Tag: tips

Visa-free Taiwan Program Extended Until July 2019

Last October 2017, Taiwan ROC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a 9-month visa-free trial program to citizens of the Philippines, Thailand & Brunei. As per the Minister office’s report, this trial program resulted in a 27.65% increase in tourist arrival in Taiwan. 🇹🇼

Beautiful Jiufen – located somewhere north of Taipei 😍

8 months & a few days after [earlier today], Taiwan’s MOFA officially announced that this visa-free treatment to nationalities of the above mentioned countries has been extended for another year from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019. Tourists can stay in Taiwan up to 14 days.

Just like the current visa-free program, Filipino nationals need to wish to enter Taiwan need to satisfy the following conditions:

An ordinary / regular passport with validity of at least 6 months from date of entry

Return ticket to the Philippines or an onward ticket to a next destination (plus visa if required)

Proof of accommodation (hotel or hostel booking) / tour arrangements / financial statement

No criminal record in Taiwan

This is definitely good news to everyone! Filipinos only need their valid passports when entering Taiwan for the next 12 months. No need to apply for a visa or a travel certification. Let’s hope that this program becomes permanent soon.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall – one place you should not miss in Taipei! 😍

Are you planning to go to Taiwan soon? Well you should! I’ve been to Taipei in May 2015 & June 2017. Check out the details of my Taipei trips in those 2 separate blog posts. Book your tickets now! Taiwan is a beautiful & surprisingly affordable country. It’s also one of the best places to eat street food. 🇹🇼

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

Hokkaido Winter Series: OTARU – An Afternoon In The Nearby Historical Harbor City

Over the last few weeks, I shared some details about our Sapporo trip last February. I explained to you how Shane & I managed to spend less than ₱45,000 each all in for a 7-day winter trip to Hokkaido, I also took you to the beautiful places to visit around Sapporo & I even shared to you some details about The Stay Sapporo – the hostel / guesthouse where we stayed in Sapporo. The Hokkaido Winter Series continues today! This time, I will take you to Otaru. Shane & I went there for an afternoon side trip right after having a king crab lunch at Nijo Market.

The iconic Otaru Canal – the buildings & their reflections in the water 😍

Know More About Otaru

Took this from the moving JR train – Ishikari Bay, Japan

Otaru is a port city located northwest of Sapporo facing Ishikari Bay. This city served as a fishing port & a major trading hub in the early days of Hokkaido colonization. This city has a number of notable attractions – a beautiful & famous canal, heritage buildings & warehouses & preserved mansions. Shane & I spent one whole afternoon in Otaru. Given the limited time, we were able to visit a number of interesting places plus experienced a long period of strong snowfall.

View from Minami-Otaru Station – the city is covered with snow! ❄

Otaru is 30-40 minutes away by train from Sapporo Station – 30 minutes by rapid train & 45 minutes by local train. Train fare costs as low as ¥640 per way. Super affordable! If you are travelling by car, Otaru is about 30 kilometers away & takes about 20-30 minutes via highway.

Some inches of snow along the streets of Otaru! ❄

Getting Around Otaru

Exploring Otaru is very easy. Majority of the attractions can be reached by foot from Otaru Station (or Minami-Otaru Station). Just like any other Japanese city, Otaru also has a tourist bus network that runs every 30 minutes to an hour. A day pass costs ¥750 while a one-time ride costs ¥220.

Walking – the best way to explore Otaru 🚶

What We Did In Otaru

Shane & I explored the city by foot. We started our journey in Minami-Otaru Station, walked along the Sakaimachi Street, then to the iconic Otaru Canal then back to Otaru Station. We also dropped by a few interesting places along the way. Please note that we skipped the museums, temples & mansions in this trip.

Walked Along Sakaimachi Street

Sakaimachi Street covered with snow

Upon arrival in Minami-Otaru Station, we walked to the other end of Sakaimachi Street. This street is the historiacal merchant street of Otaru. In the early days, this street served as the commercial base of trading & shipping companies. Almost all the ancient buildings have now been converted to museums, shops & restaurants.

