Holidays – Page 5 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 390 – Singapore to Manila – Affordable Low-Cost Afternoon Flight Back to Manila [March 2023]

Last March, I flew to Singapore for 5 days and 4 nights with my relatives. We celebrated my cousins’ birthdays by walking around the Lion City, enjoying the rides at Universal Studios Singapore and watching the beautiful sea creatures at the S.E.A. Aquarium.

I have been to Singapore a lot of times in the past so I will not write about this trip. Instead, I will share with you my flight experience with a Singapore-based airline – Scoot. A few weeks ago, I shared with you how my Manila to Singapore flight on Scoot TR 397 went. Today, I will elaborate my experience with Scoot on TR 390 from Singapore to Manila. Join me in today’s flight report as I discuss why this flight was worth every peso.

Planning to fly to Singapore soon? It is not a cheap country to visit. I have been there a few times and I want to share to you some hacks on how explore the country on a budget. Check out this Tuesday Tip post on how to save some cash while in Singapore!

Scoot

Scoot is a Singapore-based low-cost carrier that is wholly-owned by the Singapore Airlines Group. This low-cost subsidiary was first announced by Singapore Airlines in 2011. It took its first flight back in June 2012. Over the years, the airline has expanded its network from the neighboring Southeast and South Asian countries, up to North Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea), to Australia and even far west to Greece and Germany. In 2017, Scoot merged with another airline – TigerAir Singapore – with Scoot as the surviving entity.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Scoot is based in Singapore Changi Airport. It flies more than 50 Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 787 aircraft to over 50 destinations across Asia, Australia and Europe. As of writing, it also has around 30 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft on order to join the fleet in the next few years.

The airline has adopted the frequent flyer program of its parent airline called KrisFlyer. It also has a codeshare partnership with its parent airline. Scoot is a member of Value Alliance – an alliance of low-cost carriers across Asia Pacific. Alliance members include our very own Cebu Pacific Air, Nok Air from Thailand and Jeju Air from South Korea. The airline also has partnerships with other airlines such as Virgin Australia, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.

Scoot is a low-cost carrier. The airline provides basic fares for an affordable price. Any extra flight perks like check-in baggage allowance, seat selection, inflight meals and inflight amenities can be purchased on top of the basic fare. This no-frills fare system allows the airline to offer low fares across their network.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

My relatives and I booked our tickets 1.5 months before our intended flight dates and paid ₱9,758.39 each roundtrip. The competitors’ prices were way higher than Scoot’s at the time of booking.

This return ticket included a random seat assigned during check-in and 10 kilograms of carry-on baggage. It did not include check-in baggage and inflight snacks or meals. These ticket add-ons were available for purchase during initial booking and up to a few hours before the flight.

I believe this return ticket was affordable given tickets were booked relatively last-minute. Also, the ticket already included the high airport fees and taxes charged for flights from Singapore Changi Airport.

Travel Requirements

The Philippines has simplified its arrival procedure for all passengers and adopted an online travel declaration system. All arriving Filipino and non-Filipino passengers need to register in the online portal – www.etravel.gov.ph – and obtain a unique QR code to be presented upon arrival in the country.

Fully-vaccinated arriving passengers are exempted from providing a Covid-19 pre-departure test result. Partially or unvaccinated arriving passengers are still required to present a negative pre-departure test result. If unable to provide one, the passenger will be required to undergo a test upon arrival in the Philippines.

Please take note that some nationalities still require additional requirements such as a visa (if needed) or proof of onward ticket when entering the Philippines. These requirements can be changed anytime. It’s always best to check the Covid-19 Travel Information page of the airline you’ll be flying with to the Philippines.

Before the Flight

7 days before the flight, Scoot sent an e-mail reminding of the available add-ons for purchase. These add-ons include check-in baggage, preferred seats, meals, snooze kits, etc.

48 hours before the scheduled flight, the airline also sent an e-mail informing us that online check-in was now available. They also reminded us of the check-in process and the safety protocols for the flight.

A day before our flight, we checked in online and got our randomly assigned seats.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Singapore to Manila Scoot flight TR 390 was operated by a 1.3-year-old Airbus A321neo aircraft. This neo aircraft, delivered to the airline in December 2021, has 236 seats in an all-economy class configuration.

The flight took off from Singapore Changi Airport at 3:23 in the afternoon and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:36 in the evening – 1 minute later than the scheduled time of arrival. The whole flight took 3 hours and 13 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Scoot operates from Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport.

CHECK-IN

We arrived at Singapore Changi Airport a few minutes past 12 noon. We headed over to the mobile check-in kiosks and later found out that we need to check-in via the regular check-in counters. Passengers travelling with kids are not eligible for kiosk check-in.

