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2-Day Sapporo Itinerary: Best Places To See In Sapporo, Japan On A Budget

By Dan Forteza

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While many travelers see the city of Sapporo as a transit hub to access Hokkaido’s mountains and hot springs, there are enough worthwhile attractions to keep you here for days. Summer is the season for beer and food festivals. In February, despite the harsh cold, Sapporo’s population literally doubles during the famous Festival of Snow and Ice.

But if you only have 2 days in Sapporo and surely don’t want to miss those must-see places in the city, this blog is for you. Here, I’ve put together my do-it-yourself Sapporo itinerary, specifically for budget travelers, which includes Sapporo’s top attractions.

Meet Pepper the humanoid robot. I met him at Tanukikuji Underground Mall | Sapporo itinerary — Meet Pepper the humanoid robot. I met him at Tanukikuji Underground Mall | Dantravels.org

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

WHERE IS SAPPORO?

Sapporo is the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is also the fifth-largest city of Japan by population. It is about 1-½ hour flight away from Tokyo and could take up to 8 hours if you go by bullet train from Tokyo.

If you go in winter as I did, everything is so white and pristine…a beautiful winter wonderland for people like me who grew up in a tropical country!

Language: Japanese
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
Airport: CTS
Preferred mode of transportation: Trams / Subway
Time Zone: GMT +9

HOW I GOT THERE:

Coming from Tokyo, I bought a cheap flight ticket to Sapporo via Jetstar Air. It was actually much cheaper (and of course way faster) than going by a bullet train. There are a lot of economy flights going to Sapporo so it’s better if you go by plane.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Subways and Trams are the best way to get around Sapporo. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!”
- Subway – Sapporo has three subway lines that can take you to many places throughout the city. Fares are generally anywhere from 200 yen to 360 yen per ride, depending on how far you’re going. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines outside the stations.
- Trams or Streetcars – Sapporo’s tram network is one of the city’ more unique transportation methods. With only about seven minutes between each streetcar, it is one of the fastest ways for you to get around some areas of town. The fare is only 200 yen, so it’s a reasonable alternative to subways or trains.

If you already have a prepaid Suica card, you can still use it in Sapporo to pay for transport. If you haven’t, you can buy a Suica card online at GoVoyagin.com for pickup at Narita or Haneda airport.

TIP: Your navigation would be much easier if you are using Google Maps. Google Maps was my savior in Sapporo! In Japan, it is very reliable and accurate. If you’re looking for travel directions, it will give you all different options and how much it will cost for each option. You can either buy a sim card here or rent a pocket wifi here for pick-up at various airports across Japan.

WHERE DID I STAY?

I arrived at New Chitose Airport (CTS) at around 8:00 AM from a 1-½-hour flight from Tokyo. Outside CTS airport, there are buses departing every 15-20 minutes from about 5:30 am to 10:30 pm. Taking a bus is the cheapest option (costing JPY 1,030) and take about an hour to downtown Sapporo with stopovers from various stations and hotels around the city.

So I then took the airport shuttle bus to go downtown Sapporo at Minami 3 Jo Susukino stop where my hostel is about 2-3 minute walk.
- Bus ticket from CTS airport to Minami 3 Jo Susukino – 1,030 JPY (9.7 USD)
Capsule Inn Sapporo: 2-night stay (click here to book)
- Hostel room type: Capsule Type Bed
- Hostel rate: 2,500 JPY (23 USD) per night
- Important: This hostel is for MEN only

NOTE: There were no private bathrooms in the hostel, only the so-called indoor ONSEN. As a foreigner, it was a bit strange for me to strip off naked and bathe side by side with other people. But at the end of the day, it was a unique yet memorable experience I would treasure! Don’t worry, cameras are not allowed inside the onsen bathroom. Keep in mind also the Onsen etiquette in the photo below.

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

You can book a room at any Sapporo hotel through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

If Sapporo hostel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

MY 2-DAY SAPPORO ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: SUSUKINO

Susukino is a vibrant and busy pocket of Sapporo. This is also called the downtown of Sapporo. Around Susukino, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and shopping centers. There is a subway stop here and an underground passageway connecting you to Odori Park and other parts of the city. I spent most of my time in this area since it is closed to my hostel, Odori park, and the TV tower.

