budget travel – Page 23 – The Wknd Travel

Last-Minute Japan Weekend: 48 Hours in FUKUOKA For Less Than ₱12,500 – Flights & Hostel Included

You’re an avid follower of my posts if you know that I love Japan so much. I’ve been to Japan several times & I always want to go back, even in the same places I’ve been to in the past. I posted crazy cheap Japan itineraries over the last few years – 9 days in Japan for less than ₱40,000 (my first ever Japan trip in 2015), 13 days solo trip around 8 Japanese cities for less than ₱50,000 (2016 trip), 7 days around Kawaguchiko & Takayama for less than ₱35,000 (2017 trip) & that 7-day Hokkaido winter trip for ₱45,000 (2018 trip). I also featured all cities & towns I’ve been to & even posted tips on what to do & not to do in Japan & where to find the best hostels. Japan content comprises a big chunk of my blog posts. I’m happy with the amount of views & visits these posts get.

I went to Japan twice in 2019. My first trip happened in early in the year where I started off in Tokyo, went down to Nagano, dropped by Matsumoto, then met up with my sisters to go around Osaka, Kyoto & Nara before flying to Fukuoka to catch my flight back to Manila. My second trip happened in the last quarter, right before I flew to Europe. My friend & I flew to Fukuoka to surprise our other friend & ruin her first solo international trip. We’re still good friends, don’t worry!

This trip to Fukuoka will be the topic of this post! My friend & I flew to Fukuoka last-minute (everything booked 3 weeks before the trip) & explored the city in 48 hours for less than ₱12,500 each. This will be my 2019 entry to my yearly crazy cheap Japan itineraries! Want to know how I did it? Check out below.

airfare

Believe it or not, I booked my return tickets to Fukuoka 3 weeks before the flight. Crazy, right? GetGo, Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program, had a promo code that offered 5,000 points less. For some strange reasons, flights to & from Fukuoka were at 2,400 points per way. I ended up only paying for taxes & booking fees amounting to just ₱2,873.74. Such a steal! It may not be my cheapest ticket to Japan (it’s still that ₱850 ticket to Tokyo & ₱600+ ticket from Fukuoka to Manila last year), but it surely is still super cheap.

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.

accommodation

I planned & booked everything 3 weeks into the trip. Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka, Fukuoka doesn’t have many affordable accommodation options. Luckily, I found Nekokura Hostel in Hakata area. I stayed in a mixed dormitory room for 2 nights for ₱2,623 – that’s a little over ₱1,300 per night. The hostel is small but decent; it is also a cat rescue shelter. I wrote a comprehensive feature & review about my stay in Nekokura Hostel. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

tourist visa

I got a 5-year multiple entry visa from Japan Embassy when I applied in 2016. The visa is still valid for this trip so I didn’t have to go through the application process. I posted a Tuesday Tip blog on how you can get a Japan visa in 4 easy steps. Check out the visa post here.

day-to-day budget

Travelling around Japan isn’t new to me. In fact, I already know how much train rides cost, how much a normal meal is & what else one pays for when going around the city. I gave myself ¥10,000 budget for this 48-hour trip around Fukuoka. This budget covered all transportation & food costs. Good thing I didn’t pay for any entrance fee during this trip. Spoiler alert: I managed to fit in everything in this budget!

2-Day Itinerary Around Fukuoka

DAY 0 – ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport, my friends & I got off the plane, cleared immigration & got our Wi-Fi rental in the arrival hall. My friend’s Wi-Fi device booking can’t be found in their list. We ended up getting a new one. My share for this 48-hour trip cost ₱370. After getting our wi-fi router, we took the free bus to Fukuoka Airport’s domestic terminal / subway station. We took the train from the airport to Chiyo-Kenchōguchi Subway Station (¥260) & went straight to our hostel. A woman welcomed us for check in & accompanied us to the 2^nd floor to our rooms.

After a few minutes of rest, we walked to Nakasu area to grab some dinner. We had our meal at Matsuya – one of our favorite local food chains. I ordered a large gyūdon which came with a bowl of miso soup for ¥520. After the meal, we strolled around the area & checked out some of the nearby local food carts called yatai. We just had our dinner so we skipped eating in these food carts. We then dropped by a convenience store, got my favorite Lipton milk tea & a bottle of water (for ¥190) & walked back to our hostel.

Expenses: ¥970 + ₱1,990 (including travel tax)

DAY 1 – AROUND FUKUOKA

Our only full day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at Family Mart. I got a tuna mayo onigiri, a bread & a bottle of milk tea for ¥560. Our first plan was to go to Nokonoshima Island Park but the weather wasn’t the best. We decided to skip the park & took the train to Dazaifu Station (¥620) to see Dazaifu Tenman-gū. This is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, an important figure during the Heian Period. The shrine was built over Michizane’s grave. We got lost along the way, boarded the wrong train & ended up paying for another ¥260 train ride.

After spending an hour around the shrine, we took 3 trains (¥820) to Fukuoka’s giant reclining Buddha found in Nanzoin Temple. We got off Kido Nanzoin-mae Station on the JR Sasaguri Line & walked up the hill for about 15 minutes to see the statue. This giant reclining Buddha, known as Nehanzo, was built in 1995 & is the world’s largest bronze statue.

