly the best views in the heart of Bangkok.

Address: Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Erawan Museum Bangkok

Image courtesy of LolaPanTravels

The Erawan Museum is one of Bangkok's most magnificent and visually pleasing temples, yet it is often overlooked by many tourists when visiting the city. It's not on the list of mainstream temple tour in Bangkok, yet it's equally as spectacular as other main temples around Bangkok. The Erawan Museum has a gigantic three-headed elephant statue located on top of its pink pedestal. It certainly is a sight to behold, but wait till you go inside.

The museum's interior is organised into three major parts based on Hindu representations of the universe. The three floors are the underworld, the earth, and heaven. The intricacy and décor within the temple will also take your breath away.

The Erawan Museum is truly an instagrammable spot while visiting Bangkok and definitely shouldn’t be missed. You'll undoubtedly have some great memories and take some stunning photos.

Address: 99 Bang Mueang Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10270, Thailand

Wrapping Up

Now that you know what and where to find the most gorgeous sights in Bangkok, it's time to nail that Instagram photo! The above lists are just some of the best spots around this amazing city, of course, there are a plethora of other Insta-worthy locations - take time to ignite your sense of wanderlust once the pandemic situation is getting better!

Including yourself in your travel photographs can add perspective and a human aspect that will ‘Wow’ your followers. When others see you in your own adventures, they are more likely to connect with you and your content.

If you do not own a professional DSLR camera, you can opt for a smartphone such as Samsung S21 Ultra which is top-notch for its camera quality. Besides, a tripod will truly save your photographs and allow you to snap the exact shot you desire without bothering anybody else. Super friendly for solo travellers out there!

4 Basic Digital Nomad Packing List for Women

2021-05-12T17:16:00.026+08:00

While remote working used to be a perk offered by companies in the past, it has now become the norm for many. An increasing number of employers gradually come to realize that physical working space is not necessary for their operation. So, if you’re one of the lucky ones permitted to work remotely from any corner of the world, then consider the lifestyle of traveling while working — or also known as the ‘digital nomad’ lifestyle. It’s especially ideal for those who enjoy flexibility and freedom in life.

Becoming a digital nomad allows you to travel from one place to another while getting your work done. You can work out of a coworking space or a quiet independent cafe at your chosen time and then head downtown to experience nightlife or explore hidden gems in the city during the off-hours.

If this sounds like something that’s right up your alley, you may be wondering about what essential items to bring with you during those months away from home. Hence we’re here to provide you with a checklist of travel items to pack in your suitcase for all climates.

Image Source: Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

Clothing

We tend to overpack clothing items, and some of them end up not being utilized during our trip. One way to mitigate this problem and prevent a waste of space is by packing versatile outfits that can be worn through weather changes. The selected outfits should be lightweight, rollable, and are suitable for layering. These staple pieces can be worn on various occasions and help you adapt to temperature changes:

Yoga pants - Besides outdoor and sports activities, they can be worn as casual wear while you’re out and about or as pajamas when the night gets chilly. They are thin, hence they’re easy to wash and quick to get dry overnight.
Long scarf/shawl - Not only is it a nice accessory for winter, but it also serves as a blanket that wraps you up nicely when you’re shivering at the airport. In dire situations, it can even double as a backup towel.
Rollable windbreaker - Lightweight and fashionable, this fabric can keep you warm on chilly days and protect you against drizzles.
Convertible dress-skirt - A must-have if you gravitate towards the feminine style more. It can be converted into various looks and paired with a plain camisole or shirt when turned into a skirt. If you’re heading to a fancier place, this dress will help you blend into the atmosphere seamlessly. Plus, it’s perfect as a beach cover-up too!
3 pairs of footwear & socks - A pair of walking sneakers/boots, a pair of stylish flats, and a pair of comfy flip-flops/sandals will do just fine. With your sneakers or boots, you’ll need socks to wick away sweat and prevent foot odor.
6 sets of underwear
3 pairs of shorts and 2 pairs of trousers/breathable pants
3 to 5 tops - A mix of casual and semi-casual or short-sleeve and long-sleeve
Headwear such as a cap or beanie
A foldable tote bag - For keeping your dirty laundry or doing grocery shopping

Toiletries & Personal Care

Unless you have a specific preference for personal care products that cannot be acquired elsewhere, there’s no need to fill your toiletry bag to the brim. You’ll most likely find these toiletry necessities at supermarkets or convenience stores in your country of destination. If you’d like to pack some of them just to be safe, this list will be helpful for you:

Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Deodorant
Shampoo and/or conditioner
Towel
Body soap
Facial soap
Moisturizer
Body lotion
Sunscreen
Nail clipper
Earplugs and eye mask
Hand sanitizer
Wet wipes
Lip balm
Small detergent bottle
Pepper spray
Sunglasses
Basic first aid items - for stomach ache, fever, allergies, diarrhea, cough, and minor wounds

We recommend getting a hanging toiletry bag that comes with several compartments to keep your items well-organized. It’s also easy to bring into the shower rooms as you don’t have to struggle with holding all your toiletries in both hands. Simply hang the bag using the hook that comes with it, and you won’t have to find yourself forgetting stuff before showering.

Tech Gear

A laptop and a smartphone are undoubtedly the mainstays of a digital nomad. Along with those, you’ll need accessories that will help you carry out work tasks smoothly. Some of those tech accessories include:

Headset Bluetooth - For attending virtual meetings, enjoying media, and blocking surrounding noise
Powerbank - Go for one with at least 10,000 mAh capacity
Laptop charger and/or laptop power bank - A laptop power bank will be a useful backup if you find yourself working at a spot with no power plugs.
Plug adapter - Get the all-in-one unit with two USB ports as it’s suitable for use in many regions including the US, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, the UK, and Asia.
Camera - An action camera like GoPro will be ideal if you’re into adventurous activities; a DSLR is a must if you’re taking high-quality photos for your travel-related job
SD cards - Bring one or two SD cards with you if you document your travels often
Kindle or any e-reader

Wallet and Travel Pass

Last but not least, our precious wallet and passport are the most important items to bring on our digital nomad journey. In your wallet, you should have debit/credit cards, a substantial amount of cash exchanged in advance, your identification card, and driver’s license. If possible, get one RFID-blocking wallet so that your debit or credit card information won’t be stolen away by scammers so easily as you walk down the streets.

Keep your passport in the safest place of your backpack or a small anti-theft purse that can be worn underneath your outfit. You can also spread some amount of cash or valuables in different places. For instance, cash can be rolled up and hidden in an empty deodorant bottle, and valuables like rings or earrings can be kept secure in your contact lens case.

The best practice for digital nomads is to photocopy or digitize all the important documents including plane tickets, your passport, VISA, travel passes, and credit cards. Either carry the photocopied documents in a folder or store the digitized copies in your cloud. Doing so will help you to retrieve information and replace them easily in case you lose them during your travels.

Some countries will require your accommodation information when you arrive at the immigration counters. So, be sure to have your hotel or accommodation reservation ready. Besides, you can show the information to the cab driver who takes you to your place of stay.

TL;DR:

Passport and VISA
Debit and credit cards
Plane ticket
Identification card and driver’s license
Cash (Local currency and your current country’s currency)
Hotel / accommodation information
Travel insurance
Other relevant travel documents required by the country

There we have it - a list of basic items to accompany you through your digital nomad journey. You may, of course, choose to exclude some items from this list and replace them with other alternatives that are more beneficial for your trip. Ultimately, not overpacking and avoiding ‘just in case’ items is the key. If you have to think twice about an item when packing, that means you most probably won’t need it.

4 Best Beaches to Go Surfing in Vietnam

2021-04-14T17:04:00.027+08:00

If you’ve seen Apocalypse Now (1979), you’ll know that you can surf in Vietnam- and how! The country has 3,000km (1,800mi) of beautiful coastline, and terrific waves, the best of which are found as you head down the South Central Coast. Ready to board? Grab your gears and here are the best places to go surfing in Vietnam.

Image Courtesy of Shutterstock

Cua Dai, Hoi An

Hoi An town is enchanting: a place full of mindful moments in temples covered with pink and blue tiles and crowned with sinuous dragon-serpents. Wandering the narrow streets, you’ll spy terracotta-topped cottages painted in ochres and warm yellows. The slow river, lit with lanterns, makes for dreamy gondola rides past covered bridges and quayside restaurants. It’s one of the best places in Southeast Asia for souvenir shopping — with markets packed with leather and ceramics, and dozens of shops selling made-to-measure suits and shoes. And, it’s by the beach.

To surf, head for Cua Dai, an exposed beach break with left- and right-handers, barely 10 minutes from the town centre. Shacks sell snacks and the sand is palm-shaded, but on warm, calm days it can get crowded. The best surf is in the low season between December and March (which can be wet). Just be sure to avoid the busy Tet (Lunar New Year) long weekend.

Binh An, Hue

Built around the Forbidden Purple City of the ancient Nguyen dynasty, and set on the banks of the Perfume River, Hue is a Vietnam must-see. The surrounding countryside is dotted with ancient temples and tombs, many of them set in scented, bird-filled gardens. Golden beaches run south from here, many of them known to few tourists. The fishing village of Binh An stands on a long, curving bay of sand between a forest-covered cape and the mouth of the vast Dam Cau Hai lagoon.

With gentle waves suitable for surfers still struggling to stand, it’s a beginner’s beach to practise on before heading over the mountains, to the bigger breaks around Danang, some 40 minutes away. The water is warm enough to enter without a wetsuit outside the peak domestic tourism season (late July to late August), and the beach is usually empty. Do note that it sometimes rains heavily between September and December.

Vung Tau

Vung Tau is a serious surf destination 90km (55mi) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, hence its popularity as a weekend getaway spot. The sandy stretch is surfable for its entire 3km (2mi) length, with numerous unnamed and unsurfed breaks, but skip the mediocre swells at the front beach and head to the one at the back: you will find it beyond the Jesus statue, to the right of Pagode Island. This is one of the best surf spots in the country, with powerful beach-break waves best tackled during the winter months.

Mornings are perfect, thanks to the low tide and the wind. (When the gusts are high, try kitesurfing instead.) Vung Tau Beach Club is dedicated to surfing- and great parties- and is the only modern watersports school in the city, offering professional surfing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddleboarding classes. It’s right in the midst of the back beach, so you can’t miss it.

Mui Ne

Mui Ne is one of the best places to kitesurf in Southeast Asia. The waves are generally wind swell, unless there is a monster storm somewhere close by, which there could well be. Hon Rom Beach is the most popular in the city, with the best waves between October and May. The strip is large so you will easily find a surf spot of your own.

The best spot is Suoi Nuoc Beach, on the way to the white-sand dunes, where waves reach their finest from July to October, aided by fantastic winds. Annual surfing and stand-up paddleboarding competitions have been held here by Jobes Beach Club (also a restaurant and bar). The club can sort lessons and rentals for surfers and novices; the pros will have you catching your own waves in no time.

22 Valid IDs Accepted by Airlines for Domestic Flight Check In

2021-01-22T17:01:00.001+08:00

Flying anytime soon? And you found out that you apparently need a VALID ID to be able to check in to make sure or confirm your identity, that you are indeed the one that is named in the ticket that is booked? But you don’t know what are the accepted valid IDs accepted by the airlines here in the Philippines?

I’ve got the same question especially from the first time flyers. What are the IDs that are accepted by these airlines for a Domestic Flight? And some of their issues are that they no longer have a valid ID, it has already expired, or never had a valid ID. No worries, I got your back!

WHAT IS A VALID ID?

An IDentification that you are who you said you are. It includes your photo and usually just name, and some may have more information such as your date of birth, emergency contact, etc.

But when can you call it VALID? It is simply NOT EXPIRED. Such as the current Philippine Passport expires in 10 years from renewal or application, therefore if your passport have already expired 2 months ago and you still want to use it as your ID, it is NO LONGER VALID since it is expired.

In short, AN EXPIRED ID, is NOT A VALID ID.

Also, if you are no longer with that company or no longer a student, you can’t use that ID or use the student ID since you are no longer part of that company or no longer a student.

LIST OF GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID’S ACCEPTED BY AIRLINES

There are IDs issued by the government that I am not sure if that certain airline do accept those IDs. I’ll try to update this post as soon as I can, but here is the list of valid IDs that are accepted by Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and of course Cebu Pacific Airlines.