We walked to the regular counters and the nice guy checked us in for our flight. The whole process took less than 10 minutes for 3 adults and 2 kids. The regular check-in desks had no queue because most people use the check-in kiosks and the bag drop counters.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we cleared immigration and headed to the food court for a quick grub. After lunch, we walked straight to Gate B7 and waited for the security lines to ease. Singapore Changi Airport is one of the few airports in the world that have the final security check in every boarding gate. The security process and boarding gates open only an hour before the scheduled flight departure.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 2:20 pm – exactly 30 minutes before the flight departure. Passengers who require assistance and those who availed of the BoardMeFirst add-on went inside the plane first. They were followed by those seated at the back of the plane. Passengers assigned in the front cabin boarded the plane last.

The cabin crew gave out masks and wipes to every passenger boarding the aircraft. The whole boarding process took 32 minutes; the aircraft doors closed at 2:52pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This flight to Manila used an all-economy class configured Airbus A321neo. The plane has 236 seats configured in a 3 x 3 set-up with a single aisle in between. According to SeatMaps website, the seats feature 28 to 29 inches of legroom and 18 inches of seat width.

Each seat features a decent recline, a foldable tray, a seat pocket with the aircraft safety card and onboard menu and a coat hook. The seat also comes with an individual air nozzle, a reading light and a crew call button. Unfortunately, the seats do not feature headrests, pillow and blanket and USB or universal power outlet.

I was assigned window seat 7A in the forward section of the cabin. I got a seat with a decent legroom and a perfectly-positioned window beside the seat.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Scoot does not offer complimentary inflight snack or meals onboard. Passengers can pre-book inflight meals up to days before the flight; they can also buy snacks and drinks during the onboard service. The snack service immediately commenced after the seatbelt sign has been turned off. The ‘shop’ remained open until 45 minutes before landing. I did not avail of any snack or meal on this short flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Scoot aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Instead, they have a feature called ScootHub – an inflight portal accessible from the passenger’s mobile devices. ScootHub offers fun games, real-time flight map, magazine and other inflight features. In future, it will also offer food and drink order services and duty-free shopping.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Scoot did not offer in-flight Wi-Fi on this short flight to Singapore. Passengers can connect to the onboard connection only to access ScootHub and not to use the internet or messaging applications.

LAVATORY

I was seated by the window and I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 3.25-hour flight back to Manila. Besides, the front lavatory was always occupied by one passenger after another.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this flight was more visible and noticeable on this flight compared to the Manila to Singapore flight on TR 397. The crew welcomed the passengers with the warmest greetings and distributed face masks and sanitary wipes upon boarding. They gave the same greetings when we deplaned in Manila. They were strict with the flight safety measures and made sure that all passengers complied during the flight.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation was a little chaotic because many passengers wanted to leave the aircraft as soon as the aircraft doors were opened. Upon leaving the aircraft, all passengers went through the E-travel QR check before going through immigration.

The whole immigration and baggage claim only took us 10 minutes. By the time we finished immigration, we already saw our bags and strollers at Baggage Belt B.

Flight Experience

It was an excellent flying experience with Scoot on flight TR 390 from Singapore to Manila. I would say that this flight was better than the Manila to Singapore leg because of Singapore Changi Airport – obviously one of the best in the world.

This flight has a long list of plus points than negatives. First, the return fare price was affordable and reasonable. The fares were competitive and cheaper than other low-cost cost airlines, like Cebu Pacific Air and Jetstar Asia, flying the same route. Second, the flight schedule was just perfect. It was ideal after hotel check-out and the arrival was in time for dinner here in the Philippines.

Third, the airline’s 10-kilogram carry-on policy in economy is above the industry standard. Most full-service and low-cost airlines only allow up to 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage. The only airline I can think of that offers more in economy is Air France with 12 kilograms carry-on allowance. Fourth, the airline’s check-in system and process at Singapore Changi Airport is modern and efficient. There were no queues at all even if there were multiple Scoot flights departing during that period.

Fifth, Scoot’s inflight portal, ScootHub, is something worth noting. It is great to see low-cost airlines investing on this type of amenity for the passengers. Lastly, the airline provided face masks and sanitary wipes to passengers during boarding. It was something I did not expect from a low-cost carrier like Scoot.

This flight is not all good; it also had some minor inconveniences. First, the security process at the boarding gates took longer than expected. There were only 2 lines for more than 200 passengers. On top of this, the boarding dates only opened an hour before and boarding commenced 30 minutes after it opened. It was more of how the airport was designed but it was just a minor setback. Second, the disembarkation process was chaotic. Everyone was excited to stand up and leave the plane once the aircraft door was opened.

