Last October 18-26 commenced our almost 1 year long wait for our Japan trip to happen. It was November 2015 when we scored a 3,600+  airline fare MNL-NRT, KIX-MNL via Cebu Pacific. If that is some sort of jargon to you, the route we got is Manila to Narita (Tokyo), and out Kansai (Osaka) to Manila. 3,600 for Japan!! Yeah, it felt like we won the lottery that freaking moment.

Since we had a whole year to plan for our trip, we tried to squeeze in rigorous researching and planning in between our busy schedules. Uhm, erase that! I did all the planning. Yes, only me.

But it wasn't that too hard. I have Japan Guide, some blogs here and there, and Google/Google Maps. I googled everything that I wanted to know. The routes, map, weather etc. For the apps that I used, check this out. (Must have mobile apps in Japan)

FLIGHT DETAILS:
18-Oct	5J 5054	ETA 5:20AM - 10:30AM
26-Oct	5J 827	ETD 8:40PM - 11:45PM
DAY 1	ARRIVAL - TOKYO
2:30AM	Meet up at NAIA Terminal 3
3:00AM	Travel Tax Payment, Immigration
4:50AM	Boarding
5:20AM	Flight Departure
10:35AM	Flight Arrival at NARITA Airport
11:00AM	Finished Immigration, Pick up Klook Wifi
12NN	Purchase NEX train ticket & SUICA card
2PM	Arrive at AIRBNB Shinjuku Area
3PM	Late lunch at SUKIYA
5PM	Explore Omotesando, Takashita Dori, Haraujuku
6PM	Shibuya Station - Crossing - Hachiko
7:30PM	Dinner at ICHIRAN RAMEN
8:30PM	Family mart grocery for our breakfast
DAY 2	TOKYO DISNEY SEA
	Whole day Disney Sea
DAY 3	TOKYO - ASAKUSA, AKIHABARA, ODAIBA
8AM	Explore Meiji Shrine
10AM	Walk around Akihabara
12NN	Lunch
2PM	Walk around Asakusa
4PM	Explore Odaiba
8PM	Back to hotel.
DAY 4	TOKYO - HAKONE
7:00AM	Travel to Shinjuku Station
8AM	Bought Hakone 2 Day Pass at Odakyu Travel in Shinjuku Station
9:00AM	Arrival at Odawara Station
10:30AM	Arrrival at our Ryokan. Drop off Luggage.
	Gora to Sounzan
11:00AM	Owakudani
	Lunch
1:30PM	Togendai to Hakone-machi
1:50PM	Lake Ashi Boat sightseeing Tour via Pirate Ship
2:20PM	Hakone-machiko
2:50PM	Moto-Hakone to Hakone-Yumoto
3:30PM	Hakone Shrine
5:00PM	Back to Ryokan. Onsen bath. Dinner etc.
DAY 5	HAKONE - KYOTO
8AM	Breakfast
8:30AM	Check out hotel. Store luggage.
9:00AM	Gora Park
11AM	Hakone Open Air Museum
12:00PM	Lunch
1:00PM	Back to hotel to get baggage (Lots of coin lockers at Gora Park, Hakone Open Air)
2:30PM	Shinkansen to Kyoto
6:00PM	Arrive Kyoto
	Dinner
7:00PM	Check in Airbnb
DAY 6	KYOTO
7:30AM	Full day KYOTO
8AM	Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
12NN	Fushimi Inari Shrine
2PM	Kiyomizu-dera temple
4PM	Walk to Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka streets
5PM	Gion
DAY 7	NARA-OSAKA
8AM	Depart Kyoto to Nara by JR Line
9AM	Leave baggage at Nara Tourist Center
	Tour NARA (Travel to/fro by Bus)
12NN	Lunch
1:30PM	Travel to OSAKA
3PM	Check in Osaka
6PM	Sightseeing Osaka (Dotonburi, Shinsaibashi)
DAY 8	OSAKA - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
7:45AM	Express Pass
8:30AM	Universal Studios
6:30PM	Departure
DAY 9	OSAKA - FLIGHT DEPARTURE
10AM	Osaka Museum for Housing and Living
12:00PM	Kimono Rental
1:30PM	Lunch (Mcdo)
2:30PM	Osaka Castle
4PM	Back to Air Bnb
6PM	Airport - check in
9:10PM	Flight Departure

I will try my best to blog our day to day travel in Japan and leave you some tips. There are a lot of hits and miss and a lot of experiences, how we could have saved more from this travel. And how we have spent only about 60K for the 9 Days travel in Japan. 

If DIY travel is not your thing. Don't fret, Wanderstruck Travel and Tours would be very pleased to help you.

For Inquiry:
Wanderstruck Travel & Tours 
Office Address: Unit 2 #18 21st. Ave. Cubao Quezon City Philippines 1109 
Telefax (63.2) 4220785 / 9752331 / 9111735
Mobile 0917 854 3779  / 0923 533 2899 
Email: reservations@wander-struck.com
Website: www.wander-struck.com

Read More »

Last August, I got an invite to participate in the Third Edition of the Xi'an Silk Road International Tourism Expo (XSRITE) held in Xi'An, China. This means I have to secure a tourist/business visa to China.

Having done so. I'll share with you the steps I took in successfully getting a visa to China.

For first time applicants, below are the requirements you need to secure.

1) Passport – Original passport that is valid for at least another 6 months with at least one blank visa page, a photocopy of the passport's information/photo page and emergency contact page. The previous old passport, if available, is required to be submitted.

