Tag: travelling

Hostel Of The Day: OUTPOST BEACH HOSTEL – Social El Nido Hostel By The Beach

Hello & welcome to the 3rd installment of Hostel of the Day feature of this website. In the previous posts, I took you to Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach in El Nido & The Stay Sapporo in Japan. This time, I’ll take you back to El Nido, Palawan – same town where the first hostel feature is located. Today, I will walk about our stay in Outpost Beach Hostel.

Last month, my friends & I went on a weekend reunion trip to Palawan. We spent 2 nights in El Nido & another 2 nights in Port Barton. In those 2 nights in El Nido, we stayed in a relatively new but very social hostel named Outpost Beach Hostel. This hostel opened in early 2017; it wasn’t operating yet when I went there in August 2016. The hostel’s atmosphere is very social & both the staff & guests are welcoming & very friendly.

Welcome to our hostel of the day – Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido!

Just like any other Hostel Of The Day post, let me share with you some details & features about this popular El Nido hostel.

Location & Access

Outpost Beach Hostel is located a few minutes from El Nido town, in Sitio Lugadia, Barangay Corong-Corong. This area has a direct beach access & is also a location of many accommodation choices in El Nido. Corong-Corong is known for its magical sunsets & magnificent views of Bacuit Bay. It was raining most of the time during our stay so we didn’t see the beauty of nature.

The hostel is approximately 3 kilometers away from El Nido town, that’s 5-7 minutes away by tricycle. If I remember it right, the fare to town can go as high as ₱60 to ₱100 pesos per tricycle; but it also depends on your haggling skills. El Nido Airport (LIO) is approximately 8 kilometers away from the hostel – also one tricycle ride away from the hostel. Rates to the airport can go as high as ₱200 per way, but again depending on your haggling skills.

If you’re flying to Puerto Princesa International Airport, you can take a 5-6 hour land (van or bus) trip to El Nido. Fares range from ₱400+ for the bus & ₱600 for the shuttle van. For my past trips, I took the shuttle vans & booked with both Camarih Transport & Lexxus Shuttle. Make sure to check their website for the updated rates & schedules. Don’t forget to let the shuttle / bus driver know you’re staying in Outpost – they know where to drop you off.

Room Options & Rates

Inside the 12-bed dormitory room

Outpost Beach Hostel has room options for all types of travelers. While I think this hostel isn’t for families, I still believe they still cater to solo travelers, traveling couples & groups of friends. The hostel has private rooms that can accommodate up to 5 people. Private room rates can go as low as ₱900 per person for the quintuple room & ₱1,000 for the double / twin room. Rates can go as high as ₱1,600 per night for the quintuple room & ₱2,500 per night for the double room during peak season.

Solo travelers can book their stay in their dormitory rooms. As per the hostel website, they have 2 x 12-bed dormitory rooms, 1 x 8-bed dormitory room, 2 x 6-bed dormitory rooms & 6 x 4-bed dormitory rooms. A bed in these dormitory rooms costs from ₱600 to ₱750 per night during off peak season; however prices can go as high as ₱1,000 to ₱1,300 per night during peak season.

This is how the bunk beds look like

All rooms have air conditioning & ceiling fans. Dormitory beds have comfortable mattress & sheets & individual lockers. The 3 of us stayed in the 12-bed dormitory room & we paid around ₱688 each per night via Agoda. You can book your stay via the hostel website or via Agoda.

Hostel Facilities

Guests have access to communal & unisex shower areas & toilets. The showers feature a rainfall-style water flow & hot water system. The design is very modern & stylish. El Nido water is not safe for drinking & for brushing ones teeth. The hostel provides all guests filtered water for brushing their teeth.

Second floor communal area – this place is very quiet every morning

All guests have access to spacious communal lounge areas in the ground floor & 2nd floor. These areas are the best places to meet & chat with your co-guests. We stayed there most of the time & gained a lot of new friends. Guests also have access to a bar & restaurant in the ground floor. The hostel also has a generator set; guests don’t need to worry if there are power interruptions (these interruptions happen a lot in El Nido).

Pretty busy communal area at night – everyone’s busy socializing!

The hostel has a direct access to Corong-Corong Beach. We didn’t have the chance to enjoy the beach as mentioned earlier, it was raining during our stay. They also provide free Wi-Fi to all guests. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi was not working during our stay. The rainy weather could be one of the reasons why the Wi-Fi was not working.

