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Sakura 2024: OSAKA – Lazy but Relaxing Travel Days around Japan’s Amazing City [March 2024]

Early this year, my friends and I flew to Japan to witness the beautiful Hanami season. We started our journey in Takayama and Shirakawa-go, then went around Kansai Region, Hiroshima, before finishing our trip where we started, in Nagoya.

We spent a significant amount of time in Osaka, working on various professional commitments during our trip. After these daily commitments, we went to the usual sights and enjoyed the amazing city. We all have been to Osaka a few times in the past, so we did not pressure ourselves to see everything during our stay.

Allow me to share some of our sightings during our lazy but relaxing travel days around the bustling city of Osaka.

Osaka is not new on this website. In fact, I wrote about my previous visits in the following blog posts: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019), and Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023] (2023).

OSAKA

Osaka is Japan’s second-most populous and famous city. This bustling port city is the center of commercial and economic activity in the Kansai Region. It is known for its modern architecture, food, entertainment, and nightlife. It is also known to be more relaxed than the very busy Tokyo.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went around Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go before coming to Osaka on this trip. I hope you can check out the Takayama and Shirakawa-go blog post here.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I flew in and out of Nagoya. We flew with our favorite budget airline, Cebu Pacific Air, and paid ₱13,759.49 each for the return tickets, including checked baggage allowance.

Our tickets were not the usual ₱1-base fare because our travel period is during the busy Holy Week (in the Philippines) and Hanami (in Japan) seasons. I wrote about our flights to and from Nagoya in the previous flight reports. I hope you can check them out here: Cebu Pacific Air Manila to Nagoya | 5J 5038 & Cebu Pacific Air Nagoya to Manila | 5J 5039.

Takayama to Osaka

We took a not so popular route and went to Osaka directly from Takayama. Normally, people would base in Nagoya and only take a day trip to Takayama and Shirakawa-go. We took the 5.5-hour express bus from Takayama Bus Terminal to Namba OCAT in Osaka.

Kintetsu Bus operates the 8:00 a.m. bus from Takayama while Nohi Bus operates the 1:40 p.m. bus to Osaka. One-way fare costs ¥5,500 per person from Mondays to Thursdays and ¥6,000 per person every Friday to Sunday.

We left Takayama on a Saturday afternoon, so we paid the ¥6,000 bus fare. We paid ₱2,303.59 each, including our bank’s foreign transaction service fee. We arrived in Osaka on time and went straight to our accommodation.

Accommodation

We stayed in Osaka twice during this trip, after Takayama before going to Hiroshima and after Hiroshima before going to Kyoto. In both instances, my friends and I stayed with The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi.

The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi is a 2-star accommodation located in the heart of Osaka. Renovated in 2019, the property has 134 private and dormitory rooms across 7 floors. It also has well-designed communal areas on the second level.

I wrote about The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi in one of the recent hostel of the day features. I hope you can check it out here.

Going Around Osaka

Osaka has an extensive subway and train system. Most, if not all, places to visit can be reached by train. My friends and I did not avail of any train or subway pass. We used our IC cards for every ride around the city.

Places Visited in Osaka

The Sakura full bloom got delayed by a little over a week during our visit. We enjoyed whatever the city had to offer during our stay.

Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street

This long shopping arcade is the best place to shop when in Osaka. It has a wide range of stores, from cosmetic stores to apparel shops, second-hand stores, shoe shops, and designer boutiques. It also has hundreds of nearby restaurants and cafes.

Dōtonbori

Dōtonbori is a famous commercial and entertainment district in Osaka. It is where the famous Glico man sign is found. Characterized by different LED billboards, this place is famous for local street food and restaurants.

Namba

Namba is another commercial area in Osaka that is connected to the busy Namba Station. The area has several shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, and even entertainment establishments.

Umeda Sky Building

The Umeda Sky Building is a two-tower mixed-use skyscraper with a rooftop observatory named Kuchu Teien Observatory. The observatory offers beautiful views of Osaka from its 39^th floor from morning until evening.

My friends and I got our observatory tickets from Klook. We paid ₱540.30 each after discounts and went up the rooftop after sunset.

