Budget – Page 12 – The Wknd Travel

(Hostel) Guesthouse Of The Day: THE FRAME GUESTHOUSE PENANG – Beautifully Restored Heritage Property In The Heart Of Georgetown

Last month, I flew to & stopped at Penang for 36 hours before I continued by journey to Singapore. I arrived the Penang at night time, basically had 2 nights & 1 full day to explore the island. I will talk about my Penang visit in a separate blog post. This post’s focus will be the accommodation I had while in Penang. I stayed in a guesthouse, technically not a hostel, named The Frame Guesthouse. It will be today’s (~~hostel~~) guesthouse of the day feature.

The 3-storey heritage building used to be a frame maker’s shophouse restored & converted into a tourist accommodation facility. The building only had minimal restoration works. Up to now, you’ll notice the old floor, wall & roof finishes. This makes the guesthouse ambiance really unique & unforgettable. Allow me to share with you below some information about the property plus how my stay went.

Location & Access

The Frame Guesthouse’s location is perfect. It is found in a famous street in the center of Georgetown, in the middle of the backpackers’ district. It is located at 168 Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia), Georgetown, Penang Island.

The Frame Guesthouse is located along Chulia St in the heart of Georgetown.

The property is very accessible to public transportation with a few bus stops located nearby. It is also walking distance to Love Lane (backpackers’ area), to KOMTAR Bus Terminal (main bus terminal in Georgtown), to the street arts (where Penang is known for) & to almost all museums & tourist attractions in town. The majority of places to visit in town are a few minutes walk from the property.

Penang International Airport is about 1 hour by bus from the property or about 25-30 minutes by Grab, Uber or private car.

Rooms & rates

The Frame Guesthouse Penang caters to all types of travellers. They have private rooms (with & without ensuite) & mixed / female dormitory rooms. All non-smoking rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, free breakfast & also include bed linens, duvet & bath towels. Dormitory beds also have individual reading lights, power outlet & a locker.

Dormitory rooms are priced at MYR 35 – MYR 58 per night, depending on configuration. Twin & double rooms without ensuite are at MYR 88 – MYR 92 per room per night while the double room with ensuite is priced at MYR 128 per night. These rates are based on the guesthouse’ website. Try to check out accommodation sites like Agoda & Booking.com for possible discounts & promotions.

Check out this artsy corner of my private room.

I initially booked a 2-night stay in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory for MYR 88 (₱1,113) via Agoda. I changed my mind last minute & booked a private double room without ensuite 3 days before my stay. I paid around MYR 172 (₱2,175) for 2 nights – that’s MYR 86 (₱1,090) per night. I was satisfied with the space & privacy I had in my room. Wi-Fi was super fast; the room’s view was great & the air conditioning worked well. It was not the cheapest room in Georgetown & in Penang but as they say, you pay more for privacy & comfort.

Why Should You Stay In The Frame Guesthouse

Just like any other tourist accommodation, The Frame Guesthouse offers the following:

24 Hour Reception + Helpful Staff

The guesthouse’ reception is open 24 hours 7 days a week. There is always a person at the front desk anytime of the day. You don’t need to worry if you’re arrive late at night or early in the morning. There will always be someone to welcome you. Their staffs are very friendly & helpful. They even give recommendations on what to do, where to go & what to eat.

The property’s reception area – open for 24 hours 7 days a week.

Free Wi-Fi

The property has free Wi-Fi throughout the guesthouse premises. You won’t have any problem connecting. The connection is fast & reliable.

Free Breakfast

The guesthouse offers simple free breakfast to all its guests. The food includes bread with butter & jam, cereals with milk & fresh fruits. Available drinks include coffee, tea, milk & filtered drinking water. Coffee & tea are also free anytime of the day. Better than nothing!

Free Drinking Water + Unlimited Refill

The property has free drinking water & includes unlimited refill for all guests. In a hot & humid place like Penang, this amenity is such a big help. Also, guests don’t need to buy many bottles of mineral water.

Food Storage & Heating Facility

There is a common refrigerator where guests can store their food. Guests can also heat their food in the microwave oven in the common area. A water kettle is also available for those who need hot water.

Spacious common lounge area located at the back of the reception area.

Communal TV & Lounge Areas

The Frame Guesthouse has a spacious television & lounge area at the back of the reception area. The atmosphere may not be very social but you can still meet & talk to fellow guests while enjoying your favorite television show or movie.

