Tag: travelling

Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

I recently got back from a week long trip to Australia. I explored Sydney with my college friends for 5 days & spent quality time with my cousins & relatives in Brisbane for 3 days. In my first 3 nights in Sydney, I stayed in a minimalist & a contemporary capsule hostel called The Pod Sydney. Let me share with you some information about this hostel plus I will give you some insights on how my stay went.

Location & Access

The Pod Sydney is located in Level 6, 396 Pitt St Sydney 2000. It is located in the middle of the busy city, in the corner of Goulburn & Pitt Streets. Access to this property is very easy. It is about 7-10 minutes walk from the Central Station. The other 2 nearby stations are Town Hall & Museum Stations, which are both few minutes walk from the hostel. Train fares from the domestic & international airports start from $16.90, depending on which station you board or get off.

The Pod Sydney is located on Level 6 of 396 Pitt St building in Sydney

Another way to go to the hostel is by an airport shuttle bus. It costs around $15 per person & can be availed in the airport arrival halls or online via Klook. You can also take an Uber or a taxi which will cost around $30-$40 per way.

The hostel is strategically located in the city & is very accessible to public transportation. There are also convenience stores & restaurants in the area. The nearest supermarket is a crossing away. I took the train from the airport to Central Station for $16.90 & walked to the property which is less than a kilometer from the train station.

Pricing & Room Options

The Pod Sydney offers both dormitory & private rooms. According to the property’s website, a night in a dormitory room costs $59 while a night stay in a private twin / double room costs $129. Dormitory rooms can be converted to private rooms for 4 or 6; these rooms cost $239-$349 per night. The rates look expensive, but these are the maximum rates. In fact, you can get the dormitory bed for as low as $35 per night. I booked my stay with Agoda & it cost me $105 for 3 nights, that’s $35 a night. Rates vary per website so watch out for those deals & discounts available in your preferred booking website.

My spacious dormitory bed in The Pod Sydney

Staying in these capsule-type dormitory rooms & private rooms includes the following: free Wi-Fi access throughout the property, electronic key card access, air conditioning, fresh linen, bath towel & toiletries, free locker (bring your own padlock), individual reading light & power plug. Guests also have access to some facilities which I will share in the next section.

The room / dormitory prices of The Pod Sydney may not be the cheapest in Sydney, but it is still in the cheap accommodation bracket. For such an affordable rate, guests have access to a clean & comfortable accommodation in an expensive city like Sydney.

Facilities

The Pod Sydney may only be located on one level of the building, but this small space didn’t hinder the management in giving its guests a range of amenities.

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area

Guests have access to a fully-equipped kitchen & a spacious dining area. Guests can store some food in the refrigerator & can also cook their own food. They can also use the dining area to eat food & also to meet fellow travelers. Guests also have access to free tea & coffee. This area has a vending machine which has snacks & drinks.

Television Area

The Pod Sydney has a television area where guests can watch shows & hang out with other guests. It is a good place to meet with other guests & travelers. This area also has a nice view of the city.

Luggage Store Room

Guests can store their luggage for free on the days of check-in & checkout only. The hostel does not accept overnight luggage storage.

Lobby Lounge

The hostel has a lobby lounge which guests can use while waiting for check in or check out. This area has a wide range of tour brochures which guests can get.

Communal Toilet & Shower Areas

All guests have access to communal toilet & shower areas. The male & female amenity area is located between the reception area & the kitchen & dining area. The hostel also has a dedicated disabled toilet & shower for guests who require disable mobility.

Limited Reception Time

Reception is open from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm daily. Check-in is from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm while checkout is until 11:00 am. The hostel receptionists & staff are very nice & helpful. You can also ask reception for airport shuttle & printing services. Charges may apply.

The Pod Sydney’s reception area

Laundry Facilities

The Pod Sydney has a coin-operated washing machine & dryer which the guests can use. Just ask the reception where the machine is & how to use it.

The Pod Sydney is perfect for those who are looking for a minimalist, modern & cheap accommodation in Sydney. It offers both private & shared rooms for affordable rates. The Pod Sydney may not be as social as the other hostels in the city, but its facilities make up for it. I was not able to fully enjoy the facilities & amenities of the hostel ,but I am happy that I had a comfortable & peaceful stay in The Pod Sydney. I’ll definitely check this out again when I fly back to Sydney in the future.