Shinsekai

Shinsekai is an old but cool neighborhood just outside the Minami ward. It has affordable restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. It also has the Tsutenkaku Tower, another famous local observatory. The neighborhood is best enjoyed at night when the lights are all lit up.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. This historical landmark played an important role in unifying the country back in the 1600s. Today, it is a museum where visitors can enter for a fee.

Osaka Castle Park

The Osaka Castle Park is a massive park surrounding the beautiful Osaka Castle. This park is a famous Sakura spot in the city.

Too bad, the full bloom got delayed by a little over a week. We only saw the buds in the Sakura trees during our visit.

Nakaoe Park

Nakaoe Park is a small park near Osaka Castle. This park had beautiful Sakura trees in full bloom during our visit.

Kuromon Ichiba Market

Kuromon Ichiba Market is Osaka’s most famous fish market. Market vendors sell fresh seafood and produce daily. It is also a famous seafood and street food destination in Osaka. It also has various restaurants and souvenir shops, which visitors can check out during their visit.

This sums up our lazy but relaxing time in Osaka. We decided to just take our time and enjoy the city, and we eventually did.

Have you been to Osaka? How do you find the city? Is it a place you will come back to in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Osaka blogpost. In case you missed it, my friends and I flew to Japan for 20 days to experience the cherry blossom season from March to April 2024. You can find all posts related to this trip under the Sakura 2024 category.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share 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, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Sakura 2024: HIDA TAKAYAMA & SHIRAKAWA-GO – Unexpected Snowy Mountain Scenery in Early Spring [March 2024]

A few months ago, my friends and I flew to Japan for Sakura. We started our long but memorable journey at Nagoya. Immediately after landing at Nagoya Airport, we took the train to the city to catch our onward bus to Takayama. We explored Hida Takayama (or simply Takayama) and Shirakawa-go for a good 48 hours. We did not expect to see and experience winter (in what was supposed to be early spring) in these two places.

I visited Takayama and Shirakawa-go back in autumn 2017. I was happy I got the chance to go back to these places after seven years. Join me in today’s blog as I share with you what we did for 48 hours around Takayama and Shirakawa-go.

Takayama & Shirakawa-go

Takayama is a small Japanese city in the mountainous Hida Region. Also known as Hida Takayama, the city has preserved its traditional elements, particularly in its famous old town.

Shirakawa-go is a traditional village famous for its gassho-style or thatched-roof farmhouses. Located in the remote mountains of Gifu, this UNESCO world heritage site became a favorite day trip destination of people visiting Takayama and Nagoya.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I flew in to Chubu Centrair International Airport, the nearest main international airport to these 2 places. We booked two one-way tickets and flew with Cebu Pacific Air on both flights. We paid ₱13,759.49 for both flights. These tickets were not the most wallet-friendly, but these were during the peak of the peak seasons in Japan.

I wrote about our 5J 5038 Manila to Nagoya and 5J 5039 Nagoya to Manila flights in the previous flight reports. I hope you can check these posts.

Nagoya to Takayama

The JR Hida Limited Express and multiple highway buses link Nagoya and Takayama daily.

My friends and I opted for the cheaper option, the highway bus. We got the 4:30 p.m. Nohi Bus service departing from Meitetsu Bus Center near Nagoya Station. We arrived at Takayama Bus Terminal a few minutes past 7:00 p.m.

This one-way bus ticket cost us ¥3,345 (around ₱1,284.44 at the time of posting) after discounts. It’s almost half the price of the one-way ¥6,000 train ticket.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed with Country Hotel Takayama for 2 nights. We booked this hotel because of its location and price. We got an economy twin room with private bathroom and only paid ¥11,934 (booked 9 months in advance) for the whole stay.

Country Hotel Takayama is in front of the Takayama Bus Terminal and a few meters away from the JR Takayama Station. It is 800 meters, or 10-12 minutes, away by foot to Takayama Old Town. It has an in-house restaurant and a convenience store on the ground floor. The hotel offers a Japanese breakfast buffet for only ¥1,000 per person.

