Tag: weekend

HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) Long Weekend: 5 Days & 5 Nights Around Vietnam’s Vibrant City for Less Than ₱22,500 All-In (Airfare, Food, Tours & Accommodation Included) [August 2024]

Last August, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon), Vietnam, with a friend for 5 days and 5 nights. I have been to Ho Chi Minh City early last year, but only for a quick stop before going back to Manila. The last time I went around and explored Saigon was back in May 2014. Ten years later, I am back to check out what has changed in the last decade.

In this 5-day Vietnam trip, I only spent less than ₱22,500 all-in, including return airfare, accommodation, food, day tours, and lots of coffee. I will share in this post how I made it happen. I will also provide the list of expenses incurred during the trip.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest financial and economic center. It may not be the country’s capital (it is Hanoi), but it is the country’s most populous city. It is also the main hub of the country’s southern region.

The city is known for its ‘old meets new’ type of culture, architecture, and way of life. It is a place to enjoy delicious food, great coffee, and hospitable locals.

In case you want to know, I flew to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, last year. I wrote about this quick weekend visit and I want you to check it out here.

Plane Tickets

We booked our tickets 6 months before the intended trip and paid ₱6,358.84 per person return. We flew with Cebu Pacific Air in their late-night flight to Ho Chi Minh City and red-eye flight back to Manila.

This return ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage both ways and 20 kilograms of checked luggage on the way back. No preferred seats and inflight meals were included in the ticket.

This return ticket could have been cheaper if only we waited for the lower base fare promotion. It was still a good deal considering the flight duration, distance, and destination.

On top of this ticket, I also paid the Philippine Travel Tax of ₱1,620 before leaving Manila. This travel tax is required for all Philippine passport holders going out of the country for holiday or vacation.

In case you missed it, I flew with Vietnam Airlines last January 2023 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on the Airbus A350 business class. I wrote about this trip and I hope you can check it out here.

Accommodation

Given the late-night flight schedules, my friend and I had to book 6 nights in our accommodation. We stayed at Akoya Central Saigon Hotel, near Bến Thành Market. We got a superior king room and paid ₱5,014.83 each for all 6 nights, including breakfast.

The windowless room includes a king bed, a private toilet and shower, a small refrigerator, a workstation, a safe box, and a clothes rack. The property has a lift, which can be used to go up to and down from the rooms. The property also has a breakfast buffet for guests who included this in their bookings.

Looking for a cheaper alternative? I went to Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 and stayed for a few nights with a family-owned hostel, Long Hostel. I wrote about my hostel experience and shared it in this hostel of the day feature.

Going Around Ho Chi Minh City

Going around Ho Chi Minh City can be challenging, depending on which part of the city you are staying in. If you stay around District 1 (like we did), you can pretty much walk to all major tourist spots. Some visitors rent a motorcycle to go around the city while others take a Grab, Southeast Asia’s version of Uber. Public buses are also available but can be quite challenging for visitors.

Traveling to and from the airport is best via Grab, the region’s ride-hailing application. In our case, we opted for a private airport transfer upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City. We booked our airport transfer via Klook and paid ₱460.70 for two people.

Internet Sim Card

I bought an internet eSIM from ByteSIM and paid ₱398.59, including foreign transaction service fees. The $6.84 eSIM had 5 gigabytes of data valid for 7 days from the day of activation. The eSIM does not include local phone calls and messaging.

Are you in need of an affordable internet SIM for your next trip? Check out ByteSIM. Use my referral link and get a $3 off coupon after your first purchase.

Travel Insurance

One of my non-negotiables when going on a trip is getting travel insurance. This insurance protects me from any happenings, delays, cancellations, or unexpected circumstances during a trip.

For this Saigon trip, I bought my travel insurance from Malayan Insurance. I paid ₱408.00 for the Travel Master Insurance product that covers up to ₱1 million in claims.

Pocket Money

Most merchants and establishments in Ho Chi Minh City still prefer cash as the mode of payment. I got VND 1,500,000 from one of the ATMs in the airport arrival hall. I used my GCash Visa Card, and I was charged ₱3,557.11. GCash’ Visa card has one of the best international withdrawal rates in the country. Make sure to get yours before your next trip.

Tours & Activities

We maximized our time around the city by joining half- and whole-day tours and activities. We booked all these activities from Klook.

Mekong River Day Tour

My friend and I joined a large group tour to the Mekong Delta. Our guide, Huy, picked us up from our hotel, and we took a bus to Mỹ Tho. From there, we enjoyed a boat cruise to Unicorn Island (Ky Lan), where we explored an orchid garden, listened to local musicians, and snacked on fresh fruits. We also visited a local shop for coconut water, checked out a bee farm, sampled honey tea, and even took photos with a snake.

Next, we boated over to Cù lao Thới Sơn and toured a coconut candy factory. We then hopped on a motorized rickshaw for a ride along the river to our lunch spot. Before eating, we paddled through serene coconut canals on a small boat. After lunch, we took a tuktuk and boat back to the mainland.

On our way back to Ho Chi Minh City, we stopped by Vinh Trang Pagoda. We booked the tour through Klook for ₱1,011.05 per person after the discount.

Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour

We joined another group tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Our guide, Tom, picked us up from our hotel, and we took a private bus to a local lacquer village. After that, we explored the Cu Chi Tunnels, walking around various tunnels and bomb craters. After our tour, we enjoyed some boiled cassava before heading back to the city.

We booked the tour through Klook for ₱904.65 per person after the discount.

Street Food on Scooter Tour

We joined a night street food tour on scooters. Our guide, Denny, picked us up from our hotel and took us to various street food spots. We enjoyed a feast that included bún bò huế (beef rice noodle soup), banana sticky rice, Vietnamese beer, grilled scallops, clam soup, Vietnamese pizza, crispy banana crackers, beef rolls, fresh spring rolls, sugar cane juice, coffee pudding, and, of course, bánh mì. That was a lot of food in just 3-4 hours!