Feel free to contact The Pod Sydney in the contact details below:

The Pod Sydney
Address: Level 6, 396 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone Numbers: +61 2 8959 1293 / +61 411 476 966
Email Address: thepodsydney@gmail.com / service@thepodsydney.com.au
Website: www.thepodsydney.com.au
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thepodsydney

Have you been to The Pod Sydney? How was your stay? Are you flying to Sydney soon & looking for a place to stay? Make sure to check out this hostel / capsule hotel. It’s worth every penny. Do you have any questions about my stay? Feel free to post a question in the comments below. You can also contact me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for my feature about Bounce Hostel Sydney & my upcoming blogs about Sydney & Brisbane. Thank you for reading! ✌

4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights

Siargao is a small island in Philippine Sea, located in the province of Surigao del Norte. This island is widely known for its big surfing waves & stunning nature views. It used to be popular only to foreign & local surfers & adventure seekers until the island was featured in a local film last December 2017. Boracay’s closure also led to more people diverting their planned vacations to this island. The increasing accessibility of Siargao these days is slowly transforming the island into a popular tourist destination. Hubs like Cebu, Manila & Clark are now connected to Siargao via a growing number of daily flights to the island.

My friend Geof at Sugba Lagoon

3 weeks ago, my friend Shiela & I flew to Siargao check out what this island has to offer. Friends told us that this island is beautiful & one of a kind. We didn’t put our hopes up & let the island surprise us. Let me share with you what happened in our 4 days in Siargao.

Beautiful view from Cloud 9’s Boardwalk

Plane Ticket

I’ve always wanted to go to Siargao but I can’t due to very expensive airfare. Last February 14, Cebu Pacific Air had a ₱143-base fare sale. Promo seats on the direct flights from Manila ran out fast. We had no choice but to get the tickets with a layover in Cebu.

Shiela & I paid ₱2,837.64 each for a return ticket from Manila to Siargao via Cebu. That’s 4 flights in total for less than ₱3,000. What a bargain! Check out the flight details below.

Shiela & I paid ₱5,675.28 for 2 people – that’s ₱2,837.64 each! Bargain.

Cebu Layover

Lechon Cebu for lunch ~ yum! 

We had a 4-hour layover in Cebu on our way to Siargao. Since there isn’t something to do in the airport plus my friends working there don’t have work, Shiela & I went to nearby Rico’s Lechon to have lunch. We had their famous Lechon Cebu (of course!) with rice, vegetables & a bottle of Tsingtao beer. Yes, that’s a bottle of beer for lunch! We headed back to the airport after eating to catch our connecting flight to Siargao.

Lunch at Rico’s Lechon near Mactan Cebu International Airport 

Accommodation

Had a nice stay in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Accommodation choices in Siargao range from the most basic & simple dormitory beds to luxurious & spacious hotel rooms. We opted for the mixed one – simple & shared dormitory beds, but with a touch of luxury. We stayed for 4 days & 3 nights in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao. I made a separate post about our stay at the resort, head over to this link for more details.

Bravo’s surf bunk room – our room for 3 nights!

Getting Around Siargao

Another photo of the Cloud 9 Boardwalk – only ₱20 pesos to go here from GL

Getting around Siargao is very easy. The most popular way is by motorcycle. Daily rental rates range from ₱350 to ₱500. I will recommend this to people who will really go around the island for the whole day or for those who will explore the island by themselves. If you’ll only use the motorcycle for a few times, then best not to rent one. You can hop on a tricycle or motorcycle (locally known habal-habal) for ₱20 per person (during the day until around 10:00 pm; rates go higher from late night to after midnight – could go as high as up to ₱60 per person) to anywhere in General Luna. These tricycles & motorcycles are also available for rent; make sure to inquire how much the daily rental costs.

Inland & Island Tours

Just like any other place in the Philippines, Siargao also has island & inland tours offered to visitors. We only had limited days in the island so we opted for the locals say the best tour provider – Siargao’s Best – Tour Organizer. The company is owned & managed by Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado.

Sohoton Cove – the highlight of Package A

Kuya Bebot offers 2 group tours – Sohoton (Bucas Grande) & Tri-Island Tour (Package A) which costs ₱1,550 per person & Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour (Package B) which costs ₱1,500 per person. The tours are open both to private groups (minimum of 8) or to joiners. Rates include all transportation & boat fees, lunch, entrance & environmental fees, group cottages & paddle board or kayak rental in Sugba Lagoon. Call time in the morning is at 6:00 am at General Luna Public Market. Tour groups leave at exactly 7:00 am until 5:30 pm for Package A & around 4:00 pm for Package B.

