Budget Travel – Page 19 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 922 – Manila to Fukuoka – ‘Almost-Missed’ Surprise & Free Base Fare International Flight

Hey ho & welcome to another flight report! Let’s take a break from all the Going Solo in Europe content & go back to something related to my 2^nd favorite country after the Philippines – Japan. A few months ago, my friend & I flew to Fukuoka, Japan for 48 hours to surprise our close friend in her 1^st international trip. Believe it or not, my friend & I spent less than ₱12,500 each for that whole trip – flights & hostel included. We flew with Cebu Pacific Air in a super affordable fare & stayed with Nekokura Hostel to save same some cash.

Today’s flight report will talk about that ‘almost-missed’ Manila to Fukuoka Cebu Pacific Air flight we took for that 48-hour Fukuoka trip. I will share with you how we booked the cheap ticket 3 weeks before the trip, how was our ground experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 & what can you expect in Cebu Pacific Air’s international in-flight product & cabin crew service.

I’ve covered a few Cebu Pacific Air & Cebgo flights in my previous flight reports – ₱600 Legazpi to Manila flight on 5J 328, $24 Manila to Jakarta flight on 5J 759, short & empty Boracay flight on 5J 905 & the Cebgo Turboprop flight from Boracay to Manila on DG 6244. Let’s add this ‘almost-missed’ & free base fare flight to Fukuoka on 5J 922.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website. As mentioned in my previous flight reports, Cebu Pacific Air is the Philippines largest low-cost carrier. It flies to more than 60 domestic & international destinations across the country, Asia-Pacific & the Middle East. It is wholly owned by JG Summit Holdings, led by the Gokongweis. Including its subsidiary Cebgo, the airline operates a fleet of 70+ Airbus & ATR commercial & cargo aircraft with a number of new generation aircraft orders in place.

The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic & international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base fare promotions offered a few times a year. It has its own loyalty program called GetGo & is a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers.

Airfare & Inclusions

My friend & I got our return Manila to Fukuoka ticket for only ₱2,873.74. At the time of booking, Cebu Pacific Air’s loyalty program GetGo offered their Fukuoka route for 2,400 points per way plus taxes. At the same time, they had a ‘5,000 points off’ promotional code for selected East Asia routes including Fukuoka. The return ticket to Fukuoka costs 4,800 points plus taxes. Upon check out & using the promotional code, we ended up having our base fare free & paying only the airfare taxes. Note that we booked our tickets 3 weeks before the flight. Flights to Fukuoka take more than 3 hours per way. Having this affordable return ticket was definitely a good deal!

Cebu Pacific Air is a no-frills airline – meaning fares only include 7-kilogram carry on allowance & a guaranteed seat in the flight. Baggage allowance, food, reserved seats & insurance are all available at an extra cost. Fees & charges differ for each flight. You can click this link to more about the add-ons cost for each Cebu Pacific Air route. This trip only last for 48 hours & it wasn’t even cold yet in Japan so I only brought a small backpack me – no add-ons needed.

Want to know how I get these cheap tickets? I revealed my secrets in these blog posts – How to be a champ in booking low fare tickets part 1 & part 2.

Flight & Aircraft Information

This Manila to Fukuoka Flight on Cebu Pacific Air left Manila station a few minutes late because of us (you’ll know why) but arrived Fukuoka International Airport 11 minutes early. We left Manila at 3:27 pm PHT & arrived Japan at 7:49 pm JST. The total flight time was 3 hours & 22 minutes. The flight used a 7-year old (that time) Airbus A320-214 aircraft in an all-economy class configuration. The plane has a total of 180 seats on a 3-3 layout.

Airport Experience

My friend & I arrived at the airport 3 hours before the flight. We had quick lunch & went straight to the travel tax counter. After paying the required travel tax, we went to Cebu Pacific Air’s check in counters. There were 3 lines for check in – one for regular check in, one for mobile & internet check in & the last one for group bookings & senior citizens. My friend & I already checked in online so we headed to the mobile & internet check in line. All 3 check in lines were long, slow & chaotic.

Pamela, one of Cebu Pacific Air’s supervisors, heard & approached me. She apologized for the chaotic check in process & said that particular afternoon was busier than expected. She escorted us to the next available counter for check in. The woman in the check in desk was nice & accommodating. She granted our request of having emergency exit seats for no additional cost. The whole check in process took us about 1 hour & 15 minutes; it used to be less than 10-15 minutes.