During the tour, we also explored the 24-hour flower market and zipped through districts 1, 3, and 10. We booked this street food tour through Klook for ₱1,599.05 per person after the discount.

Golden Water Puppet Show

The Golden Water Puppet Show is a captivating 45-minute performance showcasing enchanting Vietnamese folk tales and legends, all staged in a pool with stunning backdrops. The accompanying music and sound effects are provided by an orchestra using traditional Vietnamese instruments.

My friend and I pre-booked our tickets through Klook for ₱689.90 per person after the discount. Since the show often sells out, it is a good idea to secure your tickets early.

Places Visited in Ho Chi Minh City

Aside from the joiner tours above, we also took time to walk around District 1 and we went to the following places:

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum offers a poignant look at the history and harsh realities of the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War. Its exhibitions detail the events that unfolded during these conflicts and their lasting impact on the country and its people.

This museum is a must-see in Ho Chi Minh City, and no visit is complete without it. Entry tickets are priced at VND 40,000 per person and can be purchased at the museum entrance. It is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bến Thành Market

Bến Thành Market is Saigon’s version of Central Market. It is a popular shopping destination for tourists or visitors. It started out as a trading hub in the 17th century and has evolved into the city’s most famous market.

Bùi Viện Walking Street

Bùi Viện Walking Street is the city’s entertainment and nightlife center. It has restaurants, pubs, bars, and shops located along the busy 850-meter strip.

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a Catholic cathedral built by the French colonists in the 1860s. It is the largest Catholic church in Vietnam and a known icon of Ho Chi Minh City. Entry into the cathedral is free of charge.

Saigon Central Post Office

Adjacent to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office is a renowned city landmark celebrated for its distinctive architectural style. It showcases a blend of neo-classical European design with subtle Asian influences. The building remains an active post office and is open to all visitors.

Ho Chi Minh City Book Street

Situated along Nguyen Van Binh Street, the HCMC Book Street is a pedestrian street dedicated to bookworms. Various shops sell new and pre-owned Vietnamese books and merchandise. The community also conducts workshops and selected activities for kids.

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building is the city’s local government office.

Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City

The Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as the Siagon Opera House, is the city’s main theater. The theater hosts cultural performances, musicals, concerts, and even official government functions.

Saigon Skydeck

The Saigon Skydeck is one of two observation decks in Ho Chi Minh City, situated on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower. It provides stunning 360-degree views of the city.

My friend and I purchased our tickets through Klook for ₱525.75 per person after the discount. Our tickets included a fridge magnet souvenir and access to unlimited drinking water during our visit.

Café Apartment Building

Situated at No. 42 Nguyen Hue Street, the popular Café Apartment Building is home to numerous cafes and restaurants. You can access these spots for free via the back stairs, or use the elevators for a convenience fee of VND 3,000.

Independence Palace

The Independence Palace was once the official residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. It features numerous banquet halls, offices, and rooms that hosted the country’s official functions. Today, the palace operates as a museum, attracting thousands of local and international visitors each day.

Tickets are priced at VND 65,000 per person, and the museum is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

RESTAURANT & CAFE Recommendations

Here is the list of coffee shops and restaurants we tried during our 5-day visit around Ho Chi Minh City.

Tonkin Specialty Coffee (Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

Trung Nguyên Coffee (Vietnamese Coffee)

Phúc Long Coffee & Tea (Milk Tea)

OKKIO Tự Do (Saigon-style Coffee – Bạc Xỉu)

Eggyolk Coffee (Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

21Grams – Vegetarian (Coconut Coffee)

Little HaNoi Egg Coffee (Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

Bếp Mẹ Ỉn – Lê Thánh Tôn (Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery)

Phở Phú Vương (Beef phở restaurant)

Phở Hà (Chicken phở restaurant)

Summary of Expenses

Here’s a summary of everything spent on this 5-day and 5-night trip around Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:

Disclaimer: The expenses above do not include personal shopping such as Vietnamese coffee and the likes. 

I spent ₱22,318.12 for a 5-day weekend in Saigon, covering plane tickets, accommodation, tours, pocket money, and everything trip-related. I think I could have saved more by booking during a ₱1 base fare sale or reducing the number of days of my stay. Overall, though, it was an affordable, enjoyable, and interesting trip.

This 5-day Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) trip summary shows that traveling within a budget is still possible despite the inflated cost of everything around us. One needs to just plan everything out and choose the places to visit.

Have you been to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) recently? How was your trip? I hope you had fun! Which place do you want to visit again? I hope you can share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may send them to me via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) trip recap. I hope to visit more and more places on a budget and share how I did it with everyone. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

HANOI Weekend Photoblog: 3 Fun-Filled & Spontaneous Days around the Vietnamese Capital City

Early this year, my friend and I flew to the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi for a quick 3-day weekend getaway. We came across a ₱1 base fare ticket mid-last year and immediately took the chance to visit this beautiful city. We have heard great things about the place, so we decided to give it a go.

We did not get the chance to plan things out before the trip. We showed up to the airport with only a return ticket, a booked place to stay (accommodation) and an airport transfer – no planned itineraries, no booked tours and no whatsoever. Thankfully, the trip turned out fun and memorable despite everything being decided on the spot.

Allow me to share with you details and photos of this spontaneous and fun-filled trip to Vietnam’s beautiful capital city, Hanoi.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam; it is the second-most populous city next to Ho Chi Minh City. The city is in the northern part of the country, within the Red River Delta. The city used to be the capital of French Indochina back in the day. The influence is evident in the city’s centuries-old architecture and rich culture, particularly in the Old Quarter area.