Shiela & I took both group tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour on our 2nd day with my friend, Geof (plus his friends, now also our friends) who was also in Siargao that time. We took the Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour on our 3rd day with some of the people we met on the 1st tour.

Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour

Sugba Lagoon 😍

Our group left the public market at 7:00 am & headed to the Port of Del Carmen by land. The land trip took about an hour. We then transferred to a small motor boat (small groups of 6 to 7 people) & took an hour trip to Sugba Lagoon. We spent 2.5 hours in Sugba Lagoon swimming, jumping from the diving board, paddling our boards & kayaking.

About to jump from the lagoon diving board

After a few hours in the lagoon, we took the boat back to the port, transferred to our van & drove by land to Magpupunko Tidal & Rock Pool. We had our lunch then enjoyed the rock pool afterwards. We left the place at 3:30 pm & got back in General Luna a few minutes past 4:00 pm. Check out the photos we took during the tour.

Magpupungko during low tide

Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool from my friend’s drone 😍

Another Magpupungko Rock Pool drone shot from our friend Wilson 😍

We were so happy we were one of the first ones to arrive at Sugba Lagoon, we had the place to ourselves. The tour was just right – not rushed & everything was provided. They served a lot of food for lunch plus they gave us enough time to enjoy both places.

Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour

Inside Sohoton Cove – beautiful place! 😍

We left the public market at 7:00 am & took a 3-hour boat ride to Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte. We first went to the jelly fish sanctuary in Blue Lagoon by paddle boat, then to Sohoton Cove by motorboat. We went inside Hagukan Cave, or also known as luminescent cave. We splashed the water inside the cave & it turned into electric blue / green color. Surreal. We headed to Magkuku-ob Cave next; hiked up a few meters & jump from a 5 meter cliff back to the lagoon! We went back to Sohoton’s small port / tour office & had lunch.

View from the paddle boat to Blue Lagoon 🤩

Hello Mr. Jellyfish!

We left Bucas Grande Island around 1:30 in the afternoon & took another 3-hour boat ride back to General Luna. We dropped by Naked Island (no nice photo of Naked Island – sorry), Guyam Island & Daku Island along the way. If I remember it right, we spent around 30 minutes on each island. The tour ended around 6:00 pm.

That’s me & Shiela at Blue Lagoon / Jellyfish Sanctuary

A normal 6-hour 3-island tour costs ₱1,000 per person. For paying a few hundreds more, we were able to visit Sohoton Cove which is undeniably beautiful. The 3-hour boat trip to & from Bucas Grande may be too long, but the trip was worth it.

Not so good weather when we were in Guyam Island

Guyam Island – the smallest of the 3 islands!

I strongly recommend Kuya Bebot’s island & inland tours. The activities are worth the price plus you’re well taken care of. Feel free to contact him in the numbers below:

Tour Company: Siargao’s Best
Contact Name: Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado
Contact Numbers: 09064595679 / 09309749974
Facebook Page: Siargao’s Best

Surfing at Cloud 9 Area

The famous Cloud 9 Boardwalk

A trip to Siargao will never be complete without surfing. The island has long been a destination for local & foreign surfers. Cloud 9 is the most famous wave in the Philippines & this surfing area is one, or if not the most visited areas in Siargao. An hour-long surfing lesson with a guide costs ₱500. I didn’t have the chance to surf due to hangover, but I promise to try it when I go back.

Look at those big waves!

Siargao Party Nights

Party people, make sure to read this. One of the many good things about Siargao is that parties are concentrated in only 1 or 2 bars per night. That means other bars do not have the crazy party on days where the party is held in another bar. We were there for 3 nights & we partied 3 straight nights – that’s for sure. The Saturday night party happened in Harana Surf Resort, the Sunday night party was in Bravo Beach Resort (our accommodation) & the Monday night parties were held at Loose Keys & Rum Bar.

Party night at Harana Surf Resort – one of the 3 crazy nights we had!

Don’t forget to ask your hotel / hostel reception where the party will be during your stay. Visitors should go party in Siargao at least for a night.

Siargao is a paradise – can’t wait to go back!