Clean Communal Shower & Toilet Areas

All guests staying in double & twin rooms without ensuite & dormitory rooms have access to clean communal shower & toilet areas. Each floor has its designated amenity area. The facilities are clean & well-maintained. They have power hot showers. Body gel & shampoo are found in each shower cubicle.

This is the communal shower & toilet area located in the 2nd floor.

Free Luggage Storage

The guesthouse also provides free luggage storage for guests who are arriving before the check in time & leaving hours after check out.

Designated Smoking Area

All rooms & communal areas are non-smoking areas. The guesthouse has designated smoking area at the back for those who want to have their cigar puffs. This area is open 24 hours 7 days a week.

The smoking area is near the bicycle. It is located in an open area at the rear of the common areas.

Tour Desk Service

The property also offers daily tours & transfers. Feel free to approach the staff in reception area & they’ll discuss with you the details & rates.

This pretty much sums up all the information I can share about The Frame Guesthouse in Georgetown, Penang. The building was beautifully-restored. It’s heritage is still there. The room I got was spacious & really cold. The property’s free wi-fi was fast. The free breakfast was a plus. The people are really nice & helpful. It may not be the cheapest accommodation in the area, but it surely gives you the value you paid for. I didn’t mind spending more for more privacy & comfort. Overall, this guesthouse is great! I wish I booked my private room earlier for a better price.

If you have any questions about the property or you want to book directly with them, feel free to contact them in the details below.

The Frame Guesthouse
Address: 168 Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia), Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia 10200
Phone Number: +60 4-263 8807
Email Address: theframe.guesthouse@gmail.com
Website: www.theframeguesthouse.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/theframeguesthouse
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theframeguesthouse

Don’t forget to check out The Frame Guesthouse when looking for a place to stay in Penang!

Have you been to Penang? Which hostel or guesthouses did you book? How was your trip? Are there other unique hostels I should check out soon? Feel free to post your thoughts & suggestions in the comments below. You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thank you for your time & see you in the next hostel feature! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

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

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

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

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

Book Tickets Early

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

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

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

Stay In Hostels

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

My dormitory bed two weeks ago in Five Stones Hostel

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

Book Attraction Tickets Online

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

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

Eat In Hawker Centres

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

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

Get An EZ-Link Card

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

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

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

Walk, Walk & Walk

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

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

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

Take Advantage of Free Attractions / Places

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

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

Bring Water Container

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

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

Look For The Best Place To Shop

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

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

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

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

Thanks for your time. Until next time! 🙂

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

Hostel Of The Day: OAK HOSTEL ZEN – My Favorite Tokyo Hostel

UPDATE – My favorite, Oak Hostel Zen, has ceased operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to this wonderful hostel.

It’s time for another hostel feature! It’s been 3 years since I first went to Japan with my high school buddies. Oh missing those good times! I’ve also been to Japan thrice after that trip & I can say that there’s this one Tokyo hostel which instantly became my favorite – Oak Hostel Zen. This favorite hostel of mine will be featured as today’s Hostel Of The Day. I’ve stayed in Oak Hostel Zen thrice – that’s 3 out of 3 trips / stopovers in Tokyo. The hostel is part of Oak Hotel Group, a local hostel / hotel group which caters to both local & foreign travelers. The group has 7 properties across Tokyo & Nara in Japan.

I’ve mentioned Oak Hostel Zen in my previous posts – 9 Days in Japan for less than ₱40,000, Fujikawaguchiko Blog, Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama for less than ₱35,000 & Hokkaido Winter Trip for less than ₱45,000. None of these posts provided a comprehensive review of this property. Fret not, I will give you a detailed feature of Oak Hostel Zen below plus give you my thoughts about staying in this hostel.

Location & Access

Oak Hostel Zen is located in 3-3-3, Negishi, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-0003. It is located in a peaceful residential area in Taito, Tokyo. The hostel is about 7 minutes walk from Uguisudani Station on JR Yamanote Line or about 10 minutes walk from Iriya Station on Hibiya Line.