Totally forgot what these are – super good freebie. Got these from one of the glass workshops & sake / whiskey shops. in Sakaimachi Street 👍

Otaru is also known as the center of glass production in Hokkaido; production started as early as the 1900s. A number of glass workshops are still present in Sakaimachi Street. The products displayed in these workshops are very beautiful but expensive!

More of Sakaimachi Street – it’s snowing! ❄

Ate Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender ice cream.. Yum! 😋

Lavender ice cream is a must-try when in Hokkaido. This flavor is very rare to find when in other parts of Japan. Shane & I stopped by a random ice cream shop in the end of Sakaimachi Street to buy this ice cream. A cone costs ¥320 – that’s half the price of the fair to Otaru. I enjoyed the ice cream & the lavender flavor even if the temperature was -3 degrees Celsius.

If you don’t fancy the lavender flavor, there are other ones to choose from! 🍦

Visited LeTAO stores

LeTAO’s main store located at the end of Sakaimachi Street

Otaru is the birthplace of the famous Japanese confectionery shop LeTAO. The store started in Otaru in 1998 & since then, it has been famous around the world for its Double Fromage Cheesecake. LeTAO has around 3-4 shops along Sakaimachi Street. All these shops offer free samples of their products. We tried few samples & we loved all of them. The cookies were super good.

Hoarded Royce Chocolates

It is only in Otaru where you can find Royce Chocolates in ordinary stores. Yes, they’re practically everywhere in the city. In other cities like Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya, Royce Chocolates can only be bought in airports, specialty & pop-up stores.

Outside the shop where we bought Royce Chocolates. Beautiful place! 😍

Shane & I bought many Royce Chocolates in a random shop along Sakaimachi Street. We even got a sakuraberry-flavored chocolate bar. The prices of these chocolates in Otaru are the same in that of the airport shops. Interesting, eh?

Explored Otaru Canal

Otaru Canal in the afternoon

The highlight of our Otaru side trip is the Otaru Canal. This iconic canal was once the unloading area of goods & products (through smaller boats / ships) from large vessels that can’t go near the port. This goods transportation method eventually became obsolete when facilities became modern. Since then, the canal has been preserved into a tourist attraction. The warehouse & buildings along the canal are now restaurants, cafes & museums.

Otaru Canal at night. Look at the reflection in the water – stunning! 😍

Every February, the city celebrates the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. For 10 days, the city is decorated with light paths & small statues. The locals take part in this festival by putting out lanterns in their respective shops & residences. The festival happens almost the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival to give the visitors the chance to enjoy both festivals.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival – look at those floating lights in the water 😍

PS. Planning to apply for a Japan tourist visa soon? Know more how I managed to get approved twice – one single entry visa & one multiple visa – by clicking this link.

Experienced a strong & long period of snowfall in Otaru – what an experience!

Shane & I also passed by Otaru’s shopping street – Miyakodori Shopping Street – but almost all shops are closed. There are a lot more interesting places which we missed in Otaru. These places include the Yoichi Distillery (a famous distillery in a nearby town), the old but preserved Herring Mansion overlooking the Ishikari Bay, the Otaru Market, the different museums & parks. We didn’t have enough time; it was also snowing most of the time. If by any chance you’ll go to Otaru in the future, please allot at least one whole day here to explore as many places as you can. Also, go here hungry!

Random stream in Otaru – fully covered with snow plus some playing ducks! 🦆

I’d love to go back to Otaru, or Hokkaido in general, during summer. I’m sure Sapporo, Otaru & all other places look very different without the snow. I hope that happens really soon.

Have you been to Otaru in the past? How’s the city during spring, summer or autumn? Share your thoughts in the comments below. You can send me a private email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃 Watch out for my next post about Sapporo Teine Ski Resort & Hoheikyo Onsen!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: THE STAY SAPPORO – Budget Sapporo Accommodation With Top-Notch Amenities

Last week, I brought you to one of Mad Monkey Hostels Group‘s newest hostel in Palawan, Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach in El Nido. I’d like to thank everyone for reading the first ‘Hostel Of The Day’ article. The first article even reached the people at Mad Monkey in Nacpan & they loved it. Thank you for the warm support & feedback on the Hostel Of The Day section of this website.