After check in, my friend & I went to clear immigration. All immigration counters also had long & slow-moving lines. We asked favors from people in front of us if we can go first since our flight leaves in 35 minutes; thankfully, they agreed. It still took us 25 minutes to clear immigration. We went straight to final security check & cleared the process in less than 5 minutes. While falling in line, I already saw the Cebu Pacific Air ground staff calling Fukuoka-bound passengers. They are about to close the aircraft doors in 5 minutes. After clearing final security, my friend & I literally ran to the boarding gate & went straight to the plane. The cabin crew closed the plane doors after we boarded. Thank God we made it!

In-Flight Product

As a low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air doesn’t offer on-board entertainment screens & complimentary food. All seats have a decently sized tray table & a small pocket with in-flight magazines & safety card. It has 28 inches of seat pitch & a generous recline. My friends & I were seated in the emergency exit seats so we had bigger leg room than the usual but no seat recline. The seats on this airplane were already old & needs a refit.

In-flight meals & snacks are available for purchase from the time of booking the ticket up to 24 hours before the flight. Guests who failed to pre-book snacks or meals can still buy from the items being offered on-board by the cabin crew. Items for sale are found in the Fun Café menu in the seat pockets of every passenger. I purchased a bottle of Gatorade for ₱80 & a bottle of water for ₱40 during this flight.

One unique feature of Cebu Pacific Air flights is the in-flight fun games. Cabin crew members ask 3 questions under a specified category. The first passenger to get the correct answer receives a complimentary airline merchandise. My friends & I joined the game on this flight & we won a Cebu Pacific Air pouch.

I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 3.5-hour flight. From past experiences, there’s nothing spectacular about Cebu Pacific Air lavatories – they’re clean, plain & basic like a usual low-cost carrier lavatory.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this Cebu Pacific Air flight to Fukuoka was nice & friendly. They greeted the passenger with their best smiles & served the food right after take-off. The crew assigned to our area even asked me questions how I was before she served my drinks. She even offered a glass of ice which they don’t usually do. I have nothing against the crew on this flight. I was a happy & satisfied customer.

Verdict

Overall, it was another pleasant flight with Cebu Pacific Air. We even got more than what we paid for. Imagine paying only ₱2,873.74 for a return ticket to Fukuoka, Japan & booking it 3 weeks before the flight? You rarely get that kind of airfare deal. It was definitely a steal!

The airport & ground experience was the worst part of this flight. Long & slow check in & immigration queues & last-minute boarding process didn’t make the experience enjoyable. My friend & I were thankful for Pamela, the woman at the check in counter & the people who allowed us to cut the immigration line. We won’t make it to our flight if not for them. All parties (including us) are at fault on what happened. We didn’t imagine that those airport scenes we see in movies would also happen to us. It was our first time running from security check to the boarding gate; it was also our first time being called for boarding. Don’t worry, we already learned our lesson.

The in-flight experience made up for all the mishaps that happened in the ground. The cabin crew assigned to our flight were friendly. The emergency exit seats were relatively comfortable to seat in on this 3.5-hour flight. My friends & I won in the in-flight game. More importantly, we arrived Fukuoka ahead of schedule despite leaving Manila a few minutes late. Sure, the airplane seats, tray tables & pockets needs a refit but these didn’t affect our fun flight to Fukuoka.

I will definitely fly again with Cebu Pacific Air in the future. They are always the best option for flying cheap to destinations here in the Philippines, in Asia Pacific & in the Middle East. I’m gutted my flights with them to Shanghai, China & Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. I am still looking forward to booking future trips with them! I also want to try (again) & this time cover their long-haul economy routes to Dubai, Sydney & Melbourne. For those who want to know the specifics of this flight & the airplane used, check out the details below:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 18 October 2019
Flight Number: 5J 922
Route: Manila (MNL) Philippines to Fukuoka (FUK) Japan
Duration: 3:22 hours
Seat Number: 12A
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: RP-C3237
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 8 years old
Year Delivered: 2012

That’s it for today. Have you ever missed (or almost-missed) a flight because of a mishap in check in, immigration & final security check? What happened & what did you do when that happened? You may share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any question about the things mentioned above or about Cebu Pacific Air in general? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll get to them soon.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report! My next flight report will be about Czech Airlines on my flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark. Watch out for that! In the meantime, you may follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town

Before coming to Europe, I already knew about the Church of the Bones in Czech Republic. I didn’t know it is in Kutná Hora until our tour guide Katerina told us that they offer a day tour to that site. I got excited upon knowing it & immediately booked a tour for the following day.