At Susukino taken from McDonalds’ | Dantravels.org

- Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
- Nearest train / tram station: Susukino station

2nd Stop: Tanukikoji Shopping Street

Located between Odori Park and Susukino, this above-ground but covered shopping street is a number of blocks long. So if you’re going to Odori Park from Susukino by foot as I did, you’ll pass Tanukikoji Shopping Street. This place is full of bars, food shops, game arcades, souvenir shop, animal cafe, drugstores, and everything! Perfect to buy some cheap souvenirs haha!

Tanukikuji Shopping Centers | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train / tram station: Tanukikoji station

3rd Stop: Odori Park

In summer, this park is beautifully decorated with flowers and fountains. In winter, it becomes spectacular because of the famous Yuki Matsuri, the Festival of Snow and Ice. However, when I visited in late February, the festival had just ended and the park was still covered in snow.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Nearest train station: Odori Station

4th Stop: Sapporo TV Tower

You should definitely visit this TV tower as it is one of the main landmarks in Sapporo. The tower is located along Odori Park, and from its observatory deck, you can enjoy panoramic views of Sapporo City and the park below. You can buy tickets here in advance.

Overlooking Sapporo TV Tower at Odori Park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Nearest train / tram station: Odori station

DAY 2:

5th Stop: Sapporo Tram Ride

Riding the tram in Sapporo was an interesting experience since Tokyo does not have streetcars. Unlike the subway, the tram lets you enjoy the sights and sounds of the city while traveling. The fare was also very affordable at only 200 Yen. The tram’s circular loop brought me around Sapporo and eventually to my next destination — Fushimi Inari Shrine.

NOTE: On weekends and holidays, they offer the special Dosanko Pass, which gives unlimited rides for one day for only 360 Yen. Children can also ride free when accompanied by an adult carrying the pass.

An inside look of one of the trams in Sapporo | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

6th Stop: Fushimi Inari Shrine

Visiting this shrine requires a short uphill hike from the nearby tram stop. The area is peaceful and scenic, especially during winter when the falling snow creates a beautiful atmosphere. The long row of torii gates at the entrance was especially memorable and provided plenty of great photo opportunities.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Nishisen Juroku Jo station

7th Stop: Sapporo Clock Tower

A Japanese friend once told me that the Sapporo Clock Tower is Hokkaido’s most famous landmark because it is one of the oldest structures in the region. Built in 1878 during the early development of Sapporo, the tower stands just about 200 meters from Odori Park.

There is an entrance fee to go inside, but I decided to admire it from outside. Honestly, taking a good photo with the clock tower was enough for me!

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Nearest train station: Odori station

8th Stop: Mt. Moiwa

The viewpoint at Mt. Moiwa offers one of the best panoramic views of Sapporo City and Ishikari Bay. This is definitely something you should not miss while in Sapporo.

Using Google Maps directions, you can hike for a little over an hour from Ropeway Iriguchi station through a well-marked trail lined with Buddhist statues. However, be extra careful during winter because the trail can become heavily covered in snow.

If you prefer not to hike, you can take a shuttle bus instead. From Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop, walk about 3 minutes to the free shuttle bus going to the cable car station. From there, two cable cars will bring you to the summit: one to the halfway station with a gift shop, and another to the top where you’ll find an observatory deck and café.

You can also book a Sapporo Night Tour here.

The snowy city of Sapporo taken from Mt. Moiwa’s viewpoint | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 3–4 hours
Nearest tram station: Ropeway Iriguchi station

What do you think of this 2-day Sapporo itinerary?

I hope that you find this 2-DAY SAPPORO ITINERARY useful!

There are other awesome (and cheap!) Sapporo tours available at Viator Sapporo.

If you have more days to spend in Sapporo, you can also include these places in your itinerary:

Hokkaidō Shrine
Jozankei Onsen Hot Spring
Maruyama-koen Park
Shikotsu-Tōya National Park
Moerenuma Park
Sapporo Beer Museum

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com — I usually book my hostel accommodations through Booking.com. Room accommodations range from budget hostels to luxury hotels, and many properties offer free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options.
Airbnb — Try Airbnb for cozy and comfortable rooms during your Sapporo trip. I’ve used Airbnb on several of my travels and loved the experience!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up using my link and get up to 42 USD (2,200 PHP) off your first stay. Click this link to claim the discount.