Welcome to The Stay Sapporo!

Today, I will bring you to Sapporo, Japan. A few days ago, I shared to you the list of places Shane & I went to in Sapporo last February. We spent 5 full days & 5 nights in the city. We didn’t have enough time to go to all interesting places this beautiful city has. In those 5 nights, we stayed in a hostel, or the staff say, a guesthouse called The Stay Sapporo. Let me share to you our experience plus some facts about this accommodation.

Enjoyed the snow fall outside the hostel building ❄

Access

The Stay Sapporo is in Susukino, Sapporo’s entertainment district. This area is where you can find all the best night out spots, bars & clubs. You can also find all sorts of shops & restaurants, plus pachinko centers. The guesthouse is in the quiet part of the district.

Remember this view, this is what you’ll see outside the hostel door.

It can be accessed by foot, about 8 minutes walk from Susukino Station Exit 4 of the Namboku Subway Line (green line) or 10 minutes walk from Nishi 11-Chome Station Exit 2 of the Tozai Subway Line (orange line). It can also be accessed by an 8-minute walk from the Susukino Station bus stop. The 10-storey building can easily be spotted because of the big logo & signage outside the building.

PS. Planning to get your Japan tourist visa soon? Let me give you some tips how I did it. Click this link to know more.

Room Types

The Stay Sapporo caters to all types of travelers. The facility both has a private rooms & dormitory rooms. As per the website, the guesthouse has private rooms for 2 people & up to 6 people, suitable for families & friends on trip. Solo travelers can stay in their 7-bed loft type mixed dormitory room or 8-bed capsule type mixed dormitory room. Solo female travelers who are not comfortable staying in a mixed dormitory room can stay in their 8-bed female capsule type dormitory room.

Inside the 7-bed mixed dormitory – photo from The Stay Sapporo‘s website

Private double rooms cost from ¥5,000 – ¥7,400 per night. The 5 & 6-bed private rooms range from ¥9,500 – ¥22,300 per night. Dormitory beds cost ¥2,300 – ¥3,800 per night. Prices vary depending on season; particularly higher during summer, holiday & snow festival seasons. All rooms have heater, light & air conditioning. Each bed has a soft mattress, comfortable pillow & sheets. It also has access to a private reading light, electrical socket & 2 hangers.

Shane & I stayed in the 7-bed mixed dormitory room. I paid ₱6,354.54 for 5 nights, that’s after a ₱500 discount from Traveloka. I paid ₱1,271 per night – this is a normal hostel bed rate per night in Japan basing it from my previous Japan trips. This nightly rate is very affordable considering the peak winter season.

Amenities

Staying in hostels or guesthouses is very different from staying in a hotel or serviced apartment. Most of the facilities or amenities are shared with other guests. The Stay Sapporo offers the following amenities.

This is what you’ll see upon entering the hostel, beside the reception area

Free WiFi Access

WiFi access is free for all guests of The Stay Sapporo. You will be given the WiFi password upon check-in. Free WiFi is available throughout the building.

Communal Shower Areas & Toilets

Guests have access to communal shower areas & toilets. Each floor has its own shower areas & toilet. All shower areas have free shampoo & bath soap. Ladies can also use the blow dry for free. Take note that they do not provide free toiletries. Either you bring your own or you can rent / buy them from reception. Bath towel rental costs ¥200 while toiletries (not rental! haha) range from ¥100 – ¥200.

Communal Lounge Areas

3rd floor common lounge area

Guests have access to 2 common lounge areas. The main lounge area is near the reception area in the 3rd floor. This main lounge area is also the venue of some activities hosted by the guesthouse. The lounge has chairs & tables, a comfortable sofa & a flat screen cable television; it located beside the dining area & kitchen. The small lounge area is in the 10th floor. This lounge also has chairs & tables, a flat screen cable television & a tatami seating area.