Nevertheless, it was still an amazing flight with Scoot. Will I fly them again? Yes! The airline may not have the 1-peso base fare but they still have a great product with competitive fares. The good schedule (for this flight – not the red eye ones) also adds value to it. Scoot has interesting and affordable long-haul routes which I aim to fly with in the future.

Here are the geeky flight details for our aviation enthusiasts out there:

Airline: Scoot
Flight Date: 28 March 2023
Flight Number: TR 390
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila (MNL) Philippines
Duration: 3 hours & 13 minutes
Seat Number: 7A (window seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: 9V-NCF
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 1.3 years old
Delivered: December 2021

Have you flown Scoot in the past? How was your experience? I hope you can share your flight experience in the comments section below. If not, I hope I convinced you to try them in the future. They are a good budget carrier! Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com with your question.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City

After spending almost 2 weeks around Paris and Rome, my friend and I moved to a new Italian city where the Renaissance period started – Florence (Italian: Firenze). We explored the Tuscan capital and the nearby cities (and towns) for 4 full days and 4 nights.

Allow me to share with you what we did on these 4 full days and know why this beautiful city became our favorite of all the cities we visited in this trip.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris and Rome. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2 & Rome Part 3!

Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is a city located in the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Tuscan Region and is known for its architecture, culture and iconic monuments and buildings. The city is known as the Cradle of Renaissance. The Florentines had a strong influence in the world’s transition from the Middle Ages to the period of rebirth or renaissance. Influential people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Dante Alighieri all came from Florence.

Accommodation

Florence is a popular Italian destination to millions of people from all over the world. This popularity led to high accommodation costs – even higher than Rome’s. My friend and I were travelling on a budget and decided to book with a high-rated but affordable shared accommodation.

We booked our 4-night stay with a recently-opened, lively and social hostel named YellowSquare Florence. We got a bed each in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room and were able to rest well after long walks during the day.

I wrote about our YellowSquare Florence hostel experience and posted it in the recent Hostel of the Day Feature. I hope you can check that out.

Going Around Florence

Going around Florence is easy. Most of the spots to visit are all within the city center. The best way to explore the city center is by foot. There are no trains or trams within the center; the nearest tram stop to the city center is Unità on the Tram Line 2 Vespucci.

The city’s main train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Italian: Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella), is 1 stop away from Unità. It is 10 minutes away by foot (850 meters) from the Duomo, 13 minutes away by foot (1.1 kilometers) from the Accademia Gallery and 15 minutes away by foot (1.3 kilometers) from the Uffizi Gallery.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours

To get to know the city and its history more, my friend and I joined 2 free (tip-based) walking tours with a local company called La Bussola. We joined the morning Medici Free Tour with Katerina; we learned about the Medici Family, how they came into power and how Florence developed under their rule. We also joined the afternoon Genius Free Tour with Giachomo; we learned about the Florence icons named Dante, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Da Vinci and Galileo and how they influenced the people and the society during their time.

We had fun in these 2 tours. We knew a lot about the city and its influences and we even got local food recommendations. We encourage you to join these free tours during your visit to Florence. Please check out their website and book your tour slots with them.

Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour

During our stay in Florence, my friend and I went on a day tour to check out a few places in the Tuscan Region. We joined Sightseeing Experience’ Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour; we visited Pisa, the Pietraserena Wine Estate, San Gimignano and Siena. We paid €71.10 each for this 11.5-hour tour.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts. Check out the Tuscany Experience Classic Tour post here.

Places Visited in Florence

There are a lot of museums and places to visit in Florence. We spent 3 full days (not including the Tuscany Experience Day Tour) around the city and we still have not been to all. We chose the places we wanted to visit and took our time in each place.

Gallery of the Academy of Florence (Italian: Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) – The Accademia Gallery is famous for Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the statue of David. Aside from this, the gallery also has paintings and sculptures of other great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Del Sarto. Another section that stood out to me is Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery.

Entry tickets cost €16 (including online convenience fee) per person during our visit. These have been increased to €17 as per my recent check. Tip: Book your tickets in advance and get the earliest timeslot to have the statue of David to yourself.

Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery

The Church of Orsanmichele – This church is one of the oldest in Florence. It was built by the guilds in the kitchen garden of Saint Michele Monastery.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian: Duomo di Firenze) – This cathedral is the city’s cathedral built in the 1200s to the 1400s and is one of the largest in the world. Designed by di Cambio, this Catholic church is known for its striking green, pink and white marble panels. A part of the cathedral is open to the public and is free to visit.

Cathedral Plaza (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The is a vibrant retail area outside the cathedral. Shops, restaurants and cafes mainly comprise this plaza.

The Bargello – Also known as Palazzo del Popolo, this old building was once the office of the city’s captain. It also served as barracks and a prison. The building has been converted to an art museum. Museum tickets cost €11 per person.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence (Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) – Dubbed as the Pantheon of Florence, this gothic minor cathedral has 16 chapels, tombs and funerary monuments of famous people such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Bartolini and Vasari. Entry tickets cost €8 per person.