We took the train back to Nakasu-Kawabata Station (¥590) & went to Ichiran’s main store in Nakasu for late lunch. I got the regular tonkotsu ramen bowl & an extra order of firm noodles for ¥1,190. It was an expensive lunch but was super worth it. Ichiran Ramen is so good – I keep coming back every time I go to Japan. After lunch, we strolled along Kawabata Shopping Center & headed to Kushida Shrine. This is the home shrine of the famous Fukuoka festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa. We further walked to Tōchō-ji, a Buddhist temple that houses the great wooden statue called Fukuoka Daibutsu. Unfortunately, the statue area was already closed. We just walked around the temple complex & took some photos near the 5-storey wooden pagoda.

After temple & shrine hopping, we walked back to Canal City Hakata – Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building. My friends had coffee while I ordered a cone of special vanilla ice cream (¥450). We walked around the shopping mall, watched the fountain & lights show & had omurice (¥858) for dinner at Pomme’s. We dropped by Don Quixote to buy treats (I didn’t) & the nearby supermarket to get some food for the next day’s breakfast (¥471). We walked back to our hostel & called it a day.

Expenses: ¥5,819 (includes all food & transportation)

DAY 2 – LAST DAY IN FUKUOKA

Missed this kind of breakfast – 1 box of Lipton milk tea & a rice meal from the supermarket. Yum!

Our last day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at the hostel. We bought the food on our way to the hostel the night before. We left the hostel at 9:30 in the morning & took the train to Tenjin Station (¥210). We left our bags in the lockers found in the train station (¥600) & then took the bus to Fukuoka TV Tower (¥240). We didn’t go up the tower & instead decided to walk around the Momochi Seaside Park. We also sat down for a bit in the wooden chairs & enjoyed the peaceful beach.

This is the view from Fukuoka Castle Ruins’ viewpoint. Beautiful Fukuoka on a cloudy afternoon.

After an hour around the beach & the TV tower complex, we took the bus (¥240) to Fukuoka Castle Ruins. We went up the castle ruins & enjoyed the beautiful view of the city from the viewpoint. Warning! The way up & down to the castle ruins isn’t normal. Some may find it difficult going up & down those staircases & pathways. We walked down & headed to the nearby Ōhori Park. Locally known as Ōhori-koen, this park features a large pond with a walking path around it & in the middle. We bought snacks (¥569) in Boathouse Ōhori & enjoyed the view of the park from the café. We went to Ōhori’s famous pagoda in the middle & took photos before we left.

We took the train back to Tenjin Station (¥210), went around the shopping malls & bought cheese tarts from BAKE (¥216). We had our late lunch at Gyushin in Tenjin Underground Shopping Mall. I got a big bowl of gyūdon (again!!) for ¥630. After lunch, we parted ways with our friend, got our bags from the lockers & took the train (¥260) to Fukuoka Airport. Our flight to Manila left Fukuoka & arrived Manila on time.

Last meal before leaving Fukuoka. Had gyudon (agaaaain 😍) & this time with Bake Cheese Tart!

Expenses: ¥3,175 (includes all food & transportation)

summary of expenses

We knew 48 hours around Fukuoka isn’t enough but we managed to go the main sights found in & around the city. Let us look at the breakdown of our expenses for this quick trip to Fukuoka.

There you go – ₱ 12,369.10 for 48 hours in Fukuoka, Japan including return flights & hostel accommodation. I can’t believe I only spent ¥9,964 in Japan. I did it AGAIN – 5^th year in a row of going to Japan on budget. Travelling to Japan may be expensive for most people; but there will always be ways & means of making it affordable for everyone.

So Majo & I surprised Junelle in her supposed-to-be solo Japan trip. By the way, we’re still friends!

Have you been to Fukuoka, Japan before? What do you like about the city? How do you find it compared to the other cities? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Fukuoka? Feel free to send them via email 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.

Random street somewhere in Fukuoka City. Don’t you just love everything about this photo? 😍

Thanks for joining me today! I haven’t planned or booked anything yet but I am planning to try this weekend trip to other Japan cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya. Stay tuned!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City

Sometimes, the best things happen when unplanned. True enough, this happened to me when I took an unplanned afternoon visit to Utrecht, Netherlands last October. Yesterday, I shared with you details about my few days around Amsterdam. In those 5 days, I took trips to different cities & towns outside the center – Utrecht being one of them.

I messaged my Europe-based friends weeks before the trip & tried to set-up meet-ups during the trip. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, I caught up with my Amsterdam-based friend Tobias on my 2nd day in Amsterdam. I also got a reply from Megan, another Dutch friend I met in Krabi in 2015. Megan & I didn’t plan out where & when we’ll meet until when I was already in the Netherlands. We then decided to meet in Utrecht, the city where she’s based. This resulted into an unplanned afternoon in another canal city; perhaps a more beautiful & authentic one than Amsterdam.

PS. Did you know that I applied for my own Schengen visa? Yes! The Embassy of The Netherlands gave me a multiple entry visa valid for 45 days. Know more about this DIY Schengen Visa application process here.

utrecht

Utrecht a city found in the very center of Netherlands. This populous city used to be the city center of Netherlands during the Middle Ages. The city lost its center to Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Currently, Utrecht houses Utrecht University, the largest university in the Netherlands. The city has other academic institutions making it an important city for Dutch education. People normally come & live in Utrecht to study & finish school.