Common Food Preparation & Dining Area

3rd floor communal kitchen – spacious & very clean!

The Stay Sapporo has a spacious kitchen where guests can prepare & cook their own food. The kitchen has a microwave, coffee maker, electric burner & complete kitchen set. Don’t forget to clean all the pans, plates, utensils, glasses & cups you used. It also has a chiller where people can store their food. Make sure to put a label on your own food! Beside the kitchen is the dining area. This is a place where you can talk to other guests & meet people who are also travelling.

Tables & chairs found in the 3rd floor dining area

Coin Laundry

For those who ran out of clothes & need to have the used ones washed, The Stay Sapporo got you covered. Coin laundry is available for guests who need to have their clothes washed.

Smoking Area

Smoking is prohibited inside the building. The Stay Sapporo has 2 designated smoking areas – one in the basement level & one in the 3rd floor balcony, just outside the kitchen & dining area.

Outside the hostel – what a beautiful winter morning! 😍

Pay Parking

Brought your car with you? Don’t worry, the hostel has 10 secured parking spaces in the basement level. Parking costs ¥500 per night. Make sure to check with the staff if there is a free space for your car. If the spaces are full, there is an outdoor public parking beside the building.

Luggage Storage

Guests can store their luggage for free before check-in & after check-out. They have a small luggage room just beside the reception area.

The Stay Sapporo offers a lot of amenities to its guests – probably more than what normally get in a basic accommodation. I guarantee all these areas are clean & well-maintained. In addition to this long list of amenities, The Stay Sapporo has the most welcoming & helpful staff I’ve met. They make sure to answer all questions & they greet you every time you pass by the reception area. The person in the front desk even helped us book a table in the Sapporo Beer Garden for the unlimited lamb lunch & also helped us book a taxi to Sapporo Station when we left.

Food Options

7-Eleven rice meal + 1 L apple tea (from the supermarket) + 2 cheese tarts (from Kinotoya) for breakfast! 😋

The guesthouse prepares breakfast for a fee. Sorry, I forgot how much each breakfast meal cost. Shane & I didn’t avail this option; instead we bought our food in the nearby 7-Eleven or in the supermarket every night before going back to the hostel. There is also a cafe & bar in the ground floor – this bar offers discounts & deals to the guests of The Stay Sapporo.

Honey-glazed chicken & rice plus 1 L milk tea (my favorite!!) bought from the supermarket for breakfast! 😋

Guests can also ask the staff for meal recommendations. The staff will gladly direct you to the best & authentic ones in the area. They will even give you discount / promotion coupons to these restaurants.

Activities

The Stay Sapporo organizes events or activities to encourage participation & dialogue between guests. These activities range sake nights, bar hopping to random chit-chat sessions. Too bad there was no even during our stay! I would love to join one; maybe in my next stay with them. All events are in their Facebook page so make sure to check the page before your stay.

❄ Beautiful night in Susukino! ❄

The Stay Sapporo is the perfect accommodation for someone travelling on budget. You get the best amenities for such an affordable price. I suggest all my readers to stay in this hostel in your next Sapporo trip. I look forward to staying in this hostel again in the future. If you have any questions, feel free to contact them in details below.

The Stay Sapporo
Address: 1008-10 West 9 South 5, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Phone Number: +81 011 252 7401
Fax Number: +81 011 252 7402
Email Address: stay.1@thestaysapporo.com
Website: www.thestaysapporo.com/en
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thestaysapporo

Snowy The Stay Sapporo entry area – well-recommended place to stay!

Are you planning to go to Sapporo soon? Well you should. Plan early so that it won’t hurt your pockets that much. Did you know that my friend & I went there & tried almost everything for less than ₱45,000? Yes, it’s possible. Click this link to know more.

Do you have any questions about our experience in The Stay Sapporo or in Sapporo in general? Feel free to post the questions below. If you don’t want others to read your query, you can send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading! Watch out for the next hostel of the day post. 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO – A Winter Paradise City

A few weeks ago, I shared to you how my friend Shane & I enjoyed Hokkaido Winter last February for less than ₱45,000 all in. I showed you how & when we booked our tickets, where we stayed & how much we paid in the hostel, what we ate & what we did. That blog post was basically a summary of the trip cost-wise.