This sums up our 4 days & 3 nights in Siargao. Our schedule was full; we didn’t have time to “relax,” if you know what I mean. We were able to visit the popular places to go to plus we met a bunch of new & crazy people. I don’t have regrets spending a lot on the day tours & alcohol. It was a memorable trip. Every peso spent was worth it, super worth it. I look forward to going back to this paradise island, to finally try surfing in the big waves & to relax.

Meet the Siargao Squad – no complete photo so I added 2 group photos! 😉

Are you flying to Siargao in the coming weeks or months? I suggest you take the tours offered by Kuya Bebot. You’ll definitely have a great time. Don’t drink too much at night so that you’ll have enough energy the following day. Do you still have questions about our trip or about Siargao? Feel free to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you can shoot me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last photo of Siargao! 🤩

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my friend Wilson for allowing me to use his Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool drone shots & one of our group photos above.

Thank you for reading & until the next post. ✌️ Safe travels wherever you’re going. 🙂

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

Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO TEINE RESORT & HOHEIKYO ONSEN – Recommended Day Trips From Sapporo City

After spending days around Sapporo & Otaru, my friend Shane & I decided to head out to check out 2 activities best done during Hokkaido winter – ski & relax in an onsen. Both activities can be done in nearby towns, not too far from Sapporo City. I will discuss our ski & onsen experience individually below.

Shane & I posing for a photo after our ski lesson

Just in case you missed it, I only spent less than ₱45,000 all in for this week-long Hokkaido trip. Check out this post to know more.

Ski Day at Sapporo Teine Resort

One of our agendas in flying to Hokkaido is to try to ski. Shane & I don’t know how to ski plus we haven’t tried it in our past trips. We initially planned to go to Niseko but schedule didn’t permit. We need at least 3 days & 2 nights in Niseko to fully enjoy the ski facilities there. This didn’t stop us from looking for a nearby ski resort in Sapporo. We checked out a few resorts & ended up choosing Sapporo Teine Ski Resort.

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort

Welcome to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort!

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort in Mount Teine is a medium-sized ski resort located about 30-40 minutes outside of Sapporo. This resort features a variety of ski trails from the easy ones to the Olympic advanced trails. This was the main venue of the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. This resort is perfect for beginners because of its wide & gently sloping slopes.

View from the Olympia House

The ski resort has 2 main areas – the Olympia Zone & the Highland Zone. The Olympia Zone is the ski place for beginners; it is also the place to use for those who want to try sledding & tubing. The resort office, restaurant & equipment rental area are also located in this area. The Highland Zone is the place for those who want to try advanced trails & runs. This zone also offers scenic views of Sapporo City & the Ishikari Bay. We spent most of our time in the Olympia Zone.

Access

We went to the resort using public transportation. From Sapporo Station, we took the JR train to Teine Station for ¥260 one way. Then we transferred to the hourly local bus to Teine Highlands for ¥390 one way. Train ride to Teine Station took us around 15-20 minutes while the bus ride to Teine Highlands took us about 30 minutes.

Beautiful day to go skiing!

Ski Lesson

Went skiing downhill during the afternoon session

Shane & I are noobs in skiing so we took the one-day ski group lesson offered by the ski resort. The whole day ski lesson cost us ¥14,000 each, that’s around ₱7,000 per person. The rate includes 1.5 hours introduction & practices in the morning & another 1.5 hour downhill ski run from the highland zone to olympia zone. It also includes 2 ski instructors who will be with you throughout the lesson plus full equipment rental (ski gears & wear, beanie, gloves & goggles) & lift pass up to the highlands zone.

The spot where we played with the knee-deep snow pile 😍

The resort also offers a half-day lesson for those who don’t have time for a whole day trip. This lesson costs ¥11,000 (roughly ₱5,500) per person. The rate includes all equipment & gear rental. We opted for the whole day lessons because it’s just ¥3,000 more than the half day lesson. Their rates are the cheapest we saw in Sapporo; it was perfect for us beginners.

Lunch

Pork cutlet curry rice for lunch!

Lunch is not included in the ski lesson fee. We were given 1 hour break in between sessions to have lunch. We had pork cutlet curry with rice in the Olympia house restaurant for around ¥1,000. The meal servings were big, but just right after a very challenging morning ski lesson.

Ski Experience

The morning lesson started in the ‘beginner school grounds’ located in front of the olympia zone. The instructors taught us the basics of skiing. These basics include walking with the gear, sliding, turning left & right, controlling the speed & stopping. They also taught us ski gear techniques like fries or straight skiing & pizza for equipment control. They also taught us proper posture & focus while skiing.