Piazza Santa Croce – This plaza is in front of the Basilica of the Holy Cross. During our visit last November 2022, this plaza hosted Florence’ Christmas Market.

Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica) – Piazza della Repubblica is one of the city squares in Florence. It is believed to be the site of the city’s forum back in the days.

Palazzo Vecchio – Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, this building was and is still Florence’ town hall. A part of this medieval building was converted into a museum.

Signoria Square (Italian: Piazza della Signoria) – This square, located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, is the city’s main political square since the 14^th century. The square has notable sculptures and figures that are believed to be contradictory to what has happened in the area. These include the following: a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune and Giambologna’s Statue of Cosimo I.

Loggia dei Lanzi – Found on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and beside Palazzo Vecchiio, this building is a public art gallery that houses statues such as Perseus and Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Via del Neri – Via del Neri is a famous small street near Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio that is full of cafes, shops, galeterias and restaurants.

Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) – The Uffizi Gallery is a gallery and museum that houses artworks from the Renaissance period. It has masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello, Botticelli, Giotto and a lot more.

Some notable artworks include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Annunciation’ and ‘Adoration of the Magi‘ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio, ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo, ‘Laocoön’ by Baccio Bandinelli and ‘The Venus of Urbino’ by Titian.

We bought our tickets on site and paid €12 each. Tickets are also available for purchase online.

Arno River – The Arno River divides Florence into 2 parts. The river originates from the Apennine Mountains and flows to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the old times, the river became an important instrument for trade. It also became the transit or passageway for wood and all other materials needed during the Renaissance period.

Ponte Vecchio – This is a medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River during the 1300s. This bridge was used to be occupied by shops of farmers, butchers and businessmen. In the present time, the bridge is still occupied by shops selling artworks, jewelry and souvenirs.

Pitti Palace (Italian: Palazzo Pitti) – Previously owned by Florentine banker Lucca Pitti, the palace was bought by the Medici Family in 1549 and became the official residence of the family. This palace is located at the southern banks of the Arno River.

My friend and I only visited the palace from the outside. We did not have time to go in and explore the museum. Entry tickets cost €17 per person if purchased online.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit (Italian: Basilica di Santo Spirito) – This basilica is a Catholic church found in the Oltarno Quarter, south of the Arno River.

We missed one spot which we did not have time to visit – Michelangelo Square (Italian: Piazzale Michelangelo). It is a square that offers a beautiful and stunning panoramic view of Florence. I hope we can go back to visit this place in the future.

Have you been to Florence in Italy? If yes, which one is your favorite place to visit and why? If you have not been, which are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Florence easily became our favorite. The city is so beautiful and is something that should not be missed. We stayed for 4 full days and we still have not been to all places. We hope that people visit and stay in the city longer than most people usually do.

Thanks for joining me in sharing our Florence experience with you. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles and Rome before we visited Florence. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to Milan!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 397 – Manila to Singapore – Reasonably-Priced Early Morning Flight to the Lion City [March 2023]

Last March 2023, I flew to Singapore with my relatives to celebrate my cousin’s birthdays. We spent 5 days and 4 nights around the beautiful Lion City. We explored the usual areas and mostly went to the kid-friendly places such as the S.E.A. Aquarium and Universal Studios Singapore.

Unfortunately, I will not post our itinerary and trip details because it was just all fun, fun and fun with the kids. Instead, I will share with you the details of and experiences on our flights to and from Singapore with Scoot. Join me in today’s flight report as I go you through the first leg – our Manila to Singapore flight with Scoot on TR 397.

Scoot

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

AIRFARE

Fares to and from Singapore are probably one of the most expensive here in Southeast Asia; it is because of its relatively high airport taxes and fees. My relatives and I booked our return tickets 1.5 months before our intended flight date and paid ₱9,758.39 each.

This return ticket included 10 kilograms of carry-on baggage per way and a randomly-selected seat during check-in. It does not include check-in baggage and inflight meals or snacks. These add-ons were available for purchase up to a few hours before the flight.

I personally think that this was a reasonably-priced return fare considering it was booked relatively close to the intended trip schedule. A return ₱1-fare ticket with Cebu Pacific Air costs a little over ₱6,000 and it must be booked over 6 months before.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Singapore has removed all Covid-19 restrictions as of February 2023. The country still requires all incoming tourists and visitors to fill out the SG Arrival Card declaration form at least 3 days before arrival.

Philippine passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa and are allowed to stay up to 30 days after entry.