After spending the day walking around Prague Old Town & Prague Castle, knowing about the city’s history & culture, I decided to take a day trip to Kutná Hora. Let me share with you the interesting photos I took during this trip outside Prague.

The main altar of Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones – in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. 🇨🇿

Did you know that I went on a 19-day trip to Europe late last year? I flew to Singapore then to Amsterdam via Singapore Airlines. I went around The Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also explored the cities of Brussels, Ghent & Bruges in Belgium. I flew to Prague, Czech Republic after then onward to Denmark before flying home. You can find the posts about this Europe trip under the Going Solo in Europe series category.

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a small medieval town located 70 kilometres east of Prague. This town rose to economic power being the center of silver mining during the 13th century. The town produced a big part of Europe’s silver market at the end of that century.

One of the many quiet streets of Kutna Hora. The town is almost deserted – not much people out.

The town almost completed with Prague in terms of political & economic power for centuries until it succumbed to natural (floods), health (plague) & man-made (wars, invasions) factors. These eventually led to the downfall of the silver mining industry. The town was also affected during the world wars.

In 1996, UNESCO recognized the town as a World Heritage Site. Since then, the town attracts thousands of tourists every year. It has become one of the famous day trips from Prague.

Planning to make your Euro-trip dreams come true? Getting a Schengen tourist visa is easy! Check out my post on how I got my tourist visa without any help from any agency.

Day Trip To Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is not that easy place to go from Prague. SANDEMANs New Europe offered the day trip for €38 per person. The day tour rate includes transportation in a comfortable coach, entrance fees to all sites & an English-speaking tour guide. Lunch is at the guest’s expense. The tour company has already reserved seats in a local restaurant & took lunch orders (menu provided) in the bus on the way to Kutná Hora. Sandeman’s rate is affordable compared to the €50 half day tours I saw online & in tour agencies around Prague. I forgot to mention this tour is offered in English & Spanish languages.

Our tour guide, Nicolo, met us in front of Cartier shop in Old Town Square at 9:45 & walked us to the coach. We left Prague a few minutes after 10:00 & took close to an hour trip to Kutná Hora. We first went to Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist then to Sedlec Ossuary (the Church of the Bones). After spending a few minutes in the church, we all went to St. Barbara’s Church in town & walked down to the town center. We had our lunch at Restaurace Dačický (I ordered the wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & the Kutna Hora dark beer) & continued the tour around the old town. We went to the Italian Court & St. James Church before walking back to the bus. We left Kutná Hora at 16:30 in the afternoon & arrived back in Prague at 17:30.

Let me share with you the photos I took during this day trip.

This is outside the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist in Kutna Hora CZ 🇨🇿

One of the main pieces in Sedlec Ossuary – made from bones of people. Interesting place to visit. 🇨🇿

St. Barbara’s Church in Kutna Hora – a Gothic-style church that took hundreds of years to finish.

I ordered wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & Kutna Hora dark beer for 258 CZK. 😋

It was an interesting day trip to Kutná Hora! I am happy I finally saw the Church of the Bones in person. It felt weird at first going inside the church but it eventually became interesting when Nico told us why there’s a church like this. The other sites in Kutná Hora were extraordinary. Taking this tour with SANDEMANs New Europe was a big relief. Our tour guide was informative & very engaging.

One last photo of the Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones in Kutna Hora in Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Would you have the guts to go to Kutná Hora & visit the Church of the Bones? Are you planning to include this in your future plans in Czech Republic? You should! Do you have any questions about the town or the tour? Feel free post them in the comment section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll get to them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Kutná Hora today. Next up is a fairy tale town in South Czechia called Český Krumlov! Watch out for that post.

Don’t forget to check out my other Europe posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

P’s List: 5 Must Try Belgian Treats

Hello & welcome to the second installment of P’s List! Last week, I introduced this section to everyone which will list random stuff I miss or I enjoyed in a certain city or country. I’ve been missing everything about Japan over the last few days so I decided to divert my attention by writing about my 6 budget-friendly & favorite to-do’s while in the country.

I mostly talked about food in that Japan-related post & I plan to continue that in this list. One of the things I really enjoyed while going around Belgium was their ‘famous’ delicacies. Apart from the beautiful buildings & houses, Belgium also boasts tasty & iconic food which one should try when exploring the country.