Found this uniquely-designed building outside Utrecht Centraal, near Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht.

Utrecht is 25 to 30 minutes away from Amsterdam via train. I took the intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal & arrived at Utrecht’s main station, Utrecht Centraal. Tickets cost €19 return. From there, I walked around the city, went in & out of different shops & passed by the Oudegracht, the city’s old canal. I met up with Megan after 2 hours of exploring & enjoyed some Dutch snacks over beers.

Let me share with you photos I took during the walk around the city & meet-up with my lovely friend, Megan. This entry will be more of a photo blog – don’t forget to check out the captions to know about the sightings.

The view outside Utrecht Centraal – the left side is modern; the right side view is old & traditional.

TivoliVredenburg is one of Utrecht’s modern buildings. It is a music complex, concert & events hall.

Oudegracht – Utrecht’s old canal which runs through the center of the city. Beautiful sighting!! 🙂

One of the few favorite photos I took in Utrecht during that afternoon visit to the lovely Dutch city!

St. Martin’s Cathedral, Utrecht is under renovation during my visit last October.

The world’s biggest bicycle parking garage is found in Utrecht under Utrecht Centraal. Cool beans!

I love how Utrecht’s weather is different from that of Amsterdam’s. It was a clear sunny afternoon!

Tried a Dutch local snack called *Olliebollen* (translates to oily ball); their local version of doughnut.

I also tried other local snacks – bitterballen (deep fried meat balls), cheese sticks & fried shrimp.

A photo with my friend Megan – the reason why I visited Utrecht. Had a great afternoon with her!

That ends my short but enjoyable visit to the city of Utrecht. It was not in the plan but I didn’t regret any time or money spent in this beautiful city. Amsterdam’s canals are beautiful; but from what I saw in this brief visit, Utrecht’s canals are way better. The canals give a certain local & unique Dutch vibe than that of Amsterdam’s. For sure there were other nice sightings or places to visit in the city but I had to go back to Amsterdam before the dark.

Hold it right there. In case you missed it, I also shared details about my flights to Europe from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam on board 5-star carrier Singapore Airlines. Check out these posts (MNL-SIN & SIN-AMS) to know about my flight experiences.

Have you been to Utrecht before? What do you think of the city & its canals? Which one do you prefer? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any question about Utrecht? Feel free to shoot an email 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.

One last photo of Utrecht – look at that peaceful canal & the colorful & tall old houses around it. 😍

Thanks for reading up to this part. I hope you enjoyed the beautiful photos of Utrecht. Watch out for the next post on this Going Solo In Europe Series. I’ll take you to the Dutch countryside next time.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City

The long wait is over! It’s here; it’s time to start my Going Solo in Europe Blog Series! I know most of you are waiting for these blog posts. You guys want to know where I went, what I did in the countries I visited & how I managed to survive this trip by myself. I have a lot of stuff to share; how I wish I can everything done in no time. Please bear with me as I try to write & post one blog after another in between my busy work schedules. Now, let’s get this thing started.

Finally made it to Europe last year!! Started my 19-day Euro trip in Amsterdam in Netherlands! 🇳🇱

Last October-November 2019, I went on 2.5-week trip to Europe all by myself. It was my first time in Europe; first time to be far away from home for so long. I did everything from scratch – booked my own tickets & hostel accommodations, applied for a Schengen tourist visa, researched my route & planned the cities / countries I wanted to visit. It was hard at first but the excitement for the trip helped out carve a rough plan for this 19-day trip to Europe.

PS. I shared a few details about this trip in my 2019 Year In Review post. Check out this post if you are eager to know more about the route I took.

This solo trip of a lifetime started with a return ticket I booked with Singapore Airlines in January 2019. The ticket cost me roughly $720 & it included flights to Amsterdam, Netherlands & back from Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the cheapest ticket & route during that promotion. I read articles & forum posts in the past advising that the Netherlands Embassy is the easiest embassy to obtain a Schengen Visa – thus explains why I got a ticket arriving in Amsterdam. Months of planning passed & about 1.5 months into the trip, I got my tourist visa from VFS Netherlands. Click this link to know how I applied for a visa all by myself, without the help of any tour agency.

In the past posts, I shared with you how my flights went from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam aboard one of the world’s best airlines, Singapore Airlines. Make sure to check out those posts to know how is it flying with such well-regarded airline. After flying 3 hours to Singapore, having 12 hours layover around Singapore & flying another 13 hours to Amsterdam, I finally made it to Europe! Today’s blog will talk about my first destination in Europe – Amsterdam.

amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. This populous city is known for its beautiful canals & it’s unique houses. The city’s history dated back in the 12^th century when this reclaimed fishing village around a dam in the Amstel River started to become an important port in the country’s economy. It then developed into one of Europe’s financial & trade center to which it is still like that today. Fun fact: The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world. This also explains the city’s big role in the history of European financial market. The city is also the center of Dutch cultural heritage.

going around amsterdam

Amsterdam’s public transportation system is simple & efficient. There are a number of options available to visitors – trams, trains, buses, ferries, taxis & even bicycles. Majority of the tourist destinations can be reached by riding the tram. There are various ticketing options for these transportation systems depending on the length of validity of the ticket. I tried GVB’s 1-day / 24-hour ticket for €8. This allowed me to have unlimited rides in GVB-operated buses, trams, trains & ferries around Amsterdam. The unlimited pass was not worth it in my opinion.