2) Visa Application Form – You must submit truthfully completed and signed Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China. Do not leave any field blank. Write N/A if the question does not apply to you.

3) Photo – Affix one color photo on the Application Form. The photo should be recent, front view, white background, in 48mm x 33mm size without head covering. Glue the photo to the appropriate field. Stapled/taped/clipped/detached photos will not be accepted.

4) Travel itinerary and reservation of round-trip airline ticket and hotel, or invitation letters from China.

5) Proof of Finances and Employment (any one below)
    Bank Certificate - at least Php 100,000 deposit balance including the past 6 months history of your
                                 bank account and the receipt for payment of this certificate
    BIR-stamped income tax return form
    Certificate of Employment - detailing your salary and the length of your employment
    Business Registration Certificate - for business owners

What to do next?

After completing all necessary documents, it is now time to go to the embassy which is located at the 2nd Floor, World Center Building, 330 Buendia Avenue (Gil Puyat), Makati City. 
Application time is only between 9AM-11AM Mondays to Fridays

When you arrive, get a number stub from the staff by the door. They will check all your documents and verify if there are requirements lacking. After that, wait for your number to be called at Counter 3 or 4.

When your number is called, submit your documents to the window assigned. The officer, then, will give you a RELEASE SLIP  indicating the date on when you should claim your Chinese visa. In my case, it's after 4 business days.

Visa Releasing

When you get there, get a number stub from the staff by the door again. Wait for your number to be called and pay the visa fees. Claim your passport, stamped with visa, and off you go home. It's that easy.

Visa Fee (Unit: Peso) and Processing Time

Number of Entries	Single	Double	6 months multiple	Over 6 months Multiple
Philippine Passport	1400	2100	2800	4200

Regular processing time is 4 working days.(for example, apply on Monday and pick up on Thursday.)

Express service (third working day release): an additional fee of 1100 pesos per visa will be charged.

Rush service (second working day release): an additional fee of 1700 pesos per visa will be charged.

Pay visa fees when collecting passport.

Only cash payment is accepted.

Visa Processing thru Travel Agency
PHP 2,600/pax 
PHP 2,000/pax if availing tour package

For Inquiry:
Wanderstruck Travel & Tours 
Office Address: Unit 2 #18 21st. Ave. Cubao Quezon City Philippines 1109 
Telefax (63.2) 4220785 / 9752331 / 9111735
Mobile 0917 854 3779  / 0923 533 2899 
Email: reservations@wander-struck.com
Website: www.wander-struck.com

Read More »

I am back after a 2 year long hiatus. So here I am, trying to educate my readers some of my secret on how to travel smartly.

Some would think I'm such a big spender because I travel most of the time. But I am totally not!

Travel tip #1
When applying for a credit card, make sure that they have this special benefit - Complimentary Lounge Access. This saves you a lot of money from spending on food and coffee! Security Bank Diners gives you access to international lounges too. RCBC, Citibank, BDO, Unionbank for lounges here in NAIA. Cool diba?

Travel tip #2
If you have the passion, start your own travel business. My recent trip to Xi'An, China is almost all expense paid. Don't ask me how. Enroll in a start up seminar. TRC gives such seminars on how to put your own travel business.

Travel tip #3
Charge your airline tickets, hotel accommodation, tour tickets abroad in a credit card where it gives free travel insurance. RCBC and BPI have this benefit. This saves you a lot!

Travel tip #4
Convert all your credit card reward points to miles. I had mine converted to Mabuhay Miles for a free trip to Batanes. That saves me - what - 12 thousand pesos for a roundtrip fare!!

Travel tip #5
Get a local sim in your country destination. This saves you from the horror of paying terrible roaming fees. In Dubai, I only got it for USD 20 which gave me 1GB of data and free minutes of local calls too for 5 days. Do the math and learn how much you can save if you do this.

That's all for now.

Read More »

We also got a very good deal at 906 Riverside via Agoda. Scored it for just USD 40/night. Strategic location, spacious room and comfortable bed. 

Read More »

Our stay was a very quick one but I can definitely recommend this guesthouse to everyone on a budget. 

We booked our stay in Agoda for just around USD 15 per AC double room for one night. It was a very good deal considering it's location. The guesthouse is just a 15 minute walk to famous Jonker Street and the Red Square. 

While the rate includes breakfast. Breakfast is very minimal, only toast and coffee. But there are plenty of cheap hawkers surrounding the area. 

The place is huge. I don't know how many rooms this guesthouse have. But what I like is that they have plenty of restrooms and are clean too. 

Too bad we only we stayed for 1 night and have to transfer to 906 Riverside. But given the chance I go back to Melaka, would love to stay at this guesthouse again. 

Read More »

PI don't recommend booking the bus tickets online. No options for rebooking in case your flight gets rescheduled, worst cancelled.

We booked our bus tickets in advance via Catchthatbus.com. However, Air Asia has a schedule realignment making us arrive in Kuala Lumpur a day ahead. We tried rebooking the Transnasional bus by emailing the third party provider but they just kept telling Transnasional cannot be contacted. 

Good thing we have a Couchsurfer friend who was in KL the day we arrive. He was so kind to pick us up at the airport and drop us off our guesthouse in Melaka. 

Lesson learned. I guess it's just safe to book the tickets upon arrival. No waste of effort and money in case of flight disruption. 

Read More »