Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 921 – Manila to Singapore – Almost-Perfect Intraregional Flight Under 3 Hours [August 2023]

A few months ago, I flew to Australia for over a week. I brought my parents to Sydney and Brisbane for some long-overdue family time. I walked them around Sydney for 3 full days and took them to my aunt (my dad’s sister) for the rest of the trip.

I have been to both Sydney and Brisbane in 2018, and I have written about my previous trips to these cities. I hope you can check out the following: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City, Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours, BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches, and BRISBANE Weekend.

My parents and I flew with Singapore Airlines on our way to and from Australia. We flew from Manila to Sydney via Singapore and left the country from Brisbane to Manila via Singapore. Our first Singapore Airlines flight, SQ 921, from Manila to Singapore will be today’s flight report feature. Allow me to share with you how this supposed-to-be delayed flight turned into an almost-perfect one.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world-class airline is based at one of the world’s best airports, Singapore Changi Airport. The airline started as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then rebranded, and commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers and the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 70 destinations in more than 30 countries across five continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of the Airbus A350Airbus A380Boeing 777Boeing 787 DreamlinerBoeing 737 Max, and Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator, with 63 currently in service and two more on order. 7 of the 65 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business and premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used on North American routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities and services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals, and in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the second-most-reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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

Airfare

This SQ 921 flight is part of a four-sector ticket from Manila to Australia and back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket, booked 5 months before the intended flight date, only cost $497 (US dollars) per person. This return ticket includes a 25-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, inflight meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens on all flights, and a 5-star flight experience with a well-trained and passionate cabin crew.

I booked our ticket directly with the airline using my credit card and paid $1,491 (US dollars) for three people. I got charged ₱83,537.75 for all three tickets, including foreign transaction service fees. This translates to only ₱27,845.92 per person. Considering when the ticket was booked against the intended flight schedule, this ticket was definitely a steal. It already has everything a passenger needs on a long-haul flight, from food to amenities to entertainment. The other airline competitors offered way more expensive ticket prices at the time of booking for our planned August schedule.

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

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders are required to get a visa to enter Australia. I applied for my visa back in January last year, and I was approved for a multiple-entry visa valid for one year. I helped my parents obtain their visas, and I was pleased to see they were granted the same validity as mine.

All departing passengers from Manila are required to fill out the details and obtain a QR code from the eTravel website. The QR codes are scanned by the immigration officers on the day of the trip.

In case you missed it, I wrote about the steps on how to get an Australian tourist visa. I hope you can check out this quick guide.

Before The Flight

Unlike previous Singapore Airlines flights, I did not receive any premium economy or business class upgrade offers for this SQ 921 flight. I only got a flight check-in reminder on the airline’s mobile application 48 hours before this flight.

Upon getting the said check-in notification, I immediately chose our seats for both Manila to Singapore and Singapore to Sydney flights and checked-in for both flights. Singapore Airlines allows its passengers to choose their seats for free during mobile or web check-in.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila-Singapore SQ flight was operated by a 4.6-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This plane, delivered in February 2019, features the airline’s regional configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 economy class seats.

Flight SQ 921 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport about 45 minutes late at 7:17 p.m. and landed at Singapore Changi Airport 13 minutes ahead of time at 10:07 p.m. The flight only took 2 hours and 50 minutes, an hour shorter than its declared flight time.

Ground & Airport Experience

Singapore Airlines flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 3 open three hours before the flight. The well-manned counters opened earlier than usual, at 2:55 p.m. and were divided into the following: Business Class, Regular Economy Class, Internet Check-In Economy Class, and Special Assistance.

I was traveling with two senior citizens, so I accompanied them to the special assistance check-in line. I noticed that this line moved slowly (20 minutes in line), and I asked them to join me in the internet check-in line.

We were immediately entertained at the internet check-in counters, and we finished our check-in process in about 5 minutes. We checked in our bags all the way to Sydney, Australia.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, my parents and I cleared immigration and security and spent some time at Marhaba Lounge. I used my Security Bank Platinum Mastercard (not sponsored) to access the lounge and to bring in my father using the yearly complimentary passes.

We stayed in the lounge for a few hours, stuffed ourselves with food and drinks, and waited for boarding. A few minutes before the scheduled boarding time, we left the lounge and walked towards Gate 108.

BOARDING

We reached Gate 108 before 6:00 p.m. and noticed that boarding has not started. The pre-departure area was chaotic and did not have the usual by-group segregation by Singapore Airlines. The pre-boarding preparations were announced at 6:25 p.m. Five minutes later, the formal boarding process started.

Business class passengers and PPS Club passengers boarded the plane first. Krisflyer Elite and Star Alliance Gold members came next. Economy class passengers boarded the plane by seat numbers. Those seated at the back (group 4) boarded the plane first. Groups 5 and 6 economy class passengers eventually boarded the plane.

The entire boarding process only took 21 minutes. The aircraft doors were closed at 6:51 p.m. The plane pushed back after three minutes at 6:54 p.m.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila-Singapore flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch and a 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces, and a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches and a seat width of 18 inches, slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5-inch seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest, and a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a foldable tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a foldable cup holder, a USB charging outlet, a comfortable pillow, and a universal power outlet in between seats. Blankets, face masks, and disinfectant surface wipes are available upon request.