VALID ID	CEBU PACIFIC AIRLINES	AIRASIA PHILIPPINES	PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Passport	YES	YES	YES
Driver’s license	YES	YES	YES
Voter’s ID		YES	YES
Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID	YES	YES
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance	YES	YES
Police clearance	YES	YES
Postal ID	YES	YES	YES
Tax Identification Number (TIN)	YES	YES
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card	YES	YES
Social Security System (SSS) card	YES	YES
Senior Citizen card	YES	YES	YES
Barangay certification		YES
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID		YES
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) ID		YES
Seaman’s book		YES
Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration		YES
Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration		YES
Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) / NCDA	YES	YES
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) certification		YES
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID		YES
Unified Multi-Purpose ID	YES

If in any case that you have tried to use any of these IDs and they did or did not accept it and I put here is the total opposite please let me know. Especially if you work for any of these airlines.

OTHER VALID IDS ACCEPTED BY AIRLINES FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHT CHECK IN

For those who have the following IDs that are still valid , you may present any 1 of the following

Company ID
School ID

If there is anything I missed or you want to correct the list, please feel free to comment it down below.

NEW NORMAL: 4 Things To Know When You Plan For A Getaway In The Philippines

2021-01-08T21:36:00.002+08:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard on the tourism industry since earlier last year. The whole world is living in the new normal, and things have changed as it was before; but all these travelling restrictions are temporary, we will be able to put our passports to use again once the situation gets better.

Thankfully, the local inbound travel is slowly resuming. If you are itching for a local getaway or staycation in the new normal, there are a few things you need to note before you start packing your bags.

Photo source: Unsplash

Plan and Pre-book everything before your trip

If you are planning for domestic travel within the country, do check the requirements from the government. Some tourist spots like Bohol requires a negative RT-PCR test result submitted 72 hours before departure, document submission for pre-booked transport and tours and a confirmed hotel or Airbnb booking are needed as well. Although the cost of COVID-19 test is relatively high, it is mandatory to curb the spread of COVID-19 and ensure to yourself and others’ safety. Good news to the traveller; according to ABS-CBN News, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) currently provide a 50% subsidy for the swab test, which only charges Php 1,800.

For the hotels or resorts management to be prepared to serve their guests with safety and proper health protocols, you must pre-book everything; including flight tickets, hotel reservation, transportation, and tours package. No spontaneous trip and plan this round; it is our responsibility to keep everyone around us safe.

Install and Register Traze Mobile Application

In battling against COVID-19, several counties introduced the tracking app, and it also applied to the Philippines. Cosmotech Philippines cooperate with Philippines Ports Authority (PPA) launched the TRAZE Contact Tracing App. You are required to ‘check-in’ by scanning the QR code provided at the restaurants, hotels or airports in just a few seconds. If you have come in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient, an in-app notification will pop out so that you can start self-quarantine or visit the hospital for a COVID-19 test.

Wear a mask and keep your hand sanitised

Hygiene is the top priority while you plan on the getaway amid the pandemic. Face masks and hand sanitisers have become our daily essential in coping the pandemics. Onboarding will be denied to those without a face mask. Keep your hand sanitised after touching public surfaces. Besides, all the tourism-related facilities such as hotels and accommodation, restaurants, spas and recreation are mandatory to run through regular sanitation. The travel-enthusiast is also encouraged to request the contactless check-in process to minimise physical contact.

Social Distancing Rules

Air - travel

Only 70% passenger capacity will operate, and middle seats will not be available for flights following the social distancing rule.

Dining

Dining tables and chairs at restaurants will be rearranged according to the social distancing measure. Besides, hotels have temporarily stopped providing self-service buffets and replaced by serving plated meals to minimise the risk.

Hotel accommodation facilities

The establishments limit the guest capacity for public facilities to maintain the social distance. To avoid the hassle or ruin your plan, pre-book the time slot to use the facilities such as pools, gym and spa to ensure you have a smooth and save getaway experience.

Sometimes you just need to go out there to unwind and recharge from the work from home lifestyle. Opt to travel responsibly by complying all the safety protocols imposed by the authorities.

35 Accredited Cebu Hotels for Non-OFWs Arrival Accommodation During Covid19

2020-09-23T16:13:00.000+08:00

I don’t want to call these hotels as quarantine facilities because they’re not. They’re simply a place for you to stay that are accredited by the government for you to stay at while waiting for your PCR Swab Test that is done when you arrive here in Cebu.

It is REQUIRED for you to get tested before you will be released to the, well, Cebu. So while waiting for your result you’ll be staying at any of these hotels. Please note though that you will be paying for this, and not the government IF YOU ARE A NON-OFW. So for OFWs who are returning to the Philippines and are landing in Cebu, your quarantine test and even accommodation is free but for those Filipinos who are for example, stranded in other countries and have a tourist visa, and now returning back here in the Philippines, you must pay for your own test and accommodation.

With that, as your Cebu blogger I’d like to provide you the list of accredited hotels in Cebu that you can stay at while waiting for your Covid19 test results.

LAPU-LAPU CITY ACCREDITED HOTELS

I suggest you stay in a Lapu-Lapu city hotel if you are flying again to your home town. For example, you’ll be going home to Cagayan de Oro or General Santos, or Bacolod but from the other country you’ll be landing in Cebu, I suggest you stay in these hotels since the airport is within Lapu Lapu City. But of course I suggest these hotels for those who are Lapu Lapu City residents.

Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown
Mactan Newtown, LLC
Contact Person(s): Grace Bartolome / Catherine Arpon
grace.bartolome@savoyhotelmactan.com.ph / catherine.arpon@savoyhotelmactan.com.ph
Contact No: 0917.866.9431 / 09178717974
Website: www.savoyhotelmactan.com.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort
Buyong, Maribago, LLC
Contact Person(s): Dennis Maranon
dennis.maranon@bluewater.com.ph
Contact No: 0998.962.8266
Website: www.bluewater.com.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Crimson Resort and Spa
Seascapes Resort Town, LLC
Contact Person(s): Jo Ann Castillo
info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com / resrevm.mactan@crimsonhotel.com
Contact No: 0998.592.6610 / 032.401.9999
Website: www.crimsonhotel/com/mactan
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark
ML Quezon Highway, LLC
Contact Person(s): Alex Aquino / Jessica Dagatan
alex.aquino@jparkislandresort.com
Contact No: 0917.850.2223/ 09178554173 / 09177126972
Website: www.jparkislandresort.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino
Airport Road, Pusok, LLC
Contact Person(s): Kristele Sorminillon / Korina Gabucan
k.sormillon@waterfronthotels.net / whc.rsvn@waterfronthotels.net / wm.conventions@waterfronthotels.net / waterfrontmactansales@gmail.com
Contact No: 0998.594.8550 / 09985948580 / 032. 230.9000/ 1-800-10-9376688 / 032.340.4888
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Solea Resort
Wahing Street, Alegria, Cordova, Mactan Cebu
Contact Person(s): Rachelle Ann B. Potot / Jhunriel Guinicor
rballelos.solea@gmail.com / guinocor.j@soleahotels.com / info@soleahotels.com
Contact No: 032.517.8889 / 0998.586.3650
Website: https://soleahotels.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Marigondon, LLC
Contact Person(s): Milai Legaspi
fom@plantationbay.com
Contact No: 0917.316.3013
Website: www.plantationbay.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Eloisa Royal Suites
Maximo Patalinghug Ave, Basak, LLC
Contact Person(s): Hearty Albutra
eloisaroyalsuites@gmail.com
Contact No: 0917.629.5188 / 09173091921 / 032.491.1913
Website: www.eloisaroyalsuites.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

BE Resort Mactan
Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu City
Contact Person(s): Ms. Mychelle Teo
mychylle.teo@beresorts.com
Contact No: 09176550491
Website: https://beresortmactan.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Appleton Hotel Mactan
M. Patalinghug Avenue, Basak Gate, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City
Contact Person(s): Sharamae Shayne Zamora
frontoffice1@appletonhotel.net
Contact No: 032.520.8888 / 0921.708.8885 / 0956.621.9058
Website: www.appletonhotel.net
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Vivien's Hotel
Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City H
Contact Person(s): Honeylou Amores
fo@vivienshotels.com
Contact No: 09952187747
Website: http://vivienshotelsmactan.com/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Goldberry Suites
ML Quezon Highway, LLC
Jasmin Badajos smm@goldberrysuites.com
Contact No: 0917.320.4559
Website: www.goldberrysuites.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Felicity Island Hotel
Basak, Lapu-Lapu City
Contact Person(s): Honeylou Amores / Hershey
rsvn@felicityislandhotel.com / fo@felicityislandhotel.com
Contact No: 09054772382
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hotel/Felicity-Island-Hotel-by-RPHGI
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Dulcinea Hotel
Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City
Contact Person(s): Rowela Aguro
info@dulcineahotel.ph
Contact No: 09178217154/ 09064722628 / 495.2741
Website: http://www.dulcineahotel.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

If you’re a resident of Mandaue City or to the north of Cebu, or maybe all of the accredited Lapu Lapu city hotels have ran out of rooms there’s only one (1) accredited Mandaue City hotel that you can stay at:

Bai Hotel Cebu
Ouano Avenue, NRA, Mandaue City
Contact Person(s): Hazel Abayon
hlabayon@baihotel.com.ph
Contact No: 0917.825.2139
Website: www.baihotels.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

ACCREDITED CEBU CITY HOTELS

If you are from Cebu city or will be heading to the south of Cebu, then I suggest you stay at these hotels that are accredited and are in Cebu city.

Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites
F. Cabahug St., Ayala Access Road, Kasambagan, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Cha Janier
sales2@sarrosahotel.com / reservations@sarrosahotel.com
Contact No: 09178999068 / 09176610741
Website: www.sarrosahotel.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Radisson Blu Hotel
Pope John Paul II Avenue cor S. Osmena Blvd, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Marife Yuson
reservations.cebu@radisson.com / mpepino@radisson.com
Contact No: 09175578116 / 032.402.9900
Website: radissonhotels.com/blu
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Cebu Parklane International Hotel
Archbishop Reyes Avenue
Contact Person(s): Phylis Mojado
pmojado@parklanehotel.com.ph
Contact No: 09176320015
Website: www.cebuparklanehotel.com.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Marco Polo Plaza Hotel
Veterans Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Bensy Miravalles
bensy.miravalles@marcopolohotels.com / resv.ceb@marcopolohotels.com
Contact No: 0906.570.7204
Website: www.marcopolohotels.com/en/hotels/philippines/cebu/marco_polo_plaza/index/html
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Red Planet Hotel
36 Archbishop Reyes Ave. Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Lourdes Dizon
lourdes@redplanethotels.com
Contact No: 09175593461
Website: www.redplanethotels.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Ms. Christine Luague
c.luague@waterfronthotels.net
Contact No: 09177717371
Website: https://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/waterfront-cebucity-hotel-casino/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Quest Hotel and Conference Center
Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Mariel Daugdaug / Cindy Alcantara / Kirstal Manalang
cebusm1@questhotelsandresorts.com / ceburm@questhotelsandresorts.com / cebufom@questhotelsandresorts.com
Contact No: 09989615723 / 09173129765 / 09989615723
Website: https://questhotelsandresorts.com/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Palm Grass Hotel
68 General Junquera St., Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Diza-Rose Kyshia Ong / KC Lyn Salomon
reservation@palmgrasshotel.com.ph / acctmanager.palmgrass@gmail.com
Contact No: 032.4122438 loc.126 / 09393568945 / 09176250236 / 09350093455
Website: www.palmgrasshotel.com.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Summit Circle Cebu
Fuente Osmena Circle, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Katharine Ricafort / Rose Adlaon
katharine.ricafort@robinsonsland.com / rosevina.adlaon@robinsonsland.com
Contact No: 09988403541 / 09988408781
Website: www.summithotels.ph
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Summit Galleria Cebu
Benedicto St. Corner Gen. Maxilom Ave Ext., Bgy Tejero, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Rudney Alforque / Precious Love Pancho/ Duty Manager Hotline
Rudney.Alforque@robinsonsland.com / preciouslove.pancho@robinsonsland.com / markanthony.artaba@robinsonsland.com / roselyn.rosacena@robinsonsland.com
Contact No: 09954879221 / 09272161744 / 09329709051
Website: www.summithotels.ph
BOOK HERE (agoda) | BOOK HERE (booking)