Join me in today’s P’s List as I tell you the 5 food & drinks one shouldn’t miss when in Belgium.

Fries

One snack which Belgians take pride on is Belgian Fries, locally called frites. I know most people call it French Fries but the Belgian people refused to do so. They call it Belgian fries & they still have an ongoing battle with the French people on who discovered it, where it came from & who has the better product. I haven’t tried the ‘real’ French fries but the ‘legit’ Belgian fries are damn good. Our guide, Tom, from the Brussels walking tour told us that locals cook the potatoes twice in animal fat.

Tip: Don’t forget to mix your Belgian fries with the famous Andalouse sauce.

Where to get the best Belgian fries: Fritland (near the Brussels Stock Exchange Building) & Café Georgette (near Delirium Café)

Waffles

Aside from fries, Belgium is also famous for its waffles. I came to Belgium to try the famous Belgian waffle only to find out that the waffle has 2 kinds – the Brussels Waffle & the Liege Waffle. Brussels waffles are made from yeast-leavened batter. It is rectangular in size & has more defined edges & deeper pockets. It is commonly served with powdered sugar. On the other hand, Liege waffles are made from thicker batter & has sugar in the ingredients. This type of waffle is thicker, has uneven edges & has a caramelized taste (because of the sugar) & texture. I’ve tried both waffles – both were good & tasty. I don’t mind having both of them again.

Tip: Belgian waffles aren’t served with butter & syrup. They’re not breakfast food; they’re a staple snack. Both Brussels & Liege waffles are best enjoyed without any add-on – no fruits, no toppings & no syrup.

House of Waffle’s best-selling Brussels Waffles – this waffle place is found in Bruges, Belgium. 🇧🇪

Plain Liege waffle from Koffiehuis 3,14 in Ghent, Belgium. Too bad I didn’t try Maison Dandoy’s.

Where to get the best Belgian waffles: Maison Dandoy in Brussels (street off Grand Place) for both kinds, Koffiehuis 3,14 in Ghent for Liege Waffle, House of Waffles in Bruges for both kinds (Liege waffles are offered only for takeaway while Brussels waffles are only available for dine-in)

Chocolates

Belgium is also famous for its chocolates – both as pralines & truffles. The industry started in the 1600s when chocolate was brought to Europe. Since then, it has been part of the people’s lives – from morning chocolate drinks, desserts to gifts. Belgium has produced world-renowned chocolate companies such as Godiva, Côte d’Or, Neuhaus, Corné Port-Royal & Leonidas. I had the chance to visit both the high-class chocolate shops & those local chocolate shops & I prefer the latter one. The handmade chocolates sold in these small & local businesses have the best & unique taste, more than a factory-made chocolate can have.

Tip: Ask for free taste in chocolate shops, they’ll surely offer you one. Handmade Belgian chocolates quality only last for 3 weeks – these chocolates are for immediate consumption.

Personal favorite – handmade Belgian chocolates from Chocolaterie De Burg in Bruges, Belgium.

Where to get the best-valued Belgian chocolates: Mary Chocolatier in Brussels (along Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert or near Manneken Pis) & Chocolaterie De Burg in Bruges (near Burg Square & beside the Basilica of the Holy Blood)

Flemish Beef Stew

Belgium is also famous for its Flemish beef stew. Cooking the beef with a Belgian beer makes this dish even more special. The meat is cooked for 2-3.5 hours until the flavors simmer, until the meat is tender. This dish is usually served with mashed potato. The meal is commonly called Carbonnades a la Biere or Carbonnade Flamande.

Tip: This dish is best partnered with a glass of local beer.

Where to get the best Flemish beef stew: Fin de Siècle – a local restaurant a few minutes by foot from the Brussels Stock Exchange Building. FYI – this restaurant doesn’t take reservations & only accepts cash.

Beer

Belgian beer is something one must not miss when in Belgium. The country has hundreds of active breweries from the big companies to the small trappist monasteries. Yes, monks brew beers in Belgium. The Belgian’s love for beer started centuries ago when beer was offered as an alternative to drinking water. It eventually became part of their daily lives which is still true up to the present times. Belgians drink more liters of beer per year than any other nationality in the world.

Believe it or not, most beers in Belgium are served in bottles & not in cans. Most of these beers even have their own crafted glasses when served. There are hundreds of kinds of beers available in Belgium. I suggest that you try as much as you can.