The seats on this Airbus A350 aircraft are complete and comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight. It has more than what a normal economy class passenger needs for a 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT MEALS

Singapore Airlines served complimentary hot meals on this 3-hour flight. The airline has let go of physical menu cards and have incorporated them in the inflight entertainment system and in the onboard connectivity service. The airline has also brought back the appetizer which went missing during the pandemic.

Passengers had the option to choose between creamy tuna pesto pasta and chicken rice as the main course. The main dish came with a mixed seafood salad, a bread roll and butter, coffee jelly with tapioca, a cup of water, and another drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, or juice. The crew went around again to offer a second round of drinks and offered water, coffee, and tea to those who wanted them.

I went for the chicken rice meal with a glass of apple juice and enjoyed it. The chicken was soft; it tasted good. The food portions were just right, enough to make me full during the flight. I admire the airline for using metal cutlery and recyclable food containers during meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

An hour after the dinner service, I requested for the airline’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling. The crew came back and gave me two Singapore Slings and two packs of peas and crackers. This Singapore Sling drink is already a staple every time I fly with the airline.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies and TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play, and a few local media pieces to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch-screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch-screen screens were responsive and easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path and even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They are not noise-canceling, but they did their job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passenger’s KrisFlyer membership number and then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie, or television show he or she watched or left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines installs cameras in their A350’s that passengers can access and view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Since July 2023, Singapore Airlines has offered complimentary unlimited onboard Wi-Fi access on all its flights except those operated by Boeing 737-800s. Passengers are required to log in using their Krisflyer accounts to use the onboard Wi-Fi service. Those not registered with Krisflyer can register during the flight to access the said service.

Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi service on this flight did not work. I tried to connect multiple times, but I always got no internet in my mobile browser.

LAVATORY

The lavatory on this Airbus A350-900 aircraft was clean throughout the flight. It had additional amenities such as paper cups, dental kits, and moisturizing hand lotion. The sink had cold and warm water and had hand soap and tissue beside it.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent. From the time we entered the aircraft, to the meal service, and until disembarkation, the cabin crew served us with their biggest smiles. The crew had to pause the dinner service due to turbulence, and the crew apologized for the delay. Several members of the flight crew went around the cabin throughout the flight and attended to every passenger’s requests. They even went around and offered glasses of water to those who wanted them.

The assigned crew on this flight showed true Singaporean hospitality. They made sure that passengers had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines. Their top-notch service made the flying experience a lot better.

Disembarkation

Before arriving in Singapore, the airline displayed on the inflight screen the list of flights and assigned boarding gates for passengers with connecting flights. The airline also indicated the assigned luggage belt for those who need to get their bags to Singapore. They also had the same announcement in the mobile application.

Upon arrival in Singapore, all passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. The business class and forward economy class passengers went out first. The middle and rear economy class passengers followed.

Flight Experience

It was an almost-perfect flying experience with Singapore Airlines on this SQ 921 flight from Manila to Singapore. It could have been a perfect mark if only everything went right during boarding and onboard. The onboard product is indeed one of the world’s best, especially on the modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Let me share with you the hits and misses of this short hop to Singapore.

The first and probably biggest win of this flight is its cheap return tickets. My parents and I got the return Manila-Australia-Manila tickets for only US$497 each, or around 28,000 PHP. The tickets included carry-on and check-in baggage, inflight amenities, and superb service on an Airbus A350. Second, the Manila-Singapore legs utilize modern Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft. The A350 we used on this flight had modern cabin features, state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, and comfortable seats.

Third, Singapore Airlines onboard hard and soft products are exceptional. The entertainment system had thousands of choices, and the onboard meals and snacks were great. The airline has brought back the appetizers to the meals. Fourth, the cabin crew service on this flight was warm, hospitable, and world-class. Lastly, the airline’s sustainability efforts are worth commending. The airline uses metal cutlery, reusable food containers, and has removed physical menus.

The flight also had its misses. First, the ground staff did not make any announcements regarding delayed boarding. They announced that the flight from Singapore has arrived, and that is it. It would have been ideal if the passengers were informed that there would be delays in boarding. Despite this delay, the flight still managed to touch down in Singapore ahead of schedule. Acceptable.

Second, the onboard Wi-Fi did not work during the entire flight. Bummer. Lastly, I hope the airline can find sustainable alternatives for the plastic cups used on this flight. There were over a hundred plastic cups used on this flight alone. Changing these cups to environment-friendly options is ideal.

Despite these misses, I still had an enjoyable and almost-perfect flight to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. I was happy to introduce and let my parents experience the airline’s world-class and 5-star service for such an affordable fare. Will I fly them again? Definitely. I am already excited for my next flight with the airline, even if I do not have anything booked as of this writing.