Citadines Hotel
Baseline Center, Juana Osmena Street., Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Ms. Yoraidyl Mae Lerios
yoraidyl.lerios@the-ascott.com / frontoffice.ccc@the-ascott.com
Contact No: 09175597885
Website: www.citadines.com
BOOK HERE (agoda) | BOOK HERE (booking)

The Henry Hotel
Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Seggrett Quizeo / Bienna Joy P. Dato-on
squizeo@thehenryhotel.com / bdato-on@thehenryhotel.com
Contact No: 09177929341 / 09171182921
Website: www.thehenryhotel.com
BOOK HERE (agoda) | BOOK HERE (booking)

Seda Ayala Center Cebu
Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Frances Alfafara
alfafara.frances@sedahotels.com
Contact No: 09176314855
Website: www.sedahotels.com/ayalacentercebu
BOOK HERE (agoda) | BOOK HERE (booking)

Seda Central Bloc Cebu
Cebu IT Park, V. Padriga Street, Apas, 6000 Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Thrina A. De la Calzada
delacalzada.thrina@sedahotels.com
Contact No: 09178413193
Website: http://centralbloccebu.sedahotels.com/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Harolds Hotel
Gorordo Ave., cor. Rosal St., Kamputhaw, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Ms. Yannah Ricarte
jsuarez@haroldshotel.com.ph / reservations@haroldshotel.com.ph
Contact No: 09177118814
Website: https://www.haroldshotel.com.ph/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Wellcome Hotel
18 Molave St., Kamputhaw, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Rhealyn Concepcion / Arlyn Obguia
aco.gphsales@gmail.com
Contact No: 09179526442
Website: http://www.wellcomehotel.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Crown Regency Towers
Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Zarnie dela Cruz / Jericha Mhei Escriba / Benedict Samson
zarnie.delacruz@crownregency.com / jericha.escriba@crownregency.com / benedict.samson@crownregency.com
Contact No: 09173086079 / 09173086082 / 09188500013
Website: www.crownregency.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

White Knight Hotel
General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Emily Dela Rosa / Glomera Niaga
delarosaemily09@gmail.com
Contact No: 09054460387 / 09269317636
Website: https://www.whiteknighthotel-cebu.com/
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Bayfront Hotel
Kaoshiung St., Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Duty Manager
dutymanager@bayfronthotelcebu.com
Contact No: 09953881460 / 09983133629
Website: www.bayfronthotelcebu.com
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

Oyo Hedda Hotel
#6 Junquera Ext cor R.R. Landon St San Antonio, Cebu City
Contact Person(s): Dr. Hedda B. Guirnela
heddaguirnela101@gmail.com
Contact No: 032.254.2485 / 09321899870 / 09174331178
BOOK HERE (booking) | BOOK HERE (agoda)

FAQ’S

How many days should I book?
The safest is 3 Days and 2 Nights. The PCR swab test result here in Cebu is usually released within 48hrs. since a private company process your tests.

What if my flight is canceled and moved?
I suggest you book the “free cancellation” hotel. The link for “book here” does offer free cancellations and re-bookings for free.

Can I pay when I check out?
Yes you can, just communicate with the hotel. They usually do understand that you might not have any pesos with you.

Who will pick me up at the airport?
THE HOTEL. Your family could not see you while your result is not there yet. You can let the hotel know your flight details and request a pick up.

How can I buy food?
The hotel rate usually includes your 3 times a day meal, but you may want to clarify this with your hotel. Also, don’t expect really great food. They usually offer just simple food.

What if I’m not satisfied with the hotel food?
You can ask your family to drop you some food at the hotel. We did for our mom and just ask the staff to bring it at her hotel.

Can I go out to by some things like medications?
No you can’t. You can’t leave the room when your test result is not there yet. You may call the front desk for requests and questions.

Let me know guys if you have any more questions from your Philippines travel blog and I hope this list will be able to help you or the person you know. If you have questions and clarifications, please feel free to comment it in the comment section below.

Source: https://mactancebuairport.com/

What is the best time to visit Santa Fe?

2020-08-24T16:08:00.005+08:00

In the late 19th century, the main railroads bypassed New Mexico state capital Santa Fe, which contributed to the economic decline. In the long run, it might have been the best thing that happened to the city. Santa Fe focused on attracting artists and retires, and at the same time, made a city planning effort that included new houses and buildings to follow traditional techniques and styles, which led to the Santa Fe Style.

The whole area is a popular tourist attraction with its beautiful landscapes and countless art galleries.

The fall season is the best time to visit Santa Fe. September marks the beginning of numerous festivals, and the weather is decent with warm days and chilly nights. Precipitation is low throughout the year, with occasional summer showers. Summer is high season in Santa Fe with hotels at full capacity, while winter attracts skiers for nearby ski resorts.

What is the elevation of Santa Fe New Mexico?

Santa Fe is situated at 7,199 feet, which makes him the highest state capital in the US—located in the northern part of the Rio Grande Valley at the southern end of the magnificent Rocky Mountains. Nearby Sangre de Cristo mountain range is the southern-most range in the Rockies. The high elevation contributes to low precipitation, and the city gets more than 300 sunny days annually.

If you are looking to visit vibrant art galleries of Santa Fe, apply for an esta american visa in time. The visitors need to fill out an online form, pay a small fee, and wait for the administration to grant their approval. ESTA program is available for countries in the Visa Waiver program. The application process is straightforward, with an online questionnaire. Once you obtain ESTA, it is valid for two years, and you can spend up to 90 days exploring the United States of America.

Free things to do in Santa Fe

Santa Fe Bandstand is in the historic Plaza, and from 2003, the summer period has four to five concerts a week. The free shows range from salsa and Latin, through country and bluegrass to Americana, indie, pop, and rock music.

Canyon Road arts district is the heart of the artistic part of Santa Fe, and the large proportion of over 200 art galleries is in this historic neighbourhood. Galleries have installations, sculptures, and highly educated curators that can engage you on all subject cultural. For serious customers, it is possible to arrange meetings with artists that live nearby.

Santa Fe has great museums that have free entry at certain times. Examine rich cultural and historical heritage in the New Mexico History Museum. What would a vibrant cultural scene be without the New Mexico Museum of Art? Museum Hill has two more valuable attractions: Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art.

If you like romantic sunsets, climb up the Santa Fe Hill on the east side of the town. Visit the Cross of Martyres Park and watch the incredible sunset over the impressive landscape.

Randall Davey Audubon Centre and Sanctuary welcome over 200 bird species on its 135-acres property in the top part of Upper Canyon. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the woodlands, numerous birds, and butterflies.

Although it was built after the Spanish period, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a pivotal historic and religious attraction, and one of the icons of New Mexico. Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy built the catholic cathedral.

Farmers market Santa Fe

Another great neighbourhood with plenty of attractions is Santa Fe Railyard, which is also home for the farmers market. The area is a trendy part of the town, with many high-end art exhibitions taking place there. Farmers market pavilion attracted adjacent galleries, bars, restaurants, and boutiques. On Saturdays and Tuesdays, farmers market attracts local food producers. You can hop on a Rail runner, a train that goes to Albuquerque.

Santa Fe opera

It is easy to see why Santa Fe is on UNESCO's Creative Cities Network with so many art galleries, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and vibrant art collectives like Meow Wolf. For a relatively small town, it is also unusual to have its own opera house. Santa Fe Opera operates in the large Crosby Theatre. The performances started back in 1957 and since then had numerous American and classic opera premiers.

Do you need a car to visit Santa Fe?

The public transportation is not developed like in many larger cities, but you could visit Santa Fe without a car. Downtown is not significant, and all attractions are within walking distance. But if you want to explore the town, places like Meow Wolf, Museum Hills and other the best way is with a car. You can, of course, use the Uber also.

However, you plan to visit Santa Fe, you will need ESTA travel authorization . The best time to apply is right before you start planning the visit. Inform yourself about the Visa Waiver program, get all necessary documentation, and apply online. For ordinary tourists and travellers, ESTA is usually approved, but it might take some time, so make sure you fulfil the paperwork on time.

Bottom line

Surrounded by southern flanks of the Rocky Mountains and the desert landscape Santa Fe is a vacation gem near the largest New Mexico city, Albuquerque. Artistic feel, vibrant and laid-back culture and hospitality make Santa Fe an excellent choice for a few -day visit.

Staying Green in Singapore

2020-07-17T21:38:00.003+08:00

Singapore is a success story in terms of countries that worked long and hard for their independence and continued to thrive after. Over 50 years later Singapore is considered to be one of the most popular countries in Asia and has managed to garner the interest of other countries around the world. When Singapore first started as a country, it had nothing to offer to the world or itself. However, it was through good leadership and a lot of initial struggle that Singapore was able to establish a name for itself and is now considered one of the best countries in terms of multiple standards. Its citizens enjoy a lot of privileges and their passport opens doors for them around the world.

If we talk about the good things about Singapore then we have a lot to cover. The first thing we will mention is how clean Singapore has been from the start and how it has managed to stay incredibly clean and waste efficiently to this day. Singapore has a plan to go zero-waste by the new few decades, and if they succeed to accomplish that, then they will be the first country in the world to do so. Apart from their cleanliness, Singapore is also known for its tourism.

Singapore has managed to draw in millions of tourists every year and the numbers are only projected to grow here. Singapore has many sites that will meet the needs of every tourist and the fact that it can cater to diverse tourist needs only adds to its favor. Singapore is also a strong financial hub in Asia and a lot of international investors are interested in investing in Singapore’s market.

If we talk generally, then job opportunities and the standard of living in Singapore also happen to be amongst the best in Asia. Singapore is also opening PR opportunities for foreigners, so if you happen to be interested in Singapore and can see yourself spending the rest of your life there, you can look into HTTPS://APPLYFORPRSINGAPORE.COM/ to fill in your application and learn more about the process so that you are ready with everything once you do leap.

Singapore is slowly becoming the cultural melting pot for Asians because you will find all kinds of Asian immigrants living there ranging from Chinese, Malay, Indonesian and Indian people. This has also managed to influence their culture and you will see this in their food, architecture, and so on.

Another great achievement that Singapore manages to have under its belt is how well it has managed to integrate greenery into their otherwise upscale, urban infrastructure. Singapore has the highest score worldwide in terms of the Green View Index. An Index designed by MIT to measure the number of trees in greenery throughout cities. Singapore has managed to incorporate greenery well with its urban design and you will find this greenery in green walls, atriums, green walkways, artificial parks, etc. All in all, Singapore has established itself as a garden city through and through. If you ever go for a bus tour around Singapore you will notice that there is a small green belt or strip around every road and that the country does not go around cutting off every tree and plant for the sake of urban planning. Policymakers in Singapore have separate bodies that overlook the construction of greenbelts and areas throughout the country to keep it sustainable.

Singapore has created the blueprint that shows that urban planning does not have to mean losing our greenery. Singapore instead works to make sure that their buildings and their greenery continue to complement each other, and this has worked out for them. It has worked so well in fact that Singapore has a separate panel that works to advise other countries around the world on how they can incorporate greenery into their urban sectors. Singapore has, from the start, worked to make a sustainable and eco-friendly urban setup, and they have managed to prove that staying green is not expensive or impossible for countries.

This is why Singapore serves as a beacon of hope to countries that are struggling to manage a greenbelt for their urban centers and districts. This is especially important now because the world population is beginning to grow, and while it is important to make sure that everyone is being accommodated, we also need to make sure that that we have enough greenery around us to not just survive but to thrive as well.

Environmental degradation and enhanced deforestation will only continue to cause more trouble for us as time goes on. This is why if we want to effectively deal with the threat of global warming, then we need to make sure that we, as people, and our governing bodies and policymakers are staying green like Singapore.

Iloilo Airport Domestic Departure Guide

2020-06-29T16:15:00.002+08:00

March 4, 2020 – I had a day trip to Iloilo city to surprise a close friend on her birthday. I only can do a day trip since I have my babies who bark at home who are left all alone. Good thing I did, since if I stayed longer I could’ve been stuck there in Iloilo since there was a lockdown due to Covid19 pandemic.

Therefore, please be aware that this guide on the Domestic Flight departure in Iloilo International Airport is PRE-COVID19. Well, actually covid19 is already present in the country and I’m taking the risk but the high security and multiple documents required including a medical clearance was not required when I departed the Iloilo Airport.