I have been to Singapore a few times in the past. In fact, I previously shared with you 2 Singapore trips which you can read about in this website: Throwback Thursday Treat: 2016 New Year in Singapore & SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

7 days before the flight, Scoot sent an e-mail to remind me of the latest Singapore entry requirements. The airline also offered me to purchase add-ons for the flight such as check-in baggage, meals, etc.

48 hours before the flight, I did not receive an e-mail notification saying that online check-in is now open for our flight. My theory is that I needed to check-in through the counters because I was flying with 2 kids.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Scoot flight TR 397 from Manila, Philippines to Singapore Changi Airport was operated by a 1.3-year-old Airbus A321neo aircraft. This neo aircraft, delivered to the airline in December 2021, has 236 seats in an all-economy class configuration.

The flight took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at exactly 6:22am and landed at Singapore Changi Airport 23 minutes ahead of schedule at 9:27am. The whole flight only took 3 hours and 5 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Back in March 2023, Scoot operated out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. The airline has now transferred its Manila operations to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as of 16 April 2023.

CHECK-IN

I arrived at the airport at 2:43 in the morning and noticed that check-in counters are already open. I paid my travel tax and went to meet my relatives in the priority lane (we were travelling with kids). The whole check-in and bag-drop process, including the queue, took 48 minutes. The regular check-in lines moved faster than the priority lane queue.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we passed through immigration and final security check. We decided to kill time in the central common areas because the boarding gate and lounge were still closed.

An hour before boarding, Gate 16 opened to all Singapore-bound passengers. This pre-departure area lacked proper ventilation; it was small and cramped. There were not enough seats for all passengers of a 236-seat plane.

BOARDING

Boarding process started at 5:28am. Passengers who availed the BoardMeFirst add-on and those who need assistance went inside the plane first. Passengers travelling with infants, small children, persons with disability and senior citizens boarded the plane next. Regular passengers came in last and boarded the plane by zone.

The boarding process on this Singapore-bound flight was chaotic. Priority boarding was not followed; passengers lined up from everywhere. The ground staff had difficulty managing the boarding process and ended up boarding all passengers at the same time. The whole process took over 30 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed around 6:00am; the plane pushed back at 6:06am.

INFLIGHT HARD & SOFT PRODUCT

SEAT FEATURES

The Airbus A321neo aircraft used in this Singapore-bound flight has 236 seats in a 3 x 3 all economy-class configuration. According to SeatMaps website, each seat features 28 to 29 inches of legroom and 18 inches of seat width.

Each seat features a tray table and a seat pocket with aircraft safety card and onboard menu. It also features individual reading lights, air nozzles and attendant call button. The seats on the A321 do not have headrests and USB or power outlets.

I was assigned seat 13E, a middle seat in the front section, on this 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Scoot does not offer complimentary inflight snack or meals onboard. Passengers can pre-book inflight meals up to days before the flight; they can also buy snacks and drinks during the onboard service. The snack service immediately commenced after reaching the flight’s cruising altitude. The ‘shop’ remained open until 45 minutes before landing. I did not avail of any snack or meal on this short flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

LAVATORY

I was seated in a middle seat and I did not have the chance to get up and visit the lavatory during the flight. The person seated next to me was asleep almost throughout the flight.

CABIN CREW SERVICE

Unfortunately, I did not have a direct interaction with the cabin crew on this flight. I noticed that the crew did their job in greeting and assisting passengers from boarding to the snack service and up to disembarkation.

DISEMBARKATION & BAGGAGE CLAIM

The aircraft touched down at Singapore Changi International Airport at 9:27am. It taxied to gate D35 in less than 10 minutes. All passengers disembarked from the front door into the terminal.

We finished the whole disembarkation, immigration and baggage claim process in less than 20 minutes.

Flight Experience

I had a pleasant flying experience with Scoot on this Manila to Singapore leg last March 2023. Allow me to expand this statement further by sharing the positives and points for improvement for this specific flight.

In my opinion, Scoot excelled in the following areas. First area is price point. The airline offered budget-friendly and competitive airfare for such last-minute tickets. The return fare from Manila to Singapore cost ₱9,758.39 per person, a few thousands cheaper (at the time of booking) than other low-cost competitors such as Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia Philippines and JetStar Asia.

Second, the ticket included a generous carry-on baggage allowance of 10 kilograms per passenger. Most airlines only allow up to 7 kilograms of complimentary cabin baggage while a low-cost carrier like Scoot offers more than the industry standard. The only airline I can think of that offers more in economy is Air France with 12 kilograms carry-on allowance.

Third, the airline used a modern Airbus A321neo aircraft on this flight to Singapore. This newer plane provided better inflight experience and offered more optimized cabin spacing and features. Lastly, Scoot has improved in the inflight experience with ScootHub – the airline’s inflight portal. It is rare for low-cost airlines to offer this type of portal but it is nice to see that Scoot is pioneering it here in Southeast Asia.