Here are some of the aircraft and flight details about this quick hop to Singapore:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 26 August 2023
Flight Number: SQ921
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Seat Number: 63K
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHC
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 4.6-years-old
Delivered: February 2019


Have you flown Singapore Airlines recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon or by any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! Watch out for my onward flight from Singapore to Sydney also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here.

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 916 – Singapore to Manila – Excellent but Turbulent Flight Back to Manila [July 2022]

After deplaning from my Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 107 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, I immediately walked to the assigned gate for my onward flight to Manila. This Singapore to Manila SQ 916 flight on Singapore Airlines will be the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share with you details about this excellent but turbulent flight back home.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world class airline is based in one of the world’s best airports – Singapore Changi Airport. The airline starred as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then re-branded & commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers & the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of Airbus A350Airbus A380Boeing 777Boeing 787 DreamlinerBoeing 737 Max & Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator with 60 currently in service & 5 more on order. 7 of the 60 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business & premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used in the North America routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities & services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals & in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance – one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the 2nd most reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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

Airfare

This SQ 916 flight from Singapore to Manila was part of a 4-sector ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur & back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket cost me US$147.69 + 7,665 KrisFlyer miles I earned during my Singapore Airlines flights to Europe in 2019.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. This return ticket includes 25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on allowance, inflight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens on 3 of 4 flights & a 5-star flight experience with well-trained & passionate cabin crew on all 4 sectors or flights.

This return ticket was a great deal considering it was booked a month prior to the scheduled flights. It also gave me all the benefits of a full-service airline. Believe it or not, return tickets on Philippines-based low-cost carriers were more expensive than this SQ ticket!

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

Travel Requirements

A few months ago, the Philippine government relaxed entry requirements for those who want to travel to or go home to the country. The requirements differ based on the individual’s vaccination status.

Fully-vaccinated passengers who have received a booster dose are exempted from providing a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result. They only need to provide their vaccination certificate issued by the respective health authorities. Fully-vaccinated passengers who have not received a booster dose need to present a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before departure.

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated individuals need to present a negative RT-PCR result taken 48 hours before the departure or a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before the flight. They also need to undergo facility-based quarantine, take a test on the 5th day & if negative, continue quarantine at home until 14th day from arrival.

On top of these vaccination or test requirements, all incoming passengers, regardless of nationality, need to register on the One Health Pass website 72 hours before the flight. He/she must also save a printed or digital copy of the QR code at the end of the form.

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

Before The Flight

A few days after booking the flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminder to check the updated travel requirements of the chosen destination. The e-mail included helpful links where I need to check the updated protocols for both transit area & destination.

Fast forward to a few days before the flight, the airline sent an e-mail about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program for economy class passengers who want to pay for a business class seat on that specific flight. I didn’t bother to check the minimum upgrade price because I don’t have the funds for it.

48 hours before my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight, the Singapore Airlines mobile application notified me that check-in is now available for both flights. I immediately checked-in & chose my seats for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & this Singapore to Manila flights. Singapore Airlines allows their passengers to choose their preferred seats for free during the online check-in process.

Flight Information

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by a 6.5-month-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft, which was delivered to Singapore Airlines in January 2022, has the two-class regional configuration consisting of 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy class seats.

SQ 916 took off from Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) at exactly 1:48pm & landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) at 5:13pm. The flight had a smooth & quiet take-off & landing but also had a very turbulent journey up in the air. It experienced several turbulences throughout the 3.5-hour flight. The whole journey from Singapore to Manila took 3 hours & 25 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

This Singapore to Manila flight on SQ 916 is a continuation of my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight. I did not clear immigration in Singapore & only stayed airside at Singapore Changi Airport.

CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Transit at Singapore Changi Airport is back to pre-pandemic times. The airport does not require a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination during transit. The only requirement they have for transit passengers is to have both flights (to Singapore & out of Singapore) under the same ticket or itinerary & have the passenger’s baggage tagged from the airport of origin to the final country or airport of destination.

My flight back to Manila was booked under the same itinerary. I checked in for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila flights in Kuala Lumpur. I also had my check-in luggage tagged from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to my final destination, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.

SQ 107 from Kuala Lumpur arrived a few minutes behind schedule. After disembarking from the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, I immediately headed to Terminal 3 Gate B9 to board this flight to Manila. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go around Terminal 3 on this short connection. This transit experience was seamless & hassle-free.

PRE-DEPARTURE

I submitted myself & my carry-on bag for a final security check at the doors of Gate B9 & went to the staff counter to request a seat change. I mentioned in my SQ 107 flight report that I tried to request a seat change during check-in at KLIA. I was advised by the check-in agent that the system doesn’t allow her to do it & mentioned that I can request this in Singapore before I board the flight to Manila. I went to the flight staff & was immediately granted a new seat at the 2nd to the last row – 69B.

I went to the pre-departure area, took a seat & enjoyed the view of the beautiful Airbus A350-900 aircraft that will fly us to Manila. Ah, such a beautiful plane!

BOARDING

At exactly 12:58pm, the ground staff called all business class passengers & status holders to board the aircraft to Manila. 2 minutes later, they called all economy class passengers seated at the rear part of the cabin (that’s us) to board the plane. Shortly after our batch, those seated in the forward economy cabin boarded the plane last. Boarding was done by group & took 28 minutes to finish. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors at 12:28pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ newest Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces & a large tray table.