Going Around Takayama & Shirakawa-go

Going around Takayama and Shirakawa-go is easy. Both places can be explored by foot. Takayama’s city center is small to the point where you can walk around it in a few hours. Most of the attractions and shops are located near Takayama Old Town.

Traveling to Shirakawa-go from Takayama is easy. Buses depart every 30 minutes or every hour from Takayama Station. Visitors can choose between reserved and non-reserved buses. Reserved buses fill up quickly, so one needs to consider getting tickets from the bus terminal ahead of time. Bus tickets cost ¥2,600 per way and take around 50 minutes. You may check the Nohi Bus website for the updated schedules and ticket prices.

Shirakawa-go is a small village that can also be explored by foot. The gassho-style houses and the other houses are located near each other and are all surrounded by rice fields. The only challenging area in Shirakawa-go is going up and down from the view deck. Alternatively, visitors can take the bus up to and down from the view deck.

Around Takayama

Takayama Old Town

Hida Kokubun-ji

Miyagawa River

Nakatsubo – Nakatsubo is a family-owned local restaurant known for its Takayama Ramen.

Hida Takuma – Hida Takuma is a specialty restaurant that serves Hida beef.

Around Shirakawa-go

Ogimachi Village

Three Houses

Shō River

Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck

Ochūdo Café – Ochūdo Café is a local restaurant that serves curry rice and sweet egg bean soup.

Hida Milk Soft Serve Ice Cream

This sums up our quick, fun, and unexpectedly beautiful snowy visit to Takayama and Shirakawa-go. My friends and I expected to see these places during spring, but we ended up seeing them full of snow!

Have you been to Takayama and Shirakawa-go? What do you think of these places? Share your experiences and visits in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about these two? You may send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

This is the start of many Sakura 2024 content. I hope you watch out for more trip details in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share 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, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

CEBU-YAS WEEKEND: 4 Days Around Cebu City & Bantayan Island [May 2022]

Recently, my high school friends & I flew to Cebu from Legazpi to have a proper 4-day vacation. We took Cebu Pacific Air’s direct regional flight from Bicol International Airport to Mactan-Cebu International Airport that resumed operations late March 2022. Feel free to check out this flight report to know more about this short hop to Cebu.

We spent these 4 days around Cebu City & Bantayan Island. Upon arrival, we decided to go around the city & visit the new & old attractions. We, then, went up north to Bantayan Island to spend the next 2 full days before going back to Cebu City on the 4^th & last day. Allow me to share with you the details of these trips around Cebu City & Bantayan Island.

Sandira Paradise Beach – one of the beaches we visited in Bantayan Island. Definitely a must-see!

CEBU CITY

It’s been a decade since I’ve been around Cebu City. As far as I can remember, my last visit was also with my high school friends back in 2012. It was only a short 3 days & 2 nights trip around the city & the nearby Mactan Island. A lot as surely changed in the last decade, so I was so happy to re-visit the Queen City of the South.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

At the time of the trip in mid-May, Cebu City was under Alert Level 1. This meant that the city only required vaccination cards & valid IDs during check-in. Believe it or not, the establishments around the city didn’t check our vaccination cards upon entry into buildings & tourist attractions. Please take note that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people may have different requirements.

Please note that these travel requirements can change from time to time. I suggest that you always check with the local government of your destination or the airline’s Covid-19 information pages for the updated travel requirements.

ACCOMMODATION

We were initially booked in a hostel property but we were transferred by Agoda to S Hotel & Residences. We paid ₱3,098.18 for a night in 3 double / twin rooms. Each room for 2 cost ₱1,032.73. The room has 1 king bed / 2 single beds, a cable television, air conditioning, a small desk / working station, toilet & bath complete with towels & toiletries. The property is located on M. Velez St, near the Provincial Capitol site.

TRANSPORTATION

My friends & I opted for a car hire while we were in the city. It saved us the hassle of booking Grab or taking taxis while going around the city.

PLACES VISITED IN CEBU CITY

Original Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam

Original Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam is a flower garden located in Canada Dr, Brgy. Sirao, Cebu City. It’s the perfect place to take photos with flowers & flower gardens. Entrance fee to the garden costs ₱100 for adults, ₱80 for senior citizens & PWDs & ₱50 for children up to 12 years old.