But at least through this post you’ll be able to have the basic idea and familiarize yourself on how the Iloilo International Airport for a domestic flight will look like and where you’ll go. But if it’s for your very first time to fly, you might want to watch this video on the BASICS ON FLYING FOR THE FIRST TIME in an Airport for a DOMESTIC flight.

ILOILO AIRPORT DOMESTIC DEPARTURE

If you want the video above, you’ll have the basic idea on how to go around in an airport and what steps you’ll go through. So, how about Iloilo Airport?

Here are the following steps that I’ve gone through in the Iloilo Airport:

Ticket Check – to ensure that I am the one who’s flying.
Security Check – check and scan of my bags through xray.
CHECK IN – even though I did have a web check in with Philippine Airlines. I still have to go through the check in counter. While with other airlines, I don’t need to do so.
Security Check – another security check before entering the waiting area where the Boarding gates are located.
Boarding Gate – our gate was transferred last minute and that’s why you have to listen and not fall asleep. Once called we start exiting through the gate.
Boarding – after a few minutes of walking I saw the plane and entered the plane, and have a seat.

If you are like me who prefers a visual to learn faster and will be able to appreciate this better, here’s the video of my whole experience in the Iloilo Airport at that time.

Your experience now might be different since there are changes in all of the airports, all over the world. So there are more documents you need to bring, and things you need to do. So make sure you’re at the Iloilo International Airport at least 3 hours before you’re flight. But with this you’re at least familiar with the steps you’ll go through plus the new steps they’ll require you to take.

If your trip is not necessary, please do stay at home or the current city or province you are at. Being in a closed space is a very high risk to get Covid19. If you do decide to pursue on getting on the plane, please do take care of yourself, don’t always touch your face, use facemask, if possible face shields, and wash your hands.

How to Apply [AS A FREELANCE] for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu? [2020]

2020-04-28T19:48:00.003+08:00

January 13, 2020 – I applied for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu. South Korea has never been on the top of my bucket list but because I want to send off my mom halfway to the US, I decided to go to South Korea, at least around Seoul to experience the Korean culture and that’s my primary reason in applying for a South Korea Tourist Visa.

But upon doing some more research, I think there are a lot of things about South Korea that I actually want to see and experience. Especially that they were able to preserve their culture and even the historic sites such as the Palaces and even the village with traditional Korean house.

Anyway, in this article, I as your Cebu blogger will show you how I was able to get an APPROVED South Korea Tourist Visa as a FREELANCER or HOME BASE worker who doesn’t have a stable income, don’t have strong ties, and not much of savings.

South Korea Tourist Visa Requirements

Here is the list of the South Korea Tourist Visa requirements that is given to me by the South Korea embassy or consulate here in Cebu Philippines. They give me this list upon arrival at the South Korea consulate in Cebu to be able to complete and arrange the documents as listed, and they are:
South Korea Tourist Visa Application Form

Of course, you must fill up the application form. For a complete guide and to know how to fill out this form, please refer to this article on "how to fill out the South Korea Tourist Visa Application Form" where I also have my video on showing you how to fill up the form.

Download the latest South Korea Tourist visa application form here.

Passport Size Photo

If you’ll go to a photo studio, just tell them it’s for a South Korea Tourist Visa. They usually know the size, and please make sure to at least look professional or decent. My photo was actually edited, which is usually fine with South Korea since they themselves allow Photoshoped photos on their passport. Just don’t over do it.

Valid Passport

Make sure your passport is at least 6 months valid, it is not damaged, and still have pages to stamp on or else it’s best to RENEW YOUR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT.

Photocopy of Passport Bio Page

The Bio page contains your information, such as name, passport number, etc. You can submit a black and white photocopy of that page of your passport.

Photocopy of Visa of OECD Countries for the past 5 Years

If you’ve visited countries that are members of OECD photocopy those pages of the visas and stamps and submit it along with your other documents. If you don’t have any, it’s totally okay. I don’t have a single one.

Certificate of Employment

This is what freelancers or home base workers usual issues. We’re not technically employed, but since we do have a job, you can ask your client for a certificate of Employment, or at least a letter of Employment. I have a sample Letter of Employment for Visas ready for you, just customize it, and send it to your client to sign. I asked 1 of my client to sign it, that is based here in the Philippines to hope that they’ll consider that as my strong ties here in the Philippines.

Personal Bank Certificate

Go to the bank and branch where you opened your account, and ask for a Bank Certificate. They might charge you for this, but charges will depend on the bank. The bank certificate will show your current balance, average daily balance, date of account opened, etc. These information will help them decide if you’re financially capable, and will not be a financial burden in their country.

Personal Bank Statement

The statement should also come from that same bank. It will show your 3 months transactions, where it will help them see that there are transactions in your account and not just borrowing money to put funds and show them you have money when you actually don’t.

Having a lot of money, doesn’t also guarantee you a visa. I’ve heard some got denied even they have a high salary, high average daily balance, etc.

As for me, Metrobank charged me for both Bank Certificate and Bank Statement for P100.

Photocopy of PRC or IBP card

This is if you have one. It’s fine if you don’t. I also don’t have one.

Invitation Letter

If a company or a Korean have invited you to come to Korea, you should have them write you an invitation letter. Addressed to you, inviting you to Korea. Best if they can state how many days they wish you to stay, who will shoulder the expenses, etc.

Copy of Korean Company Business Permit or Korean Passport

If you’ve been invited by a company, they should provide you the business permit of the company or if you’re invited by a Korean, he/she should provide you a copy of that persons passport to submit to the South Korea Embassy along with other documents for the South Korea Tourist Visa application.

ITR

This is the most common issues for freelancers like me. If you don’t have one, like me best to provide a letter of explanation. See below.

Letter of Explanation

If among the requirements that should be applicable you can’t provide, such as the ITR you should provide a letter of explanation why you can’t submit one. At the same time, take advantage to explain to the consul why you want to visit South Korea, and why you should get an approval. If you need a sample letter, I have my own sample Letter of Explanation for visa application ready for you. Please personalize the letter, DON’T (I repeat DO NOT) copy, print, and submit it as is. This sample is just a guide for you.

How to Apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu?

I applied for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu and did not have to go through a travel agency. If you’re not based in Cebu but want to submit in Cebu, you can do so. But you must also go to Cebu on the date that is provided to you on when you can pick up your passport, approved or denied.
If you want a video discussion on how to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu, please watch this video.

Basically all you have to do is arrange the documents mentioned above, prepare at least 1 valid ID so that the building security will allow you to enter the building, and then get your number at the embassy’s security, and wait to be called.

Please take note of the following:
Submission of Application – 9am to 11am, Monday to Friday
Claiming of Passport – 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday

For those who wants to find out ahead that they are approved or denied, you can check at most a week before your scheduled date to claim your passport, at this website.

If you have any more questions on how to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu, please let me know down the comments below or contact me through social media. Please don't hesitate to ask to Exotic Philippines travel blog!

SUGGESTED READS:

Disclaimer: I am not a visa processor, visa expert, or do anything about visas. I am simply sharing my experience and knowledge on how to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa.

How to Fill the 2020 South Korea Tourist Visa Form?

2020-04-25T16:01:00.003+08:00

I was actually done filling up the form by December 2019, but by January 2020 the South Korea Embassy through their official website have announced that they have a new South Korea Tourist Visa Application form, a week before I decided to go to the South Korea Consulate in Cebu to submit my documents. So, I have to redo it again.

Nothing much have actually changed compared to the previous form, there are just more information they ask for such as your visits in South Korea if ever you did or was able to visit South Korea before.

Nervous or scared on filling this South Korea tourist visa application form? No worries, I am here to guide you and help you as your Philippines travel blogger. Think of it as an autobiography, but just tell the truth and no fantasies please. Don’t make up information or stories such as that you’ve been to a different country, when you actually didn’t.

Ready?

2020 South Korea Tourist Visa Application Form

You’ll be able to download the new South Korea tourist visa application form here, but make sure you also click here to see if there’s a new visa application form.

Below you’ll find my sample South Korea tourist visa application that I’ve filled up as a sample to guide you and give you examples on how to fill this out to help you understand things better.

Sample Filled Out SOUTH KOREA TOURIST VISA APPLICATION FORM

REMINDERS:

12PX FONT SIZE. Use 12 pixels as your font size. Font style should be readable, but I suggest you go for Arial.
USE BLACK FONT SIZE COLOR.
PRINT IN A4 SIZE. Not long, not short. But A4 size.
BE TRUTHFUL. Don’t use false information.
NO HOTEL BOOKING OR AIRLINE TICKET IS REQUIRED. You’re not required to book flights or hotel bookings ahead. I suggest you don’t since this is 50-50 chance that you’ll get approved. As for your location in South Korea, you may do research on which hotel you want to stay and use the hotel’s address.
DOWNLOAD PDF FILE. I suggest you download the PDF version and edit it on the PDF editor. Some find it hard to use the 12px font size most likely because they have downloaded and use the word file version of this visa application form.

NOTE: I am using PDFescape on editing of any PDF documents that I have. It’s FREE.

HOW TO FILL OUT THE 2020 SOUTH KOREA TOURIST VISA APPLICATION FORM?

I’ve made a video on how to fill out this application form which you can watch it below.

PART 1

PART 2

If you prefer a written discussion on how to fill out the South Korea tourist visa application form, please let me know and I’ll update this post for you.

USEFUL LINK:

Download the South Korea Tourist Visa Application form (version: Jan 2020)

Do you have any questions on how to fill out this South Korea tourist visa application form? Did I miss to discuss anything? Please let me know down the comments below or feel free to get in touch with me through email or on social media and this Philippines blog can be at your service.

Sample Employment Letter for Visa Application [FREELANCER]

2020-04-08T19:00:00.000+08:00

As a freelancer for years myself and a Philippines travel blogger, I have a number of bosses and quiet shy to bother my clients on writing a letter for me, or at least endorse me for my own pleasure. So I think this sample employment letter will be useful for freelancers who instead of asking for CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT (CoE) this will do.

Please note that this is not all coming from me, this was originally coming from my good friend Mary of The Infinite Adventures who’s by the way an awesome writer. So please, if you want the original sample of certificate of employment, head over to her blog.

I’ve personalize her version a bit (I think) and asked my local (Philippines based) client so that, for my case it will not be just an endorsement that I am employed, got a salary, but also of course that I have strong ties here in the Philippines and that’s the reason for me to come back and not illegally work there in their country.

So I suggest, if you do have a client based in your country, you do have that client issue you a certificate of employment instead or like this employment letter. It’s not necessarily you’re part or an in-house person of the company; it’s simply saying that you are indeed working and have ties somewhere.

If you don’t have a client here in the Philippines, I do think a client(s) especially with good pay will be also alright. Just send them this and have it signed.

SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR FREELANCERS

I used this letter of employment for my application on South Korea Tourist Visa which I got approved for. So I can totally say that this letter do work, and is acceptable for a tourist visa application.

January 6, 2020

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines
12th Floor China Bank Corporate Center Lot 2, Samar Loop Cor. Road 5,
Cebu Business Park, Mabolo, Cebu City

Dear Sir / Madam:
This is to certify that G Dumaguing is employed/hired by Company ABC as a SEO Specialist. She has been rendering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services to our company since February 2010 up to the present.

As our SEO Specialist, she is in charge of making our website CompanyABC.com to rank on keywords on search engines like Google .

G Dumaguing receives P30,000 base pay every month for his work. She is not required to apply for a leave of absence, nor is she required to report to the office on a regular basis.

This certification serves as proof of G Dumaguing’s affiliation with us as a SEO Specialist. This certification is issued upon his request for the purpose of acquiring a South Korean Tourist Visa.

Sincerely,

Boss name
Position (e.g. CEO)
company
address
Tel No.: +
Mobile No.:
Email:

You may copy this file through Google docs here.

Notes:

Please don’t forget to personalize it, and change it to your name and just print it.
The fonts in bold to highlight the parts that you should really change.
If you’re not submitting in Cebu, please change the embassy address or the country name and address (if not for South Korea tourist visa)
Ideally, you should print this on an A4 size paper (if you’re submitting a South Korea visa or Japan Tourist Visa) so that all documents you’ll submit has the same paper size. Just looks good when you submit it on the embassy.