Business Class Seat
Economy Class Seats

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches & seat width of 18 inches – slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5 inches seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest & a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a fold-able tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a fold-able cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet in between seats. Pillows, blankets, face masks & disinfectant surface wipes are now available by request.

The seats on this Airbus A350 aircraft are complete & comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight. It has more than what a normal economy class passenger needs for a 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT MEAL

Singapore Airlines served complimentary hot meals on this 3-hour flight to Manila. The airline has removed the physical menu cards & integrated the whole food & drink information in the flight’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had the option to choose between Herb Crusted Fish Fillet & Roasted Chicken Rice. The main dish came with a bread roll & butter, ice cream & a drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice. The crew went around again to offer a second round of drinks & offered water, coffee & tea to those who want. Check out the full menu below.

I admire the airline for using metal cutlery & recyclable food containers during the meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

I chose the roasted chicken rice meal with a glass of red wine & enjoyed it. The rice, chicken & vegetable portions were just right. For dessert, we had Udders Dark Chocolate ice cream. The ice cream was thick & tasty; it was probably the star of the lunch service.

Immediately after the meal service, I asked for roasted nuts to help me finish my small glass of red wine. After this, I asked for the airline’s signature cocktail, Singapore Sling. I think I had 2 more glasses of this drink paired with their roasted cashew & almonds. Don’t worry, I didn’t feel tipsy or what.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airline’s entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies & TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play & a few local media content to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch screen screens were responsive & easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path & even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They aren’t noise canceling but they did its job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passengers KrisFlyer membership number & then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie to television show he/she watched / left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines install cameras in their A350’s which passengers can access / view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines offered Wi-Fi service on this flight. PPS Club members & business class passengers are given 100MB of data to use up during the flight. The airline also gives complimentary 2 hours of messaging service to KrisFlyer members in economy class. Non-members can opt to either register to KrisFlyer to avail of the data plans on board.

Sad to say this, but the Wi-Fi on this flight was close to not working. I had to try a lot of times before having access to the inflight food & drinks menu. I didn’t get to use the free 2-hour messaging service because I always got the ‘network error’ or ‘service unavailable’ notification.

LAVATORY

The rear lavatory on this Airbus A350 was spotless & well-maintained. It was clean; it had the amenities needed for a 3-hour flight. The sink had cold & warm water & had hand soap & tissue beside it. The lavatory console had a moisturizing hand lotion & the drawer had more amenities.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent. The cabin crew welcomed all passengers with their best smiles & wished us a pleasant & enjoyable flight. Upon arriving at my seat, I saw that the tray table had leftover crumbs. I notified one of the cabin attendants in the back. The cabin attendant apologized & immediately got back to me with disinfectant wipes & tissue.

The crew had to pause meal service a few times due to turbulence. They kept apologizing to the passengers every time the meal service was halted. They continued with the meal service after the turbulences. The guy who served my meal was polite & attentive. He asked what meal & drink options I preferred & gladly served it.

After the meal service, I asked for a glass of Singapore Sling. The cabin attendant misunderstood it, & thought I asked for a Bloody Mary. She came back & apologized that they don’t have Bloody Mary onboard; she also immediately offered to mix a special drink for me. I told her that I actually requested for Singapore Sling. She again apologized & came back with my requested drink with 2 packs of roasted nuts. Lovely!

Several members of the flight crew went around the cabin throughout the flight & attended to every passenger’s requests. They even went around & offered glasses of water to those who want.

The assigned crew on this flight showed true Singaporean hospitality. They served the passengers with their best smiles & catered to every request throughout the flight. They made sure that passengers had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines. Their top-notch service made the flying experience a lot better. Cheers to the crew on this flight!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. The ground staff checked every passenger’s One Health Pass QR code & instructed where to fall in line for verification / scanning. Immigration didn’t take long & check-in bags were available as soon as we arrived at the baggage claim hall. Believe it or not, I finished the whole arrival process (from stepping out of the plane to the arrivals area) in less than 10 minutes.

Final Thoughts

It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. Both the hard & soft products stood out on this 3.5-hour flight from Singapore to Manila onboard their new Airbus 350-900 aircraft. I’d like to point out a few things that actually made this experience a great one.

First, the transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport was seamless. No requirements, no whatsoever. I just went from one airport gate to the other. Second, both the ground staff & cabin crew provided excellent service. The ground attendants in Kuala Lumpur & Singapore were polite & accommodating. Those in Singapore station even allowed me to change seats last minute. The cabin crew teams onboard the flight were hospitable & service-oriented.

Third, Singapore Airlines’ hard product on the Airbus A350-900 is modern & solid. The seats are comfortable; they have good leg space. The personal entertainment screens area big; it has thousands of entertainment options to choose from. The cabin also feels very spacious.