With our instructors! Tiring but fun day learning how to ski.

The afternoon session was a lot easier because of the downhill slope. I fell a lot of times, but the whole experience was so fun. The instructors even let us experience lying down or falling & walking in a knee-deep powder snow pile. It was an expensive & very tiring lesson, but it was super worth it. Shane & I loved our first ski experience up to the point we want to fly back to Japan to try skiing in Niseko & Hakuba Alps.

View from the Olympia House; while waiting for our bus to the lesson area

Applying for a Japan tourist visa in the future? I got you covered. Check out these 4 steps on how you can get you tourist visa with no hassle.

Hoheikyo Onsen in Winter

Shane & I purposely placed our onsen day after our ski day. Our body muscles needed to rest after that tiring ski day. We decided to go to Yawaragi-no-Sato Hoheikyo Onsen or commonly known as just Hoheikyo Onsen to relax & also to experience onsen during winter.

Hoheikyo Onsen

The door to Hoheikyo Onsen

Hoheikyo Onsen is a popular traditional hot spring facility about an hour away by land from Sapporo City. It is located farther than the other famous town, Jozankei Onsen, which features indoor onsens & hotel / accommodation options. Hoheikyo Onsen features 1 outdoor bath & 3 indoor baths, with the outdoor bath being used alternately by men & women. Lucky me, the men were the ones using the outdoor bath when we visited. Men & women had their respective baths – not mixed of course.

Beautiful day outside Hoheikyo Onsen – the snow fell all day!

Access

That One Day Hot Spring Package was worth it!

Hoheikyo Onsen can be reached by an hourly public bus from Sapporo Station Bus Terminal. The trip takes about an hour & drops by a few bus stops in Jozankei. Shane & I took the public bus to & from Hoheikyo Onsen.
One way fare that time costs ¥640. Shane & I took advantage of the one day hot spring package offered by tourism association. It cost us ¥1,800 yen for a return bus ticket plus onsen entrance fee. Such a great deal; it saved us a few hundred yens.

Check out this link for the updated bus schedules & fares.

Onsen Fee

The door to the men’s onsen – phones are not allowed inside the spa area

Onsen fee costs ¥1,000 per person. That includes the small towel you use while inside the hot spring. You can also rent big towels for a few hundred yens. Our onsen fee is already included in the one day hot spring package we bought in the bus terminal.

Onsen Shokudo (Indian Restaurant)

Solid Indian food for late lunch 😋

Hoheikyo Onsen houses a famous Indian Restaurant. Shane read a lot of good reviews about this restaurant so we gave it a try. Shane & I shared in one order of curry & nann. The food was good & was reasonably priced, considering the location.

Click here for the updated food price list.

Winter Onsen Experience

Our winter onsen experience was very distinct & relaxing. It may be awkward at first to walk around naked but it was alright since I don’t know anyone else inside the onsen. I was lucky I was able to experience the outdoor bath. It was so relaxing to be in the outdoor onsen while the snow is falling. There isn’t much to do inside but to sit down, relax & think about things. This winter onsen experience was a perfect downtime after a few restless days in Sapporo. I look forward to visiting Hoheikyo Onsen when I fly back to Sapporo.

Thick piles of snow outside the onsen building

Looking for a place to stay in Sapporo? Check out The Stay Sapporo Guesthouse! Shane & I stayed in this property during this trip. Make sure to click this link to know more about our experience in The Stay Sapporo. This is a well-recommended accommodation in the city!

Amazing view of Hoheikyo Onsen building!

It is with a sad note that I am ending the Hokkaido Winter Series with this post. Thank you very much for joining us in our Sapporo & Otaru adventures. Also, thank you for reading my hostel of the day feature for The Stay Sapporo & my trip summary showing how I spent less than ₱45,000 all in for this trip. I may not have a definite date when I’ll be back in Japan but I hope to sort the next trip soon.

Random photo I took while on the bus back to Sapporo. Stunning details!

Have you tried skiing in Hokkaido or anywhere in the world? How was your experience? Have you been in an onsen? Was your experience memorable? Feel free to share your past experiences in the comments below. I am also looking for other places in Japan to discover. I’m done with the usual touristic route, I want to explore more of the traditional & regional places. Please send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading & I hope you enjoyed this Hokkaido Winter Series. See you in the next country or next island. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

A little over a year ago, I went on a weekend trip to a less known-place called Port Barton. This small fishing village in San Vicente, Palawan is located 3 hours by land from Puerto Princesa & about 4 hours from El Nido. I shared with you all the details of my trip – click this link to take you to that article. That Port Barton blog is actually one of the most read posts in this website.