The Netherlands is a bicycle-friendly country. All roads have bicycle lanes, even up to the smallest roads in the countryside. Dutch people use bicycles in their everyday lives. I caught up with my friend Tobias, whom I met in Kawaguchiko, Japan last November 2017. He brought his bicycle & he asked me to try it & cycle around the city. It was a surreal experience but it was very cold. I never thought I would cycle around Amsterdam!

Caught up with my buddy Tobias who’s based in Amsterdam. We met in Japan in November 2017.

Amsterdam Schipol Airport (AMS), Netherlands’ main international airport is located 17 kilometers away from the city. Trains & shuttle buses connect the airport to the city. I took the intercity train from Amsterdam Schipol Airport Station to Amsterdam Centraal Station for about €7 one-way. The journey took about 20 minutes.

The best way to go around Amsterdam is by foot. I walked to & from my hostel everyday & around the city for the most part. Walking around the whole day was tiring; glad the cold weather made up for it. Walking also saved me some money; it was also a good exercise while on holiday.

free walking tour

One cool thing about travelling around Europe is the presence of free walking tours. These tours run on a tip-based system. The tour guests or joiners walk around the city with a guide through a personalized route (made by the guide) & get more information about the city’s history & culture. At the end of each tour, the joiners give tips to the guide as a ‘fee’ for the tour. The guides receive any amount of tip in these kinds of tours.

There are a number of walking tour companies that run in Amsterdam. I joined SANDEMANs NEW Europe’s Amsterdam walking tour with Karl. He guided us around the city, told stories of how Amsterdam & the Netherlands started & gave recommendations on what else to do & where else to go. Karl’s tour ran for about 3 hours with a 15-minute break in between.

These walking tours run every day. They offer tours in English & Spanish languages. Schedules & bookings are available in Sandemans website. Believe it or not, I had so much fun in this walking tour up to the point where I joined SANDEMANs NEW Europe’s walking tours in Brussels, Prague & Copenhagen. The walking is the best way to know a certain city in Europe.

amsterdam sightseeing

I stayed in Amsterdam & around Netherlands for 5 days. I wanted to go around the country at my pace, visit the countryside & explore more of what the city has to offer apart from all the canals. Believe it or not, I didn’t get the chance to visit all possible spots in those 5 days, I wish I stayed more. I’ve been to a lot of places in those 5 days, check out these places below.

Amsterdam Canals

People go to Amsterdam to see the canals. The city has about 165 canals which makes about 100 kilometers long when combined. The Amsterdam Canal Ring, which comprises most of the canals in the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized in 2010. The beautiful old & crooked houses add up to the majestic views – from the hundreds to bridges over the canals.

Damrak

Damrak is the main street that connects Amsterdam Centraal, the city’s main train station, & Dam Square, the city’s town square. This is the “main street” to the center of Amsterdam. This 750-meter street has old buildings, shops, hotels & restaurants.

Dam Square

Dam Square is Amsterdam’s town square. It is the place where the free walking tours start. It is also where the Dutch war memorial dedicated to the fallen Dutch World War II solders is located.

Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam

Opposite the Dam Square is Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam, commonly known as the Royal Palace Amsterdam. This palace is the king’s official reception palace. The palace is open to visitors on normal days. Tickets cost €8 per person.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal is Amsterdam’s biggest & main station. The station has trains that can take you around the Netherlands & even to other countries like France, Belgium, Germany & Switzerland.

Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum is an art museum dedicated to the works of world-famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The museum showcases hundreds of paintings made by Vincent Van Gogh during his time. It also has galleries that feature his modern counterparts & modern exhibition spaces. The museum is located in Museum Square in Amsterdam South. Tickets cost €19 & are available for purchase online.

Museumplein

Museumplein or Museum Square is a public square in Amsterdam Zuid (or Amsterdam South). It is where the city’s famous museums such as Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, MOCO Museum & Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam are located.

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum is the Dutch national museum dedicated to the country’s arts & history. It showcases the country’s history, art & development from the middle ages to the 21^st century. Museum tickets cost €19 & can be bought online before the visit.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s most famous park, located near Museumplein at the south of the city. This park is a popular recreation place for the locals. The park becomes a venue for shows, events & concerts during summer.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is a house & biographical museum dedicated to Anne Frank, a Jewish wartime writer / diarist. Located at Prinsengracht 263, this house is the exact house where Anne & her family lived during the World War II. Anne Frank became famous on the publication of her diary; the diary that documents their life while hiding for more than 2 years during the World War II. Her translated diary, The Diary of a Young Girl, sold millions of copies worldwide.

They sell majority of the tickets online at least 2 months before the date. They also sell limited tickets at the museum doors on the day itself. Tickets get booked fast so make sure to plan out your visit. Tickets are at €10.50 including a booking fee of €0.50.