Fun fact: There’s a brewery in Bruges (De Halve Maan who brews Brugse Zot beers) who brews their beers in the city & allows the beer to travel 2 miles to the bottling plant outside the city through an underground pipeline.

Tip: Belgian beers are available everywhere. There are a lot of beers to try. Make sure to at least try a beer in every restaurant or bar you are in.

Where to get the best Belgian beer: Delirium Café in Brussels – it is a bar that serves 2,004 kinds of beers – both Belgian & non-Belgian ones. Don’t forget to try Delirium Tremens & Brugse Zot | De Garre in Bruges (found in a small alley by the Bruges Provincial Court) – try their signature De Garre Beer.

And that’s it. I hope I didn’t make you crave for some food. Belgium surely has a lot more dishes, snacks & drinks to try but these were the ones that stood out to me during my trip. In case you want to know more about my Europe trip last 2019, feel free to check out the posts in the Going Solo in Europe Series in this blog.

One more photo of these authentic & handmade Belgian chocolates from Chocolaterie de Burg 🇧🇪

Have you tried some of the treats mentioned above? Which one do you like most? Are you planning to go to Belgium soon & to try the food & beers above? Which one do you look forward to trying in the future? Post your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I will try my best to answer.

Thank you for joining me in today’s P’s List! Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

P’s List: 6 Budget-Friendly & Personal Favorite To-Do’s in Japan

It’s week 4 of our enhanced community quarantine in the Philippines. We’re stuck in our homes, working remotely in our desks & distancing from the outside world aiming to contain the spread of the corona virus. I do not want to talk about how the world is at how but I hope you, your families & your friends are healthy & safe. I also hope you’ve done your part in helping out our front liners & extending your help to those in need.

After 4 weeks of staying at home, I realized I have more time to catch-up on my Going Solo in Europe Series content. I’ve finished my posts about The Netherlands & Belgium & I still have tons to share about Czech Republic & Denmark. Now that my 4 trips (China, Vietnam, Davao & Australia) were cancelled / rescheduled due to the virus, I might run out of stuff to post while waiting for my next trip. I brainstormed with my friends the other night (thanks Majo & Junelle!) & I thought of having a new wave of content to share to my dear readers.

In the last few years, I shared with you travel-related contents through my Tuesday Tips, Throwback Thursday Trips, Friday Thoughts, Hostels of the Day & Flight Reports. Today, I will add a new part in this website called P’s List! It is a list-type of travel content purely based on my personal experiences. It will feature lists of things I need to do in a certain place, restaurants I recommended visiting in a city, food which one must & so on. I hope these lists can help people plan out their itineraries & look for places to visit in their upcoming trips.

The first P’s List will be about Japan – my favorite country next to home. I’ve been thinking about my past Japan trips & I can’t help but miss everything about this beautiful country. I’ve been to Japan 6 times in the last 5 years & I still look forward to going back to the same places over & over again. I browsed through my photos & saw my favorites. Let me share my favorite & affordable to-do’s in my past Japan trips in today’s P’s List.

Stay in Hostels

You guys know that I am a fan of hostels over other forms of accommodation. Hostels are cheaper than hotels & serviced apartments allowing you save some cash for other needs like food, transportation, etc. I’ve stayed with hostels around Asia, Europe & Australia & I can 100% say that Japanese hostels have a unique character. These hostel facilities are clean, well-maintained & quiet. The showers & toilet are unique – you know those electric toilets & small shower rooms. The rooms are spotless & the beds are easy to sleep with. Staffs are nice, accommodating & helpful. Everything feels safe if you’re in Japanese hostels.

In fact, I’ve featured several hostels under my Hostel of the Day posts – The Stay Sapporo, Oak Hostel Zen Tokyo, Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Dot Hostel Nagano, New World Inn Osaka, Fukuoka Hana Hostel & Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka. I also wrote about the 4 Trusted Hostel Groups in Japan which one should stay with. Check out these individual reviews & features & you’ll know why I love staying in Japanese hostels.

Enjoy Eating Gyudon

Matsuya’s gyumeshi – my favorite gyudon in Japan. It’s budget-friendly & very tasty!! YUMYUM~

I love eating gyudon; I love having this meal in local restaurants. Gyudon is a Japanese rice bowl topped with flavored beef strips & simmered onions. I love eating this gyudon in my favorite Japanese fast food restaurant – Matsuya Foods. I usually order their extra-large gyumeshi with miso soup for a little over ¥500 yen & enjoy the meal with the variety of Japanese sauces available & finish the meal with a glass or cold tea. I also love Sukiya’s (another fast food restaurant) gyudon with melted cheese perfect with tabasco sauce.