Airfare

We took advantage of Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare promotion in August 2022 and got our return tickets for a little over ₱5,000. The ticket included the usual 7-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance per way and a randomly assigned seat on both flight sectors.

My friend booked a return ticket to Hanoi and paid ₱5,338.17. On the other hand, I paid for a ticket to Hanoi and back from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and paid ₱5,059.62. I spent a few more days in Saigon after Hanoi and met up with friends whom I had not seen in a long while.

The return fares above are a little bit pricier than the recent ₱1 base fare tickets in recent months. However, considering the high prices of everything, including jet fuel, these days, the tickets we paid for are still a bang for the buck.

After Hanoi, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines and tried their widebody business class product in a domestic flight. Check out the Vietnam Airlines business class flight report here.

Accommodation

Hanoi has thousands of affordable accommodations to choose from. The city’s accommodation rates are on the affordable side compared to the other capital cities in Southeast Asia. It also has a wide range of popular and local hotels, family-owned guesthouses, and backpacker-friendly hostels and homestays.

My friend and I booked a 3-night stay with Hanoi House Hostel & Travel. We paid VND 1,950,000 (roughly ₱4,500) for a twin room with a private toilet and shower. We paid around ₱750 per person per night for a large twin room with a refrigerator, television, work table, and fast Wi-Fi. We also enjoyed complimentary breakfast for 3 mornings.

One of the many available breakfast options at Hanoi House Hostel. Phở for breakfast. Why not?

Hanoi House Hostel & Travel is a nice place to stay when in Hanoi. The hostel’s location in the Old Quarter is central and very close to pretty much everything, including Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ta Hien Beer Street (Beer Street Hanoi).

Going around Hanoi

Going around Hanoi is easy. Like any other Vietnamese city, the best way to go around the city is by driving a motorcycle. These are available for rental practically everywhere. If you do not know how to drive a motorcycle, you can opt to take the local bus, a taxi, or Grab (GrabCar or GrabBike). Another way to explore the city is by renting a bicycle and riding it around the city.

The best way to explore the city during a cold month (like our visit in January) is by foot. One can easily walk to many places within and nearby the Old Quarter.

Places Visited in Hanoi

We arrived in Hanoi with no pre-trip research or plans. We managed to visit a few places even without any plans. Let me share with you the ones we visited.

Day 1 – Mausoleum Complex & Old Quarter

After dropping our stuff at the hostel, we took a GrabCar to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. We went inside the Mausoleum, checked out the Presidential Palace, Stilt House, and the Museum. Then, we walked to the nearby Hanoi Botanical Garden to check out the place before heading back to the Old Quarter for lunch.

We went inside our room afterwards and took a nap. A few hours later, we explored the Old Quarter area and walked to St. Joseph Cathedral and Hoàn Kiếm Lake. We met with another Indonesian friend for dinner and finished the day with drinks at Ta Hien Beer Street (Beer Street Hanoi).

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Presidential Palace

Stilt House

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Hanoi Botanical Garden

Hanoi Old Quarter

Bún Chả + Beer for Lunch

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

Hanoi Old Quarter at Night

Ta Hien Beer Street

Day 2 – Halong Bay Cruise Day Tour

We went to Halong Bay on our second day in Hanoi. The cruise day tour included pick-up from and drop-off at Hanoi after the tour, seafood lunch onboard the cruise, and visits to a local pearl store, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, and Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave.

After the day tour, we headed back to our hostel to freshen up. Then, we met up with new friends we met on the tour for dinner in Old Quarter and drinks on the Beer Street.

Ha Long Pearl

Ha Long Bay Cruise

Hòn Ti Tốp / Ti Top Island

Hang Luồn / Luon Cave

Hang Sửng Sốt / Sung Sot Cave

Hanoi Old Quarter at Night – Part 2!

Hủ Tiếu Khô + Beer for Dinner

Ta Hien Beer Street Again!

Day 3 – Walkathon Around the City

We spent our last day literally walking around the city with new friends from the tour the day before. We went to the controversial Hanoi Train Street, the Temple of Literature, and Trấn Quốc Pagoda. We had delicious local dishes and banana coffee in between the long walks. Our last day ended with another party night at Beer Street.

Hanoi Old Quarter in the Morning

Hanoi Train Street

Hủ Tiếu Khô again for Lunch!

Temple of Literature

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Ta Hien Beer Street for the Last Time!

This pretty much sums up everything about our 3-day trip around Hanoi. The 3 days around the city went by smoothly, despite everything being planned on the spot. The spontaneity of the itinerary made the visit exciting, interesting, and memorable.

Have you been to Hanoi on your previous trips? How did you find the city? Share your memorable experiences and discoveries in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the details mentioned and shown above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blogpost. I will surely visit Hanoi again in the future and I will take time to visit the nearby city of Ninh Binh and the iconic town of Sa Pa. I do not know when exactly will that be but I hope it will be in the next few years.

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

3-Day Kuala Lumpur Weekend: Do-It-Yourself Below 20K Trip Around Malaysia’s Modern Capital City [July 2022]

Last July 2022, my friends & I took advantage of the relaxed border requirements & flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a quick 3-day trip. We decided to fly to Kuala Lumpur since it was the cheapest international destination from Manila at the time of booking our air tickets. It was also my friends’ first-time visiting Malaysia. Allow me to share details of this quick & affordable 3 days around Malaysia’s modern capital city.

Airfare

I flew with Singapore Airlines to Kuala Lumpur a few days before my friends did & only paid US$146.69 return. The ticket initially cost US$199.70. I redeemed 7,665 KrisFlyer miles (which I earned back in 2019 from my trip to Europe) & got the ticket for the lower price mentioned above. My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges.