Oak Hostel Zen’s neighborhood – a quiet residential area in the city

From Narita Airport, one must take the Keisei Line to Nippori Station (90 minutes – all stops for ¥1,000) or the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori Station (40 minutes – limited stops for ¥2,400) then transfer to JR Yamanote Line Nippori Station to Uguisudani Station (less than 2 minutes – 1 stop for ¥130). From Haneda Airport, guests should take Keisei Line to Shinagawa Station (¥400) then transfer to JR Yamanote Line / Keihin-Tohoku Line Shinagawa Station to Uguisudani Station (¥160). From Uguisudani Station, one should take the south exit, turn left, cross & go down the bridge. Cross the street, then turn right, then turn left on the 1st street & turn another left in the street of the small supermarket.

Over JR Uguisundani Station

There are nearby local restaurants & shops. The nearest supermarket is about 10 meters away from the hostel’s door & the nearest convenience store is about 5-10 minutes walk. The hostel’s location is perfect for everyone. It is far from the city noise & it is where everything you need is just a few minutes away.

Room Options & Pricing

Oak Hostel Zen caters to all types of travelers, from those who are in budget to those who want to have privacy. In my 3 stays in this hostel, I’ve always slept in their 8-bed mixed / male dormitory rooms. The dormitory room is very spacious with each bed having curtains, comfortable pillow & Japanese- style bedding, individual reading light & universal power outlet. Each guest also has an individual locker with a hanger. Dormitory beds cost from ¥2,300 per night, depending on season. Showers & toilet are communal & can be found on each floor.

The male & mixed dormitory rooms look like this!

The hostel also has single dormitory rooms for ¥2,800 per night, depending on season. According to the hostel website, Oak Hostel Zen also has private rooms for those who want to have their own personal space. Twin rooms, semi double rooms (with own shower) & double rooms are also available for ¥5,980 per night, depending on season. Each room has a small desk, a cable TV & a small refrigerator. Families of 4 can book a family room for ¥16,000 per night, depending on season. The en-suite room has 4 single beds & has the same features of the other private rooms.

How a dormitory bed looks like in a male / mixed dormitory room

All these rooms, including the dormitory rooms, are air-conditioned. Oak Hostel Zen’s rates are reasonable for an expensive city like Tokyo. You definitely get what you pay for. I suggest that you compare the room pricing from different booking platforms such as Agoda, Traveloka, Booking.com & Hostelworld to get the best possible rate. Also, book early because rooms, especially the private ones, get fully-booked really fast.

Perks of Staying In Oak Hostel Zen

Hostels in Japan have all the facilities & amenities a guest needs. Oak Hostel Zen is one of the few hostels that provide a long list of perks for their guests. Check out these perks below.

Free WiFi

The hostel offers free ultra fast WiFi to all its guests. The WiFi signal is available in all corners of the property, even in the showers & toilets.

Communal Shower & Toilet

Dormitory & selected private room guests have access to communal shower & toilet facilities. These showers come with hot & cold water plus free shampoo, conditioner & body soap. The hostel also has a women-only shower area & unit bath. Bath towels can be rented in the reception area for a minimal fee. Hair dryers, curling & hair irons are also free of charge. Check with reception where you can find them.

Only in Japan – high technology toilets

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area

The communal kitchen & dining area is behind this communal wash area

Hostel guests have access to a fully-equipped kitchen & dining area. This area is complete with cooking utensils, refrigerator & a microwave oven. Plates, cutlery, glasses & cups can also be used. They also have complimentary coffee & tea. Unfortunately, the hostel doesn’t serve breakfast.

Spacious Lounge Area

Guests have access to a spacious lounge area near reception. This lounge area has comfortable seats & even has a personal computer to use. Guests can also watch movie with the free DVDs & can play games with the gaming consoles for free. The hostel also has a wall full of flyers & tour booklets where you can get information about Tokyo & all other places in Japan.

Free Luggage Storage

The hostel offers free luggage storage up to 1 week before check-in (make sure to inform them beforehand & include your booking details & check-in day) & during the day of the checkout. If you want to store luggage after your checkout day, they charge a minimal fee per day.

Coin Lockers

Dormitories have individual lockers, but private rooms don’t have safety boxes. For those who want to store important items in a secured place, you can use the coin lockers near the reception area.

Coin lockers found in the 1st floor hallway

Long Reception Hours

Hostel reception is open from 6:00 am to 1:00 am every single day. Check-in time is 3:00 pm & checkout is 10:00 am.