RELATED READS:

How to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa?
How to fill up a South Korea Tourist Visa Application form?
How to write a LETTER OF EXPLANATION for visa application?

If you have any questions on this sample letter of employment for freelancers for your tourist visa application, please feel free to ask me through comments down below or get in touch with me through social media and this Philippines travel blog can be useful for you.

5 Top Visa FREE Countries for Filipino First Time Traveler

2020-03-11T12:23:00.000+08:00

One of the dreams of some Filipinos like me is to be able to reach other countries. Even just once in our life we’d be able to visit a different country from our own. But as a Filipino, we don’t have access to a lot of countries that we can go to right away without asking for a visa.

But as someone who applied for a few visas already, I suggest that if it’s your first time ever to leave the Philippines and want to visit a non-visa free country where getting a visa is required such as US tourist visa, South Korean Tourist Visa, Japan visa, etc. I suggest as your Philippines travel blogger that you visit these top countries in Asia that offers a visa free entry to Filipinos first, and these are countries that I think Filipinos will most likely enjoy.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong actually the first country I’ve ever been to when I was 10 years old with my parents. I was able to visit there twice; the second time was last year 2019 with my brother’s family. We were there on the months of January and April, and it was not hot as in the Philippines but rains a lot. But make sure you bring some sweaters since there are days that it’s too windy or a bit cold for a Filipino.

Here are a few Hong Kong tourist spots that you should visit:

Hong Kong Ocean Park
Hong Kong Disneyland
Ngong Ping
Victoria Peak

Macau

I personally haven’t been here because the plan is that I’ll be visiting this place with my best friend since my family is not that interested with Macau even if you can easily visit this country for a day from Hong Kong by crossing a bridge or going for the Hong Kong – Macau fast craft.

It’s more known to be a casino place, but there are tourist areas that I think you want to post next on your Instragram, and they are”

Ruins of St. Paul
The Venetian Macao
Macau Tower
Senado Square

Singapore

I’ve made a number of flight bookings already going to Singapore, and all trips are canceled due to a number different reasons such as my travel buddy Chanel got injured (and my budget was for us 2 splitting expenses), and that nobody can take care of my dogs while I’m gone.

If you want to experience what it’s like in a first world country, I think Singapore is the best country to go to. And I think you’ll enjoy these Singapore tourist spots:

Universal Studios Singapore (USS)
Gardens by the Bay
Sentosa
Merlion Park

Malaysia

If you’re traveling with a kid who loves Legos in Singapore, then why not cross from Singapore to Malaysia’s border and visit Legoland Malaysia. But what I really want to visit in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur but there are tourist spots or areas that I really want to visit around Malaysia such as Penang, Langkawi, and Kota Kinabalu.

But if it’s your first time, I suggest you go ahead and go for Kuala Lumpur first. Here are some of the tourist spots in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia that I think it’s worth to check out:

Petronas Twin Tower
Batu Caves
KLCC Park
Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Taiwan

Here’s another country that you should have on your bucketlist and go to as soon as you can. They’ve been just testing us lately on giving us a visa free entry, updating the validity every year. I’ve heard that they have great food here, so here are some areas in Taiwan you should visit:

Taipei 101
Sun Moon Lake
Jioufen
Kenting National Park

Thailand

Another country that I’ve booked a flight but got canceled when the travel date is there, and everything is planned. But I really want to visit this country because my parents have been her, and my sister is based here at the moment and said there’s an improvement compared to before. Plus they have beautiful tourist spots like ours here in the Philippines too such as the island hopping areas in Phuket Thailand.

Here are the must visit areas in Thailand that I think you’d like to visit too:

Bangkok
Phuket
Chiang Mai

As a Philippines travel blog, I hope this was able to break down your list of go to countries after this lockdown due to Covid-19. Let me know where do you plan to go to and have fixed your plans, down in the comments section below.

11 Must-Try Filipino Restaurants in the Philippines

2020-02-21T11:14:00.001+08:00

Filipinos love to eat and to cook. That’s why there are several ways to cook adobo or several types of sinigang. And this is also the not-so-obvious reason you’ll find several Filipino restaurants in the country.

If you love food rich in sauce, soy sauce, or vinegar, and if you want them garlic-y like the typical Pinoys, then here’s a list of the must-try Filipino restaurants around the Philippines you should check out.

Metro Manila

Mama Rosa (Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig)
Mama Rosa Restaurant is perfect for those looking for Filipino home-cooked comfort food at affordable prices without letting the quality suffer. Mama Rosa promises to reinvent the taste of Filipino food to suit the changing needs of the Filipino people. Don’t forget to try their Kilawin, Sinaing na Tulingan, and Halaan!

Ilustrado Restaurant (Intramuros, Manila)
Located inside Intramuros, Ilustrado is where the old and the new meet. It’s the perfect mix for Filipino and Spanish from the looks of the place to the food. This is a must-try especially for tourists and visitors who have rented a house in downtown Manila . Cap off your tour of the past with this restaurant. Best to try their Paella and their Sampaguita ice cream.

Toyo Eatery (Makati City)
Visitors in the city would probably be drawn to Makati not just for the variety in home rentals but also for the rich culture and cuisine. It’s also where you’ll find Toyo Eatery, which can be described by one word: creative--from the name of the restaurant itself to the food they serve. Don’t be fooled by its name because the Filipino food with twists offered in this fine dining restaurant always come with explosive flavors.

Luzon

Baracuda Bar and Restaurant (Donsol, Sorsogon)
You’d get the freshest seafood (and biggest prawns) in this restaurant by the beach. They say it’s best to visit this restaurant at dinner time because it has the most amazing sunset view in Bicol.

The SOUQ Pampanga (San Fernando, Pampanga)
If you’re in the North, this is a must-visit. They offer great quality Filipino food and the place has that homey good ambiance. Some crowd favorites include ginataang kalabasa, kare-kare, and the famous palitaw. And of course, who would go to Pampanga without tasting their sisig?

Antonio’s (Tagaytay City, Cavite)
Antonio’s is one of the frequently mentioned restaurants in top food listicles. It is known for its freshest salad and its unique and well-curated menu. The restaurant gives off that romantic and classic feel. It’s a high-end type of restaurant perfect for any special celebration.

Visayas

Casa Amihan (Anda, Bohol)
Casa Amihan is a crowd favorite. It offers Filipino and Asian food with fresh seafood as their specialty. What makes the experience interesting is the beautiful and calm sea view you see while you eat.
Casa Amihan is a resort but guests are very much welcome to their restaurant. It’s a bit pricey compared to other restaurants around the area but you’ll get the food and service you deserve.

Negros Museum Cafe (Bacolod, Negros Occidental)
This award-winning restaurant in Bacolod is a must-try! They create their food, such as ham, bacon, and cheese from scratch. They offer food based on the classic international kitchen but made sure everything is out of local products and ingredients, is organic, and has a Pinoy twist.

Rico’s Lechon Restaurant (Lapu-Lapu CIty, Cebu)
Your trip to Cebu wouldn’t be complete if you won’t try the famous Rico’s lechon. Although Cebu has several great lechon restaurants, Rico’s is known for the traditional, very tasty, tender, and moist lechon. They now also added spicy lechon to their menu.

Mindanao

Karagatan Restaurant (General Luna, Siargao)
There are many fusion restaurants in Siargao, but Karagatan is one of the best-rated restos in the area. You’ll find it inside Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa. Their focus is serving guests their Modern Asian Seafood. Some of the must-tries are their Siargao Mud Crabs, Garlic Pepper Prawns, and Butter Scallops.

Rekado Davao (Davao City, Davao del Sur)
Rekado Davao is known for its take on the Filipino cuisine. This restaurant takes pride in signature dishes including Kalderobo (where Kaldereta meets Adobo) and fresh lumpia.
Their food serving is good for 3-4 people and their two-storey restaurant can accommodate up to 200 diners.

Filipinos love to stick to the familiar yet at the same time, love to explore and give traditional recipes some twists and upgrades. That’s why these featured Filipino restos try to preserve or reinvent beloved Filipino food. Give these restaurants a try as part of travel plans!

5 Basic Things You Need To Know About Schengen Visa

2020-02-18T19:59:00.001+08:00

Where traveling to Europe is concerned, the Schengen visa remains to be among the most popular visa obtained by tourists – and for a good reason. A Schengen visa lets you freely enter, roam, and transit in 26 European countries, or Schengen States, that are part of the Schengen Zone without having to go through border control. Internal borders are non-existent in the zone.

Learn everything you need to know about the Schengen visa here and get ready for the ultimate European backpacking experience!

What is a Schengen visa and what countries does it cover?

A Schengen visa is a short stay visa that affords holders the privilege of free movement within the Schengen area . This means they can enter any of the 26 member countries, leave one Schengen country for another, and enjoy traveling to as many Schengen countries as they like within 90 days.
Below are the 26 member countries within the Schengen Zone. Any of these countries can issue a Schengen visa.

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Among them, it is said that Lithuania is the easiest to obtain a Schengen visa from, with over 98% of Schengen visa applications being approved. On the other hand, France remains to be the most popular in the zone, receiving more than 86 million tourists annually.

A Schengen visa also offers benefits for foreign travelers in non-Schengen territories. A double or multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you to enter and stay in these 18 non-Schengen countries:

Albania
Antiagua and Barbuda
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Georgia
Gibraltar
Kosovo
Mexico
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Romania
Sao Tome and Principe
Serbia
Turkey

Who needs a Schengen visa?

Both business and leisure travelers can get a Schengen visa. You also meed a Schengen visa if you will are headed to the Schengen area for the following purposes:

Medical
Business
Leisure/ tourism
Sports
Cultural events
Airport transit
Transiting seafarers
Official visit
Study for less than 90 days

If you will be studying, working, or staying more than 90 days in the Schengen area, then you need a national visa, not a Schengen visa.

Citizens from third countries (countries that are not part of the European Union – EU, European Free Trade Association – EFTA, European Economic Area – EEA) must obtain a Schengen visa when traveling to the Schengen zone.

Types of Schengen visas

Single-entry visa – allows visa holder to enter Schengen zone just once, without ability to return after exiting
Double-entry – allows visa holder to enter Schengen zone two times. After exiting the area the second time, visa holder can no longer return to the Schengen Area.
Multiple-entry visa – allows visa holder multiple entries and returns to the Schengen area, provided they stay no more than 90 days in a 180-day period. Multiple-entry visas can vary from 1 year, 3 year, and 5-year multiple entry visa.

Cost of Schengen visa

Schengen visa fee is 80 euros for adults. Children and certain nationals may pay a lower fee or be totally exempted from the fee depending on the conditions. Refer to the following for the list of fees:

Adults – 80 euros
Kids aged 6-12 – 40 euros
Kids younger than 6 – free
Diplomats and holders of service or official passports – free
Family of EU or EEA national – free
Traveling for scientific research – free
Students and teachers on a school trip - free

How to get started

Now that you know the basics of a Schengen visa, get started. Put a trip itinerary together, including countries you wish to visit, where you wish to enter and exit, for how long, and others. Be sure to check if your passport is valid, you have enough funds in your bank account, and you have all the requirements needed before filing your application.

NO ITR - Sample Letter of Explanation for Visa Application

2020-02-13T12:00:00.002+08:00

January 13, 2020 – I have submitted my documents personally at the South Korea Embassy here in Cebu Philippines to apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa. As what you may be aware of, one of the requirements in applying for a South Korea Tourist Visa is an ITR, and if you’re a long time reader in this travel blog or a subscriber on my YouTube channel you know that I am a freelancer, and I’m among those freelancers that does not have an ITR.

I have this problem a long time ago, I’ve wanted to go and apply for a Japan Tourist Visa but with the ITR requirement, I don’t want to break my heart on getting a denied visa again. Not until recently, I found out through fellow travelers and fellow freelancers that we can still submit an application for a Japan tourist visa and South Korea tourist visa by submitting a letter of explanation.

It’s for real! They did accept my letter of explanation, did NOT tell me that it’s incomplete, and just stamped my documents and gave me a slip so I can claim it on the said date. No hassle! But do I have an APPROVED SOUTH KOREA TOURIST VISA?

As of writing this article, there’s no news yet about my tourist visa application, all it say on their visa status site is “APPLICATION RECEIVED” but I’ll update this post once they publish an update, or when I found out on the day of the pick-up date about the status of my visa.