KINboat Open-Air Canal Boat Tour

Right outside the Anne Frank House is the boarding station of KINboat’s Open Air Canal Boat Tour. This 1-hour open boat canal tour took me around the Amsterdam canals for an hour. Our boat driver / tour guide showed us some interesting houses & important buildings around the city; also gave us some details of the city’s history & culture. We used an electric & environment-friendly open-air boat for the tour; which explains why the tour costs a few more euros than the usual canal boat tour.

I bought the open-air boat ticket about 15 minutes before the tour itself. Tickets cost €16 per person & are available online.

Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas

Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas or Basilica of Saint Nicholas is Amsterdam’s main catholic church. Located in the old district, just a few steps outside Amsterdam Centraal, this basilica is a popular tourist attraction to Catholics visiting Amsterdam. The church was built over 130 years ago & still sports the neo-baroque & neo-renaissance style of architecture. Entry to the church is free of charge.

Oosterpark

Oosterpark is the public park located behind the hostel where I stayed with. The massive park has a big pond with birds & different animals. People go here for recreation & relaxation in the morning until late afternoon.

Heineken Experience

One of the famous contributions of Netherlands to the modern world is Heineken Lager Beer. The beer originated in Amsterdam in the 1870s & was made through the efforts of Gerard Heineken. The lager beer has captured the attention of Europe, won several awards & continued its expansion until it became a global brand.

Heineken’s first ever brewery was transformed into an interactive museum called Heineken Experience. This guided tour showcased how the beer started brewing in the past, how it was produced & how it conquered the world. This interactive tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours & includes 2 glasses of beer. Tours can pre-booked online. I got my ticket about an hour before the tour & it cost me €18.

Red-Light District

De Wallen is Amsterdam’s famous red-light district. This area is composed of hundreds of places offering legal sexual services. The alleys are characterized by transparent glass windows with ladies (legal prostitutes) seating or standing behind under a red light. The area also has cafes & coffee shops selling cannabis & all other stuff you can think of.

Leidseplein

Leidseplein or Leiden Square is a small entertainment square located at the northern tip of Vondelpark. This square has cafes, bars, restaurants, music venues & dance clubs where tourists primarily go to at night. I came to this place & met up with my buddy, Tobias whom I met in Japan in 2017.

Rembrandtplein

Rembrandtplein or Rembrandt Square is another entertainment square found in Amsterdam. Named after Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, this square used to be a butter & dairy market where local farmers go to & sell their products. Nowadays, this area is known as one of the city’s nightlife spots. The square now has many cafes, bars & restaurants around it. It is also one of the famous areas for hotels in the city.

missed places

I was in Amsterdam for 5 days & I didn’t have the time to go all places. I also went one afternoon to Utrecht & a day up north to the countryside. I missed a few places which I will definitely put on my list when I go back. These places include A’Dam Lookout, MOCO Museum (I missed the Banksy special gallery during my stay), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NEMO Science Museum, Jordaan & Bloemenmarkt (which I heard was super touristy – need to see it still).

People usually go to Amsterdam for just 1-2 days but I think there’s more to see than just the Dam Square, the Amsterdam Canals & the museums. The city may be too busy, too full of tourists but it has an unexplained impact that would make you think of visiting over & over again. It’s been months since I’ve been to Amsterdam & I am dying to go back. I want to just walk around the city, enjoy the beautiful views from the canals, savor the sights of colorful crooked houses & learn more about the city through the other museums. Amsterdam is & will be always be special. It was my first city to visit in Europe & will always be one of my favorites.

Have you been to Amsterdam in the past? What are your favorite places or sightings in the city? Do you also have that feeling of wanting to go back to the city in the future? If you haven’t been to Amsterdam, is it one of the places where you want to go? Let’s engage into a discussion. Share your thoughts & experiences in the comment section below. Do you have any questions about Amsterdam? Feel free to send the questions to me via email 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.

Thanks for joining me in Amsterdam, the first installment of my Going Solo In Europe Series. Watch out for the photo blog about the beautiful Utrecht!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: NEKOKURA HOSTEL FUKUOKA – Small But Decent Hostel & Cat Rescue Shelter In A Quiet Area

Hello & welcome to the very first Hostel of the Day feature for 2020. As mentioned in my 2019 year ender post, I plan to post details about more hostels & share my experiences to everyone. Hopefully these hostel features will help out readers in deciding to give it a go or not & also help out the hostels get more people to stay with them.

Before I start posting details about my solo European trip last year, let me first share some details about my quick Fukuoka. Late last year, Majo & I decided to surprise our friend, Junelle, in her first ever solo trip to Fukuoka. We booked & planned everything 3 weeks before the trip. Unlike Tokyo & Osaka, Fukuoka isn’t abundant with affordable accommodation options. My previous hostel, Fukuoka Hana Hostel, was already booked out for that weekend. Good thing today’s hostel of the day feature, Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka, still has available beds for our chosen dates. Thanks to Junelle’s hints about her chosen accommodation, we got to stay in the same hostel as hers.

Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka is small but decent hostel found in Fukuoka. What makes this hostel unique is it houses a cat rescue shelter called Fukuneko House. They rescue & care for stray cats. They also open these rescued cats for adoption to those interested.