Flights
- KAYAK — Most of my flight bookings are through KAYAK, one of the world’s leading travel search engines.

I suggest checking KAYAK (HERE) since they often offer cheaper fares compared to other booking websites.

Sapporo Package Tours
- Viator — One of the leading resources for finding and booking travel experiences around the world.

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Sapporo.

2-Day Yangon Itinerary: Best Places To See In Yangon, Myanmar

By Dan Forteza

If you’re curious about which places are worth visiting when you only have two days in Yangon, then you’re in the right place. In this blog, I’ve put together the perfect 2-day Yangon itinerary featuring the top attractions in the city.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel — a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines .

I flew to Yangon, Myanmar on my 28th birthday, so this trip became extremely memorable for me. Unfortunately, I only had two days to explore the city!

WHERE IS YANGON?

Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city and formerly known as Rangoon, is about a 1½-hour flight from Bangkok, 3 hours from Singapore, and approximately 6½ hours from Dubai. The city is located in Lower Myanmar at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers.

Yangon is also conveniently close to three of Myanmar’s most popular destinations. It takes roughly 1½ hours by plane to reach Bagan (via Nyaung U Airport), Mandalay, and Inle Lake (via Heho Airport). This makes Yangon a perfect gateway for entering and leaving the country while still offering plenty of attractions and activities for travelers.

Language: Burmese
Currency: Burmese Kyat (MMK)
Airport: RGN
Preferred mode of transportation: GrabTaxi
Time Zone: GMT +6:30

Burmese men wearing traditional longyi — Burmese men wearing their traditional LONGYI | Dantravels.org

HOW I GOT THERE

Finding a cheap flight to Yangon from Southeast Asia is relatively easy and affordable. I booked mine from Manila, Philippines with a connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I suggest checking Kayak since they usually offer cheaper fares compared to other booking websites.

HOW TO GET AROUND

For travelers, the best way to get around Yangon is by taxi. These days, the easiest way to hail one is through the Grab app. There are local ride-hailing apps available, but Singapore-based Grab is much more reliable and works similarly to Uber.

Make sure to have the Grab app installed and purchase a local SIM card with mobile internet once you arrive in Yangon.

WHERE DID I STAY?

I arrived at Yangon International Airport (RGN) at around 8:00 AM after a 2½-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. The first things I looked for were an ATM to withdraw Burmese Kyats and a SIM card with internet access to help me navigate the city.

After getting mobile data, I booked a Grab taxi going to my hostel in downtown Yangon.

SIM card with internet: 6,000 Kyats
Grab Taxi to hostel: 6,700 Kyats

Hostel name: Agga Youth Hotel
Room type: 1 Bed in 12-Bed Mixed Dormitory
Hostel rate: 272.17 PHP (5.4 USD) per night as of July 2019

Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

Room at Agga Youth Hostel — My room at Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

View from Agga Youth Hostel — View from my window at Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

Bed at Agga Youth Hostel — My bed at Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

Shared bathroom at Agga Youth Hostel — Shared Bathroom at Agga Youth Hostel in Yangon | Dantravels.org

Book via Agoda

Book via Booking.com

Get Airbnb $43 Free Credit

You can book hotels in Yangon through Agoda or Booking.com. I personally prefer Booking.com because many accommodations offer free cancellation and pay-at-the-property options. There are plenty of choices ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotels.

If hotels are not your thing, try Airbnb. Staying in an Airbnb gives you a more local experience and often makes you feel more connected to the city or neighborhood you’re visiting. I’ve used Airbnb on several trips and really enjoyed the experience.

If you’re new to Airbnb, you can get up to 42 USD travel credit by signing up through this referral link .

2-DAY YANGON ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Shwedagon Pagoda

Stunning Shwedagon Pagoda is well worth a trip to visit! If you are visiting Yangon, it’s a must-see. Shwedagon Pagoda is large and looms over the city. It is considered the landmark of Yangon and even Myanmar as a whole. You really can’t miss it!

All shoes must be taken off before entering and your feet will get very dirty so take some wipes for afterwards (I was given free wipes so I guess that was included in the entrance fee).

Duration (getting there + visiting): 3 hours
Shwedagon Pagoda entrance fee: 10,000 Kyats
Shwedagon Pagoda opening hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon | Dantravels.org

2nd Stop: Sule Pagoda

The Sule Pagoda is right in the heart of Yangon. It’s at the intersection of two main thoroughfares, Maha Bandula and Sule Pagoda Road, specifically in the center of the traffic circle where these two major roads circle a roundabout. All shoes must be taken off before entering as well.