UPDATE:
February 12, 2020 - MY SOUTH KOREA VISA APPLICATION IS APPROVED.

SAMPLE LETTER OF EXPLANATION FOR NO ITR

The whole letter is actually not entirely my idea. I really don’t have an idea on how to write this, explain my situation. But I actually merged 2 sample letters I found online, where one of it is from a good friend Mary of The Infinite Adventure (click here for her sample letter), and you might want to check that out. I also suggest to check the sample letter from Top Loading for Life blog, it was for her Japan tourist visa application so at least this sample letter is a hybrid for both country. LOL.

Please do note that the letter below is the actual letter I have submitted. I planned to remove some parts, but these are important parts to show the consul that I have a clear conscience and true intentions to just visit their beautiful country. Also, I am not a great writer, I just blog to share info, and not to get an award for writing so great, with perfect sentence construction. So excuse me if I have some wrong grammar or whatever.

Here is the letter I submitted to the South Korea Embassy in Cebu.

January 13, 2020

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines
12th Floor China Bank Corporate Center Lot 2, Samar Loop Cor. Road 5,
Cebu Business Park, Mabolo, Cebu City

Dear Sir / Madam:

Good day!

I am personally writing this letter to explain why I failed to present an Income Tax Return (ITR) as part of the requirements to obtain a Tourist Visa to South Korea. The reason why I do not have an ITR is because I work as a Freelance SEO specialist. I work on an ad-hoc and/or monthly basis for clients or website owners.

However, rest assured that my finances at the moment are enough to cover my trip expenses. I’ve prepared and set aside PHP 50,000.00 for the 4 days trip, which I believe that this amount is enough for me to fully enjoy what I wish to experience and see in Seoul such as visiting tourist spots like the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palaces and N Seoul Tower, and go on a food trip to taste the authentic flavor of Seoul like in Gwangjang Market.

The primary purpose of this trip is to send off my mother half way to the US this March 2, 2020. My 62 years old mother will have a long layover of at least 10 hours on her Korean Air flight before flying to San Francisco, California and I’d like to be able to join her halfway to help her have a comfortable flight and help her manage her medications.

As a travel blogger behind www.ExoticPhilippines.info, I mainly travel around the Philippines since 2011, but I also travel and share my experience in other countries such as when I visited Hong Kong and Shenzhen China (mainland) last year for a few days and return back home to my five (5) beloved dogs that I’ve left with a nanny. So I’d like to take this opportunity to explore Seoul and share my Seoul experience to my readers on my travel blog and my viewers on my YouTube channel (www.YouTube.com/GDumaguing) to also help in promoting the South Korea Tourism.

For your reference I’ve also attached my bank statements and bank certificate, a letter from my Philippines based client, and paid PayPal Invoices of my non-Philippines based clients as a proof of my income.

My family and I are hoping for your very kind consideration.

Sincerely,

G Dumaguing

*note: the colored texts in this letter are not colored when I submitted. It’s for the purpose to breakdown the letter on why I mention it on the letter.

You may check it on Google Docs to download and make a copy for yourself here.

THE LETTER BREAKDOWN

You might notice the colored texts above. I just want to highlight these parts since there’s a reason why I have mentioned these on the letter.

The primary purpose of the letter is to explain why I don’t have an ITR, but at the same time I took the chance to express my situation, the purpose of my trip, and why I want to stay for a few days and that I will really come back to my home country.

NO ITR.

The red ones is the main purpose why I write the letter. Why I don’t have an ITR. That I am working as a freelance, and my income is on a monthly basis. No fixed income.

SHOW MONEY?

You don’t have to literally include some cash on your application to prove and show that you do have the money to spend in your trip. You can show this through your bank statements and bank certificate. Some who applied don’t even have that money (e.g. P15, 000 for a 5 days trip) but because they do have a higher ADB (Average Daily Balance) or have a regular high amount of deposit (e.g. big salary). But ideally, have the amount ready already when applying, save up. I did.

WHY YOU WANT TO VISIT?

Now these parts are the reasons why I want to stay there for a few days. Though my main purpose is just to send off my mom halfway, to make sure she’ll be fine for 10 hours in South Korea, I should also say why I want to see and visit their country. You can be cheesy here too if you want. I’ve read some letters of other applicants that if you read it as a consul of that country, you’ll giggle with “kilig”.

STRONG TIES

This is what I was lacking in my life. Because I don’t work for a company as an employee since I’m a freelancer, I have to show them what are my strong ties. My dogs who are very needy of me (e.g. like when I was just in the bathroom and when I got out, my little dog was so happy to see me because he was trying to find me under the bed, under the sheets, or my pillows while I was in the bathroom. P.S. My room was a mess.).

Plus, I have a local client here in Cebu. Hopefully the letter from my client here will be a huge help since I’ve been with them for at least 5 years.

TRAVEL HISTORY

One of the things I was lacking during my US tourist visa application, so I made sure I have this. I visited Hong Kong and Mainland China last year. So if you don’t have any travel history yet for the past 5 years, best to go and visit the visa free countries for Filipinos first before going for countries that requires visa.

Do note that I am not a professional in processing visa, not even a professional writer. All of these are basing on my experience and what I’ve done in my visa application.

None of these too guarantees an approval. It’s still all up to the consul. Just make sure you have the requirements submitted and they’re not made up (a.k.a. fake), just think positive and pray. If ever we get denied, then maybe it’s just not for us. There are a lot of places we need to discover out there, don’t lose hope. You can be heartbroken over this, cry about it, but never give up on traveling.

Let me know on how your letter of explanation goes.

6 Most Beautiful and Unexpected Beaches of Palawan Island

2020-01-31T16:04:00.001+08:00

The island of Palawan is often cited as the most beautiful island in the whole wide world. From the majestic mountains of the north to the stunning coral gardens of its south and everything else that is in between, it is hard to disagree with this fact.

When this became common knowledge a few years ago, thousands upon thousands of both local and foreign tourists alike began flocking to the island of Palawan. Puerto Princesa City’s once-quiet Subterranean River now sees hordes and hordes of people continuously snaking through its famed underground caverns every other day. The formerly calm waters in El Nido’s Bacuit Bay are now swollen with tourist boats shuffling guests from one island to another.

While these wonders of nature are definite musts when visiting Palawan, the truly best parts of the island do not require you to fall in line or squeeze inside a boat. All you will need in these sites are a towel, some sunscreen, and maybe a pocketbook or two.

While all of the beaches in Palawan are beautiful, there is something about having a wide stretch of sand and a never ending horizon of blue all to yourself. Let the tourists fawn over El Nido. Here are some of the most beautiful——and remote!——beaches elsewhere on the island of Palawan.

BINGA BEACH (San Vicente Town)

The crowds are slowly starting to gather in the main beaches of San Vicente. Keep on going up north and you will find the most immaculate of all of the beaches around.

The white sand of Binga Beach is literally untouched. There are no buildings big or small here. There is only the beach on one side, the mountain on another, and a humble resort that you can call your own.

It is located on the foothills of the tallest mountain in Northern Palawan and is cut off from the rest of the world. There are mangroves in the area where the seawater has taken over the beach. Otherwise, the place is all yours.

Binga Beach sits comfortably on the edge of the West Philippine Sea’s Imuruan Bay. Its strategic location makes for an awe-inspiring sunrise that roars up past dozens of hills and the lushest of virgin forests. Mornings here will leave you utterly speechless.

On the other side of the coin, afternoons spent on Binga Beach make for the most beautiful sunset on this side of the earth. The sun that shines so bright in the day takes its sweet time before going to rest. There is no better place to witness this grand show of nature than this area of the town of San Vicente.

Only one accommodation caters to those who would like to experience the wonders of Binga Beach. The Binga Beach Resort is 45 minutes away from the newly opened San Vicente airport. It is halfway to El Nido, and halfway to the City of Puerto Princesa.

NAGTABON BEACH (Puerto Princesa City)

In the island’s local dialect, the word nagtabon means covered. That is what this beach is.
Although Puerto Princesa City is the first stop on most visitors’ Palawan journey, it is not known for its beaches.

The City of Puerto Princesa is bigger in area than the entire region of Metro Manila. In its almost 1,000 square miles worth of land, you will find mountains that zigzag their way toward the Underground River and mangrove-laden banks by the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. You will also find this hidden beach unknown to most tourists and only frequented by the locals.

Nagtabon Beach is on the coast opposite from Puerto Princesa City’s downtown area. It is about a 30-minute uninterrupted drive away from the city’s main street of Rizal Avenue.

Getting there is fairly easy. One just has to trace the stretch of the Puerto Princesa North Road. Once off the main highway, there will be a couple of sleepy barangay towns to pass by. Just follow the signs! The roads are all the way until a few meters from the beach itself.

Go past a few more bushes and coconut trees, and you will be greeted by the sun-burnt golden sand of the beach and the soft, persistent waves of the sea.

TALAUDYONG BEACH (Puerto Princesa City)

About half an hour’s drive away from Nagtabon Beach is another pocket of golden sand and sea that most tourists have yet to see.

Do not expect paved roads on your way here. It will take more than a scooter to get you to this hidden beach.

The Talaudyong Beach is as off-the-beaten-path as it can get for those who are used to the city. While there are a couple of huts and small-time restaurants here, this beach is not one would define as a textbook tourist-friendly destination.

The boats that are docked on its sand are used for catching fish, not ferrying vacation-goers. By all means, this is a beach for the locals. Nevertheless, they will most likely be happy to share with anyone who passes by.

TAGKAWAYAN BEACH (Puerto Princesa City)

Even farther up north than the first two entries on this list is a truly remote and hidden beach within Puerto Princesa City.

If not a lot of visitors step foot on the beaches of Nagtabon and Talaudyong, more so here in what locals call Tagkawayan Beach.

Tagkawayan Beach is located in Puerto Princesa City’s Barangay Simpocan. If you venture here from the city proper itself, it will take about an hour.

This beach is not what you imagine a beach in Palawan Island would be. Its sand is a little rougher and its waves are more unruly. However, if you want a beach all to yourself, this is a place to be.
Tagkawayan Beach does not stretch for miles. It only runs for less than a kilometer long.

There are no parties here and no restaurants as well. The huts that are scattered in this area have long been abandoned. The only things there are endless supplies of in Tagkawayan Beach are peace and quiet. Put up a tent on its sand, and then listen to the crickets at night. Roasted marshmallows would be a perfect snack to munch on when here.

SABANG BEACH (Puerto Princesa City)

When people make their way to the Puerto Princesa City Subterranean River, they often neglect to look around their first stop on their journey towards one of the most magnificent natural wonders of the world.

The boat terminal on Sabang Beach is as busy as it gets with dozens of bangkas transporting hundreds of visitors a day. Walk a few more steps to the right of this port, though, and you will see a pristine beach with almost no one lounging on its sand or wading in its waters.

The land voyage to the Underground River is already an adventure in itself with the many twists and turns that it takes. If the roads are slippery, it will take around two hours to get there. And so, even before you are served with the main course, you are treated to this tantalizing appetizer.

There are beach resorts aplenty along the stretch of Sabang Beach, but there are no strobing lights and loud music. If you walk far enough, you can have a private spot all to yourself.

Consider taking an hour or so here, or maybe even a day. What’s great about Sabang Beach is that it is convenient for the regular Palawan traveler, yet it can feel like a whole world away.

PAMUAYAN BEACH (San Vicente Town)

The beaches of San Vicente Town’s Port Barton has been gaining popularity in the past few years. There is no wonder with the consecutive list of white sand beaches that come one after another on its coastline.

Downtown Long Beach spearheads the bunch with its 14 kilometers worth of white sand. The beaches of Bokbok and Alemanguan come after it. And then there is Pamuayan Beach.

Pamuayan Beach is located a little to the south of these San Vicente beaches we mentioned. Unlike these three areas that are easy to get a hold of, Pamuayan Beach likes to play it a little more hard to get.

Thanks to the mountainous terrain that cradles Pamuayan Beach, a drive towards it will take hours even if you are coming from San Vicente Town itself. The best way to get to this part of Palawan Island is by boat.

The few minutes boat ride from this center of San Vicente Town to this side of the mountains is definitely worth it when you arrive. Aside from the glorious beach that can be all yours if you’re lucky, there is also a nearby waterfall that is an easy trek from this site.