Overall, the hostel facilities are basic but you get everything you need.

Sunset Bar & Restaurant

The hostel also features an on site sunset bar & restaurant. Guests don’t need to go to town to have some reasonably-priced food & drinks. The restaurant has a variety of food to choose from – be it Filipino or Western food. A breakfast plate can cost as low as ₱220. Lunch & dinner food cost a little bit more. The restaurant pizza is a must-try! Cocktails are priced ₱200 per glass while local beers cost ₱80 per bottle.

Empty hostel bar & reception in the morning

The bar, or should I say, the hostel organizes daily activities / games where guests are free to join / participate. We didn’t see anyone join the gender bender party while we were there, but oh boy everyone had a nice time playing battle beer.

The only thing I didn’t like about the restaurant is it opens at 8:00 in the morning. I think it’s too late? Some people leave the hostel as early as 6:00 am so I believe they should start serving food as early as that.

Tour Desk

Services offered by the hostel tour desk plus the daily hostel activity schedule

Outpost Beach Hostel has an on site tour desk where you can basically book everything. The hostel organizes alternative boat trips (Tours A & C Combination & Tours B & Combination) for only ₱1,500 per person. This rate includes a visit to beautiful islands, caves & lagoons, lunch, boat & guide fees. The hostel also offers van transfers to Nacpan, Port Barton, Sabang & Puerto Princesa & boat tickets to Coron. It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to do in El NIdo.

My friends didn’t avail tours from the hostel because we’ve tried the tours in our past El Nido visits. Also, all tours during our stay were cancelled for consecutive days due to bad weather.

Verdict

If you are traveling on a budget plus into social drinking & meeting people, then Outpost Beach Hostel is the perfect hostel in El Nido for you. For me, this hostel is a low-key party hostel (in my opinion) but is very social. The facilities & amenities might have minor setbacks (like when Wi-Fi isn’t working & random times when there was no water) but these didn’t affect the charm of this hostel. It’s still one of the best near El Nido town.

My friends & I enjoyed our stay in this hostel. We look forward to coming back to enjoy the beach & to watch El Nido’s beautiful sunset. I just hope the weather will be perfect in our next trip to El Nido.

Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido
Address: Sitio Lugadia, National Highway, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan 5313
Phone Number: +‎63 945 128 1729
Email Address: outposthostels@gmail.com
Website: www.outpostbeachhostel.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/outpostbeachhostel

Have you been to Outpost Beach Hostel in a fine sunny weather? How was your experience? Did you witness the famous El Nido sunset? Feel free to share your experiences in the comment section below. Is there a new hostel which you think fits to be the next hostel of the day? Let me know which hostel is this & I’ll have a look at it. You can also communicate with me via email by sending an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Maraming salamat po sa pagbasa at sa oras. 🇵🇭 Sa uulitin! ✌

PS. Photos were taken using my 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.

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.

Hokkaido Winter Series: The Ultimate Japan Winter Experience Without Breaking The Bank (7 Days For Less than ₱45,000 all-in)

Hi, it’s me again. If you’ve followed my blog in the past, I’ve published posts about travelling to Japan on tight budget. In 2015, my friends & I went to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka for 9 days & spent only ₱40,000 (all in – including airfare) each. In 2016, I went on a solo journey across 7 cities over 13 days for less than ₱50,000. I went to Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama last November for less than ₱35,000 over 7 days (including a flight change). Since coming to Japan in 2015, I’ve considered it as my next favorite country to the Philippines.

With my travel buddy, Shane, in Sapporo Teine!

I post blogs like those to prove that travelling to an expensive country like Japan can also be affordable. 3 months ago, my friend Shane & I went to Hokkaido, Japan for 7 days & spent less ₱45,000 (all in – including flights). Pretty cheap, eh? Yes! This leads me to introducing the next series of blogs in this website – the Hokkaido Winter Series. We’ve also experienced a lot & had many ‘firsts’ in this Hokkaido trip. I can’t wait to share our trip with you.

Let it snow, let it snow, let is snow!

Japan winter season may be over this year but it’s never too late to look back how we made this trip very affordable. We started planning around June 2017 & we’re happy everything went smooth as planned. Let me share to you how we planned this trip & how it didn’t shock our bank accounts.

I was very happy that everything’s covered with snow!