The full-service ticket includes 25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, inflight meals, personal entertainment system & 1.5 hours layover / transit (both ways) in Singapore Changi Airport. This Singapore Airlines ticket was definitely a good deal considering the ticket was booked a month before the scheduled flights & the airline provided full flight service.

My friends flew with Cebu Pacific Air to & from Kuala Lumpur & paid around ₱9,800 return. The ticket included 7-kilograms of carry-on baggage allowance. They opted to fly with Cebu Pacific Air because they found the airline’s flight times perfect for their schedules.

Want to know the difference between full-service carriers like Singapore Airlines & low-cost service airlines like Cebu Pacific Air? Check out this Flight 101 post about these 2 types of airlines.

I wrote separate blogs about my flight experience with Singapore on these flights to & from Kuala Lumpur. Head over to these flight reports to know more: Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila.

Entry Requirements

Malaysia still imposed entry requirements at the time of this trip. Fully-vaccinated passengers were exempted from pre-departure & on arrival testing requirements & quarantine but were asked to provide & verify vaccination status prior to their flight. We were also asked to register & obtain the Digital Travelers Card (Blue Traveler Card) at least 3 days before the scheduled flight. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers were asked to provide pre-departure test results, take on arrival testing & isolate / quarantine for a few days. They were issued the Home Surveillance Order (Red Traveler Card) that was checked during the check-in process.

As of 1 August 2022, Malaysia has removed all entry requirements for all incoming international passengers. All travelers are allowed to enter the country regardless of vaccination status & are not required to provide negative test results & undergo quarantine. All quarantine orders related to Covid-19 have been lifted by the Malaysian government.

Please note that these entry requirements may still change from time to time. Make sure to check the Malaysian government’s website, MySafeTravel, days before your trip for any changes in the entry requirements. You may also check these requirements on your airline’s Covid-19 travel information pages.

KLIA to Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is located in Sepang District, about an hour away from the main city of Kuala Lumpur. There are several ways to go to Kuala Lumpur from the airport & vice versa. The fastest & most expensive way is via the KLIA Ekspres. This train service takes about 40 minutes & costs RM55 one-way or RM100 return.

The cheap & more affordable option is via the hourly bus trip to & from KL Sentral. The fare costs RM15 one-way & the trip takes about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Private transfers are also available via Klook & KKday for a little over ₱700.

I took the bus from KLIA to KL Sentral & paid only RM15. On the way back, I booked a private transfer from my accommodation back to KLIA. I paid ₱736 for this private transfer & was picked up from my hostel.

Accommodation

My friends & I stayed at Hotel Westree KL Sentral. My friend Junelle & I booked 3 nights in their superior twin room & only paid ₱2,633.93 for the whole stay. We took advantage of Traveloka’s 20% off promotion & got a ₱650+ discount. We paid the hotel ₱878 per night – that’s ₱439 each per person per night. That is almost the same rate as some hostels in Kuala Lumpur.

The hotel is located at 142 Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, right at the back of NU Sentral Shopping Mall. It is close to the KL Sentral Monorail Station & a few minutes walk to the KL Sentral bus terminal & KL Sentral train station. The property is also near a number of convenience stores, shops & restaurants. Its location is a 10 out of 10.

Hotel Westree KL Sentral’s room was just right. It has 2 single beds, air conditioning, a big closet, a desk & a large mirror. It also has a private toilet & shower with complete amenities. The hotel doesn’t offer a breakfast option but has a small shop near reception. They also have a water dispenser near the lounge area where guests can refill their water containers free of charge. The property allows guests to leave their luggage before check-in or after check-out.

Transportation Around the City

Going around Kuala Lumpur is easy. Almost all of the places to visit are accessible by train, monorail, or by bus. My friends & I were lucky because train & bus rides during our visit were free of charge. The government announced free MRT, LRT, BRT (bus rapid transit), monorail, Rapid KL bus & KTM Komuter rides in Klang Valley for a month from 16 June to 15 July 2022. This free ride service followed after the launch of the new MRT Putrajaya Line.

Outside these trains & buses, visitors can also book ride-hailing applications such as Grab & Air Asia Ride. You read that right! Air Asia has a ride-hailing subsidiary operating around Kuala Lumpur. My friends & I used Air Asia on selected rides during our visit. They have cheaper rates compared to Grab.

Places Visited in Kuala Lumpur

My friends were only in Kuala Lumpur for 3 full days. We visited as many places as possible in this short span of time. We also met one of my friends, Geof (from my Siquijor, Siargao & Myanmar trips before), who’s now based in the city. Check out the places we’ve been to in these 3 days.

DAY 1 – BOTANICAL GARDEN, MERDEKA SQUARE & CHINATOWN

Day 1 started with a train ride to Pasar Seni Station & a breakfast meal at a local hawker place. We had our chicken & rice meal for RM8 & a glass of cold the Tarik for RM2.50.

After breakfast, we headed to the bus stop & found out that the old bus route to the botanical garden is no longer operational. We then decided to just walk for 30 to 45 minutes to the Perdana Botanical Garden. We walked around the botanical garden for about an hour. Entrance to the botanical garden is free.

From Perdana Botanical Garden, we took an Air Asia Ride to Suria KLCC. We walked around the shopping mall & then checked out the Petronas Twin Towers from the outside.

After going around KLCC Suria & the Petronas Twin Towers, we took the train from KLCC Station to Masjid Jamek Station. We walked a bit & decided to have a late lunch at Secret Recipe near the Central Market. I got their vegetarian fried rice satay meal for around RM20.

After lunch, we walked to Masjid Jamek Lookout Point @ River of Life, then to Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge & back to the Masjid Jamek station area. We didn’t bother to go inside Masjid Jamek Mosque because we were in wearing shorts.

We then went to see the Sultan Abdul Samad Building from the outside & walked around Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) – the country’s Independence Square.