This flight is not all good; it also has areas where the airline or the staff can improve on. First, the priority line check-in process took longer than the regular check-in line. We were 6^th on the line and took 48 minutes to finish the check-in process.

Second, the airline’s pre-departure area for this flight was small, crowded and cramped. This concern has now been addressed with the airline’s recent transfer of operations to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Lastly, the boarding process was chaotic. Priority boarding was not followed; the ground staff had difficulty managing the boarding queues.

Overall, it was still a good flight with Scoot. I flew with them years ago from Penang to Singapore and I can confidently say that the airline has improved a lot in terms of passenger flying experience. I cannot wait how can they can further improve their product. Will I fly with them again? Yes! I am keen on trying their low-cost long-haul routes in the future.

Let me share with you some geeky details of this flight:

Airline: Scoot
Flight Date: 24 March 2023
Flight Number: TR 397
Route: Manila (MNL) Philippines to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 3 hours & 5 minutes
Seat Number: 13E (middle seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: 9V-NCJ
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 1.3 years old
Delivered: December 2021

Have you ever flown with Scoot? When and to where was this? Also, what did you like most about your flight with the airline? I hope you can share your trip details and experiences in the comments below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to also post them below. Alternatively, you may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Rome at Night, City Walking Tour & Departure [Part 3 of 3]

In the last few blog posts [Rome Part 1 & Rome Part 2], I shared with you our first few days around Rome. My friend and I have been to a few notable places during these days and enjoyed our time in the beautiful city.

Today, I will share with you what we did on our remaining days and nights in Rome. Spoiler alert! I went around Rome at night with my uncle. My friend and I joined a free walking tour and enjoyed our last few days in the city. More information about these below.

ACCOMMODATION

Rome is one of the few key cities in Europe that is budget traveler-friendly. The city has affordable and reasonable accommodation rates far from the expensive per night rates in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. There are hostels available for less than €20 per night. These hostels even offer better and more-valued experiences than those from the other expensive cities.

My friend and I stayed at The RomeHello for 5 nights. We had a pleasant and memorable hostel experience with this high-rated and affordable hostel. We believe the hostel ticked all the boxes – cheap and reasonable rates, a central location, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, fun activities, tours and experiences and a traveler-friendly vibe. I wrote about our RomeHello experience in the latest Hostel of the Day feature; I hope you can check it out here.

GOING AROUND ROME

Going around Rome is easy. If you do not mind walking all day, you can practically visit all popular sights by foot. Another way to visit these spots is by taking the Metro Line A. This underground metro has stations dedicated to and near the popular Roman attractions.

Unlike in Paris where we used the Navigo card, my friend and I only bought single journey train tickets during our Rome visit. The one-way BIT Metro Ticket costs €1,50 valid for 100 minutes after the first stamp. This ticket is valid for 1 metro or train ride only. Take note that there are other available metro tickets such as the Metro Card, the Rome Travel Card and the 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour passes. We planned our itinerary well so we do not have to purchase these passes.

Day 4 – Rome at Night

Before flying to Europe, I messaged a priest uncle (my mom’s childhood friend) based in Rome and told him that I will visit the city. I gave him our schedule and was told that he will message me when the dates were near. I did not hear from him until our fourth day in Rome. I was in the hostel room, lying in my bed after a tiring but meaningful day at Vatican City when I got a message from him. I was asked if I was free for dinner and a night tour around the city. I immediately said yes and I got picked up at the hostel an hour after. My friend skipped this night tour with uncle.

We first drove to a residential street named Via Niccolò Piccolomini. Here, we saw an illusion where the Saint Peter’s Basilica Dome became bigger as we move away from it. It is against the usual phenomenon where something gets smaller if you move away from it. Too bad I did not take photos or videos about this illusion.

After that, we headed to Trastevere and had dinner at Hosteria Del Moro. Uncle treated me to a traditional Italian course dinner. We started with prosecco for aperitivo, fried zucchini for antipasti and spaghetti amatriciana for primi (first main course). We also had red wine on the side. Unfortunately, we were full and decided to skip secondi (second main course), contorni (vegetable side dish) and formaggi e frutta (fruit and cheese plate). We had tiramusi for dolce (dessert) and grappa for digestivo (digestive alcoholic drink). Uncle still had caffe (espresso) after dessert before the digestivo.

After dinner, we visited Saint Peter’s Square then went to outside of Castel Sant’Angelo, a mausoleum turned pope’s fortress and castle and now a museum. We continued the night tour to the Temple of the Gods – the Pantheon and Piazza Navona (again).