Hit all of these breathtaking beaches on your trip to Palawan, and then call Binga Beach Resort home.

(photos from: bingabeach.com )

6 Best Places to Drink and Dine in Dublin

2020-01-28T11:51:00.002+08:00

Dublin is a great place to visit and should be on everyone’s list of travel destinations. The city has got a lot to offer, whether you’re traveling solo or with a group of friends, for youngsters on a pub hop or families with small children.

The capital of Ireland is filled to the brim with miscellaneous tourist attractions as well as hidden gems that only locals know how to get to. It would take a lifetime to appreciate all of Dublin’s attractions and just as long to share the word about it. So today we’ll keep our focus on all the amazing places to eat and drink in Dublin.

Getting around Dublin

But first, you’ll have to think about how to find your way around Dublin. Even though it’s a relatively small city, occupying an area of 115 square kilometers, it may not be so easy to get around Dublin. The streets of Dublin form an intricate maze, as is often the case with old European cities, so unless you’re accompanied by a local, it’s best to use a taxi service just so you make sure you’re going exactly where you’re intending.

The Temple Bar

This place is not just your regular pub where you go with your buddies at the end of the week to drink your sorrows away. The Temple Bar is a whole conglomerate of pubs for all tastes and wallet sizes, snuggled in between the River Liffey and Dame Street in central Dublin. It’s a popular tourist destination, known as the “cultural quarter” of Dublin and the center of its nightlife. Some pubs that are worth visiting in the area are The Temple Bar Pub, The Oliver St. John Gogarty, The Foggy Dew, and Bad Bobs.

Tip! When ordering at a bar, if you want to try out some different beer brands, make sure to specify that you don’t want a Guinness. If you simply say that you want a stout, Guinness is what you’ll get 9 times out of 10.

The Landmark

The Landmark is praised for its atmospheric interior, friendly staff, and great food. It’s popular with Dubliners and tourists alike, as their go-to venue for birthday celebrations or weekly outings with friends. The Landmark has a local feel to it, serving mostly Irish and European cuisine. The overall aesthetic of the place, occupying three floors of a 19th-century building, and live music add up to the wholesome experience.

Fun fact! The Landmark went through an identity crisis, which resulted in the place changing its name a few too many times. Originally known as The Cornerstone, they rebranded themselves as Karma, soon after settling on a middle ground and once again changing the name, this time to The Karma Stone. Finally, they settled on the name The Landmark as if to have it represent the significance of the place to its patrons.

Mulberry Garden

If you have a little more money to burn and want to go somewhere fancy, then Mulberry Garden might be just the right place for you. They really try to keep up with the times and be inclusive. They offer vegan as well as gluten-free options, so if you’ve got any dietary restrictions, you won’t have to worry about going hungry. Mulberry Garden offers private rooms upstairs, so it’s perfect for special occasions or private family celebrations.

Queen of Tarts

This relaxing cafe makes you want to just sit back and spend a few delightful hours enjoying freshly brewed coffee and a little something for your sweet tooth. They’ve got sweets, muffins, scones, brownies, and all kinds of delicious cakes to choose from; all served on cute Victorian style tableware. Queen of Tarts offers a lot of savory food options as well, so it’s a popular place to get brunch. If you ever find yourself in Dublin, this place is definitely worth stopping by.

SOLE Seafood and Grill

Being a bay city, of course, you’d expect Dublin to have excellent fish and seafood restaurants, and SOLE is probably the best place to get seafood in Dublin. All the food is so fresh you have to watch out for it not to crawl off your plate. The Connemara oysters, octopus and sole skewers, and the seafood tower are just some of the must-have dishes that you should try here. The staple of the restaurant is the local cuisine, but they offer European food as well, and there are vegetarian and vegan options available.

Here are just a few of the pubs and restaurants in Dublin worth your while. No matter if you’re a foodie, who knows their way around truffles and foie gras, or just someone on the look-out for a place to quickly grab something to eat, you’ll come to appreciate these places.

3 Top Tips in Applying for Any Country’s Visa

2020-01-21T14:51:00.002+08:00

As you might know, I’ve applied for US Tourist Visa in 2018 to be able to visit my sister and see her kids where one of them I haven’t met yet and growing up so fast. I made a video about it, and got a lot of questions from you guys who are subscribed to my YouTube channel.

I am not experienced on visas or don’t do this as a profession. I was just simply sharing my experience and knowledge on how I did it myself without any other help, other than research. I’ve watch a number of YouTube videos, read a number of articles about applying for a US tourist visa and that’s how I ended up knowing how to do it myself when it comes to applying for a US visa. With that, I also have at least a bit of idea on people like me who got denied, why they got denied, and all.

Other than the US tourist visa, I also applied and got APPROVED on my CHINA TOURIST VISA and was able to visit mainland china for 5 days, and as of writing this article I am also waiting for the result of my South Korea Tourist visa application – let’s all hope I do get accepted, else I’ll be heartbroken again. LOL.

NOTE: We're talking about TOURIST VISA here. NOT working visa, or getting petitioned.

With that, I’d like to share with you guys a couple of tips on how to get a higher chance of getting an APPROVED visa so you’ll avoid ending up like me. Heartbroken.

3 TOP TIPS TO AVOID GETTING A DENIED VISA

There are a lot of reasons why a consulate will deny your visa application, but these 3 tips will help you avoid the most common reasons why. The other reasons are most likely you’ve done something wrong before or in your application that it becomes doubtful for them to give you even a single entry. So here are my tips.

STRONG TIES.

This was the main reason why I got denied for a US tourist visa. But what does it mean? It means they can’t find any reason that you or I will be back to our home country, and will not work there illegally or what we know as being a TNT (Tago Ng Tago).

I don’t blame the country for this. Because there are hard headed Filipinos who do this. I even know rich, educated, professional Filipinos that do this. South Korea wants to give us a VISA FREE access, but right now, even they’re a bit strict and don’t give us a visa free access, they have found out that there are 15,000 illegal Filipino workers there. Imagine if they’ll give us a visa free. Even the US there are thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of Illegal Filipino workers there, getting a tourist visa, then apply for her and never go back home. Even in the Visa Free country like Thailand, there are thousands of illegal Filipino workers there.

So this is the reason why they want you to have a STRONG TIES, STRONG REASON to come back home and not work in their country illegally.

What are the things considered as strong ties? It can WORK, so asking your company’s employment certificate or if you’re a freelancer like me, you can ask a letter from your employer or client. BUSINESS can be your another strong ties, even small businesses like an online business, water refilling station, etc. that’s still business. But what if you’re a STUDENT? You can ask your school for a form as a proof that you’re enrolled at your school. Make sure that the date of your target date to visit a country is not after a school year, but if it is make sure you’re already enrolled. Your studies or school is your strong ties as a student.

How about if you’re a single woman, with a kid, and visit your foreign boyfriend in the country that you’re applying for? It’s not that strong, especially if you’re leaving your kid. Foreigners knows Filipino will sacrifice to be away to give their family back home a better life by working in a foreign country. But, if you’ll be bringing your kid with you who is still studying, under 18, and enrolled there can be a possibility, but the kid might have a better chances than you.

FUNDS.

Another way is to have funds for your trip, preferably on your bank account. Fellow travelers would be trying to test and find out how much for certain country they require, but they just have don’t the same requirement.

For some who applied for a South Korea Tourist Visa, they have like P50,000 on their bank and got approved, some don’t. But what I’ve noticed is that those accounts that have been around longer and do shows that it has transactions (withdrawals, deposits) and the amount deposited there is reasonable (e.g. salary) and not like for the past 5 months it got P20,000 deposit, then suddenly a P50,000 shows up, then it goes back to P20,000 on the next month. That can be considered suspicious.

There’s also some people who says that they’ll also check your ADB (Average Daily Balance), but still there’s no formula or no proof that’s their main focus.

Just make sure that you do know how much your expenses will be when traveling, best if you do have an itinerary prepared with expenses, with technology these days you can easily find that out. Then you have an idea what will be your expenses there, form hotels, transportation, tickets, etc.

Don’t rely much on bloggers itinerary, don’t conclude that it will be your exact expenses. Since there are frugal bloggers, and there are travel bloggers like me who prefer to pay more for better comfort and security, and do buy a lot of stuff. LOL. But at least you have the idea on the very basic expenses, and get some travel saving tips too!

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT?
A lot of small business owners asked me this questions about not having a bank account, how will they prove that they do have the money. I am really not sure how to be honest.

We do have a family friend that has a small business, and since they’re illiterate and not sure how the banks works and ashamed of being illiterate they don’t open any bank. So for years, they have their money at their home – can you just imagine? But we did help them make a bank account, it’s safer there.

Side Note: My mom don’t suggest that you deposit more than 100,000 on a single account, since in their insurance they can only refund you 100,000 even your deposited amount is 1 million. So be smart.

There was this subscriber who asked about this same situation. It would be best to create your bank account now, your savings for the trip, deposit it there. Then by the time you wish to apply and sure want to travel to that country, especially if they require bank certificates and statements, you have it. Do it now, before wasting thousands of pesos in applying for a visa and getting denied just because you don’t want to open a bank account.

Do note, that it doesn't mean you need what we call "show money", it doesn't mean you have to bring the whole money, like your 1 million cash in front of the consul. A bank statement and bank certificate will suffice. We do have a family friend who have done this (bring a million cash at the interview), he was a millionaire, but got denied. The consul wasn't impress about the million, it becomes suspicious for them.

HISTORY.

During my US tourist visa interview, this was the last question or the last thing that the consul is looking for about me. He asked “have you traveled to any other country for the past 5 years?” and I said “NO” since I’ve been traveling in the Philippines for the past years. And he even expanded it to “how about for the past 10 years?”, which is still a NO for me. So he also gave me a NO. LOL.

There are a number of VISA FREE countries for us Filipinos to visit such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, etc. There are even countries that requires us a visa but they’re not that strict anymore like South Korea, Japan, and China. You might want to visit those countries first before applying for a hard to get tourist visa, such as the US visa, Schengen visa, etc.

I hope this was helpful to you guys when applying for a tourist visa for any country such as Japan visa, South Korea Visa, or even the USA tourist visa. If you have any more tips or got any more questions, please don't hesitate to comment them down below!

P.S.
Good luck on your application!

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6 Hygiene Tips to Follow When Traveling

2019-12-31T18:51:00.001+08:00

When you are traveling it may be challenging to keep clean. There are some personal hygiene tips you need to follow to remain healthy. Most of them are reminders since you may forget to follow them.

Maintaining travel hygiene is vital to ensure you are safe from illnesses. It is especially true when you are visiting an area with a few basic amenities. Here are some travel hygiene tips that will keep you feeling fresh throughout your vacation.

Stay clean

The first thing you have to remember is to always stay clean. It is not everywhere you will find clean water or a clean environment. No matter where you travel to using Cathay Pacific , it is crucial to remain clean especially when you are going to areas where bacteria thrive easily. Your body hygiene is very important when you are traveling.

Wash hands

You will get most of the infection by the objects you touch. Make sure to wash your hands after visiting the toilet or touching an animal. Wash your hands before eating anything. You also need to wash your hands after you touch a public computer, public phone, and shopping trolleys.
Make sure you have a hand sanitizer if you are in an area without clean water. You can use the sanitizer before eating street food. Keeping your hand clean when flying will help reduce your chances of getting a cold. Sanitizing keeps your hands clean and protects the germ from spreading.

Wash the dishes

If you have an accommodation with a kitchen, it is nice to wash the dishes. Leaving the place clean will make them work for the house cleaning service easier. Washing the dishes once you are done is an act of politeness and courtesy. It will only take you a few minutes to be done with the dishes.

Be careful when eating

Getting an infection by swallowing is serious and can make you ill for days. Before you eat anything, make sure it is safe. Do not eat any food that has not been cooked properly. Keep in mind that you can get food poisoning from anywhere.

Clean your clothes

You need to carefully think about the clothes you carry when traveling. Consider the place you will visit when packing your clothes. If you are planning to spend most of your item outdoors, you need to carry wrinkle-free clothes. It will also help if you carry clothes that dry quickly.