Join me as I share with you details about this hostel & cat shelter. I will also give you some insights of how our stay went.

location & access

Nekokura Hostel is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Hakata Ward. The nearest subway station is Chiyo Kenchoguchi Station of the Hakozaki Line. The hostel is about 3-minute walk from Exit 5 of the subway station. Fukuoka Airport Station is 15 minutes away from this station. Fukuoka’s Tenjin area is about 15-20 minutes away by foot & JR Hakata Station is 25 minutes away by foot.

The nearest convenience store is 5 minutes away by foot. There is also a nearby local supermarket about 8 minutes from the hostel’s doorstep. Nekokura Hostel is near another famous Fukuoka hostel, Tonagi Hostel & Café. The hostel’s location is great; it is quite far from the busy city scene but it is still accessible by public transportation.

room options

We were surprised this hostel has dormitory rooms & a private double room given its small size. These dorms are divided into mixed & female rooms. Each room has 4 beds enclosed in private curtains & features heating & air conditioning. Each dormitory bed is provided with a pillow & bedding covers. It features a reading light, personal security box, a power outlet & a small window. All guests have access to free Wi-Fi & communal facilities such as toilets & shower areas. A night stay in these dormitory rooms costs ¥2,900. Depending on season & dates, female dormitory rates may be a little expensive than that of mixed.

The hostel also has a private double room for people who want the room for themselves. This room has the same features as that of each dormitory bed. They also have access to the same amenities & facilities. The only difference this room has is privacy. The nightly rate of this double room is ¥6,000. Nekokura Hostel’s rates are the usual hostel rates in Japan – not cheap, not expensive but just right.

We booked our stay with Booking.com. We also opted for the pre-payment feature via PayPal because we were unsure of our arrival time.

hostel amenities

Like any other hostel, Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka has a long list of amenities & perks every guest can enjoy. All guests have access to the following:

Free WiFi

All hostel guests can connect to the hostel’s WiFi. The username & password is found in the information sheet provided during check-in.

Breakfast Upon Order

The hostel offers breakfast upon order for ¥300. My friends & I didn’t try this breakfast option during our stay. I’m sure it’s either a local breakfast or a continental one.

Clean Communal Shower & Toilet Facilities

Nekokura Hostel has 2 shower rooms & 1 toilet each for men & women. All 4 shower & toilet facilities are clean & well-maintained. These are just located near the rooms, just a few steps from the communal living area.

Complimentary Amenities

One thing I loved about this hostel is the long list of amenities they offer to the guests. All shower rooms have big bottles of shampoo, conditioner (particularly liked this one!!!) & liquid soap. They also have blow-dryer for girls to use. There are free cotton swabs, body lotion, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, make up wash & disposable earplugs which guests can use. Take note, these are not just ordinary amenities; all of them come from good consumer brands.

Complimentary Green Tea & Water

Guests have access to complimentary tea & water found in the communal lounge area. The hostel management also provides paper cups to use.

Small Communal Lounge Area with Terrace

As mentioned earlier, this hostel is very small. I appreciate the small communal area they have despite the lack of space. This communal area is where guests can have morning coffee or breakfast. The table can seat up to 3 people at a time while the terrace can accommodate up to 5-6 people. The communal area also has a communal fridge, microwave oven & water kettle which guests can use.

Free Luggage Storage

The hostel offers free luggage storage just outside the hostel doorstep. The luggage storage facility is quite unconventional –a solid wire with a number of padlocks & keys. Guests can store their luggage here before check-in & after check out, but only until 10:00 in the evening. Don’t leave your bags here during the rainy season – it’ll surely get wet.

Ground Floor Cafe & Sake Bar

The hostel has a ground floor café & sake bar which guests can try. According to the hostel website, this café & sake bar has local seafood dishes worth trying. The sake bar also serves an award-winning sake. Too bad we weren’t able to try that.

Standard Reception Hours

The hostel’s reception area is located inside the café & sake bar. It is open from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily for check in. The hostel observes a self-check out method where guests will only drop their keys in a box before leaving.

Free Use of Board Games & Magazines

There are board games in the communal lounge area which guests can play with free of charge. There are also magazines which one can have a look at.

Laundry Facilities

The hostel has a laundry machine near the wash area. Guests are welcome to use the machine for a fee. Make sure to ask the staff before using the machine.

Secured Door Entry & Facility

Only guests can enter the secured hostel door. The hostel staff will teach all guests upon check in how the door works. The building is equipped with security cameras to ensure everyone’s safety.

Cat Shelter Tour

A unique experience this hostel offers is the cat shelter tour open only for hostel guests. This shelter tour only operates on certain days & times. Make sure to reach out to hostel reception before your stay to schedule this tour during your stay. Unfortunately, my friends & I didn’t have enough time to try this shelter tour during our stay.

experience & verdict

My friends & I had a decent stay in Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka last year. The hostel was the perfect choice considering the limited options we had given everything was planned 3 weeks before the trip. The hostel is very small; space is limited. We liked how the hostel amenities made up for the limited space around the hostel. The dormitory rooms were small but the dormitory beds were great. The features of each bed were outstanding. I appreciate the personal window & small security box each bed has.