Friendly Hostel Staff

Oak Hostel Zen’s people are one of the nicest & the most helpful ones I’ve encountered in Japan. They give really good recommendations & try to help as much as they can. The staff speak very good English too. They always greet you every time you pass by the reception area.

Oak Hostel Zen reception & main lobby

Dedicated Smoking Area

Smoking is not allowed inside the rooms & in the common areas. The hostel has a designated smoking area for those who want to smoke during their stay. If I can remember it right, the smoking area is located on the 1st floor.

Bicycle Rental

The hostel offers bicycle rental for ¥500 per day + ¥3,000 deposit. Feel free to ask reception for details.

Coin-Operated Laundry

Oak Hostel Zen also has coin-operated laundry & dryer on the 3rd floor. I haven’t used this facility, but don’t be shy to ask reception how to.

Seasonal Hostel Events

The hostel also hosts seasonal events like Halloween parties, holiday celebrations & random guest meet-up events. Make sure to like & follow them on Facebook to know more about the next event.

Guest Photo Wall

Our 1st photo is still there!! 😍

One unique feature of Oak Hostel Zen is their guest photo wall. They take photos of their guests after checkout & post these photos on the walls around the reception area. I already have 2 photos (missed a photo during my 2017 trip) in their photo wall! I can’t wait to see the photos again when I go back there soon.

Another photo to be added to their photo wall – taken last February 😍

Oak Hostel Zen is one of those hostels which you won’t get tired of going back to. I’ve stayed there thrice in the last 3 years & I still look forward to staying there again. The rooms are very spacious, the beds are very comfortable & the facilities are superb. The hostel’s location is perfectly quiet. The supermarket a few meters away from the hostel is a big bonus. This hostel is well-recommended, definitely my favorite in Tokyo & in Japan.

If you have any questions about Oak Hostel Zen, feel free to contact them in the details below:

Oak Hostel Zen
Address: 3-3-3, Negishi, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-0003, Japan
Phone Number:+81 3 5808 7418
Fax Number: +81 3 5808 7419
Email Address: hostel-info@oakhostel.com / oakhostelzen@gmail.com
Website: oakhostel.com/zen
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Oak-Hostel-Zen-オークホステル禅-854047354610911

Cherry blossoms found in Ueno Park (15 mins walk from Oak Hostel Zen)

I have plans of flying back to Japan in February next year. Is there a cool or a hippie hostel in Tokyo which is worth-checking out? I’m leaning towards staying at Oak Hostel Zen again but I am also open to suggestions. Feel free post your suggestions in the comment section below. Do you have travel or hostel-related questions? Connect with me! Send your questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thanks for reading this post & until the next hostel of the day! ✌️

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

High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Did you know that my Hong Kong trip with high school friends last March 2018 had a follow up trip? We (a group of 8 people) recently went on another weekend trip, but this time to a nearby domestic destination – Bohol. Yes, we only spent 48 hours in the beautiful island of Bohol. It may be too short, but I think we covered the places we wanted to visit. This barkada trip was more of a rest & relaxation one, so there was no pressure for us to explore everything the island has to offer. Let me share with you the details of this quick weekend trip.

Bohol squad with the Chocolate Hills! Photo credits to Mark 🙂

In case you missed it, I’ve been to 2 other 48-hour weekend trips this year – Hong Kong & Port Barton. Check out these stories to know more about these quick but super fun trips!

Airfare & Accommodation

We didn’t wait for any airline offer or promotion when we booked our tickets. We used Traveloka‘s discount codes instead. Our Tagbilaran return ticket cost us ₱3,264.12 each, after the discounts.

We were a big group of 8 so we had a hard time looking for a place to stay. Good thing we found this newly-opened accommodation called Casa Teofista. This accommodation is located a few meters off the main highway & about 8-10 minutes walk from Alona Beach.

We only stayed in Bohol for 48 hours but we fell in love with the place.

We got 2 spacious family rooms with 2 double beds each for ₱9,856 for 2 nights – that’s ₱1,232 per person already for 2 nights. We didn’t choose a beachfront & luxury accommodation because we were only there for a short time anyway. I forgot to take photos of our accommodation – I’m sorry. If you want to contact Casa Teofista, head over to their Facebook page & shoot them a message.