Keep your breath clean

Dental hygiene is also important when you are traveling. When traveling for long periods, you will no doubt get the traveler’s breath. It occurs due to the slow production of saliva. As a result, the bacteria grow inside your mouth leading to bad breath. You can avoid the traveler’s breath by carrying mints, lemons, and gums.
Maintaining personal hygiene while you travel is crucial. You need to spare some time in your busy schedule to keep everything clean. Now that you know how to maintain hygiene during travel, go ahead and book your flight with Cathay Pacific.

2020 Philippine Passport Renewal

2019-12-18T12:56:00.000+08:00

I’ve finally tried the real Philippine passport renewal process that is without the benefit of being with my senior mom in renewing my passport. It’s been not more than 5 years (my passport is still valid and has a lot of empty pages) but since the passport that I renewed previously have been eaten by the rats, and when I sent the official Twitter of DFA they said it’s considered mutilated.

MUTILATED PASSPORT?

What do I mean by mutilated? May it be a bit of torn of any pages, or it got wet, it is considered mutilated. The staff at the DFA office asked me why I have to renew my passport when it’s still valid, and I showed my passport to her and she said “ah… right! Your passport must be presentable when showing to the immigration officer, especially when showed to other country.”

The bites on my passport were only for 11 pages and you won’t even notice it unless you really focus on it and take a look. The Bio page didn’t also get a bite, so I thought it will be just fine not until I made sure through contacting DFA and showing them the bites. Therefore, do take good care of your Philippine passport.

WHEN TO RENEW YOUR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT?

In my previous posts on How to Renew Your Philippine Passport I was getting a lot of questions on when they can renew their passport.

Expired or Expiring
If it’s expiring in 6 months, it’s best to renew it right away since our immigration or the country you’ll be entering might not allow you to travel or enter their country.
If you’re like me that your last passport have expired 10 years ago (I was 10 years old on my first passport), you can totally still renew it and should bring it with you.

No More Empty Pages or Few are Left
This is because when you enter a country, the country’s immigration officer and even ours will stamp your passport, and if there’s no page for them to stamp on, they’ll most likely will not allow you to travel or enter their country. Why? Since it will state the date of your entry, and some countries will only allow a few days of stay especially for tourists.

Mutilated
Again, if you’re the same as I am. Your passport might got wet, eaten by your dogs, or those rats! You should also bring it with you, on whatever have remained pieces of your passport.

PHILIPPINE PASSPORT RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

Nothing much changed in their requirements when renewing your Philippine passport. Here are the official lists of Philippine passport renewal requirements.

Confirmed Appointment
You may go to the OFFICIAL WEBSITE for getting the appointment at passport.gov.ph and if you’re not sure how to do it, you might want to check out my post on How to get a DFA Passport Appointment Schedule?, but here's a video on how to get a DFA passport appointment.

Application Form
No need to fill out an application form, it will be sent along the confirmed appointment email which is a file along with 2 copies of receipts.

Current Passport
Although your passport might be mutilated, or expired like 10 years ago you must and should bring it with you when you renew your passport.

PSA Authenticated Documents
It is previously called NSO, but now it’s PSA. We’re talking about birth certificate and marriage contract.

Photocopy of Valid ID
I brought my Postal ID with me and have it photocopied. But here are the lists of accepted valid IDs when it comes to getting your Philippine passport.

SSS ID
LTO (Driver’s License)
PRC ID
OWWA ID
iDOLE card
Comelec ID (Voter’s ID) / Voter’s certification
PNP Firearms ID
Senior Citizen ID
Airman License
Philippine Postal ID
School ID

For an updated list of IDs they accept you may check out the official website for Philippine passport, just click here.

Others
If you’re like me who got a mutilated Philippine passport, then you totally need to go to a lawyer and have them make you an Affidavit of Explanation. My lawyer friend says it will cost around P250-P500, but as for mine it was P350 and I was given 2 copies. You will also need this if you lost your passport.

Also if you lost your passport or mutilated such as mine, there is a penalty fee of P350 which will be paid at the DFA.

Don’t forget this also requires a personal appearance, so if someone offered you to process your passport and you are not needed to go to the DFA office, it’s most likely a scam or you’ll be provided with a fake passport.

HOW TO RENEW PHILIPPINE PASSPORT?

Way back in 2016 I’ve written the post on HOW TO RENEW YOUR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT with specific steps when you arrive at the DFA. Nothing have changed there, so best to check out the post or watch this video.

DO’S AND DON’TS AT DFA OFFICE

Here are a couple of do’s and don’ts at the DFA.

Do arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
Don’t use your phone
Don’t wear slippers
Don’t wear sleeveless
Don’t wear shorts
Don’t wear a lot of make up

If you think I missed anything or want to share your experience with us, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below! Feel free to ask any questions!

6 Reasons Why Croatia is the Best Place to Spend your Yachting Holiday

2019-12-09T21:36:00.002+08:00

Since 2013, Croatia has been enjoying a 20 percent increase in luxury charters each year – and it’s not hard to see why. With a stunning coastline, historic stone castles, mouthwatering Mediterranean fare, and more than 1,200 unspoiled islands spread across the Adriatic Sea, this European yachting destination serves up a smorgasbord of wonders for every traveler, no matter what your cup of tea is.

If you haven’t caught the trend yet, here are never-to-miss e̶x̶c̶u̶s̶e̶s̶ reasons to get packing.

#1 There’s a wild assortment of attractions to match your tastes and preferences.

Whether you travel for history or for food, or whether you love quiet rivieras or a vibrant party atmosphere, rest assured that Croatia’s got you covered. The historic city of Split gives you a great head start, offering stunning marinas, old-world sites, and easy access to other noteworthy destinations like Hvar - known as an entertainment hub with world-class clubs. Similarly, Dubrovnik is a walled city with superb sceneries and pedestrian-friendly streets.

You may also combine two cities in one or two days on charters. We recommend Split and Dubrovnik. Both are celebrated cities within considerable distance from each other, allowing you to cover as many attractions as possible within a short amount of time.

Get started by checking out this Goolets list of Croatian destinations you can enjoy aboard award-winning gulets.

#2 It is one of the most popular filming locations for Hollywood’s biggest TV series and movies.

Though Croatia is widely known as “King’s Landing” in the epic HBO TV series Game of Thrones, Croatian cities, particularly Dubrovnik, have been used as filming locations in at least 75 international movies since the 1930s. Among the most recent ones are Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Spiderman: Far From Home. Film tours are run on several locations in the country. If you’re a fan of any of these, a Croatian charter affords you the opportunity to relive your favorite movies.

#3 Sumptuous Mediterranean food is always just around the corner.

One of the best things about luxury charters are the flavors that await you in every dock – and in Croatia, there are plenty!

The country is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants, including Restaurant 360˚ in Dubrovnik, a multi-awarded fine dining facility that specializes in Croatian classics cooked the French way. Offering dinner by the terrace of St. John’s fortress, 360˚ lets you enjoy freshly caught seafood and homegrown delicacies while overlooking the port.

If your charter passes through Sibenik, be sure to pay Pelegrini a visit. Also a staple in Michelin star guides, this relaxed restaurant from the street across the Cathedral of St. James crafts contemporary meat and fish items from the region’s finest ingredients. Both Pelegrini and 360˚ feature an impressive wine list, but those who want a more rustic wine tasting experience can head to the vineyards of Pula in the Croatian countryside.

Want to take home the flavors of the Med? Drop by town markets for fresh produce, pastries, sausages, kitchen essentials, or even homemade breakfast. There’s Pazar Market in Split, Bjelovar Market in Bjelovar, and Gundulićeva Poljanain in Dubrovnik.

#4 History is very much alive in Croatia.

Whether you’re meandering through the old town of Dubrovnik or Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatian cities effortlessly transport you back in time.

One place you shouldn’t miss is Sibenik, a historic city in central Dalmatia. It’s considered the oldest native Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea, and is home to two well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Sites – The Cathedral of St. James and St. Nicholas Fortress – certainly, the perfect spot to delve deeper into Croatia’s storied history and admire Medieval architecture.

#5 It houses natural parks with pristine isles and reefs.

With more than 1,200 islands scattered across the Adriatic, Croatia offers a staggering collection of natural parks, each brimming with rich marine life and interesting landscapes.

Kornati National Park alone, off Zadar and Sibenik, features 89 unique islands with sandy beaches and unspoiled terrain across its 217 square kilometer expanse, making it a favorite among divers, hikers, and sailors.

Meanwhile, tourists who are into kayaking, bicycling, and swimming often go to Mljet National Park, a four-kilometer island ringed by two saltwater lakes. The park is famous for the 12^th-century Benedictine monastery at its center, which has now been converted into a restaurant. It’s often warmer and sunnier in the park compared to the mainland, so tourists are guaranteed a pleasant swim.

#6 Croatian charter prices and activities are more affordable compared to other Mediterranean destinations.

Croatian charter prices are among the most competitive in Europe, and as far as off-shore activities (food, tours, night life) are concerned, a lot more affordable than other popular destinations in the Mediterranean. A small gullet with three cabins that sleeps eight starts at only €4,200 per week (or just a little over USD4,600). Luxury yachts that can fit more than 12 guests may also be availed at reasonable rates.

With a private luxury charter, you can choose whatever Croatian adventure you please - at a relaxed pace, surrounded by your favorite people and the incredible sights of the Adriatic Sea.

4 Must-See Backpacking Spots in the Philippines

2019-12-04T14:39:00.005+08:00

The Philippines is an expansive county with over 7,000 islands. However, most of these islands are uninhabited or not set up for tourists at all. It is possible to fly between certain islands or take regular ferries, but when traveling within the Philippines, getting anywhere takes time. No one is rushing – except maybe the Jeepney drivers – and it’s best approached that way as a backpacker.

Due to the expansive nature of the country, narrowing down the must-see places and allowing enough time to transit and spend time there is far more important than getting to 30 different spots. It’s not very achievable and will be far less enjoyable than taking your time.

Accordingly, here are the four must-see backpacking spots in the Philippines.

Northern Luzon

The island of Luzon is where the capital, Manila, is situated. As such, it makes sense to start from there. The northern part of Luzon has the Cordillera region, which is lush green and mountainous. Here you’ll have plenty of hiking, rice paddies, and incredible views to enjoy.

If you’re planning to stay in the region a few days – the best way to see its expanse – then consider living simply in local accommodation near the town of Sagada. You may want to bring along one of these stoves designed especially for backpacking for the convenience too.

The culture in the northern part of Luzon is unusual because due to the mountains, foreign invaders didn’t reach these parts. As such, there’s more local heritage and original landscapes to explore. Elsewhere, the Spanish and American influences are more noticeable.

To get there, catch a night bus from Manila to Banaue once you’re flown in and then a second bus onto Sagada itself the following day.

El Nido Region

The El Nido is a collection of 54 little islands and is considered a part of Palawan Island. The sandy beaches on many of these unspoiled islands are Instagram worthy for sure. There’s limestone cliffs nearby, blue lagoons for snorkeling in, and plenty of water-based transport to ferry you about from island to island.

Also, if you fancy a spot of climbing, then Mount Taraw is nearby, which will pose a challenge and provide excellent panoramic views from the summit.

Siargao

The island of Siargao used to be less known but it’s been discovered by a few backpackers in the last few years. As a result, there’s a growing backpacker scene with small businesses opening up to cater to the new visitors.

It’s a laid back place in the Southern part of the Philippines. The vibe is very chilled and many of the restaurants and bars are equally tame affairs compared to the likes of Manilla. Sometimes, the bars take turns in holding a party to avoid competing with each other.

For backpackers wanting to relax and enjoy some good food, there are few places better than Siargao Island. It’s also easy to island-hop from here to other nearby places once you’re there. Both Philippine Airlines and Philippine AirAsia run flights from Manila , which are a little pricey but worth it.

Bohol

The hundreds of curved hills at Bohol pull in the visitors curious to observe this visual spectacle. The formations seem to resemble an alien planet from a sci-fi movie rather than Earth! They’re green initially but become brown when dry season hits. Because of this, they’re called the Chocolate Hills. There are plenty of legends to get sucked into if you let the locals convince you with their stories.
Over in Corella, there is the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary , which gets you up close with the awesome tarsier monkeys with their mesmerizing big eyes. When you’re finished at the Sanctuary, booking a cruise down the Loboc River is worth considering too.

Remember, in the Philippines, it’s best to relax and enjoy your time there. Rushing isn’t really an option in the tropics.