Another favorite – Sukiya’s gyudon with cheese. It’s perfect with Tabasco sauce – cheesy & spicy!

I have this gyudon meal almost every day, if not every other day & I enjoy it every single time. It’s cheap, it’s tasty & it makes me super full. I cannot wait for my next gyudon fix!

Indulge in Authentic Ramen

Japan is the land of authentic ramen. This dish made of pulled noodles with tasty broth & toppings is one thing I don’t miss when in Japan. I always have ramen in Ichiran, the world-famous tonkotsu ramen that originated in Fukuoka. I also love to try local & authentic ramen like that of Takayama Ramen from Takayama, Hakata Ramen also from Fukuoka & miso ramen from Hokkaido. These ramen dishes, except for Ichiran Ramen, costs a less than ¥1,000 & are big enough to fill my stomach. It’s been a while since I had ramen & I am now craving for one.

Hoard Convenience Store Snacks

My friends & I love to get our snacks from convenience stores in Japan. Convenience stores in Japan are everywhere & open 24/7. These one-stop stores have different breads, chips, desserts & drinks. The stores also have rice meals, coffee, magazines & basically anything a human being needs.

Here’s an example of the variety of drinks you’ll find in a Japanese convenience store.. Yaaaaaay!!

My ultimate favorite convenience store haul is tuna mayo onigiri, egg sandwich & a pack or bottle of drink (milk tea, juice or any drink available). It doesn’t even cost me ¥500 to have all of these as snack! And oh, pro-tip! Please choose Family Mart over any other convenience store in Japan. Family mart has better & tastier products.

Breakfast Grocery Shopping

My hobby of getting food from the grocery started when I was in Fujikawaguchiko last November 2017. All restaurants were closed; the nearest place in my hostel to get food was a local supermarket. There I found out that groceries in Japan offer cheaper packed meals prepared daily & even give you the option to prepare your ‘own meal.’

From that time on, I always get my breakfast meals from the supermarket the night before going back to the hostel & reheat them the following day before I eat. These prepackaged meals usually cost ¥300 – ¥400 & already includes rice, a viand & a salad. Sometimes I add a small salad pack & custard for dessert making my meal cost only ¥500.

Food in groceries & supermarkets are cheaper than those from the convenience stores. Some are even on sale around 7:30 pm to make sure the groceries sell all food before closing time. Getting food from the grocery is way of saving money & a way of helping local businesses. Based on the images shown here – I really like going to the groceries for food. 😋

Drown in Milk Tea

We’re down to my ultimate favorite thing to do in Japan. Okay – I’ve been talking about food in the last 4 items & I am very sorry the last one is still something related to that. But this time it’s a drink; a drink I love to have after every meal outside or in the hostel or even every snack from a convenience store. I know this is something famous in Taiwan but guess what? I love drowning myself with Lipton’s milk tea every time I am in Japan. This 900 ml carton of Lipton milk tea is so addicting & it only costs ¥100 – ¥150 per pack in the supermarket. I always drink one every breakfast & another one probably in the afternoon after snack. I know it might be too much but don’t worry, I also drink lots of water after that.

I miss having this milk tea. To be honest, it’s one of the reasons why I want to go back to Japan really soon. This milk tea actually triggered this post so there you go.

More of Lipton Milk Tea! Seriously guys, this is my favorite drink in Japan. I can drink this all day!!

One of my favorite to do’s in Japan is to go grocery shopping. You see a mix variety + it’s cheaper!!

I’m so sorry for letting you drool. I just miss everything in Japan & I want to go back there really soon. Thanks for reading my favorite to-do’s in Japan! Do you have some of your favorites in my list? Which ones do you also do? What else do you do when in Japan? Feel free to share your own list in the comments section below & let’s engage into a conversation. Do you have any questions about the matters mentioned above? If you’re shy enough to post below, you may send your questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

By the way, please help me promote my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram. Thanks for joining me today! Until the next P’s List! Ciao.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast

Hello & welcome to newest hostel of the day feature! After sharing with you my experiences around Brussels, Bruges & Ghent, it’s time to give details about Sleep Well Youth Hostel – the hostel I stayed with while in Belgium.