The airline’s soft product on this flight was as awesome as the hard product. Cabin crew service, as mentioned above, was top-notch. The inflight meal portions were just right. They also offered a long list of drinks for economy class passengers. I particularly liked the dark chocolate ice cream offered as dessert. Lastly, I also noticed the airline’s sustainable efforts by using recyclable food containers, providing metal cutlery & getting rid of physical menus.

This flight was not perfect. It also had some drawbacks which I hope the airline can improve on. First, the onboard Wi-Fi was close to not working. It only worked when I tried to access the inflight menu. Second, the airline still uses plastic cups for the drink service – particularly for water, wine & other alcoholic beverages in economy class. I hope they can find an environment-friendly alternative for it.

Third, I somehow felt a downsize in economy class service compared to how it was before the pandemic. Pillows & blankets are no longer provided to every seat & the towel service in economy class has stopped. I hope they can find a way to re-introduce them in the future. Lastly, not entirely the airline’s fault, but this flight was very turbulent. The meal service had to stop several times due to turbulence. I think the seatbelt sign was turned on for more than an hour in total. The frequent turbulence somehow affected the overall experience on this flight to Manila.

Putting these aside, I still enjoyed this flight with Singapore Airlines. I wish the flight time from Singapore to Manila was longer than 3.5 hours. Will I fly them again in the future? Definitely! In fact, I am already considering taking them again for another set of flights for next year.

Here are some geeky details about this excellent 3.5-hour hop from Singapore to Manila:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 7 July 2022
Flight Number: SQ 916
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 3 hours & 25 minutes
Seat Number: 69B
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHW
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 6.5-month-old
Delivered: January 2022


This sums up & ends by journey with Singapore Airlines on the trip to Kuala Lumpur last July 2022. Don’t forget to check out my other flights with them: Manila to Singapore on SQ 915, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on SQ 114 & Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on SQ 107. Feel free to also check out my post about this quick international trip to Kuala Lumpur by clicking this link.

Have you flown with Singapore Airlines recently? How was your flight? Please share details about your experience in the comments section below. Do you have questions about this flight or anything related to the airline? You may post them below or send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you are shy to comment.

Thank you for joining me in today’s trip report. If you’re interested in my previous flight reports, feel free to check them out under the flight report category. I hope you’ll look forward to the next one. Also, before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – First International Flight After 31 Months [June 2022]

You read the title right! After 31 months of being in the Philippines, I finally flew out of the country again. The last time I went out of the Philippines was when I flew to Europe in 2019 via Singapore. Believe it or not, my last flight out of the country was also on Singapore Airlines SQ 915 back in October 2019. How does this recent SQ 915 flight compare to the pre-pandemic Singapore Airlines flight experience? We’ll find out in this flight report!

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world class airline is based in one of the world’s best airports – Singapore Changi Airport. The airline starred as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then re-branded & commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers & the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max & Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator with 60 currently in service & 5 more on order. 7 of the 60 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business & premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used in the North America routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities & services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals & in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance – one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

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

Airfare

Late May 2022, I randomly saw an affordable ticket to Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines for travel within 30 days. With borders now opening & Malaysia dropping the test entry requirements, I decided to immediately book this ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

The return ticket initially cost US$199.70. I used up my KrisFlyer miles (earned when I flew with Singapore Airlines to Europe in 2019) before they expire in the next 12 months. The ticket price went down to just US$146.69 including 7,665 redeemed KrisFlyer miles.

The ticket included 4 flights in economy class – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila – with 1.5-hour layovers at Singapore Changi Airport both ways. The ticket also includes 25-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, inflight meals & snacks & even inflight entertainment on board.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. It was a really good deal from Singapore Airlines considering the current world market situation & inflated fuel prices. For context, other airlines’ ticket prices were around ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return at the time of booking this SQ ticket. Some of these airlines don’t even include baggage & meals in the ticket prices.

Travel Requirements

I am only transiting at Singapore Changi Airport & I’m flying to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. On the day of the flight, Singapore does not have any requirements for transiting passengers as long as the passenger has an onward connecting flight under the same booking reference number. Those with split bookings will be required to fulfill the entry requirements of Singapore. Check out the requirements for my flight to Kuala Lumpur & transit in Singapore as per the airline’s website a day before this flight.

Singapore Airlines regularly updates their travel requirements page. You can find the latest destination & transit requirements on this page.

Before The Flight

Days after I booked my flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminding me to check the entry & transit requirements for my trip. The e-mail had links where I could check the entry protocols for each flight.

3 days before my flight, the airline sent an e-mail informing me about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program from economy to business class for a hefty price. The instant upgrade offer cost around ₱30,000 – almost 4 times the price of my return ticket. I did not avail of this upgrade offer.

2 days before this flight, the Singapore Air mobile application notified me that my flight is already open for online check-in. I immediately checked-in for my flight to Singapore & onward flight to Kuala Lumpur & chose forward section seats for both flights. The airline allows passengers to choose their seats for free during online check-in.

Flight Information

This Manila to Singapore Singapore Airlines flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft delivered in February 2021. This A350 has the airline’s 2-class regional configuration with 40 seats in business class & 263 seats in economy class.