Top of Cebu Restaurant

Top of Cebu is a Filipino restaurant that gives a breathtaking view of Cebu City from the mountains. The restaurant serves good food paired with the stunning view of the city in your background. It is usually packed at night so it’s best to call ahead of time to reserve. We went there during lunch time & we noticed the place wasn’t that busy.

Temple of Leah

Temple of Leah is a temple that is dedicated to Leah Albino-Adarna. It is a gift of love given by his husband, Teodorico Soriano Adarna. Entrance fee to the temple grounds costs ₱100 per person.

Magellan’s Cross

Magellan’s Cross is one of the most famous historical landmarks. The kiosk, located in Plaza Sugbo, is believed to be the place where the conquerors, led by Ferdinand Magellan, planted the original cross on April 21, 1521.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu

Located just a few steps from the Magellan’s Cross site, Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu is home to the oldest Sto. Niño relic in the country. This Basilica is also a famous attraction in the city, particularly during Sinulog celebrations in January.

La Vie Parisienne

La Vie Parisienne is a French-inspired restaurant that serves good food & drinks. This place is famous for its Instagram-worthy wine cellar. We had our dinner here after a long day around the city; we enjoyed some pasta & pizza paired with their in-house sangria.

Balamban Highlands

We passed by Balamban Highlands on our way back to Cebu from Hagnaya Port in San Remegio. It is a long scenic highway found in the Municipality of Balamban. Our driver told us that the area has kilometers worth of uphill drive from Balamban to Cebu City or downhill drive from Cebu City to Balambam, depending where you’re coming from. The highlands provide some stunning views of the mountains.

Shamrock Pasalubong Center

A visit to Cebu City is not complete without dropping by a pasalubong center. We went to one of the Shamrock Pasalubong Centers near Fuente Circle & bought packs of the famous Shamrock puff pastry commonly known as otap.

Tabo-an Public Market

Tabo-an Market is the place to buy dried fish & dried mangoes. My friends hoarded different kinds of dried fish while I bought those 1-kilogram packs of dried mangoes.

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)

The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway is the recently inaugurated & opened bridge that connects Cebu City with the town of Cordova on Mactan Island. The bridge is 8.5 kilometers long & is now the new longest bridge in the Philippines. This is a toll bridge & motorists are expected to pay a fee of ₱90-₱270 per way depending on car class.

CnT Lechon

Cebu is also known for their tasty lechon. There are a number of restaurants & local brands but most people say CnT is the best & the tastiest. We had CnT Lechon for dinner on our last dinner in Cebu. It is indeed tasty & has a distinct flavor not found in ordinary lechons.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

I’ve read great things about & seen awesome photos of the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2; I feel happy that I was able to see it in person this time. Our flight to Manila departed from the said terminal. Oh boy, the terminal is truly world-class! No wonder this terminal has been recognized by many from around the world!

BANTAYAN ISLAND

I’ve read & heard a lot of things about Bantayan Island over the years & I’ve always wanted to visit. The ‘plan’ to visit this beautiful island came to fruition on this 4-day trip to Cebu. My friends & I decided to have some rest & relaxation on the island for 3 days & 2 nights.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Bantayan Island requires all visitors to pre-book their accommodations before going to the island. The chosen accommodation will require a valid ID & proof of vaccination from each tourist & will issue a tourist-specific QR code. The QR code is checked by the local authorities upon arrival on the island. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people may have different requirements.

TO & FROM BANTAYAN ISLAND

Going to Bantayan Island from Cebu City is easy. One can go to SM Cebu Terminal & catch a bus or van to Hagnaya Port. The one-way fare costs ₱300 per person. The trip takes about 3-4 hours for vans & 4-5 hours for buses including all stops. Upon arrival at Hagnaya Port, proceed to the boat ticketing counters & buy tickets for the next available trip to Bantayan Island. Ferry trips to the island leave almost every hour during the day. The ferry ticket to Bantayan costs ₱355 including insurance fees & taxes, while the ticket back to Hagnaya Port costs about ₱290 including fees & taxes. The ferry journey takes about 1-1.5 hours per way. All visitors are obliged to pay an environmental fee of ₱30 in Santa Fe Port.