Sleep Well Youth Hostel is one of Brussels’ leading hostel. It started out as a youth home which eventually accepted young travelers. Through the years, it catered to more & more travelers & thus became to what it is now. It is an eco-friendly hostel in the center of Brussels. It offers affordable accommodation to those travel in a budget at the same time caters to those who want some privacy during their holidays. The hostel makes sure their operations have minimal impact to the environment by practicing environment-friendly measures. They also play an active role in the socioeconomic development of Belgium & its citizens.

I stayed with Sleep Well Youth Hostel for 4 full days & 4 nights after spending 5 days around Amsterdam, Utrecht, North Holland & The Netherlands in general. Oh, make sure to check out Generator Hostel Amsterdam – the hostel I stayed with while in Holland. Today, allow me to share with you details about this amazing hostel in Brussels. As always, I’ll run you through the hostel’s location, rooms & its amenities. I will also share bits about my stay in the hostel.

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day Europe trip to Europe last October-November 2019. In these 19 days, I went & explored The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. If you want to know the details of this Euro-trip, feel free to check out the posts under the Going Solo in Europe series.

Location & Access

Sleep Well Youth Hostel is a short-stay hostel in the center of Brussels. It is located in Rue du Damier 23, a street off the city’s shopping street. Rogier Station is the nearest metro station to the hostel. Brussels North Station & Brussels Central Station are about 10 to 15-minute walk away from the hostel doorstep. Brussels South Station is a metro ride away to Rogier Station. The nearest metro station exit to the hostel is Rue Nueve exit. Brussels Airport is 30 minutes by train from both North & Central Stations. Brussels Charleroi Airport is an hour bus ride from Brussels South Station. All means of going to Brussels go through these main hubs. You’ll easily find your way to this hostel.

The hostel’s location is perfect. There is a restaurant beside the hostel, a shopping center a few meters away & even more restaurants & food places 5-10 minutes from the hostel doors. Guests don’t need to take the metro or taxi to the important sights since most of them are walk-able from the hostel. Grand Place, Brussels’ most beautiful place, is 10 minutes away by foot.

Accommodation Options & Pricing

Sleep Well Youth Hostel has 3 types of rooms that cater to all kinds of travelers. Those who are in budget can stay in their dormitory rooms. These dormitory rooms have 3, 4 & 6 beds & are split between males & females. Rates per night are as follows: €26 for the 6-bed, €27,50 for the 4-bed & €31 for the 3-bed dormitory room. Those travelling in pairs can stay in the twin room at €36 per night. Solo travelers who want privacy can book the single room for €56 a night. These rooms have private shower & toilet but do not include towels & toiletries.

Sleep Well Hostel also offers upscale accommodation options for those who want to stay in a hotel-like room. Details about Sleep Well Star & Sleep Well Duplex accommodation options are found here.

I booked my stay directly with the hostel & stayed in a 3-bed male dormitory room. The room had single beds, a small work table, separate shower & toilet spaces & lockers (bring your own padlocks). The room had a big window but no air conditioning or fan – which I didn’t mind because it was cold during my visit. Each dormitory bed had sheets, a pillow & blanket, a reading light & 2 USB ports. I paid €122,00 for 4 nights with breakfast every morning. That’s 30,50 per night & around ₱1,800 in our currency. The hostel’s rate isn’t bad at all considering it already has breakfast buffet included. The nightly cost is standard in terms of European rates – at least it’s cheaper & of greater value than Generator Amsterdam’s.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Guests of Sleep Well Youth Hostel enjoy the following amenities & perks:

Free Wi-Fi – All guests have access to the hostel’s fast Wi-Fi connection. Access is given during check-in; the log in details are in the key card case.

Excellent Free Breakfast – Guests can have breakfast hostel’s dining area from 7:00 to 10:00 in the morning. This is where this hostel sets the bar from any other hostel I’ve stayed with in this trip. Their buffet breakfast includes bread (with butter & jam), pasta, egg, cheese, cold cuts, vegetable salad, fruit mixes, cereals, yogurt & a variety of drinks – coffee, tea, juice, milk & water. I loved Sleep Well’s extensive breakfast choice for a hostel. On top of that – it’s already in the nightly rate you paid, unlike most hostels in Europe where you pay extra for breakfast.

Private Toilets & Shower Areas – All rooms have private & separate toilet & shower areas. Guests don’t need to line up for whichever area they need to use as these can be done simultaneously. Showers have both cold & hot water.