We dropped by the KL City Gallery to have our photos taken in the iconic I ❤️ KL sign, then headed to the Central Market to meet my friend Geof.

We walked along the Petaling Street Market & headed to Kwai Chai Hong to take photos of the murals.

We had our dinner in the famous Lan Zhou Mee Tarik Restaurant. I ordered their beef daoxiao (knife-cut) noodles paired with their beef barbecue stick & a can of Sprite. The whole meal only cost me RM22.

After dinner, we had our first round of drinks at Pik Wah Restaurant. We then headed to Bukit Bintang to meet with my friends from Couchsurfing for another round of drinks.

We missed the last KL monorail trip so we took the last train to Muzeum Negara Station & walked back to Hotel Westree.

DAY 2 – BATU CAVES, BUKIT BINTANG & KL SKYLINE

Day 2 started with breakfast at McDonalds KL Sentral Station. After breakfast, we took an Air Asia Ride to Batu Caves.

My friends & I went up the 272 stairs to see what’s in the cave. The whole trip up to the cave & back took us around 30 minutes. We left Batu Caves before 11:00am & took the KMT Komuter train back to KL Sentral.

We went back to Hotel Westree to freshen up. Just before lunch, we walked to Little India to check out the area & also drop by the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Fatima.

We took the KL Monorail from KL Sentral Station to Bukit Bintang Station & had lunch at Lot 10 Hutong – a food court / modern hawker center at the lower ground floor of Lot 10 Shopping Mall. We bid our goodbyes to my friend Geof & then went to order food for lunch.

I got char siu pork rice meal & char kway teow (stir fried noodles) with chicken for lunch. I also shared hokkien mee with one of my friends. I can say I ate a lot during that meal.

After lunch, we walked around Bukit Bintang. We’ve been to Jonetz by Don Don Donki (their Donki store originally from Japan) & mostly around The Pavilion Mall.

Around 4:00pm, we took an Air Asia Ride to KL Tower. We bought our tickets (RM110 each on site – I suggest that you buy ahead of time from Klook) & went up the Sky Deck & Sky Box. We took photos with the glass boxes & waited for sunset & night time.

At 7:30pm, we went down from KL Tower & walked to Suria KLCC. We again took photos of the Petronas Twin Towers at night. From Suria KLCC, we walked to the Bukit Nanas Monorail station & took the monorail to Bukit Bintang Station.

We dropped by Jonetz by Don Don Donki to buy some stuff before heading back to Hotel Westree again via the KL Monorail.

DAY 3 – GENTING HIGHLANDS & CHINATOWN (AGAIN)

We checked out from Hotel Westree at 7:00am & walked to the KL Sentral Bus Terminal to take our 8:00am bus to Awana Bus Terminal. We bought the return bus tickets in advance from this website & paid RM18 roundtrip.

The bus trip took about an hour. Upon arrival at Awana Bus Terminal, we had breakfast in one of the convenience stores. Most of the restaurants were still closed. Minutes before 10:00am, we went up to the cable car station & took the regular cable car up to Genting Highlands. PS. We bought the cable car tickets ahead of time & only paid RM31 for a one-way standard gondola & one-way glass bottom gondola.

We walked around Genting Higlands shopping malls & theme parks for a few hours. We had our lunch in the food court. I had chicken char siu rice for the main meal & cendol for dessert.

Around 1:30pm, we took the glass bottom gondola down to Chin Swee Station & walked to the Chin Swee Caves Temple. This Chin Swee Station stop is a free stop on the return gondola tickets.

After an hour, we took the cable car again back to Awana Station & went around some premium outlet stores beside the bus terminal.

At 4:00pm, we took the bus from Awana Bus Terminal back to KL Sentral Bus Station. We went straight to Chinatown to buy some last-minute pasalubong & to have dinner. Around 7:00pm, we took the train back to KL Sentral, walked to Hotel Westree to get our stuff.

Junelle & friends walked to the bus terminal to take the 8:00pm bus to KLIA Terminal 2. Meanwhile, I booked an Air Asia Ride to my next hostel – The Beds KLCC.

Summary of Expenses

I mentioned in the title that this 3-day trip cost below 20,000 all in. This total cost does not apply to me since I stayed in Kuala Lumpur for 8 days. However, it does apply to my friends who went there for 3 full days. Let us look at the breakdown of expenses below.

My friend paid ₱9,758.27 for the Cebu Pacific Air roundtrip ticket to Kuala Lumpur on Cebu Pacific Air. Prior to flying to Kuala Lumpur, she paid her share on the following: 3-night accommodation at Hotel Westree (₱1,316.97), Genting Highlands return bus tickets (₱227.83), roundtrip cable car tickets (₱396.74) & KLIA to Hotel Westree transfer (₱410.34). On the day of the flight, she paid the required travel tax worth ₱1,620.

She brought a pocket money of RM500 (conversion rate of ₱12.50 per RM1 = ₱6,250). This pocket money was enough to cover 3 meals per day (averaging RM10-RM20 per meal including drinks), all Air Asia Rides we took, bus ticket back to KLIA2, KL Tower Sky Deck & Sky Box entry ticket (RM110) & treats (pasalubong) she bought from Jonetz by Don Don Donki & Chinatown.

She spent ₱19,980.15 all in for this 3-day weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I believe this total trip cost is affordable & acceptable given the following reasons: (a) this trip was booked a month before the intended travel dates, (b) high fuel prices which resulted to higher fuel surcharges in air tickets & (c) current inflation rate. Gone are the days (at least for now) that return international tickets with Cebu Pacific Air were below ₱3,000.