ACCOMMODATION

My friends & I stayed at the island-famous Kota Beach Resort. We booked 3 double rooms at ₱2,700 per room per night. The room rate includes a set breakfast & access to the resorts facilities. Each room features a comfortable double bed, separate toilet & shower areas, air conditioning, a small work space & a balcony. The rooms also have towels, toiletries & 2 bottled waters per day. The resort also provided free port transfers to all its guests.

TRANSPORTATION

The best way to go around the island is by motorbike or by tricycle. My friends & I opted for the tricycle for our land tour. We hired a tricycle for ₱800 pesos & we went around the attractions found in Santa Fe & nearby towns.

PLACES VISITED IN BANTAYAN ISLAND

Kota Beach

The beach found in the resort were staying is one of the best beach spots on the island. Tourists flock Kota Beach throughout the day. All tourists have free access to the beach. We missed the famous Bantayan Island sunset but we had the chance to witness the spectacular sunrise from this beach.

Ogtong Cave & Santa Fe Beach Club

Ogtong Cave is a famous cave with clean, cold & turquoise clear water. Guests are required to pay an entrance fee of ₱225 to see & swim in the cave. This fee also includes access to the beach, swimming pools & amenities of Santa Fe Beach Club. My friends & I backed out upon hearing the expensive entrance fee from the staff. I hope the management introduces an entrance fee that is solely for the cave.

The Ruins

The Ruins Bantayan Island is an abandoned structure found near the cliffs. It’s now a famous tourist attraction because of its scenic location. It’s also turned into a cliff jumping spot. The place is free for all.

Sandira Beach

Sandira Beach is a private beach known for its clear waters & rock formations. This beach has an entrance fee of ₱60 per person.

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden is a beautiful mangrove park that’s worth visiting when in Bantayan Island. Entrance fee to this garden costs ₱55 per person.

Sto. Niño Roman Catholic Church

Santa Fe’s local parish church, Sto. Niño Roman Catholic Church, has a beautiful altar that’s worth seeing.

There are other attractions & spots to visit around Bantayan Island & the nearby islands (Virgin Island) but we decided to just enjoy our stay in Kota Beach Resort.

And that’s it – we’ve been to a lot of places in 4 days! It felt great to go around & see Cebu City again after 10 years. I also finally had the chance to explore Bantayan Island after years of aiming to come & visit. It was definitely worth the 4-5 hour trip up north. Going on holiday / vacation these days is considered a blessing; I was so happy to be able to do it again. I cannot wait to explore both old & new places in the Philippines & around the world; I’m sure a lot has changed in the last 2-3 years!

Have you been on a vacation or holiday recently? How was your experience? It felt weird at first, right? Share your experiences in the comments section below! Do you have questions about Cebu City, Bantayan Island or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post a comment below. If you want to stay anonymous, you can also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s blog post. I am so happy to start sharing my travel experiences again after over 2 years of being on the ground. I can’t wait to share my upcoming trips & flights with you. Until the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

A Dream Come True: 19 DAYS Around NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK for Less Than ₱120,000 – Airfare, Accommodation & 12-Hour Singapore Stopover Included

Last October to November 2019, I flew to Europe all by myself for 19 days & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. I never thought this trip that took 7 years to plan would finally happen & that I would do everything alone & DIY – no help from any travel agency, consultant or whatsoever. If you’ve been following me the last few months, I’ve shared every single detail of this Euro trip from city itineraries, flight reports, to hostels & even local food. You can find all posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Going to Europe for a long trip like this is not a cheap trip to do. Some people spend hundreds of thousands on airfare & accommodation & add probably another hundred for food, pocket money & tours. I didn’t have that much savings for this kind of expensive trip so I did a lot of research to make it happen in a relatively affordable budget. AND I DID IT! I flew to Europe for 19 days around 4 countries including airfare, accommodation & a 12-hour Singapore stopover for less than ₱120,000 all in. Let me share with you how I made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Disclaimer: There are ways to make this trip even cheaper than what I spent – staying in cheaper hostels, taking low-cost carriers / buses with cutting trips, etc. – but I wanted to make it special (as a first time) & splurged a bit on some parts like food (& beers), high-rated hostels & better transportation options. Also, I only chose to visit 4 countries instead of hopping on from one country to the other after a day or two to have a better appreciation of every country / city. I am not a fan of rushed trips; I enjoy staying longer in one place or country.