We dropped by Piazza Venezia (again), walked to the Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) and headed to the Spanish Steps. We passed by the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Italian: Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore) – the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary – before heading to our final stop – the Colosseum (again). After this, uncle dropped me back to the hostel and we called it a night.

Thanks to my uncle for the sumptuous Italian dinner and for taking me around Rome during night time. The city looks and feels different at night; it has a different beauty and charm that people should aim to discover and explore.

Day 5 – Laundry DAY & City Walking Tour

We had a more relaxed fifth day in Rome. We started our day with the hostel’s buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar and Grill by Tyler. After that, we did our laundry and waited for the clothes to dry up.

In the afternoon, we joined New Rome Free Tour’s tip-based 5:00pm City Centre Free Walking Tour. Our guide, Niccolo, toured us around the city center, shared the city’s history and politics and gave trivia about each place we visited. We went to the following places:

Spanish Square (Italian: Piazza di Spagna) – The Spanish Square is a famous square in Rome in front of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See. It is also where the famous 135-step Spanish Steps is found.

Column of the Immaculate Conception (Italian: Colonna dell’ Immacolata) – This column is a monument that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to our guide, the Pope visits this monument every 8^th of December and offers flowers to the bronze statue of Mary.

Via Condotti Shopping Street (Italian: Via Condotti) – Via Condotti is Rome’s most fashionable street. It is where branded shops and luxury boutiques are found; it is the perfect place to go shopping when in Rome.

Column of Marcus Aurelius (Italian: Colonna di Marco Aurelio) – This historic monument that is dedicated to the Roman victory in the Marcomannic Wars.

Navona Square (Italian: Piazza Navona) – Navona Square is a large square in the center of Rome. It used to be the place where Stadium of Domitian was built in 80 AD. It has 3 fountains – the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno).

Pantheon – The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the twelve Gods. Through the years, it has been converted into a Catholic church known as the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres) and now as a museum. The Pantheon is known for its huge dome structure and its dome opening that allows the sunlight and rain to go inside the building. Entrance to the Pantheon is free of charge.

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius (Italian: Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio) – This Baroque-style church is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. It also features Andrea Pozzo’s tompe-l’œil (optional illusion of three-dimensional paintings in flat surfaces) paintings in the dome and ceiling.

Temple of Hadrian (Italian: Il Tempio di Adriano) – This temple is dedicated to deified emperor Hadrian, the Roman emperor from 117 to 138.

Galleria Alberto Sordi – Galleria Alberto Sordi is a famous shopping arcade in Rome named after Italian actor Alberto Sordi. It used to be called Galleria Colonna due to its proximity to Piazza Colonna.

Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) – The Trevi Fountain is a Baroque-style fountain found in the center of Rome. Designed by Nicola Salvi, this fountain is one of the most famous around the world. It is also famous for coin throwing which they say has different meanings depending on the number of coins you throw.

The walking tour ended at the Trevi Fountain. My friend and I had dinner at a traditional restaurant named Taverna del Seminario near the Pantheon. I ordered a whole of pizza capricciosa for myself and I was super full. After dinner, we walked back to the hostel and started packing our stuff.

Day 6 – Departure

Our 6^th day in Rome was just all about departure. We woke up early, prepared our bags and checked out of The RomeHello. We took a FreeNow ride to Rome Tiburtina Bus Station and waited for our FlixBus ride to our next Italian destination – Florence.

This pretty much ends our 6 days around the beautiful city of Rome in Italy. In case you missed our first few days, please feel free to check out our Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum Tour, Trastevere Food Tour and our Vatican Trips in the previous Rome blog posts.

Have you been to Rome, Italy? If yes, which is your favorite spot and why? If not yet but you are planning to visit, which spot are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Post them in the comments or feel free to send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me and please look forward to the next Italy-related post. In case you missed it, before we explored Rome, my friend and I spent a few days around Paris and Versailles in France. You can find all Europe-related content under the N9 in Europe category.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Vatican City, Necropolis Tour & Papal Audience [Part 2 of 3]

A visit to Rome is not complete without a visit to Vatican City. Out of our 6 days in Rome, my friend and I decided to spend at least 1.5 days in Vatican. Let me share with you what we did during our time in Vatican – Days 3 Part 2 and Day 4 in Rome.

In case you missed it, I already shared our Rome Days 1 to 3 Part 1 in a previous blog post. You can check it out here.

Vatican City

Vatican City is a small and independent city-state that is located inside the beautiful city of Rome. It is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church; it is where the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, resides. The city-state is known for famous places such as the Saint Peter’s Square, Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

To & From Vatican City

Vatican City is accessible to public transportation. People can take the bus and get off in the stops near the border gates. They can also take the Metro Line A, get off at Ottaviano Station and walk for about 1 kilometer to Saint Peter’s Square. The most convenient option to and from Vatican City is to take an Uber or FreeNow from your hotel or hostel.