With Shane in front of the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

Today, I will share to you in detail the places we visited in Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost major island of Japan. Sapporo is a winter paradise in a city – the city looked so beautiful covered with snow. It felt like we were in a different world! Shane & I stayed 6 nights in The Stay Sapporo, a high-rated hostel in Susukino District. I normally talk about the accommodation in the same blog; but since I just introduced a section here called Hostel Of The Day, I will talk about the hostel in a different post. Watch out for that!

Random street near our hostel 😍

Now back to Sapporo. Getting around the city is easy-breezy. The city has a very easy-to-understand subway system with very few lines in place. We used our IC cards in riding the subway trains. IC cards are contactless cards which can be used in most train lines all over Japan (except bullet trains). These cards are reloadable & can also be used in convenience stores, supermarkets & some shops.

Beautiful morning at Hokkaido U Botanic Garden 😍

Sapporo is a very big city. We didn’t have time to explore many places but we managed to visit a few iconic ones. Check out the ‘list’ below!

Susukino District

Susukino is Sapporo’s entertainment district. It is the place to be when you’re looking for shops, restaurants, bars, clubs & pachinko centers. This is the area where Shane & I stayed so we walked around this district several times.

Night snowfall at Susukino!

This is also the place where the famous ramen alley – Ramen Yokocho is located. It is a small lane with a number of ramen restaurants serving Sapporo’s best ramen. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore this alley. I will put this in the list when I fly back to Sapporo!

Normal winter night at Susukino

Access: Susukino Station – Namboku Subway Line

Odori Park

Odori Park covered with snow

Odori Park is Sapporo’s central park. Located in the middle of the city, this 1.5 km long park separates the northern & southern part of Sapporo. This park is also the main site of the Sapporo Snow Festival held every first week of February. We were one week late for the snow festival so the park structures were just being dismantled during our visit. The park was still beautiful & was fully covered with snow.

Why hello there Mr. Snowman! ☃

Access: Odori Station – Namboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines

Sapporo TV Tower

Sapporo TV Tower is a TV tower at the same time an observation deck in one end of Odori Park. The observation deck is open for visitors for ¥720 per person. Shane & I didn’t go up the observation deck but we only passed by the TV tower site.

Random stream with the view of Sapporo TV Tower 🗼

Access: Odori Station – Nanboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines or 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station

Sapporo Clock Tower

The iconic Sapporo Clock Tower

Locally known as Tokeidai, the Sapporo Clock Tower is a famous Sapporo wooden landmark which dates back to the early development of the city. The clock tower is now a museum & a ceremony hall. Entrance to the clock tower costs ¥200 per person. We decided not to go inside the clock tower because it was almost closing time when we passed by.

Access: Odori Station – Namboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines or 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station

Hokkaido University Botanic Garden

Around Hokkaido U Botanic Garden 😍

Owned by Hokkaido University, this Botanic Garden is in the middle of Sapporo. University students use this garden for research & laboratory purposes. The public also uses this place for recreation. The garden was not open to the public during our visit; at the same time it was covered with snow.

Access: 5 minutes walk from Nishi-Juitchome Station – Tozai Subway Line

Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

This red brick office building, locally known as Akarenga, was once the seat of Hokkaido Government. This building now functions as a museum, shop & conference center. Entrance to the building is free of charge.

Inside the Former Hokkaido Government Building

Shane & I were lucky to witness the Mitsui Fudosan × Akarenga Illuminations last February. These illuminations were part of Hokkaido’s 150th Year Anniversary Project showcasing the island’s culture & history.