DIY Countryside Tour

My friends & I opted for a do-it-yourself countryside tour because we wanted to skip a few places (Loboc River, Blood Compact Shrine & Loboc Hanging Bridge) from the usual tour, plus we planned to go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch (instead of the Loboc River Cruise). We hired a van with driver for ₱2,800 for a full 8 hours including gas & parking fees. We asked the driver to pick us up from the airport & we went straight to our countryside tour. We asked to be dropped off at Casa Teofista at the end of our tour.

This was a DIY tour so we paid the following entrance fees – ₱50 for Chocolate Hills, ₱60 for the Tarsier Conservation Area & ₱45 for the Butterfly Garden. Check out the countryside photos below.

Chocolate Hills

Tarsier Conservation Area

Man-made Forest

Butterfly Garden

Baclayon Church

Bohol Bee Farm Organic Lunch

We had mango pizza for appetizer? Lol so good!

Filipino food for lunch – everything organic!

That’s us having lunch at Bohol Bee Farm!

Also tried Bohol Bee Farm’s famous ice cream. Got Guyabano & liked it.

If you are travelling alone, you can always rent a motorbike & explore Bohol by yourself. You can also join countryside group tours. Rates vary from one agency to another.

Alona Beach Dinner & Night Out

Alona Beach at night

After a few hours of rest & sleep, we headed out to Alona Beach to explore the area. We had dinner at Pyramid Beach Resort & transferred to Outback Bar & Grill for drinks. I also met up with James, another friend of mine who was in Bohol, in Outback Bar & Grill.

Met up with James who was also in Bohol that weekend. Photo c/o James 🙂

Private Island Hopping Tour

We hired a boat for a private island hopping tour for our second & last full day in Bohol. The boat cost ₱2,500 for the whole day including gas & guides. We left Panglao Island at 7:00 am & went dolphin watching. We then went to Balicasag Island for snorkeling & swimming with the turtles. The last stop of the tour was Virgin Island, which is known for its long & beautiful sandbar. We were there during lunch time, so the sand bar was still submerged in water. We were back in Panglao at 1:00 pm.

Given ours was a private tour, we paid ₱650 each in Balicasag Island for entrance fee, environmental fee & snorkeling gear rental. Solo travelers can join group island hopping tours for a certain rate. Again, rates vary from one agency to the other.

View of Balicasag Island from our motor boat

I don’t have photos of the dolphins, turtles & the underwater creatures because I forgot my adventure camera. Let me share with you photos of Balicasag Island & Virgin Island’s (almost) sandbar.

Balicasag Island

A beautiful & sunny day in Balicasag Island 😍

Virgin Island Sandbar

Crowded Virgin Island Sandbar

Last Night In Bohol

Inside St. Augustine Church in Panglao

We started our last night in Bohol by attending Sunday mass in St. Augustine Church in Panglao. We went back to Alona area afterwards to have dinner at Irene’s Restaurant. Majority of the group went back to our hotel after dinner. Marc & I went to Aluna Bar & met up again with James for a few drinks.

Last dinner in Bohol with the whole gang

That sums up our 48 hours in Bohol. The place is very beautiful & relaxing. We may be there for only 2 full days but we surely enjoyed the place with great company. We made memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Have you been to Bohol? How many days did you spend there? How do you think of the place? Are there other places that are worth-visiting? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you want to keep your identity, feel free to send ’em to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thanks for the time & see you in the next 48-hour or maybe 24-hour trip?

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: How To Survive Low Cost Long Haul Economy Flights

Low cost airlines are starting to infiltrate the long haul flights market. These airlines offer basic & affordable fares to long haul destinations. Imagine paying ₱6,500 for a return flight from Manila to Sydney or paying around ₱2,800 for a return flight from Manila to Dubai. Super cheap, right? Yes, these fares are real. But as they say, you always get what you pay for. These tickets only include carry-on baggage & a pre-assigned seat. It doesn’t include check-in baggage, flight meal/s, insurance & in-flight entertainment. These options are always available for an additional cost; these can be availed up to few hours before the flight.

Recently flew with a low cost airline from Manila to Sydney

Recently, I had my first low cost long haul economy flight to & from Sydney, Australia. I paid ₱6,455.92 for a return flight from Manila (booked 8 months before the flight). I availed a few add-ons such as baggage, a flight meal & a comfortable front seat. I bought a seat because I initially don’t have an idea on how I will survive this close to 8-hour flight to Sydney with the seat assigned to me by the airline. The ticket with add-ons cost me ₱11,455.92. The flights surprisingly went well, even with the absence of in-flight entertainment. Legroom was alright; the service was also good.