February 2018 Exchange Rate: 1 Japanese Yen = 0.49 Philippine Pesos

Plane Tickets

There are no direct flights that connect Manila & Sapporo at the moment. The easiest & fastest way to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo is via Tokyo. Shane & I were lucky to buy a Cebu Pacific Air piso-fare return ticket to Tokyo for only ₱2,225.76 each. We added prepaid baggage for both flights – ₱690 each for 15 kgs & ₱970 each for 20 kgs. The round-trip ticket to Japan, including baggage, cost us ₱3,885.76 each. Our ticket was so cheap considering each flight takes 4 to 5 hours.

Our piso-fare ticket to Tokyo.. Thank you Cebu Pacific Air!

We bought another return ticket – this time from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. There are only 2 low-cost airlines flying between these two airports – Jetstar Japan & Vanilla Air. Shane & I went for Jetstar Japan – of course the cheaper option. The return domestic tickets cost us ₱6,151.89 each including 15 kgs baggage. Yes, domestic airline tickets in Japan are expensive. In fact, the 2 x 1 hour 45 minutes-flight to & from Sapporo was way expensive than our 2 x 4-hour flights to & from Tokyo.

Overall, the return tickets from Manila to Sapporo, with layovers in Tokyo, cost us ₱10,037.65 each. Getting all tickets for that amount is so affordable – definitely a bargain!

Our ticket from Tokyo to Sapporo. Domestic tickets in Japan are expensive!

Wondering how I get super cheap tickets like these? I actually wrote two posts about scoring the most affordable airline tickets. Check these posts (part 1 & part 2) out!

Also, the Philippine government requires all Filipino tourists going out of the country to pay ₱1,620 pesos for the travel tax. I don’t know what the tax is for & where they use it; but yeah, everyone’s required to pay before getting your boarding pass.

The Jetstar Airbus 320 sharklet plane we used to Sapporo

Hot news! Philippine Airlines revealed to Inquirer last month that they are looking to mount a direct flight from Manila to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo later this year. There are no details when the flight will start & what the flight times are but I hope this pushes through.

Tourist Visa

Filipinos need a tourist visa when visiting Japan. In 2016, the Japan Embassy in the Philippines granted me a 5-year multiple entry tourist visa until October 2021. Shane also had a 5-year multiple entry tourist visa. We didn’t apply for a tourist visa for this trip; we used our existing visa.

A clear winter morning in Sapporo

Interested to know how I got my 5-year multiple entry tourist visa to Japan? Check out these 4 easy tips on how you can get a Japan tourist visa. The article includes tips for easier application.

Accommodations

We stayed in 2 hostels for this trip. It was my friend Shane’s first time in a hostel so I made sure we stay in the nice ones. Our 5-night stay in The Stay Sapporo Hostel cost us ₱6,354.54 each, that includes a ₱500 off from Traveloka. The rate includes 5 nights in a 7-bed dormitory room with access to hostel’s common areas. I’ll talk more about the hostel when I post the more detail post or itinerary of this Sapporo trip.

Booked our Sapporo hostel via Traveloka

We stayed for a night in Tokyo before our flight back to Manila. We stayed in my favorite hostel in Tokyo, Oak Hostel Zen. We paid ₱644.09 each via Agoda for a night stay in an 8-bed mixed dormitory room. I don’t need to talk about Oak Hostel Zen because I already wrote reviews about this hostel in my past Tokyo trips. I’ve been to Tokyo 3 times & I’ve stayed with this hostel in all my trips.

Booked our Tokyo stay with Agoda

Shane & I paid ₱6,998.63 each for the 6 nights we spent in Japan. Accommodation in this country is very expensive so getting a bed for around ₱1,160+ average per night is already a good deal!

READ! I wrote about our experience in The Stay Sapporo. Check out this article.

Pocket Wi-Fi

One of Sapporo’s iconic building – the Old Hokkaido Government Building

As mentioned in my previous Japan blogs, a pocket Wi-Fi is a necessity when travelling around Japan. Not only does it help you upload photos in various social media platforms & communicate with your loved ones back home, it also helps you navigate your walks & direct which trains / lines to take. Shane & I got our device from Klook. The 7-day pocket Wi-Fi device rental cost us ₱1,887.36 – that’s 943.68 each.The device we got is a 4G LTE capable one & it has unlimited data allocation.