Inaladelan Island at its finest 😍

Last month, my friends & I went to Port Barton for 2 full days or 48 hours – that’s after a quick visit to El Nido. We only went to El Nido for Nacpan Beach & that’s it. It was a good call to go to Port Barton after because weather in El Nido was pretty bad. It was raining all day & all night.

Since my last visit, Port Barton has remained to be ‘relatively’ unknown to the Filipino traveling community. There has been already a handful of Filipino visitors; but the majority of the tourists are still foreigners – mostly those who are traveling around the Philippines for a few weeks. I loved the fact that this place is still untouched, unpopular & very basic.

Instagram-worthy photo in one of the beach huts in Inaladelan Island 😍

In this post, I will talk about how we spent 48 hours in Port Barton. I’ll talk about how we went there, where we stayed & what we did there during our stay.

El Nido To Port Barton

The most comfortable way to go to Port Barton from El Nido is to take the scheduled van trips. There are 2 to 3 scheduled trips per day – 7:00 am, 8:00 am & 1:00 pm. Fare per person ranges from ₱500 to ₱700, depending where you book your ticket.

In our case, we booked it through Outpost Beach Hostel & the fare per person from the hostel tour desk is ₱700. We took the 8:00 am trip. Travel time from El Nido is around 3.5 to 4 hours. The road to Port Barton has improved since my last visit. There are still parts which are under construction, but most of the roads have now been paved.

Island view 😍

Environmental Fee

As mentioned in the previous post, the local tourism council collects ₱50 environmental fee from all guests visiting Port Barton. This environmental card is given to the visitor after signing the guest log book & paying the small fee. This card is valid for 10 days & is required in taking the boat / island tour.

Deep Moon Resort

Welcome to Deep Moon Resort!

My friends & I stayed in a beachfront resort named Deep Moon Resort. I have a friend working there so I asked for his help in getting a place to stay. We stayed in fan bungalow for 3 people for ₱1,100 per night. The bungalow features a double bed in the ground floor & a single bed in the mezzanine. Both beds have mosquito nets. The bungalow has a private toilet & shower & a balcony. It is located at the back of the beachfront bungalows.

Our fan bungalow for 2 nights

Deep Moon Resort offers free Wi-Fi in the common areas. They also have an on site bar & restaurant which we weren’t able to try. The resort is located right in front of the Port Barton village beach. The staff were nice & helpful, they helped us & our new-found friends book our island tour.

Inside our fan bungalow – I slept in the bed located in mezzanine

The resort recently opened their dormitory rooms under the name Dragon House Dorm. They have 8-bed & 10-bed dormitory fan rooms for those who are traveling on budget. All guests also have access to the facilities of Deep Moon Resort. A dormitory bed costs around ₱400 – ₱450 per night. Not bad, right?

Port Barton Village Beach

Port Barton village beach – right outside your doorstep!

Port Barton is a fishing village that is located by the beach. The first to-do when visiting this beautiful place is to enjoy the village beach. My friends & I immediately went swimming after check-in. This place is very quiet & relaxing.

View from Deep Moon Resort’s Moon Bar

Island Hopping Tour

Jump shot with the whole island tour crew!

Just like El Nido & Coron, Port Barton also has its set of island hopping tours. We asked the help of my friend working in Deep Moon Resort to secure our spot in the sole Lonely Planet-recommended tour guide. The whole island hopping tour still costs ₱700 per person – no price change since last year. The rate includes picnic lunch & boat fees. It doesn’t include the ₱100 per person entrance fee in Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island).

Inaladelan Island from the beach 😍

This island tour had a slightly different itinerary from that of last year’s. Instead of having lunch in Paradise Maxima & Exotic Islands, we spent more time & had lunch in Inaladelan Island. We still visited the Twin & Paradise Reefs & still swam with the famous turtle (now two of them so turtles!). We didn’t go to the I-forgot-the-name-of-the-island & instead went to Long Paradise Island. We were the only visitors in this island. The experience was quite cool. The tour’s last stop is still the Luli Island, now known as Starfish Island. The tour started little past time & ended around 4:30 in the afternoon.

What’s for lunch? 😋 This meal is included in the island tour fee

Let me share to you some photos my friend & I took during the island tour.