On-site Bar – The hostel has an on-site bar at the back of reception. The bar has an extensive list of Belgian beers to try. There’s not much vibe in the bar. From memory, it’s only open until 12 midnight.

24-Hour Reception – The hostel’s reception is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Check in time is at 3:00 pm & check out is at 11:00 am.

Nice & Helpful Staff – Sleep Well Youth Hostel’s staff were nice & helpful. There was a big group checking in when I arrived & one of the staffs immediately helped in checking in. They also gave recommendations on where to go & what to do during my stay.

Indoor & Outdoor Communal Areas – Another thing I loved about this hostel is the presence of indoor & outdoor communal areas. Guests can sit down & chill in almost every corner of the hostel. There are relaxation places by the reception area, right outside the breakfast area & even by the lifts.

Guest Kitchen – Guests also have access to the hostel’s communal kitchen. Those who want to prepare their own food can do so in this area.

Vending Machines – There are vending machines near the reception area in case one wants some drink or snack while in the common area.

Free Computer Use – Guests are welcome to use the desktop computers by the common areas. They can use this to book their onward tickets & hostels or even plan their daily itineraries while in Brussels.

Luggage Room – The hostel also has a room dedicated for guests’ luggage after check out. Please ask reception on where this is found.

Games Area – Those who are travelling in groups can kill time & play in the games area. There are table football & ping-pong tables to play with.

Laundry Facilities – Laundry facilities are available for guests who want to wash their clothes during their stay. Please ask the reception on how to avail this service.

Bicycle Rental & Tour Desk – The hostel reception offers bicycle rental & several guided tours around Brussels. Details available with reception.

Meeting Rooms – The hostel has meeting rooms for rent for private functions & meetings. I didn’t see where these rooms are located but the staff can surely help you with this when you ask them.

Secured Hostel & Room Access – Guests are given key cards that only work on the main hostel door, your specific floor in the lifts & in your room doors. Reception activates these key cards upon check in & deactivates them after check out.

Lift Access – The hostel has 2 lifts mainly to reach the rooms on the top floors. It also helps those with big luggage.

Lock-Out Times – The hostel implements a lock-out time for all dormitory rooms. Guests cannot stay in their rooms from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm because it’s the staff’s designated cleaning time. Note that room key cards do not work during these times.

Experience

My 4-night stay with Sleep Well Youth Hostel was great. It’s not the most social & eventful hostel but at least it lived up to its name. Check-in was fast. The other guy from reception entertained me upon arrival & processed everything in a few minutes. The lifts worked well but can only fit 4-5 people max; or even 2 people with big luggage. The key cards didn’t work for a while when I arrived. We got locked out of our rooms. Glad the hostel manager came & fixed it after a few minutes.

As mentioned above, I stayed in a 3-bed dormitory room. The beds were alright – nothing fancy. The rooms were spacious & clean. The toilets & shower were well-maintained. Thank God they have hot shower! Too bad the lockers were small – it only fit my laptop. I guess the lockers were only for the guest’s valuables. I met some nice people in my room. They were from Ukraine, Pakistan, Canada & Spain. I found the hostel too quiet but at least I had these people to hang out with at night.

The hostel’s location was perfect. It is in a small & quiet street off the busy area. It was accessible to public transportation. There were few homeless people / beggars staying in the street near the hostel. They made me feel a bit unsafe specially when going back to the hostel at night. It’s long list of amenities were amazing – the common areas were cozy, modern & spacious. In my whole stay in Europe, this hostel had the most diverse crowd I’ve experienced – most of them were families on holidays. I still prefer Generator Amsterdam’s crowd.

The breakfast was excellent! It was free & had an ‘extensive’ selection for a hostel. This is what really stick to me about this hostel. It was great for the value I paid. This hostel was definitely cheaper & of better value than Generator Amsterdam. Will I go back to this hostel? Definitely! It was worth every euro I paid.

Here are the hostel’s contact details for your reference.

Sleep Well Youth Hostel
Address: Rue du Damier 23 1000 Brussels Belgium
Phone Number: +32 02 218 50 50
Fax Number: +32 02 218 13 13
E-mail Address: info@sleepwell.be
Website: www.sleepwell.be
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SleepWellYouthHostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sleepwellyouthhostel

Do you have any questions about Sleep Well Youth Hostel or Brussels in general? Feel free to post them in the comments below & I’ll answer them. Do you know a hostel which is worth a feature here in my site? Shoot your suggestions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me in today’s hostel of the day! See you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.