TIP: There will be a shoe-keeping price of 1,000 Kyats, so do yourself a favor and bring a plastic bag to put your shoes in. I paid an additional 1,000 Kyats for the shoe-keeping guy before entering haha. And if someone offers you a bouquet of flowers, just ignore them and head straight to the entrance. If you accept it, they’ll make you pay 1,000 Kyats like what happened to me.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Entrance fee: 4,000 Kyats
Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

3rd Stop: Yangon Circular Train

Hop aboard the circular train in Yangon for an authentic experience of the city and its suburbs. Traveling here gives you the chance to witness daily life in Yangon as it passes through suburban districts rarely visited by tourists. The nearest train station to my hostel is Lanmadaw station.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Train ticket price: 200 Kyats
Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 5:10 PM

DAY 2:

4th Stop: Reclining Buddha

Also known as Chaukhtatgyi Buddha, the Buddha itself was quite mesmerizing to look at. The Reclining Buddha image is decorated with very expressive colors, white face, red lips, blue eye shadow, golden robe, and red fingernails. You can take photos from a high platform located at the feet of the Buddha as well.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Opening hours: 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM
Entrance fee: I actually got here for FREE but some say the fee is 5 USD per person.

5th Stop: Kandawgyi Park & Lake

Kandawgyi Park in Yangon is a very nice place to have a quiet walk in the shaded tropical gardens around the lake or spend a relaxed couple of hours. It will be quite easy to forget that right outside it is a busy street.

Kandawgyi Lake, also known as Royal Lake, is an artificial lake built by the British as a water reservoir. It offers views of the Royal barge in the lake as well as views of the nearby Shwedagon Pagoda.

There are snacks sold inside the park and even a lakeside restaurant, but feel free to bring your own snacks and do a picnic.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Entrance Fee: FREE

6th Stop: Botahtaung Pagoda

The Botataung Pagoda is a famous pagoda located in downtown Yangon near the Yangon River. There are many souvenir shops and interesting places alongside the pagoda.

I really love this place especially the riverside view. There are also several street food stalls around.

But during the time I visited the pagoda, it was under renovation so I didn’t bother entering. To appreciate the pagoda more, it should look like this without those construction poles.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Entrance fee: 2 USD per person

Botataung Pagoda under renovation | Dantravels.org

7th Stop: Yangon River

After Botataung Pagoda, I went for a walk along Strand Road to get a good view of the Yangon River near Nan Thida ferry terminal. There are some good restaurants here to fill your hunger after touring around.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

8th Stop: Tooth Relic Pagoda

The Tooth Relic Pagoda, locally known as Swe Taw Myat Pagoda, was my last stop for this Yangon itinerary. The pagoda was constructed to enshrine a sacred Buddha tooth relic.

It was believed to be one of the teeth of Gautama Buddha who died some 2,500 years ago. Enshrined along with the original relic were two ivory copies, one of which is still enshrined in Swe Taw Myat today.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

What do you think of this 2-day Yangon itinerary?

I hope that you find this 2-DAY YANGON ITINERARY useful! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com – I usually book my hostel accommodation through Booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through Booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options.
- Airbnb – Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Yangon itinerary! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it.

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 PHP) off your first stay.

Flights
- KAYAK – All of my flight bookings are from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check KAYAK as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Yangon and Bagan Package Tours
- Viator – Viator is one of the world’s leading resources for researching, finding, and booking travel experiences worldwide.

Check Viator to find the best tour deals in Yangon and Bagan.

4-Day Russia Itinerary With Cost Breakdown | From My Turkey-Russia Solo Trip

By Dan Forteza

Russia, the largest country in the world, occupies one-tenth of all the land on earth. Thus for many travelers, it’s often difficult to decide where to start and where to go for such huge countries like Russia.

But no worries, to help you with your Russia itinerary, I’ll be sharing the list of places I’ve visited during my 4-day stay in Russia. I will also include the breakdown of cost during my trip for your reference.

Although I have only visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, starting off your journey in either of these two megacities will for sure bring the best of Russia in you!