The flight departed Manila at exactly 8:00am from Runway 06/24 & landed Singapore Changi Airport at 10:58am. It only took 2 hours & 58 minutes to reach Singapore. The flight was generally quiet & stable; not much turbulence happened.

Airport & Ground Experience

AIRPORT CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines segregated check-in counters per cabin class & frequent flyer status. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers have dedicated check-in counters. Economy class passengers have their own queues as well. Economy class passengers who checked in online have a separate & a faster queue.

I already checked in 2 days before so I lined up at the internet check-in queue. The lady at the counter checked my vaccination certificate & travel requirements for Malaysia & then issued my boarding passes to Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. She also weighed my carry-on bag & advised that passengers are only allowed up to 2 carry-on bags each. The whole check-in process took about 25 minutes; it was not as fast as my previous SQ 915 flight in 2019.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After immigration & security check, I walked to Gate 110 where we’ll board our flight to Singapore. The airline divided the pre-departure area into groups according to their assigned seats on the plane. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers were assigned at Groups 1 to 3. Economy class passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft were placed in Group 4. Those in the middle were assigned to Group 5. I, together with the other passengers assigned in the forward economy cabin, were placed under Group 6.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced 30 minutes before the flight at 7:10am. Business class passengers & status holders under Groups 1 to 3 were asked to board the aircraft first. Passengers who require assistance & those traveling with kids & infants boarded next. Economy class groups 4 & 5 followed. Our group, group 6, boarded the plane last.

Economy class passengers were offered earphones at the jet bridge, just a few steps before the aircraft door. The friendly Singapore Airlines cabin crew welcomed every guest & directed them to the aisle where they will walk to their seats. The whole boarding process only took 26 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed at 7:36am.

Inflight Product & Experience

Singapore Airlines is a full-service airline. This means that the airline features personal entertainment screens, has a more comfortable seat & provides inflight meals & drinks. Check out what Singapore Airlines offers on this flight from Manila to Singapore.

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

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Singapore flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces & a large tray table.

Business Class Seat

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches & seat width of 18 inches – slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5 inches seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest & a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a fold-able tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a fold-able cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet in between seats. Pillows & blankets are now available by request.

Check out the screenshot below for the amenities available on this flight:

Singapore Airlines’ economy class seats provide more than what you actually need for a 3-hour flight. The seats & adjustable head rests were comfortable.

INFLIGHT MEAL

The airline offered a complimentary hot meal on this flight to Singapore. Physical menus have been phased out & meal menus can be accessed through the airline’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had 2 options – Chicken Adobo & Egg Tortilla. I chose the Chicken Adobo meal & was surprised that it still came with a yogurt, a bread roll with butter & drink of choice (coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice). I know Singapore Airlines announced in 2020 an enhanced economy class dining experience for short haul flights under 3.5 hours. I expected meals to come in food boxes with sustainable tableware, but I guess the Manila-Singapore-Manila routes were not included in the said changes. I’ve added screenshots below of the menu for this flight.

The chicken adobo tasted great; the meat was full of flavor. The food portions were just right for a 3-hour flight. The crew went around after the meal service to offer a 2nd round of drinks to passengers. An hour after the meal service, I asked for their signature Singapore Sling drink – still their best drink onboard.

I love how the airline continues to use metal cutlery on this route instead of disposable plastic tableware. I hope they can find an alternative for the plastic cups. Oh, one thing! I noticed that they had already removed the towel service before the meal service.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airline’s entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies & TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play & a few local media content to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch screen screens were responsive & easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path & even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They aren’t noise canceling but they did its job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passengers KrisFlyer membership number & then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie to television show he/she watched / left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines install cameras in their A350’s which passengers can access / view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines offered Wi-Fi service on this flight. PPS Club members & business class passengers are given 100MB of data to use up during the flight. The airline also gives complimentary 2 hours of messaging service to KrisFlyer members in economy class. Non-members can opt to either register to KrisFlyer to avail of the data plans on board. Check out the data plans below (rate as of writing this blog) as per the airline’s website.

LAVATORY

I didn’t get the chance to visit the lavatory on this short hop to Singapore. I got a window seat; my neighbor by the aisle was asleep most of the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Cabin crew service is one area where Singapore Airlines excels the most. The crew on this flight to Singapore were super friendly & accommodating. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles, served the meals with the happiest faces & catered to the passenger’s needs with utmost attention. They made sure all passengers had an enjoyable onboard experience. The cabin crew service made this flight even more memorable. Thank you, SQ!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class passengers headed out first, followed by economy passengers in the forward cabin. The rest of the passengers came next. I didn’t go straight to baggage claim since I was in Singapore only for transit.

Final Thoughts

It was another memorable flight with Singapore Airlines. Aside from it being my first international flight out of the Philippines since the pandemic, it turned out as how excellent flights should be – with or without the current crisis. The pandemic may have changed some onboard amenities, but it didn’t stop Singapore Airlines from offering a world-class flight experience on this flight to Singapore.

I enjoyed this flight because of the following. First, the ticket price was cheaper than the Philippines-based low-cost carriers. It even provided more value than those from LCCs. Second, the cabin is clean & very modern. Third, the cabin crew service was topnotch. Fourth, the pandemic may have happened, but the airline has not downsized meal service on their Manila to Singapore flights. It had the same portions, 2 options & sides & even retained the metal cutlery with it.