In case you missed it last week, I posted an article on 11 Europe thrift hacks that I did on this trip. These thrift hacks helped me save on some expenses like food & tours. Check out that article here.

Air Tickets

I took the risk & booked a return ticket to Europe with Singapore Airlines during their January promotion with BPI Credit Cards. I got the economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore & Copenhagen to Manila via Singapore for only 719.23 USD. The ticket includes 30-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, in-flight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens & their 5-star Singaporean hospitality. My BPI credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including foreign transaction fees. Not bad for a ticket to Europe considering it’s with Singapore Airlines, right?

Months before the trip, I figured out the route I’ll take & the countries I’ll visit. Then, I booked air tickets for my inter-European transfers. Train tickets were more expensive & would take a few changes while bus trips, even if cheap, will take ages & a few transfers before you reach the next city / country. I paid €67,40 for a plane ticket from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic on Brussels Airlines. I booked another ticket from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark on Czech Airlines for 1,588 Kč. Both tickets include 23-kilogram check in baggage. I got charged ₱4,000.85 & ₱3,658.88, respectively for these 2 tickets.

I booked these 3 tickets without a Schengen tourist visa. Some people don’t recommend this, but I took the risk & did it. I was confident that time that I will be granted visa for this trip & luckily, I got one.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Europe is not cheap. A dormitory bed in a hostel costs about €30 to €40 a night, depending on the room configuration & location. Hotels & private rooms are more expensive. I can’t afford them. I booked my hostels 4 months into the trip. All these hostel bookings had free cancellation options if I don’t push through. I became picky with the hostels I’ll stay with since it was my first time in Europe. I stayed in popular & high-rated hostels found in central & well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam (₱8,885.82 for 4 nights – paid in Philippine Peso), Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels (€122 for 4 nights – paid during check-in), DREAM Hostel in Prague (1,790 Kč for 4 nights – paid via credit card on check-in) & Steel House in Copenhagen (US$ 116.24 for 4 nights – paid via Agoda). I paid ₱26,117.54 for 16 nights in these 4 countries – roughly ₱1,632.25 per night in Philippine Peso or €28,49 per night in Euros. I think I still got a good deal from these hostels! It would’ve been cheaper if booked my stay at least 8-10 months before.

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip. I got my travel insurance coverage online from Standard Insurance; I got their Travel Protect Policy which covers up to €37,500 medical coverage for 19 days. I paid ₱1,918 for the 19-day coverage.

Tourist Visa

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. The visa fee cost €60 (₱3,420) + ₱901 VFS handling fee. I opted for the passport delivery service instead of picking up my passport in the VFS office. I paid a small fee for the courier service. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Traveling around Europe alone isn’t easy. I made sure I was connected to the internet for the whole duration of the trip. I bought an internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. The sim card was operated by Three UK & it included 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK for 30 days. The sim card cost ₱1,600 with free shipping. The data, call & text services worked well during my stay in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark.

Travel Tax

All Philippine passport holders are required to pay a travel tax of ₱1,620 before going out the country for holiday. I paid the travel tax right before I checked in for my flight from Manila to Singapore.

Daily Budget & Unexpected Expenses

I mentioned in my Europe thrift hacks post that I set a daily budget of €40 for food, transportation & entrance fees. I spent more in some days but I was traveling on a €30-€35 per day budget. There were days where I had to buy last-minute museum tickets (Heineken Experience & Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), join guided tours (Canal Tour in Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in Holland & Kutná Hora in Czech Republic) & go on side trips (Utrecht, Bruges, Ghent & Český Krumlov) which cost me more. I also bought last-minute train & bus tickets in Belgium & Czech Republic – the downsides of not following an itinerary.