The hostel & its communal areas were clean & well-maintained. It has complete amenities in such a small area. We were surprised how they fit everything (rooms, communal area, facilities) in that floor. The only time we had interaction with the staff was during check in; not sure if they were hiding or they were on the floor while we were out & exploring. Too bad we didn’t have the time to try the café & sake bar on the ground floor & to spend time with the cats in the cat shelter.

Nekokura Hostel’s location is ideal for people who want to stay away from the busy city noise. It’s not too far from the city buzz but is located in a quiet neighborhood. This hostel is great; it’s the place to be for cat lovers. I will definitely give this property a try again next time I fly to Fukuoka.

To those who want to reach out to the hostel, here are their contact details:

Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka
Address: 7-86, 4cho-me, Chiyo, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Japan
Phone Number: +81 92 409 2242
E-mail Address: mail@nekokura.net
Website: www.nekokura.co.jp
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/nekokurahostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nekokurahostel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nekokura5

Have you ever been to Fukuoka? Which hostel did you stay with before? I actually stayed with another hostel last February 2019 – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. Check out my hostel of the day feature about this hostel here. Fukuoka may not have many affordable accommodation options at the moment but at least it still has decent options to choose from.

I am in constant search for hostels to stay with & feature in this site. Do you know a nice hostel you’ve stayed with in the past? Share your suggestions below! You can also send your suggestions via email 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.

Thanks for joining me in today’s hostel feature. Until the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL BORACAY – Paradise Island's Hidden Party Hostel Gem

UPDATE: Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such amazing accommodation and also to keep the wonderful Mad Monkey memories alive.

Last September 2019, I flew to Boracay with friends for a short weekend break. My buddy Rick & I stayed in Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay in Bulabog Road for 3 nights & we had an awesome time. I’ve stayed in this hostel back in July 2016, when this blog is non-existent. I want to share with you more about this hostel thus featuring it as today’s Hostel Of The Day.

Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay is part of the Mad Monkey Hostels Group, a famous party hostel chain in Southeast Asia (plus one branch in Australia) which gives people from all over the world the best hostel parties in each of its branches. The hostel group is known for its beach or pool parties at the same time its hourly free shots at the bar. The hostel group employs the locals & actively participates in environmental activities.

The group’s first hostel in the Philippines is Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay, opened in June 2016. Since then, they’ve already opened branches in Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Cebu City & Siargao. They also have hostel branches in Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia & Laos. I started this Hostel Of The Day blog series last year with a feature about Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach.

Let me clarify with you that this post is not in any way sponsored / commissioned by the hostel group. My friend & I paid for our stay. The goal of this post is to share with you the details of this hostel & how our stay went. Allow me to give you some snippets about the hostel

In case you missed it, I posted a blog about our Manila to Caticlan (Boracay) flight with Cebu Pacific Air. Check out this post to read that flight report.

location & access

Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay is located in Zone 5, Bulabog Beach Rd, Balabag in Boracay Island. It is not located by the beach, but it is located in the quiet neighborhood of Balabag. It is about 10 minutes walk from the White Beach, 10 minutes by foot to D’Mall & about 3-5 minutes from Bulabog Beach, where all water activities are conducted. The hostel is located in the heart of the island, literally minutes away by foot to the main areas.

From Caticlan (Boracay) Airport, one needs to take a tricycle to Caticlan Jetty Port, buy a ferry ticket, pay the environmental fees & then hop on a boat that will take you to Boracay Island. From Boracay Port, one needs to take a tricycle to Mad Monkey Hostel. Alternatively, you can book your hassle-free island transfers with Southwest Tours or Island Star Express. Journey from the airport to the hostel can take about an hour per way, depending on passenger load & weather.

My friend & I booked our island transfers with Klook for a discounted price which turned out to be with Island Star Express. The transfers were fast, well-taken care off & hassle free.

dormitory & private rooms

Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay offers both dormitories & private rooms to its guests. The hostel has 3 choices for the dormitory rooms – 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room & 4-bed female dormitory room. Each dormitory bed comes with a large sized mattress with sheets, personal reading light & fan, power outlet & a locker. Each dormitory room comes with a private bathroom with hot shower & air conditioning. If you are lucky enough, your dormitory room might be located by the hostel swimming pool.

As of today, 30 November 2019, a night in the 8-bed dormitory room costs ₱550 (for mid-December 2019 stay) while the nightly rate in the 4-bed dormitory room is at ₱700 (for mid-December 2019 stay). Rates per night vary depending on season.

We got this air-conditioned twin room with private shower for around ₱1,400 per night. Not bad!

The hostel also has private rooms for guests who are travelling in groups or who want some privacy. They have twin rooms, double rooms, triple rooms, quad rooms & a suite room. Nightly rates depend on the room configuration, toilet access (some have shared toilet), privacy level & season. Some of these rooms come with private bathrooms with hot water, cable television, bath towels, air conditioning, dark curtains & shelves. Rooms tend to be cheaper on lean seasons.

If you want to know more about these room choices & see the actual photos, feel free to head to the hostel’s accommodation page.

Hostel Facilities & Perks

It’s time for my favorite part of every Hostel Of The Day feature; it’s the list of hostel facilities & amenities. Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay provides a long list of facilities & perks every guest can enjoy.