That sums up our recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The pandemic & the current world crisis may have changed a lot of things, but our love for discovering new places, investing in experiences & traveling on a budget remains. Do you have any questions about traveling around Kuala Lumpur or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send in your questions & comments via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s trip to Kuala Lumpur. Please look forward to the next one! Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Last-Minute Japan Weekend: 48 Hours in FUKUOKA For Less Than ₱12,500 – Flights & Hostel Included

You’re an avid follower of my posts if you know that I love Japan so much. I’ve been to Japan several times & I always want to go back, even in the same places I’ve been to in the past. I posted crazy cheap Japan itineraries over the last few years – 9 days in Japan for less than ₱40,000 (my first ever Japan trip in 2015), 13 days solo trip around 8 Japanese cities for less than ₱50,000 (2016 trip), 7 days around Kawaguchiko & Takayama for less than ₱35,000 (2017 trip) & that 7-day Hokkaido winter trip for ₱45,000 (2018 trip). I also featured all cities & towns I’ve been to & even posted tips on what to do & not to do in Japan & where to find the best hostels. Japan content comprises a big chunk of my blog posts. I’m happy with the amount of views & visits these posts get.

I went to Japan twice in 2019. My first trip happened in early in the year where I started off in Tokyo, went down to Nagano, dropped by Matsumoto, then met up with my sisters to go around Osaka, Kyoto & Nara before flying to Fukuoka to catch my flight back to Manila. My second trip happened in the last quarter, right before I flew to Europe. My friend & I flew to Fukuoka to surprise our other friend & ruin her first solo international trip. We’re still good friends, don’t worry!

This trip to Fukuoka will be the topic of this post! My friend & I flew to Fukuoka last-minute (everything booked 3 weeks before the trip) & explored the city in 48 hours for less than ₱12,500 each. This will be my 2019 entry to my yearly crazy cheap Japan itineraries! Want to know how I did it? Check out below.

airfare

Believe it or not, I booked my return tickets to Fukuoka 3 weeks before the flight. Crazy, right? GetGo, Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program, had a promo code that offered 5,000 points less. For some strange reasons, flights to & from Fukuoka were at 2,400 points per way. I ended up only paying for taxes & booking fees amounting to just ₱2,873.74. Such a steal! It may not be my cheapest ticket to Japan (it’s still that ₱850 ticket to Tokyo & ₱600+ ticket from Fukuoka to Manila last year), but it surely is still super cheap.

Want to know how I get these cheap tickets? I revealed my secrets in these blog posts – How to be a champ in booking low fare tickets part 1 & part 2.

accommodation

I planned & booked everything 3 weeks into the trip. Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka, Fukuoka doesn’t have many affordable accommodation options. Luckily, I found Nekokura Hostel in Hakata area.  I stayed in a mixed dormitory room for 2 nights for ₱2,623 – that’s a little over ₱1,300 per night. The hostel is small but decent; it is also a cat rescue shelter. I wrote a comprehensive feature & review about my stay in Nekokura Hostel. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

tourist visa

I got a 5-year multiple entry visa from Japan Embassy when I applied in 2016. The visa is still valid for this trip so I didn’t have to go through the application process. I posted a Tuesday Tip blog on how you can get a Japan visa in 4 easy steps. Check out the visa post here.

day-to-day budget

Travelling around Japan isn’t new to me. In fact, I already know how much train rides cost, how much a normal meal is & what else one pays for when going around the city. I gave myself ¥10,000 budget for this 48-hour trip around Fukuoka. This budget covered all transportation & food costs. Good thing I didn’t pay for any entrance fee during this trip. Spoiler alert: I managed to fit in everything in this budget!

2-Day Itinerary Around Fukuoka

DAY 0 – ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport, my friends & I got off the plane, cleared immigration & got our Wi-Fi rental in the arrival hall. My friend’s Wi-Fi device booking can’t be found in their list. We ended up getting a new one. My share for this 48-hour trip cost ₱370. After getting our wi-fi router, we took the free bus to Fukuoka Airport’s domestic terminal / subway station. We took the train from the airport to Chiyo-Kenchōguchi Subway Station (¥260) & went straight to our hostel. A woman welcomed us for check in & accompanied us to the 2nd floor to our rooms.

After a few minutes of rest, we walked to Nakasu area to grab some dinner. We had our meal at Matsuya – one of our favorite local food chains. I ordered a large gyūdon which came with a bowl of miso soup for ¥520. After the meal, we strolled around the area & checked out some of the nearby local food carts called yatai. We just had our dinner so we skipped eating in these food carts. We then dropped by a convenience store, got my favorite Lipton milk tea & a bottle of water (for ¥190) & walked back to our hostel.

Missed this!
Matsuya’s gyudon 😍

Expenses: ¥970 + ₱1,990 (including travel tax)

DAY 1 – AROUND FUKUOKA

Our only full day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at Family Mart. I got a tuna mayo onigiri, a bread & a bottle of milk tea for ¥560. Our first plan was to go to Nokonoshima Island Park but the weather wasn’t the best. We decided to skip the park & took the train to Dazaifu Station (¥620) to see Dazaifu Tenman-gū. This is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, an important figure during the Heian Period. The shrine was built over Michizane’s grave. We got lost along the way, boarded the wrong train & ended up paying for another ¥260 train ride.

After spending an hour around the shrine, we took 3 trains (¥820) to Fukuoka’s giant reclining Buddha found in Nanzoin Temple. We got off Kido Nanzoin-mae Station on the JR Sasaguri Line & walked up the hill for about 15 minutes to see the statue. This giant reclining Buddha, known as Nehanzo, was built in 1995 & is the world’s largest bronze statue.