Ski Day Trip

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort

This Sapporo trip was our first winter trip & a winter trip will never be complete without skiing. Shane & I don’t know how to ski so we took Sapporo Teine‘s First Time Ski Experience Group Lesson. The whole day lesson cost us ¥14,000 (or ₱6,860) each. The rate includes ski equipment & outfit rental, instructors & gondola fees, a 1 hour 30 minute basic ski lesson in the morning & a 1 hour 30 minute downhill ski practice in the afternoon.

Photo with our ski instructors

The ski resort’s rate is expensive but their rate is actually the cheapest we saw in Sapporo. It was our first time to go skiing so we decided to invest for the experience. The ski experience was worth it. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

I wrote a separate article about our Ski Day Trip to Sapporo Teine Resort. Check out the article here.

Sapporo Beer Garden Lunch

Sapporo Beer Garden – my liver is happy!

Apart from our first winter & ski experience, Shane & I also had our first unlimited Genghis Khan lamb experience in one of the restaurants in Sapporo Beer Garden. This shredded mutton barbecue is a famous local dish in Hokkaido. The buffet includes unlimited vegetables, juices & of course, Sapporo beer.

Yes to unlimited lamb in Sapporo Beer Garden!

Another yes to unlimited Sapporo beer!

The meal cost ¥4,212 (or ₱2,114.97) each. It was an expensive meal but you don’t get to have unlimited mutton everyday, right?

Hokkaido King Crab

Hokkaido King Crab legs on display in Nijo Market

Hokkaido is known for its king crabs & fresh seafood. A visit to Japan’s northern most main island will never be complete without trying the king crab. On our 3rd day, Shane & I went to Nijo Market in Sapporo to have brunch. We came across a stall where the man offered us a free taste of the fresh king crab. A kilogram of the large king crab legs costs ¥13,000. We bought 800 grams for ¥10,000 (close to ₱5,000) & the man gave us ¥400 discount. Yes, king crabs are that expensive! We had the crab legs cooked & we went to a nearby restaurant to eat it.

800 grams of king crab legs for brunch.. So good!

Another expensive meal but it was so good! Shane & I were super full up to the point we didn’t eat the entire day. We rarely have king crabs here in the Philippines so it was worth the try!

We tried the Hokkaido king grab when we walked around Sapporo on our first days in the city. Find out where else we went & what we did around the city by checking this link.

Onsen Day

Outside Hoheikyo Onsen – a perfect winter day to be in an onsen

Japan’s Hokkaido is an onsen paradise; the island has many onsens or natural hot springs. In fact, there are a few onsens which are accessible from Sapporo. Shane & I went to Jozankei, the nearest onsen town in Sapporo. We specifically went to Hoheikyo Onsen, a natural hot spring which has an open air spring bath setting & a famous Indian restaurant.

The onsen day package was worth it!

The round-trip bus ride & onsen entrance fee cost us ¥1,800 each (around ₱880). This deal was a steal because the onsen fee itself (if not availed with package) was already ¥1,000 & the bus fare per way was ¥640.

ICYMI, I posted a separate blog about out onsen day. Check out this link to know more about our winter onsen experience.

Daily Expenses

I always set a daily budget for each day I am in Japan. This helps me plan out my expenses day by day. In previous Japan blogs, I’ve set daily budgets ranging from ¥2,500 to ¥3,500 per day. This amount covers all meals, transportation expenses & museum tickets or entrance fees if needed. Sapporo is a bit more expensive than the previous cities I’ve been to so I placed a daily budget of ¥3,500 per day. This trip had the same daily allowance with my 2016 Japan trip. The difference these 2 trips had was I travelled alone in 2016 (so more expenses) & I was with Shane in this Sapporo trip (we shared in some expenses like food, snacks, etc).

Otaru Canal at night

I was in Japan for 7 days to my total ‘daily expenses’ budget was ¥24,500 yen; that’s ₱12,005 in Philippine pesos.

Did you know? We took a half day trip to Otaru, one of Hokkaido’s famous port city. What else can you see & do there aside from visiting the Otaru Canal? Click here to know more.

Summary

That’s about it. Let’s have a look how much I spent for this entire trip.

All in all, I spent ₱43,911.93 for a 7-day winter trip in Hokkaido, Japan. Expensive? No. Cheap for a first timer? Y-E-S! This trip was for the books!

Early mornings in Sapporo be like..

Have you been to Hokkaido? Shane & I are planning to go back soon & we’re looking for more places to visit. Feel free to post your suggestions 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.

Check out the individual posts featuring Sapporo, Otaru, Sapporo Teine & Hoheikyo Onsen! Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.