Witnessed the winter illuminations in the former government building

Access: Few minutes walk from Odori Station – Namboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines

Sapporo Beer Garden

Yes! Sapporo Beer Garden 🍺

Unlimited lamb for lunch! 😋

Sapporo is the famous because of the world-renowned Sapporo Beer. This beer started brewing in the city since the 19th century. The Sapporo Beer Museum shows the history & evolution of Sapporo beer production in the city. Beside the museum is Sapporo Beer Garden. This place is famous for the unlimited Genghis Khan lamb cooked grilled with fresh vegetables. It also comes with unlimited juice & of course, Sapporo Beer. The meal cost us ¥4,212 (or ₱2,114.97) each. Quite expensive for a lunch meal; but it was all worth it.

Unlimited lamb + unlimited beer = one happy man! 😍

Yes to unlimited Sapporo draft beer! 🍺

Everyone should not miss visiting Sapporo Beer Garden when in Sapporo.

Access: 25 minutes walk from JR Sapporo Station or 10-minute walk from Higashikuyakusho Mae Station Exit 4 – Toho Subway Line or Loop 88 Factory Line Bus

Sapporo Station

Sapporo Station is the city’s main station in downtown. It is where subway, JR lines & bus lines meet. This is probably the starting point of pretty much all destinations when going around Sapporo & nearby cities & towns.

View outside Sapporo Station

I got a super duper good deal in the Gap Store in Sapporo Station. I bought a pair of pants, 2 shirts & 2 baby tops (for my cousin & niece) for only ¥5,000 or for less than ₱2,500 pesos. What a bargain from Gap!

Access: Sapporo Station – Toho & Namboku Subway Lines & Sapporo Station Bus Terminal

Sapporo District

Busy Sapporo District at night!

The Sapporo District is the city’s central district. Surrounded by shopping malls & commercial establishments, this district is one of the city’s shopping hub. Almost all kinds of luxury & affordable shops are found in this area.

Access: Sapporo Station – Toho & Namboku Subway Lines & Sapporo Station Bus Terminal

Sapporo Ramen Republic

Welcome to Sapporo Ramen Republic 🇯🇵🍜

The Sapporo Ramen Republic is a floor of 8 top Hokkaido ramen restaurants. Located at the 10th floor of ESTA Complex in Sapporo District, this ramen place features Hokkaido ramen specialties – Sapporo Ramen (Miso), Hakodate Ramen (Shio) & Asahikawa Ramen (Shoyu).

Misono’s miso ramen. Yum! 🍜

Shane & I tried Sapporo Ramen in a restaurant called Misono. The ramen had miso broth with some pork & ginger flavor. The ramen cost around ¥800 per bowl.

Access: Sapporo Station – Toho & Namboku Subway Lines

Tanukikoji Shopping Street

Each major Japan city has its own shopping arcade. If Fukuoka has Nakasu-Kawabata Shopping Arcade, Nagoya has Osu Shopping Street & Osaka has Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, Sapporo has Tanukikoji Shopping Street. Just like any other shopping street / arcade, this is a row of local shops & restaurants. This arcade is the best place to buy souvenirs.

Shane & I went around this arcade several times. It is also where we bought chocolates & souvenirs for friends & family back home. Tanukikoji Shopping Street has a Don Quijote branch – the best place to buy Japanese goodies tax-free! Make sure your purchase is more than ¥2,500 tax excluded.

Access: Few minutes walk from Odori Station – Namboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines

Nijo Market

Yay to fresh seafood!

Nijo Market is Sapporo’s public market famous to both locals & visitors. People flock this market to buy fresh finds such as king crabs, salmon eggs & other fish. Shane & I went here to buy Hokkaido King Crab. A kilogram of medium king crab costs 12,000. We got 3 big crab legs (800 grams) for only ¥10,000. We had it cooked in the restaurant in front of the shop.

More fresh seafood 😍

The king crab was so fresh & sooooo good. It was worth the expensive price! I’m so happy we tried it even if it was a bit pricey. This king crab meal was one of the highlights of my trip – I’ll definitely have this again when I fly back to Sapporo.

Hokkaido King Crab Legs!! 😲🦀

Access: Few minutes walk from Odori Station – Namboku, Toho & Tozai Subway Lines

Other Places We Missed

We missed a few places due to limited time in the city. These places include the Shiroi Koibito Park (Chocolate Factory), Mount Moiwa Ropeway (a small mountain ropeway with a view of the city), Moerenuma Park (a large outdoor park in the outskirts of Sapporo) & Sapporo Historic Village.