We took the train back to Nakasu-Kawabata Station (¥590) & went to Ichiran’s main store in Nakasu for late lunch. I got the regular tonkotsu ramen bowl & an extra order of firm noodles for ¥1,190. It was an expensive lunch but was super worth it. Ichiran Ramen is so good – I keep coming back every time I go to Japan. After lunch, we strolled along Kawabata Shopping Center & headed to Kushida Shrine. This is the home shrine of the famous Fukuoka festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa. We further walked to Tōchō-ji, a Buddhist temple that houses the great wooden statue called Fukuoka Daibutsu. Unfortunately, the statue area was already closed. We just walked around the temple complex & took some photos near the 5-storey wooden pagoda.

After temple & shrine hopping, we walked back to Canal City Hakata – Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building. My friends had coffee while I ordered a cone of special vanilla ice cream (¥450). We walked around the shopping mall, watched the fountain & lights show & had omurice (¥858) for dinner at Pomme’s. We dropped by Don Quixote to buy treats (I didn’t) & the nearby supermarket to get some food for the next day’s breakfast (¥471). We walked back to our hostel & called it a day.

Expenses: ¥5,819 (includes all food & transportation)

DAY 2 – LAST DAY IN FUKUOKA

Missed this kind of breakfast – 1 box of Lipton milk tea & a rice meal from the supermarket. Yum!

Our last day in Fukuoka started with a breakfast at the hostel. We bought the food on our way to the hostel the night before. We left the hostel at 9:30 in the morning & took the train to Tenjin Station (¥210). We left our bags in the lockers found in the train station (¥600) & then took the bus to Fukuoka TV Tower (¥240). We didn’t go up the tower & instead decided to walk around the Momochi Seaside Park. We also sat down for a bit in the wooden chairs & enjoyed the peaceful beach.

This is the view from Fukuoka Castle Ruins’ viewpoint. Beautiful Fukuoka on a cloudy afternoon.

After an hour around the beach & the TV tower complex, we took the bus (¥240) to Fukuoka Castle Ruins. We went up the castle ruins & enjoyed the beautiful view of the city from the viewpoint. Warning! The way up & down to the castle ruins isn’t normal. Some may find it difficult going up & down those staircases & pathways. We walked down & headed to the nearby Ōhori Park. Locally known as Ōhori-koen, this park features a large pond with a walking path around it & in the middle. We bought snacks (¥569) in Boathouse Ōhori & enjoyed the view of the park from the café. We went to Ōhori’s famous pagoda in the middle & took photos before we left.

We took the train back to Tenjin Station (¥210), went around the shopping malls & bought cheese tarts from BAKE (¥216). We had our late lunch at Gyushin in Tenjin Underground Shopping Mall. I got a big bowl of gyūdon (again!!) for ¥630. After lunch, we parted ways with our friend, got our bags from the lockers & took the train (¥260) to Fukuoka Airport. Our flight to Manila left Fukuoka & arrived Manila on time.

Last meal before leaving Fukuoka. Had gyudon (agaaaain 😍) & this time with Bake Cheese Tart!

Expenses: ¥3,175 (includes all food & transportation)

summary of expenses

We knew 48 hours around Fukuoka isn’t enough but we managed to go the main sights found in & around the city. Let us look at the breakdown of our expenses for this quick trip to Fukuoka.

There you go – ₱ 12,369.10 for 48 hours in Fukuoka, Japan including return flights & hostel accommodation. I can’t believe I only spent ¥9,964 in Japan. I did it AGAIN – 5th year in a row of going to Japan on budget. Travelling to Japan may be expensive for most people; but there will always be ways & means of making it affordable for everyone.

So Majo & I surprised Junelle in her supposed-to-be solo Japan trip. By the way, we’re still friends!

Have you been to Fukuoka, Japan before? What do you like about the city? How do you find it compared to the other cities? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Fukuoka? Feel free to send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Random street somewhere in Fukuoka City. Don’t you just love everything about this photo? 😍

Thanks for joining me today! I haven’t planned or booked anything yet but I am planning to try this weekend trip to other Japan cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya. Stay tuned!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: NEKOKURA HOSTEL FUKUOKA – Small But Decent Hostel & Cat Rescue Shelter In A Quiet Area

Hello & welcome to the very first Hostel of the Day feature for 2020. As mentioned in my 2019 year ender post, I plan to post details about more hostels & share my experiences to everyone. Hopefully these hostel features will help out readers in deciding to give it a go or not & also help out the hostels get more people to stay with them.

Before I start posting details about my solo European trip last year, let me first share some details about my quick Fukuoka. Late last year, Majo & I decided to surprise our friend, Junelle, in her first ever solo trip to Fukuoka. We booked & planned everything 3 weeks before the trip. Unlike Tokyo & Osaka, Fukuoka isn’t abundant with affordable accommodation options. My previous hostel, Fukuoka Hana Hostel, was already booked out for that weekend. Good thing today’s hostel of the day feature, Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka, still has available beds for our chosen dates. Thanks to Junelle’s hints about her chosen accommodation, we got to stay in the same hostel as hers.

Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka is small but decent hostel found in Fukuoka. What makes this hostel unique is it houses a cat rescue shelter called Fukuneko House. They rescue & care for stray cats. They also open these rescued cats for adoption to those interested.

Join me as I share with you details about this hostel & cat shelter. I will also give you some insights of how our stay went.

location & access

Nekokura Hostel is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Hakata Ward. The nearest subway station is Chiyo Kenchoguchi Station of the Hakozaki Line. The hostel is about 3-minute walk from Exit 5 of the subway station. Fukuoka Airport Station is 15 minutes away from this station. Fukuoka’s Tenjin area is about 15-20 minutes away by foot & JR Hakata Station is 25 minutes away by foot.