NOTE: I stayed for 3 days in Turkey before flying to Russia. If you want to know the places I’ve visited in Turkey, here is my 3-day itinerary in Turkey with cost breakdown.

Skyscrapers at downtown Moscow | Dantravels.org

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article.

NOTE: For Philippine Passport holders, visiting Russia requires a visa. If you are just on your way to getting your Russian visa, read my blog on how to get your Russian Tourist Visa HERE.

Route Details with Costs

Manila (MNL) to Dubai (DXB) via Cebu Pacific – 6,499 PHP
Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (SAW) via Pegasus – 8,904 PHP
Istanbul (SAW) to Moscow (DME) via Pegasus – 6,072 PHP
Moscow to St. Petersburg via Russian Rail – 3,530 PHP
St Petersburg (LED) to Moscow (SVO) via Aeroflot – 4,084 PHP
Moscow (SVO) to Dubai (DXB) via Aeroflot – 10,914 PHP
Dubai (DXB) to Manila (MNL) via Cebu Pacific – 2,160 PHP

Dubai Airport — Passengers waiting for their flights at Dubai International Airport | Dantravels.org

NOTE: Philippine Passport holders transferring at Dubai International Airport (DXB) do not need a UAE visa as long as they remain within the airside transit area.

RUSSIA 🇷🇺

Language: Russian
Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB)
Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 52 PHP = 62.8 RUB
Preferred Transportation: Subway / Trains
Time Zone: GMT +3

It was a 3-hour flight from Istanbul to Moscow. I arrived at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME) at around 3:30 PM. Russia was the 16th country I’ve visited.

TIP: Buying a local SIM card is highly recommended even for short stays. Google Maps and internet access are lifesavers while traveling.

Saint Basil Cathedral — Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square | Dantravels.org

MY 4D/3N RUSSIA ITINERARY with COST BREAKDOWN

DAY 1 Photo Gallery

DAY 1 RUSSIA ITINERARY

Transport from Airport to Hostel using Aeroexpress Train and Metro.
Check in at Hostels Rus – Avtozavodskaya.
Tour around Red Square.
Visit Saint Basil Cathedral, Kremlin, Lenin Mausoleum, and GUM.
Walk around Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge.

TIP: Buy a 3-day unlimited metro pass. It is worth it if you plan to move around Moscow often.

DAY 1 EXPENSES

SIM Card (MegaFon) – 1,000 RUB
Aeroexpress Train – 500 RUB
Metro Subway – 55 RUB
Food at Teremok – 220 RUB
3-day unlimited metro pass – 415 RUB
Pancake, soup, tea – 190 RUB

DAY 1 TOTAL: 2380 RUB = 38 USD = 1970 PHP

DAY 2 Photo Gallery

DAY 2 RUSSIA ITINERARY

Return to Red Square early morning.
Visit GUM shopping center.
Climb Sparrow Hills.
Explore VDNKh amusement park.
Visit Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve.
Explore Tsaritsyno Palace & Museum-Reserve.
See the Ruined Tower.

DAY 2 EXPENSES

Ice cream – 100 RUB
McDonald’s meal – 261 RUB
Chinese Restaurant food – 330 RUB

DAY 2 TOTAL: 691 RUB = 11 USD = 572 PHP

DAY 3 Photo Gallery

Inside the train bound to St. Petersburg

DAY 3 RUSSIA ITINERARY

Morning rest at the hostel.
Visit Moscow business district.
Take the night train to St. Petersburg.

NOTE: Night trains have bunk beds and are comfortable enough for sleeping.

DAY 3 EXPENSES

KFC Meal – 199 RUB
Bread – 50 RUB
Fanta – 50 RUB
Chicken with rice – 330 RUB
Toilet fee – 50 RUB
KFC burgers – 216 RUB

DAY 3 TOTAL: 895 RUB = 14.25 USD = 741 PHP

DAY 4 Photo Gallery

DAY 4 RUSSIA ITINERARY

Arrive in St. Petersburg.
Visit Admiralteyskaya Station.
Walk around downtown St. Petersburg.
Visit Hermitage Museum and Palace Square.
See Kazan Cathedral and St Isaac Cathedral.
Visit Peter and Paul Fortress.
See Cruiser Aurora.
Explore Peterhof Grand Palaces.