Apart from my personal experiences, I also observed the people on the flights how they managed to conquer the 8-hour flight to & from Sydney. Here are some tips on how you can survive low cost long haul economy flights.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by a certain brand or company. I just used the photos I took in my recent low cost long haul flight.

Choose a red-eye flight

Flying a low cost long haul flight can be very difficult for first timers. Imagine doing nothing for 7 or 8 hours straight – no inflight entertainment, no food whatsoever. A tip to survive a low cost long haul flight is to choose a red-eye flight. Red-eye flights are those who leave late at night or wee hours in the morning. You won’t have any problems on how to endure the long flight because you will only sleep most of the time. Don’t forget to bring your own neck pillow, eye mask & blanket for a more comfortable sleep.

If the flight is a not full – you can always get the whole row of seats & sleep

Bring Personal Entertainment

What is there to do in the absence of in-flight entertainment? Simple. Bring a book to read throughout the flight. You can also stock up on movies in your personal electronic devices (laptops, tablets & phones). If you’re not into watching movies or reading books, make sure to have enough songs in your music player. Having these forms of distraction will help you kill time during the flight. Next thing you’ll know, you’re already on your final descent towards your destination.

Have Cash On Hand

Always make sure to bring cash when flying. There will be times when you want to buy something like a bottle of water or a cup of hot coffee. These items are always available for purchase during the flight. Also, please note that most airlines only accept cash payments of currencies from the country of origin & the country of destination. For example, the crew from Manila to Sydney flight will only accept Philippine Peso & Australian Dollar as the currencies of payment. Don’t expect the staff to accept Japanese Yen & Malaysian Ringgit.

Bring Your Own Food

Majority of low cost carriers in the world offer pre-paid in-flight meal. This means that passengers need to pre-order their meals at least 24 hours before the flight. Limited food options are available during the flight. However, the prices of these food are beyond the usual price. A good tip to get away with these expensive airplane food is to bring your own food. You can always bring a sandwich or two for your flight. Other options include chips, nuts & biscuits. Having these food on hand will save you loads of cash, plus you get to eat what you want or prefer.

Airline’s in-flight meal – bought this when I flew from Manila to Sydney; Brought my own food (sandwiches) when I flew from Sydney to Manila 😋

Bring Your Own Amenity Kit

Flying economy & flying low cost airlines give passengers limited facilities & services. Unlike full service airlines, low cost airlines do not provide amenity kits to fliers of low cost long haul routes. One thing you can do is to bring a small pouch with the necessary items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, small towel, skin moisturizer & hand sanitizer. Nothing beats the refreshed feeling after a long & tiring fight.

Move Around

Sitting for 7-12 hours in a plane can be very difficult. Also, the passengers’ bodies don’t have enough movement for a long time due to limited legroom & space. Passengers are allowed to walk around the plane as long as the other passengers are not disturbed. The simplest exercise one can do is to stand up in the aisle & do some stretching. Remember that the blood in our bodies needs to circulate – a few minutes of movement won’t hurt.

Boarding pass & passport for my recent low cost long haul flight; sorry I had to cover the name & bar code

Be Friendly

The last tip I can give on how to survive a long haul low cost economy flight is to be friendly to your co-passengers. There is a big chance that you will be seated next to a stranger inside the aircraft. You can always start a conversation by saying ‘hi’ or ‘hello.’ The next thing you’ll know, you already have someone to share ideas & experiences throughout the flight. I’ve heard stories of people who talked to their seatmates during the flight & ended up traveling together in a certain place.

This sums up the list of tips on how to conquer a low cost long haul economy flight. It may sound hard at first but I believe that the experience all boils down to how a person prepares for the flight. Regardless of ticket price & flight class, all passengers on board the flight (may it be from a low cost or full service airline) will reach the destination at the same time.

One advantages of flying a red-eye flight – you witness the beautiful sunrise from your airplane seat 🌅

Have you tried flying a low cost long haul economy flight? How was your experience? Are there other tips you can share with the other readers? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send those tips via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

If you want to know about the past Tuesday Tips I posted, check them out here. Thank you for reading & until the next set of Tuesday Tips!