The nearest convenience store is 5 minutes away by foot. There is also a nearby local supermarket about 8 minutes from the hostel’s doorstep. Nekokura Hostel is near another famous Fukuoka hostel, Tonagi Hostel & Café. The hostel’s location is great; it is quite far from the busy city scene but it is still accessible by public transportation.

room options

We were surprised this hostel has dormitory rooms & a private double room given its small size. These dorms are divided into mixed & female rooms. Each room has 4 beds enclosed in private curtains & features heating & air conditioning. Each dormitory bed is provided with a pillow & bedding covers. It features a reading light, personal security box, a power outlet & a small window. All guests have access to free Wi-Fi & communal facilities such as toilets & shower areas. A night stay in these dormitory rooms costs ¥2,900. Depending on season & dates, female dormitory rates may be a little expensive than that of mixed.

The hostel also has a private double room for people who want the room for themselves. This room has the same features as that of each dormitory bed. They also have access to the same amenities & facilities. The only difference this room has is privacy. The nightly rate of this double room is ¥6,000. Nekokura Hostel’s rates are the usual hostel rates in Japan – not cheap, not expensive but just right.

We booked our stay with Booking.com. We also opted for the pre-payment feature via PayPal because we were unsure of our arrival time.

hostel amenities

Like any other hostel, Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka has a long list of amenities & perks every guest can enjoy. All guests have access to the following:

Free WiFi

All hostel guests can connect to the hostel’s WiFi. The username & password is found in the information sheet provided during check-in.

Breakfast Upon Order

The hostel offers breakfast upon order for ¥300. My friends & I didn’t try this breakfast option during our stay. I’m sure it’s either a local breakfast or a continental one.

Clean Communal Shower & Toilet Facilities

Nekokura Hostel has 2 shower rooms & 1 toilet each for men & women. All 4 shower & toilet facilities are clean & well-maintained. These are just located near the rooms, just a few steps from the communal living area.

Complimentary Amenities

One thing I loved about this hostel is the long list of amenities they offer to the guests. All shower rooms have big bottles of shampoo, conditioner (particularly liked this one!!!) & liquid soap. They also have blow-dryer for girls to use. There are free cotton swabs, body lotion, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, make up wash & disposable earplugs which guests can use. Take note, these are not just ordinary amenities; all of them come from good consumer brands.

Complimentary Green Tea & Water

Guests have access to complimentary tea & water found in the communal lounge area. The hostel management also provides paper cups to use.

Small Communal Lounge Area with Terrace

As mentioned earlier, this hostel is very small. I appreciate the small communal area they have despite the lack of space. This communal area is where guests can have morning coffee or breakfast. The table can seat up to 3 people at a time while the terrace can accommodate up to 5-6 people. The communal area also has a communal fridge, microwave oven & water kettle which guests can use.

Free Luggage Storage

The hostel offers free luggage storage just outside the hostel doorstep. The luggage storage facility is quite unconventional –a solid wire with a number of padlocks & keys. Guests can store their luggage here before check-in & after check out, but only until 10:00 in the evening. Don’t leave your bags here during the rainy season – it’ll surely get wet.

Ground Floor Cafe & Sake Bar

The hostel has a ground floor café & sake bar which guests can try. According to the hostel website, this café & sake bar has local seafood dishes worth trying. The sake bar also serves an award-winning sake. Too bad we weren’t able to try that.

Standard Reception Hours

The hostel’s reception area is located inside the café & sake bar. It is open from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily for check in. The hostel observes a self-check out method where guests will only drop their keys in a box before leaving.

Free Use of Board Games & Magazines

There are board games in the communal lounge area which guests can play with free of charge. There are also magazines which one can have a look at.

Laundry Facilities

The hostel has a laundry machine near the wash area. Guests are welcome to use the machine for a fee. Make sure to ask the staff before using the machine.

Secured Door Entry & Facility

Only guests can enter the secured hostel door. The hostel staff will teach all guests upon check in how the door works. The building is equipped with security cameras to ensure everyone’s safety.

Cat Shelter Tour

A unique experience this hostel offers is the cat shelter tour open only for hostel guests. This shelter tour only operates on certain days & times. Make sure to reach out to hostel reception before your stay to schedule this tour during your stay. Unfortunately, my friends & I didn’t have enough time to try this shelter tour during our stay.

experience & verdict

My friends & I had a decent stay in Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka last year. The hostel was the perfect choice considering the limited options we had given everything was planned 3 weeks before the trip. The hostel is very small; space is limited. We liked how the hostel amenities made up for the limited space around the hostel. The dormitory rooms were small but the dormitory beds were great. The features of each bed were outstanding. I appreciate the personal window & small security box each bed has.

The hostel & its communal areas were clean & well-maintained. It has complete amenities in such a small area. We were surprised how they fit everything (rooms, communal area, facilities) in that floor. The only time we had interaction with the staff was during check in; not sure if they were hiding or they were on the floor while we were out & exploring. Too bad we didn’t have the time to try the café & sake bar on the ground floor & to spend time with the cats in the cat shelter.

Nekokura Hostel’s location is ideal for people who want to stay away from the busy city noise. It’s not too far from the city buzz but is located in a quiet neighborhood. This hostel is great; it’s the place to be for cat lovers. I will definitely give this property a try again next time I fly to Fukuoka.

To those who want to reach out to the hostel, here are their contact details:

Nekokura Hostel Fukuoka
Address: 7-86, 4cho-me, Chiyo, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Japan
Phone Number: +81 92 409 2242
E-mail Address: mail@nekokura.net
Website: www.nekokura.co.jp
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/nekokurahostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nekokurahostel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nekokura5

Have you ever been to Fukuoka? Which hostel did you stay with before? I actually stayed with another hostel last February 2019 – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. Check out my hostel of the day feature about this hostel here. Fukuoka may not have many affordable accommodation options at the moment but at least it still has decent options to choose from.

I am in constant search for hostels to stay with & feature in this site. Do you know a nice hostel you’ve stayed with in the past? Share your suggestions below! You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for joining me in today’s hostel feature. Until the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.