Necropolis Tour & Saint Peter’s Basilica

My friend and I had one of the most unique experiences in Vatican during the Necropolis Tour. The tour took us down to the Tomb of Saint Peter under the Vatican Basilica. It also took us to the beautiful Clementine Chapel – a chapel dedicated to sepulcher of Saint Peter. The Excavations Office gave us the Tuesday 3:30pm tour schedule – perfect timing after our Trastevere Food Tour.

The necropolis tour is only available by request to the Fabric of Saint Peter (Italian: Fabbrica di San Pietro) – the institution in-charge of the conservation and maintenance of the Saint Peter’s Basilica. Visits to the necropolis and the necropolis tour schedule are set by the Excavations Office (Italian: Ufficio Scavi).

The Necropolis Tour costs €13 per person and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Tours are only limited to small groups – up to 12 per schedule and up to 250 people per day as per the website. Also, photos and videos are not allowed during the whole tour.

The tour ends inside the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (Italian: Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano). Saint Peter’s Basilica is a Renaissance-style church built in the middle of Vatican City. The church is said to be one of the holiest shrines around the world and is built right above the Tomb of Saint Peter – the Catholic Church’ first pope.

Necropolis tour requests can be sent via e-mail to uff.scavi@fabricsp.va or scavi@fsp.va. Please check the Excavations Office website for the required details for these tour requests.

Papal Audience

The Papal Audience is held on Wednesdays when the Pope is in Rome. Pilgrims and visitors from all over the world get the chance to see and receive blessings from the Pope himself. The audience starts at 9:00am and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Papal audience tickets are free of charge and can be requested from the Prefecture of the Papal Household as early as possible. These tickets, when granted, must be redeemed at the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace from 3:00pm to 7:00pm the day before the Papal audience schedule or from 7:00am during the day of the event.

My friends and I joined a scheduled Papal audience during our visit to Rome. We saw Pope Francis up-close & got blessed by His Holiness during the Papal audience.

About 1.5 months before our visit, I sent an e-mail to the Prefecture of the Papal Household and requested for tickets. I received the ticket confirmation 2 weeks after I sent the e-mail and claimed these tickets before our Necropolis Tour.

Papal Audience tickets can be requested via e-mail to ordinanze@pontificalisdomus.va. Please do not forget to mention where you are from, how many people are in the party, when is your preferred schedule and how you can be contacted.

Saint Peter’s Square

Saint Peter’s Square (Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is a large plaza found in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. It is the place where several events, like the Papal Audience, are held. The square has the Obelisk of the Saint Peter’s Square found in the center. It is also surrounded by hundreds of columns and pilasters. Above these columns are statues of saints and popes created back in the 1600s.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums (Italian: Musei Vaticani) are museums that house collections of the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout centuries. These collections include tens and thousands of sculptures, artifacts, artworks, and paintings made by notable people from the Renaissance period to the contemporary times. It also includes items (up to popemobiles) that were used by the previous popes.

The Disputation of the Sacrament by Raphael

Some of the notable artworks found in these series of museums are the Sistine Chapel (Italian: Cappella Sistina) – which has The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement by Michelangelo (where photos and videos were not allowed), the Raphael Rooms (Italian: Le Stanze di Raffaello) – which has The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament and The School of Athens, and the Pieta by Vincent Van Gogh.

We got our tickets directly from the Vatican Museums for €17 per person; we also availed of the audio guide for additional €7 and paid a pre-sales fee of €4 per person. The pre-booked ticket and audio guide cost us €28 each in total. We stayed inside the Vatican Museums for 4 hours and we still have not seen all of it. We recommend allotting one whole day only for the Vatican Museums.

Where We Ate During Our Vatican Visit

After the papal audience, we walked to Trecaffè–Prati near the Vatican Museums entrance for late breakfast. We again had pistachio croissant and maritozzo paired with cappuccino. After this, we walked around Ottaviano area while we waited for our Vatican Museum entry schedule.

Before going into the museum, we decided to have lunch at Jollibee Roma – a taste of home! I ordered burger steak rice meal with drink for around €7. It was a bit expensive compared to Philippine prices. Taste-wise, I still prefer the ones we have here.

This ends our visit to the beautiful Vatican City.

Have you been to the Vatican City? Which was your favorite part of the city-state? Did you get the pope? Feel free to share your experiences about & previous travels to Vatican in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? Do not hesitate to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me relieve the memories we had during our visit to Vatican City. In case you missed it, I also wrote about our flight from Paris to Rome with Air France, the hostel we stayed with during our time in Rome and our visit to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Trastevere. Watch out for the third & final installment of this 6-day trip around Rome.

Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook and Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.