I splurged on beers in all 4 countries; I paid more for food in Denmark (food there is expensive) but I’m happy I still had about €120 cash left at the end of the trip. I counted all my expenses from pocket money, to credit & debit card transactions & debit card withdrawals for 19 days. I spent ₱34,327.78 (around €600) for 17 full days (travel days not included) on food, transportation, walking tours, entry tickets, guided tours & beers – about €35 per day on average.

Singapore Stopover

My flight from Manila to Amsterdam had a 12-hour layover in Singapore. I took this time to meet 2 friends – one for lunch + milk tea & one for early dinner. I also used this time to walk around the beautiful city, check out a city library & walk around The Jewel at Changi Airport. I spent around S$50 (₱1,859.4 conversion that time) on this 12-hour stop – food, drinks & transportation included.

Summary of Expenses

After all the costs & numbers mentioned above, let’s see how much I actually spent for the trip.

Exchange rate at the time of trip: €1 = ₱57.3 Exchange rates of purchases & withdrawals vary. There you go! I spent ₱117,092.85 pesos for a 19-day trip around 4 European Countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark – with air tickets, accommodation costs & a 12-hour Singapore stopover included. If you’ll include the transportation expenses during the visa application process, to & from the airport when I left & arrived, it’ll be somewhere around ₱118,500 – still less than ₱120,000!

Don’t get me wrong, ₱117,092.85 is a very big amount but we’re talking about a 19-day trip to Europe here flying with one of the world’s premium airlines – Singapore Airlines & visiting first world & expensive countries like Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. I couldn’t believe this when I listed all my expenses after the trip. I wanted this trip to be fun, memorable & spontaneous & I’m happy it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. This solo trip to Europe is so far my longest, most expensive & most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Every single peso spent was worth it!

Blog List

In case you’re interested in the posts about this trip, check out the blog list below.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – 5-Star Economy Class Experience In A New Generation Boeing Dreamliner
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn’t Feel Like One
BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience
CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation
SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast
DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town
STEEL HOUSE COPENHAGEN – 4 Nights in Danish Capital’s New York-Inspired Industrial Style Luxury Accommodation

VISA APPLICATION & TIPS ✍️

Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS
11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know
10 THINGS TO KNOW Before Traveling To Europe

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City
UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City
NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands
6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?
BRUGES – Cobbled Alleys, Gingerbread Houses & Pretty Canals in Belgium’s Picture-Perfect City
GHENT – Belgium’s Underrated Port City
5 Must Try Belgian Treats

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿

PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City
KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town
4 Czech Eats To Savor

DENMARK 🇩🇰

COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City
7 Danish Delicacies Not To Miss
7 Interesting Observations About Denmark

Thank you for joining me in today’s Euro trip summary. I’ve made use of the pandemic to finish all the posts about this trip. It’s a shame that my next planned trip to Europe this October won’t push through, but it won’t stop me from planning my next trip to this beautiful continent. We may all be stuck in our own homes but we’ll surely go back to the time when travelling is safe & sound. It’s never too late to give up on your dream trips to Europe! Make use of this downtime to research about the cities & countries you want to visit & plan out the route you’ll take.

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I did it? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I’ll finish the post with this.. I DID IT – 19 DAYS AROUND NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK FOR LESS THAN ₱120,000 ALL IN & I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

December 8 – New Special Non-Working Holiday

As published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday signed Republic Act Number 10966 declaring December 8 of every year a special non-working holiday in the Philippines to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.

A screenshot of the signed Republic Act No 10966.

Being predominantly Catholic, majority of the Philippine population celebrate this holy day of obligation by attending & hearing mass in churches. Catholic schools also have December 8 as a no-school day in commemoration of this important feast.

For travelers & workers, the first December 8 long weekend will be on December 8, 2020. December 8, 2018 falls on a Saturday while December 8, 2019 falls on a Sunday. Nonetheless, this is still a good news for everyone.

Happy long weekend guys! 😊 Hope everyone’s enjoying the holidays. 🎆