These places, plus Ramen Yokocho, will definitely be in our list when we fly back to Sapporo. We don’t know when will that be but I hope it’ll be really soon.

Sapporo is indeed a winter paradise city! The city looked beautiful covered with powder white snow. The temperature may be at its lowest point but it didn’t hinder us from exploring what this city has to offer.

Beautiful winter morning in Sapporo 😍

Have you been to Sapporo during winter? How was your experience? Do you think I should also go there during summer, spring or fall? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Watch out for my next post about Otaru, Hokkaido’s harbor city & the detailed review of The Stay Sapporo. Thank you for reading & have a nice day.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL NACPAN BEACH – Beach & Party In One Place

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’re aware that I always stay in hostels. Yes, I am a big fan of hostels. Staying in hostels saves me some money & also gives me the opportunity to meet & interact from people all over the world. Most of my previous blog posts mention short information & reviews about the hostels I’ve stayed with in that destination.

I was on a trip with friends last weekend in Palawan & I randomly thought of introducing a new section for my site. This section will feature / review the hostels I’ve been to or stayed with in my previous trips. It will also mention relevant information about the hostel like location, access, nightly rates, amenities, etc. I will call this section Hostel Of The Day.

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach it is!

The first hostel of the day is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach in Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan. Mad Monkey Hostels Group is a famous party hostel chain in Southeast Asia (& has recently expanded in Australia) which brings together people from all over the world to have a good time. This hostel chain is famous for their beach / pool parties & their hourly free shots at the bar. What I like about this hostel chain is they employ locals & help out local businesses where their hostels are located. They also host / participate in environment-friendly activities such as clean-up drives.

File photo of Nacpan Beach back in 2014 when it was sunny! Weather was pretty bad last weekend so I didn’t have nice photos.

Another file photo of Nacpan Beach in 2014.. Beautiful place!

One of the recently opened branches of Mad Monkey Hostels is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. The hostel is located along Nacpan Beach, about 30 to 45 minutes from El Nido Town in Palawan. Tripadvisor placed Nacpan Beach as 10th Best Beach in the World in 2016. I’ve been to Nacpan Beach several times already & I can say this beach is indeed one of the best I’ve been to. I previously stayed in Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay (article to follow) in 2016 so my friends & I decided to visit their Nacpan Beach branch last weekend when we were in El Nido.

Access

The nearest airport to the hostel is 12 kms away – El Nido Airport (airport code – ENI). From the airport, you can take a tricycle to Nacpan Beach for ₱500-600 per way. You can also fly to Puerto Princesa Airport (airport code – PPS) & take a 5-6 hours land (van or bus) trip to El Nido town for ₱500-₱600 one way. From El Nido town, you can hire a tricycle to Nacpan Beach for ₱600-₱700 per way.

Who doesn’t love Mad Monkey, eh?

The cheapest way to go to Nacpan Beach is by taking the scheduled trips of Discover El Nido Tour Company. They have hourly trips from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. One way trip costs ₱350 while return transfers cost ₱600. You can book your transfers online by clicking this link. Hurry, seats fill up really fast!

View from the hostel bar & restaurant

We took this scheduled van transfer last weekend; the rate was worth it. If you are staying in town, they will pick you up & bring you back to your hostel / accommodation. They also use new & air-conditioned vans which make your trip comfortable & hassle-free.

Tip: Make sure to have enough cash during your stay in Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. The nearest ATM is in town which is 16 kms away.

Accommodation Choices & Rates

Luke, one of the heads of Mad Monkey Hostels in the Philippines, showed us the accommodation options they have in Nacpan Beach. Note that all the rooms do not have air-conditioning. I can assure you that all these rooms are clean & well-maintained.