Fifth, they offered a 2-hour complimentary messaging service to KrisFlyer members. The Wi-Fi service was good. They had connectivity issues but overall worked fine. Sixth, the entertainment system remained updated & competitive. They have the latest movies & TV series seasons. They even had the list of connecting flights & respective boarding gates for those with connecting flights. Lastly, the pandemic has forced the airline to digitalize some onboard amenities. Inflight menus & magazines are now digital.

I noticed some services have been downsized compared to how they were pre-pandemic. First, the towel service prior to the meal service has been omitted. Second, pillows are no longer provided in every seat. They are now available by request. These are only minor & have not affected the overall flight experience.

So happy I was able to try their signature Singapore Sling drink onboard. Can’t wait for the next!

At this stage, I will choose to fly with Singapore Airlines over any Asian airline. I’ve had high expectations from the airline & I can confidently say that they delivered. I cannot wait for my next flight with them. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for this enjoyable flight to your home country, Singapore!

Allow me to share with you the technical details of the flight & the aircraft used. Please see below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 915
Route: Manila (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours & 58 minutes
Seat Number: 44A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHU
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 1.4 years old
Delivered: February 2021


Have you recently flown with Singapore Airlines? What do you think of their service after the dark ages of the pandemic? Feel free to share your recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! Watch out for my onward flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & 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 4th & 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.

Bantayan Island became so famous because the local movie ‘Camp Sawi’ was shot in this island 😊

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.

Hostel of the Day: LUB D MAKATI – Posh & Affordable City Center Hostel Perfect for Your Next Staycation

Lately, I came across old phone photos about a really good hostel in the heart of Makati City – Lub d Makati. I’ve stayed with this hostel a few times in the past but never thought of writing about it. Well, I’ve featured hostels from Boracay & Palawan & as far as Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Czech Republic & Denmark; I thought of finally featuring this city gem. Welcome to today’s hostel of the day feature. Join me as I run you through the hostel’s features & amenities. Know why Lub d Makati is the perfect choice for your post-pandemic staycation.

In case you don’t know, I’ve featured the hostels I’ve been to since 2017. I already wrote about hostels from Asia, Australia & Europe. Check out all these hostel of the day features here.

Lub D Hostels & Lub D Makati

Lub d is a small Bangkok-based hostel group. The group has properties in 3 Southeast Asian countries. The hostel group has 3 properties in Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket & Koh Samui), 1 property in Cambodia (Siem Reap) & 1 property in the Philippines (Makati – today’s hostel of the day feature).

Lub d Makati is the hostel group’s first property in the Philippines. The hostel opened in 2018 in the heart of Makati City – one of the metro’s busiest cities. It features 153 private rooms & 10 dormitory rooms in a simple multi-storey building (from the outside) with beautifully designed interiors. The hostel has various features & amenities which will all be discussed below.

Location & Access

Lub d Makati is located at 7820 Makati Avenue, Makati City. The hostel is in a busy commercial area full of restaurants, bars, hotels, offices & condominiums. It is accessible to the public via jeepneys & taxis. The nearest shopping malls are about 2 kilometers. The airport is about 20-30 minutes away without traffic.

The hostel’s location is a 10 out of 10. The nearest convenience store is a few meters walk from the property. Restaurants are found in front or beside the hostel building. The nearest supermarket is a few meters walk from the hostel. The hostel is 300 meters away from Poblacion – Makati’s famous night out spot. The only downside of its location is the traffic congestion (which I don’t mind) outside the hostel’s doors.

Room Options

Lub d Makati caters to all kinds of guests – whether you’re a solo traveler spending a night in Manila before going to the islands, a couple leaving after a long holiday in the Philippines or groups who just want to go on a staycation. The hostel has 153 private rooms divided into double, twin & barkada rooms. It also has 10 dormitory rooms with 8 beds each. These rooms are configured either as female only or mixed dormitory rooms.

My friends & I would usually book the 16 sq m barkada room for 4. This room has either a double or twin beds & 2 single beds in the mezzanine. The room has a private shower & toilet, complete with towels, shampoo & liquid soap. Each baraka room has air conditioning, a cable television, a small refrigerator, a safety deposit box, an electric kettle, glasses, cups & 4 free bottles of water. All private rooms have almost the same layout, except for the additional mezzanine beds in the barkada room.

I never tried staying on their dormitory rooms but I’ve read from their website that each air-conditioned room is spacious at 36 sq m. Each bed has a private reading light, privacy curtain, universal power outlet & USB charging port, individual locker, a complete bedding set & bath towel. Guests staying in a dormitory room have access to shared shower area & toilet.

A bed in the dormitory room can cost as low as below ₱500 per night depending on season & length of stay. The private double & twin rooms can cost as low as a little over ₱2,000 per night while the barkada room can cost as low as a little over ₱3,000 per night during low season. To be honest, I never paid more than ₱3,000 during my previous stay with Lub d Makati. I always book my stay with 3rd party companies like Agoda, Booking.com & Traveloka & avail of their promotions & discounts for lower room rates.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Lub d Makati boasts a long list of facilities & amenities their guests can enjoy. It may not have a swimming pool unlike their properties in other countries, but it surely has other perks which guests can still avail.