DAY 4 EXPENSES

Metro Subway – 45 RUB
KFC Meal – 283 RUB
Toilet Fee – 40 RUB
Bus Fare – 80 RUB
Airport Snacks – 158 RUB
Souvenirs – 70 RUB

DAY 4 TOTAL: 1,416 RUB = 62.6 USD = 3,265 PHP

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Booking.com – Great for hotels and hostels with free cancellation options.
Airbnb – Great for cozy rooms and apartments.
Trip.com – Useful for cheap flight bookings.
Russian Railway – Book train tickets in advance.
Viator – Find guided tours and travel experiences.

Book on Booking.com

Find Cheap Flights

Explore Tours

Final Thoughts

Russia is definitely an adventure of its own. The people I met were incredibly helpful and accommodating, making my Russia itinerary unforgettable.

I hope this guide helps you create your own Russia itinerary. Spasiba!

3-Day Turkey Itinerary With Cost Breakdown | From My Turkey-Russia Solo Trip

By DAN FORTEZA

When I got that cheap flight tickets of Manila-Dubai round-trip last year, I know that Dubai will never be my final destination. That’s why I never wasted my time booking another flight bound to another dream city of mine – Istanbul! Being the city that sits between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a paradise for a geography geek like myself. And I’m sure you’ll also enjoy Istanbul as much as I did. To help you with your Turkey itinerary, I’ll be sharing my actual day-to-day itinerary in this blog including the breakdown of cost during my trip to Turkey. Aside from Istanbul, I also went to the city of Bursa, 150 km south of Istanbul.

NOTE: Before returning to the Philippines, I flew to Russia after Turkey and spent a few days in the Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Feel free to read my other article about my 4-day itinerary in Russia with cost breakdown.

The stunning Bosporus Strait in Istanbul | Dantravels.org

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

NOTE: For Philippine Passport holders, visiting Turkey requires a visa. If you are just on your way to getting your Turkish visa, read my blog on how to get your Turkish Tourist Visa (click HERE).

Here are my flight ticket details with costs for this Turkey itinerary:

Manila (MNL) to Dubai (DXB) via Cebu Pacific – 6,499 PHP
Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (SAW) via Pegasus Airlines – 8,904 PHP
Istanbul (SAW) to Moscow (DME) via Pegasus Airlines – 6,072 PHP
Moscow (SVO) to Dubai (DXB) via Aeroflot – 10,914 PHP
Dubai (DXB) to Manila (MNL) via Cebu Pacific – 2,160 PHP

FLIGHT TICKETS TOTAL: 34,549 PHP = 665 USD

NOTE: For Philippine Passport holders who will go through flight transfer at Dubai International airport (DXB), you DO NOT need any sort of UAE visa as long as you stay within the airside area of the airport. Even if your next flight is on another terminal, you can transfer with ease using DXB’s terminal-to-terminal transport buses.

It was almost a 9-hour flight from Manila to Dubai. I arrived at Dubai International Airport (DXB) Terminal 1 at around 9:40 PM. I just need to transfer to DXB’s Terminal 2 for my next flight bound to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) at 4:20 AM (the next day). There is a dedicated transfer desk at Terminal 1 so I’ve transferred to Terminal 2 with ease by utilizing one of the airport’s transport buses. If you have check-in baggage with you, unfortunately there is a subjected fee for transferring check-in baggage. In my case, I only have a carry-on backpack with me and so the transfer was hassle-free.

Passengers waiting for their flights at Dubai International Airport | Dantravels.org

TURKEY 🇹🇷

Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY, TL)
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 5.72 TL
Prefer mode of transportation: Tram / Subway / Trains
Int’l Airports in this trip: Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
Time Zone: GMT + 3

After a restless night of flights and transfer, ISTANBUL has finally come to a reality! A city that straddles between two continents of Asia and Europe, definitely a dream come true seeing it with my own eyes!

I arrived at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen airport at around 8:10 AM as per schedule. It was almost a 5-hour flight from DXB airport. The first thing I looked for at the airport was an ATM to withdraw cash and then looked for a sim card (for internet connection) right after. See Day 1 expenses below to see sim card cost.

TIP: Some backpackers do not appreciate buying a sim card. But I always recommend buying one even if you’re just staying for a few days. Googling every thing is a life saver!