The upper bunk beds in the 6-bed dormitory room

The beachfront hostel has a 12-bed basic dormitory room & a 6-bed dormitory room. Each bunk features a power outlet, a mosquito net & a secure storage space (bring your own lock). Rooms have fans & have easy access to communal shower & toilet. Shower areas & toilets are clean & well-maintained. A night stay in the 12-bed dormitory room costs ₱700 while a stay in the 6-bed room costs ₱800.

The camping tents at the back of the dormitory rooms

If you want some privacy, you can book their loft double accommodation for ₱2,000 per night for 2 people. This accommodation choice includes a spacious queen mattress, a wall fan & electrical sockets. Guests also have a private balcony space & have a view of coconut trees outside. If you’re up for some adventure & basic stay, you can stay in a twin tent for ₱1,000 per night for 2 people. The camping tent is only a place to sleep. Guests still have access to lockers. Just like in dormitory rooms, shower areas & toilets are common for all guests.

Screenshot from the hostel website re: rates per night

I checked a random day for next month & saw the following rates in the Mad Monkey Hostel website. I think the 6-bed dormitory room is the best choice for me. You just have the right number of people to share in a room plus you get to enjoy all amenities for such an affordable rate.

Beach Bar & Restaurant

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach has an on site beach bar & restaurant which boosts affordable & tasty food choices & reasonable alcohol prices. I took a photo of the restaurant’s menu – see below.

The hostel also sells alcohol. Local beers are sold for ₱80 (reasonable considering the location) per bottle while cocktails are available for around ₱200 per glass. I recommend trying their signature Nacpan Beach branch drink called Pacquiao Punch for only ₱200. It’s the counterpart of Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay’s famous Boracay Bomb. The hostel also serves free alcohol shots every hour from noon (correct me if I’m wrong) to 12 midnight. Make sure you’re ready for a lot of alcohol intake when you decide to stay in this hostel.

Free shots at the bar!!!

Nacpan Beach’s signature drink – Pacquiao Punch!

Bar Manager, Harley, preparing the next round of free shots at the bar

Tours & Activities

The hostel may be secluded from El Nido town but guests can still do a lot while staying in Nacpan. Aside from having cold beers, free alcohol shots & unlimited beach swim, guests can also play beach volleyball, have bonfire, go snorkeling & paddle boarding. The hostel also has a stunning view of the sunset. Too bad we were not able to witness it last weekend; but friends we met there said the sunset was one of a kind.

Jam-packed bar & restaurant on a Saturday lunch! Rule number 1 when in a Mad Monkey Hostel – Socialize.

According to the hostel’s website, they also offer an island hopping tour to the Big & Small Lagoons, Secret Beach & Hidden Beach for ₱2,200 per person. Tours happen every Wednesdays & Saturdays. Head over to the hostel website for more information about the tour.

Nacpan Beach is right in front of the Mad Monkey Hostel premises

This pretty much sums up everything you need to know about Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. This is the place to be if you’re looking for a nice quiet beach with party nights! If you’re into beach life & parties, I recommend staying in this fun hostel. YES, STAY HERE!!! If you have questions about the hostel, feel free to contact them in the details provided below.

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach
Address: Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines 5313
Contact Number: +63 945 412 2369
Email Address: nacpanbeach@madmonkeyhostels.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/madmonkeynacpanbeach

PS. Mad Monkey Hostels Group is set to open a new branch in Cebu City in September & another branch in Siargao early next year. Watch out for these new branches soon!

Shout out to Luke, Harvey & to all the kind & accommodating staff & crew of Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. Thank you for the warm welcome, the drinks & the great stay. You guys made our day trip fun & memorable. Until next time! I hope to come back & stay there for a few nights.

Enjoyed our Pacquiao Punch.. That was hell of a good drink!

Wondering how I get awesome accommodation deals when I travel? I posted a blog how I do it. Click here to know the pattern in getting the best accommodation deals when planning for your next trip. I also previously wrote about the ups & downs of staying in hostels. Head over to the article & check if staying in hostels is your thing or not.

This is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach!

If you have any or questions, feel free to leave a comment below. You can also reach me via email by sending it to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter. Until the next Hostel Of The Day!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11. Thanks to my friend Maanne for allowing me to use her photos.