Free Wi-Fi – All guests have access to free high-speed wireless internet connection in common areas & inside the rooms.

On-site Café & Snack Bar – The hostel has an on-site café & snack bar near the reception area. This café serves coffee, breakfast & snacks.

Rooftop Bar & Restaurant – Lub d Makati has a rooftop bar & restaurant which offers a good view of Makati skyline. Essential goodness, for the pilgrims is found in the 13th floor of the hostel building & is open to serve customers from breakfast to dinner.

Communal Social Area – The hostel as a large communal social area by the reception area. The area has cozy chairs with a view of Makati Avenue.

Media Room – Lub d Makati has a media room where guests can chill & watch something.

Co-Working Space – The hostel has a co-working space open for everyone. Rates include the use of spacious tables & high-speed Wi-Fi connection. Check out the hostel’s website for the updated rates & membership fees.

Private Meeting Room – Guests who need to host meetings can use the hostel’s private meeting room. Please approach the hostel reception if you want to use this room.

Guest Activities & Tours – Lub d Makati hosts daily activities & games for the guests. Check out the latest activities in the activity board near reception. They also offer different tours around Metro Manila. Feel free to ask reception on what are the available tours during your stay.

Communal & Private Amenities – The property has clean & well-maintained toilets & amenities both inside the rooms & in the communal areas.

Games Area – The hostel has a small games area where guests can freely play pool, table football & other games. There are also board games to borrow & enjoy!

Luggage Storage – Lub d Makati offers luggage storage for their guests both before check in & after check out.

Laundry Service – The hostel also offers laundry services. Check out with reception on where these facilities are found.

Private Room Amenities – Private rooms have small refrigerators, safety deposit boxes, in-room telephones, bottled waters, water kettles, coffee, glasses & cups.

24-Hour Reception – Lub d Makati’s reception is always manned. It is open to help guests & address guests’ concerns 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Welcoming & Friendly Staff – Lub d Makati’s staff are very friendly & welcoming. They make sure they talk to their guests & even briefs guests about the hostel’s facilities upon check-in. The hostel’s housekeeping staff are also friendly. They always greet guests in the hallways & in the lifts.

Free Parking – The hostel has free parking in the ground floor. Free parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lift Access – Guests who have luggage & big bags don’t need to worry about bringing their bags to their rooms. The hostel has 2 lifts which only work with the use of the room key cards.

Secured Hostel Access – Lub d Makati guests are the only ones who have access to the hostel’s rooms. The room key cards only work on the assigned rooms, assigned floors (in the lifts) & in the communal floors – 2nd floor reception & communal areas & 13th floor rooftop bar & restaurant.

Experiences

I stayed with Lub d Makati for a few times in the last 2 years – all stays in their barkada room. I like the room layout – 2 beds in the ground & 2 beds in the mezzanine. All beds have a pillow, blanket, bath towel, personal light, 1 universal power outlet & 1 USB plug. The pillow & bed are comfortable.

The private rooms are well-designed & well-lighted. I fancy the small table between the beds & the powder / preparation area. I also like that the sink is outside the toilet & shower room, making it possible for people to use these facilities simultaneously. The rooms have cable television & cold air conditioning. All private rooms have a small window with dark curtains.

Check in & check out process are quick. The 2nd floor hostel facilities are free to use for all guests. My friends & I played pool, table football & jenga during our stay in the hostel. The 2nd floor communal area is spacious enough. I haven’t joined any hostel activity but I’ll be down to in my post-covid stay. Believe it or not, I haven’t tried the on-site café & snack bar & the rooftop bar & restaurant. My friends & I always go out of the hostel to eat.

Lub d Makati may not be the cheapest option in the area but it’s where you actually get the worth of every peso you paid. Their rates are still affordable compared to the properties of the same class or level. The rooms & communal areas are simple but well-designed – very instagrammable! With its long list of perks & facilities, it is the perfect property for your post-covid staycation with friends. I cannot wait for the situation to get better; I will bring my friends here for a night of catch-up.

In case you have questions to the hostel, you can contact them at the following platforms:

Lub d Philippines – Makati
Address: 7820 Makati Avenue, Brgy Poblacion, Makati City, Philippines 1210
Phone Number: +62 8542 6358 / +63 915 546 3309
E-mail Address: contact.makati@lubd.com
Website: www.lubd.com/makati
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lubdphmakati
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lub_d
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lubdmakati


Have you been to Lub d Makati? What do you think of the hostel, its rooms & facilities? Feel free to share your thoughts & comments below. For me, it is the perfect hostel for your barkada’s staycation. The hostel is posh; it has affordable rates. Its location is perfect & it has a long list of amenities to enjoy.

Do you have questions about the things & features mentioned above? You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please please please also follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.

I hope you also check out my other hostel of the day features! Thanks for joining me today. See you in the next one. Stay safe! ❤️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.