DAY 1: The exact moment I crossed the bridge in Istanbul linking Europe & Asia | Dantravels.org

MY 4D/3N TURKEY ITINERARY with COST BREAKDOWN

DAY 1 Photo Gallery

Havabus at Sabiha Goken Airport Turkey itinerary — Day 1: Havabus at Sabiha Goken Airport | Dantravels.org

Day 1: The Taksim Square | Dantravels.org

Inside of an old tram Turkey itinerary — Day 1: What the Inside of an old tram looks like | Dantravels.org

Galata Tower Turkey Itinerary — Day 1: Galata Tower behind me | Dantravels.org

Dikilitas Turkey Itinerary — DAY 1: At Dikilitas | Dantravels.org

Hagia Sophia Turkey itinerary — Day 1: Hagia Sophia behind me | Dantravels.org

Yeni Cami Sultanahmet Mosque Turkey Itinerary — DAY 1: Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) | Dantravels.org

Istanbul University Turkey itinerary — Day 1: At Istanbul University | Dantravels.org

Stunning ceiling design at Suleymaniye Mosque Turkey Itinerary — Day 1: Stunning ceiling design at Suleymaniye Mosque | Dantravels.org

Day 1: At the Grand Bazaar | Dantravels.org

Day 1: Waiting for Ferry going to Uskudar | Dantravels.org

Meet Zuhtu - my Turkish friend and guide — Day 1: Meet Zuhtu – my Turkish friend and guide. This is at Camlica Hill | Dantravels.org

A glimpse at Istanbul's Subway — Day 1: A glimpse at Istanbul’s Subway | Dantravels.org

DAY 1 TURKEY ITINERARY:

Transport from Airport to Hostel. The Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located on the Asian side and the journey can take around 90 minutes to downtown Istanbul. From the airport, I took the Havataş Bus going to Taksim Square. The bus operates from 4 AM to 1 AM. My hostel is about 6-10 min walk from Taksim Square or Taksim metro station.
- Hostel name: Chambers of the Boheme (click HERE to book)
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Hostel rate: Refer to Day 1 expenses below.

TIP: When booking your hotel/hostel, look it up on Google Maps first and ensure that it is not too far from a subway/train station.

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

Tour around Istanbul with a Turkish friend. I was restless but definitely ready to see and explore Istanbul on my first day. I met Zuhtu (he’s Turkish) from Couchsurfing. He intended to tour me around the city when I arrived at my hostel. I was with him the whole day and he helped me explore Istanbul like a local. Zuhtu doesn’t speak English much and so I had to use Google Translate to communicate with him sometimes. If we still could not understand each other, we just both laugh it off!
- Taksim Square. We started off the tour at Taksim Square which is a 6-minute walk from my hostel. It is a major tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops, and hotels.
- Galata Tower. We took an old tram (also called nostaljik tramvay) from Taksim to Karaköy tram stop and then headed to the Galata Tower. The tower is one of Istanbul’s most iconic symbols.

NOTE: Zuhtu even bought me an Istanbul Kart, it is an all-around public transportation boarding pass in Istanbul. I just need to top it up once empty. The card costs 10 TL which already has a 4 TL load (so the card itself is only 6TL).

- Dikilitas. We visited the Dikilitas park situated within Sultanahmet district. We took the metro train to get here from Sishane station.
- Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). From the heart of Sultanahmet district, this breath-taking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey!
- Hagia Sophia. Just across the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia is regarded as the eighth wonder of the World, the Hagia Sophia (or Ayasofya) in Sultanahmet is surely one of Istanbul’s most impressive sights.
- Istanbul University. Founded in 1453, this is the oldest university in Turkey! From Sultanahmet train station, we traveled to Beyazit train station to get here.
- Suleymaniye Mosque. Another incredible mosque in Istanbul! From Istanbul University, we took a stroll toward Suleymaniye Mosque. The mosque is situated in some elevation and thus there’s a spot here where you can see a scenic view of the Bosphorus Strait! This strait forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia.
- Grand Bazaar. Our walking tour continued here at Grand Bazaar. This is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. We had hamburgers here and it was Zuhtu’s treat! Afterward, we strolled along Eminönü Pier to catch the ferry going to Uskudar district. So we were technically crossing the Bosphorus Strait to get to the Asian side of Istanbul.
- View of Istanbul from Camlica Hill. Zuhtu said he wanted to show me this amazing place on top of a hill where I could see the entire Istanbul! It’s in Camlica Hill. From Uskudar, we took a bus to Camlica and continued moving on foot until we reached the top of the hill. Being tired and restless that I was, I had no regrets. The place was truly beautiful and with a scenic night view of both the Asian and European parts of Istanbul in one scene! There are also restaurants and cafes at Camlica Hill. It was around 10:00 PM when we left the place.
- Back home to Taksim Square. We both took a bus to get back to the European side of Istanbul and then took a metro train to get us home. I don’t remember which train station he got off but what I do remember is that Zuhtu was one of the nicest and most accommodating persons I’ve ever met. I got off at Taksim train station.