Twin Reef

Turtle Point

Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island)

Long Paradise Island

Paradise Reef

Starfish Island

Sunset Watching

The ‘best’ sunset we had during our stay – weather was not at its best!

Port Barton boasts a very beautiful sunset. I’ve witnessed what sunset view this village has to offer last year. Unfortunately, the weather during this trip was not at its best. Nonetheless, this is one of the best things to do in this very relaxing place.

Native Bo Reggae Bar

Spent our last night in Native Bo Reggae Bar – had a fun night with these people!

Last year, my friends & I went to Jungle Bar & had a great time. I’d love to bring my companions to this place but we didn’t have the luxury of time. We opted to enjoy the night at Native Bo Reggae Bar. It’s the reggae bar located by the village beach. This bar offers affordable drinks & a very social atmosphere. They even have a buy 1 get 1 on selected drinks from lunchtime until 7:00 pm. My friends & I plus the ones we met in the island tour went here on our last night in Port Barton.

Other Things To Do

48 hours in Port Barton is not enough to visit everything this place has to offer. Just like my trip last year, I missed out on a few places like the White Beach (because we already a lot of white beaches in the trip?), Pamuayan Falls (again) & the San Vicente Long Beach (this is really far). I also found out that they now offer a tour to the nearby mangrove conservation area.

Port Barton After A Year – ANYTHING NEW? 

It’s been a year & a few months since I first went to Port Barton. Last time, I shared with you some facts about this not-so-famous place. This time, I’ll share with you what has changed after 15 months of not visiting this place.

More Accommodation Choices

Last year, there were only less than 10 accommodation choices available online. Most accommodations can only be contacted via call or text. After 15 months, there has been a boom in the number of accommodation choices in Port Barton. There are already a lot of hostels, guesthouses & homestays available in websites like Booking.com & Agoda. Rates also have increased a bit; though some have retained the rates they had since last year.

More Restaurants & Eateries

There has also been an increase in the number of restaurants & eateries in the village. The growing demand forced the locals to open more restaurants & local eateries. My friends & I still opted to eat at Gacayan Restaurant – they still have the cheapest food in the village. It was not as crowded as it was last year.

Had dinner in Gorgonzola Pizza – one of the new restaurants in the village

Electricity Hours

Port Barton still doesn’t have 24-hour electricity supply. Power supply is only available from 5 pm until 12 midnight & now from 10 am until 12 noon. Make sure to charge all your gadgets & equipment in these power hours.

Still no ATMs

The village still doesn’t have ATMs. The nearest money dispensing machines are located in El Nido, Puerto Princesa & Roxas. Make sure to withdraw enough cash before going to Port Barton. Credit cards can be used here but only for a handful of establishments. Cash is the preferred & the widely-used mode of payment.

Village Clinic for Medical Emergencies

There is a small clinic or health center in the village; it’s located along Ballesteros St near the school. Take note that the nearest hospital in the village is located in Roxas, which is around an hour away. Don’t forget to stack up on medicines before going to the village.

Limited internet connectivity

Port Barton still has limited internet connectivity. The fastest mobile internet connection can be found near the beach & it doesn’t even give you a 4G connection. Plan out all your emails & internet usage before going to this village. Best to also take this trip as a disconnection from the usual internet-dependent routine.

This pretty much sums up our 48-hour Port Barton trip last month. My friends & I made the right decision of leaving El Nido & heading to this paradise where the weather was good. 48-hours was not enough to discover everything this place has to offer. I look forward to staying longer in my next Port Barton trip.

With Maanne & Yana in Palawan. Thanks for the fun weekend! 🙂

Port Barton is starting to gain attention from the local tourism industry. Locals have started to visit this place, unlike last year when it was all foreigners. I hope this place remains the same in the next few years. I can easily say that Port Barton is my current favorite hideout from the busy metro life. I would like to also take this chance to thank my friends, Maanne & Yana, for the fun weekend in El Nido & Port Barton. The trip was short but very memorable.

Can’t get over how beautiful Inaladelan Island is! 😍

Are you planning to go to Port Barton soon? You should! Have you been there? How was your trip? Will you go back soon? Don’t forget to share some details of your past or upcoming trip in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Port Barton? Feel free to send an email to  contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via these social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading & until the next 48-hour trip! 🌴

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re. Shout out to Maanne for letting me use some of her photos.

 

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.