Free WiFi Access
Guests can connect to the hostel’s WiFi connection free of charge. The WiFi password can be obtained in reception or in the restaurant. It’s not the best WiFi connection you can get in the island, but it helps you with basic internet & social media use.

Swimming Pool Access
The hostel has a decent-sized swimming pool which all guests can enjoy. Non-hostel guests can also use the pool for a minimal fee.

Daily Hostel Activities
Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay hosts daily activities. The hostel is famous for the Booze Cruise happening every Tuesday & Saturday where guests go on a boat party & cliff diving with unlimited drinks. They also host themed events like boodle fight dinners, paint parties, quiz nights, beer pong tournaments & pool parties. The hostel also hosts beach cleanup activities once in a while. These activities are announced daily in the hostel boards near reception or in the events page in their Facebook page.

We were there on a Sunday & there was a scheduled Sunday Session & BBQ Day + DJ ’til midnight

Pool-side Restaurant & Bar
Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay has an in-house restaurant & bar by the swimming pool. The bar & restaurant offers a wide range of dishes & drinks that caters to all nationalities. Food & drinks are reasonably-priced, pretty much the same with the other restaurants in the island. Food serving sizes are generous & worth the price. They also have daily food deals & happy hour promotions for alcoholic drinks.

Ordered from the Sunday BBQ menu – got a Pork BBQ Stick & Grilled Chicken with Greek Salad. 🙂

Every Mad Monkey Hostel branch has its own signature drink. If Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach has a Pacquiao Punch, Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay has their Boracay Bomb. I don’t know what it’s made of but it’s surely worth trying. It’s sold for ₱200 per drink.

The Boracay Bomb – Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay’s signature drink offered for ₱200 per glass.

Free Shots At The Bar
Mad Monkey Hostels are known for giving free alcohol shots. The Boracay branch also gives these free shots every day.

Awesome Hostel Parties
Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay turns into an awesome party place every night. The hostel guests & visitors have a good time in the hostel premises until 12 midnight every day. After 12, those who want to continue the party go out & party in other places.

Free Luggage Storage
The hostel offers free luggage storage to all incoming & outgoing guests. There is an open storage space by the reception where guests can put their bags & luggage before check in & after check out.

24-Hour Front Desk
Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay has a 24-hour reception / front desk. No matter what time you arrive or leave the hostel, there will always be someone who is there to man the reception area.

Cozy Lounge Area
The hostel has a cozy lounge area by the reception where guests can chill or relax while waiting for check in, airport transfer or whatever they have planned for the day. The lounge area offers a relaxing view of the swimming pool.

Cheerful, Accommodating & Friendly Staff
Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay has one of the most cheerful & friendliest staff ever. The staff always greets you whenever they come across you outside your rooms or in the common areas. They also speak good English & are responsive to questions & requests.

Tour Desk
The hostel has an in-house tour desk where you can book your Boracay tours or activities. Feel free to ask the person in reception on what activities or bookings they offer.

Secured Hostel Stay
The hostel swimming pool, bar & restaurant may be open to everyone, but the rooms & guest areas are still secured. Guests are given room keys to access their respective rooms. Private rooms also have a secured storage box where valuables can be kept safe. At night when parties turn fun & crazy, the hostel has security guards & bouncers who monitor everyone’s well-being.

hostel experience

Rick & I booked our stay directly with Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay’s platform. We took advantage of a random promotion & paid only ₱4,185 for 3 nights for a Superior Twin Room. The room came with 2 comfortable single beds, private bathroom with hot shower, air conditioning & dark curtain for privacy. The room was spacious & the bathroom was alright. Water pressure wasn’t that great during our stay; but that was because the authorities are upgrading the water supply facility nearby. WiFi worked well in our room. The staff were superb. We paid roughly ₱700 per person per night on a private room so not bad at all.

A part of our last 2 days in Boracay were spent in the hostel. We enjoyed the swimming pool, we took advantage of the bar’s happy hour promotions & enjoyed the hostel’s Sunday BBQ meal offering. The food servings were of decent size. We stayed for the Sunday night party, met cool people, played beer pong with the other guests & had a great time. We also tried the Boracay Bomb signature drink. To be honest, I don’t remember how it tasted. I was a bit drunk that night.

Overall, we had a memorable stay with Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay. How I wish my other friends also stayed in this hostel. Will I stay in this hostel again? Y-E-S! Man, I’m a fan of this hostel & I already want to go back. I need to go back to try their booze cruise party & to have a good time. This hostel is indeed a hidden gem in Boracay!

In any case you have questions you want to address the hostel directly, feel free to contact them in the details below:

Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay
Address: Zone 5, Bulabog Beach Rd, Balabag, Boracay, Aklan Philippines 5608
Contact number: +63-966-308-1834
Email address: boracay@madmonkeyhostels.com
Website: www.madmonkeyhostels.com/boracay
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MadMonkeyBoracay
Instagram: www.instagram.com/madmonkeyhostels

Have you been to Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay? How about Nacpan Beach or in any other location? How was your stay? Did you like the hostel & its amenities? Share your hostel experiences in the comment section below. If you have any question about the hostel & want to remain anonymous to everyone, you can throw it via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll surely have a look at ’em. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for joining me today. See you in next Hostel Of The Day feature!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.