Hostel Photo Gallery

Chambers of the Boheme Istanbul — Chambers of the Boheme Hostel in Istanbul | Dantravels.org

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DAY 1 EXPENSES:

Sim card with internet (Turk Telekom) – 100 TL
Havabus ticket to Taksim Square – 15 TL
Bottled juice drink and bread – 6.15 TL
Room accommodation fee (3-night stay) – 133.5 TL
Food (rice and chicken and chocolate) – 16 TL
Top up Istanbul Kart – 10 TL

DAY 1 TOTAL: 280.65 TL = 49 USD

DAY 2 Photo Gallery

Sultanahmet station Turkey itinerary — Day 2: Sultanahmet Train Station | Dantravels.org

At Divanyulo street Turkey itinerary — Day 2: At Divanyulo street | Dantravels.org

The Marco Polo Tours at Divanyulo street Turkey itinerary — Day 2: The Marco Polo Tours at Divanyolu street | Dantravels.org

The Çemberlitaş Sütunu (Column of Constantine) Turkey Itinerary — Day 2: The Çemberlitaş Sütunu (Column of Constantine) | Dantravels.org

Day 2: The Blue Mosque at Sultanahmet | Dantravels.org

The other side of Hagia Sophia Turkey Itinerary — Day 2: The other side of Hagia Sophia | Dantravels.org

Cart selling Simit Turkey itinerary — Day 2: Cart selling Simit | Dantravels.org

The crowd at Eminönü Pier Turkey itinerary — Day 2: The crowd at Eminönü Pier | Dantravels.org

Galata Bridge (Karakoy-Eminonu) Bridge Turkey Itinerary — Day 2: Man fishing at Galata Bridge (Karakoy-Eminonu Bridge) | Dantravels.org

Ferry at Galata Bridge Turkey itinerary — Day 2: Ferry at Galata Bridge | Dantravels.org

Dinner Turkey itinerary — Day 2: My 16.5-TRY dinner – Chicken , rice, salad, choco, water | Dantravels.org

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DAY 2 TURKEY ITINERARY:

Take a rest in the morning. I needed this after the tiring day yesterday!
Create a Do-it-Yourself Walk Tour in the afternoon. I wanted to re-explore Istanbul on my own so I created this simple DIY walking tour. Google Maps definitely helped me a lot where to locate places and deciding where to start. From Taksim train station, I headed to Sultanahmet area to again see the iconic Hagia Sophia and explore more of Sultanahmet and Eminönü.
- Divanyolu street. After getting off Sultanahmet station, I took a stroll along this road.
- Çemberlitaş Sütunu (Column of Constantine). This is also known as the Burnt Stone or the Burnt Pillar.
- Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque). I really wouldn’t mind seeing this mosque again!
- Hagia Sophia. And this one, too!
- Topkapi Palace Museum. This palace is just a few blocks from Hagia Sophia.
  - Istanbul Archeology Museum
  - Museum of Ancient Orient
  - Gulhane Park
  - Column of the Goths
- Eminönü Pier. Right after Sultanahmet area, I moved to Eminonu Pier.
- Galata Bridge – Just 10 minutes from the Pier, I took a walk across Galata bridge.

DAY 2 EXPENSES:

Nescafe drink and biscuit – 6.50 TL
Bursa Tour ticket – 190 TL
Ice cream – 9 TL
Istanbul kart top-up – 20 TL
Food (chicken, rice, choco, veggies, spaghetti, bottled water) – 21.5 TL
Istanbul kart top up – 10 TL
Bottled water 1.5 TL
Food (chicken, rice, salad, choco, water) – 16.5 TL

DAY 2 TOTAL: 275 TL = 48 USD

DAY 3 Photo Gallery

Inside the tour bus going to Bursa Turkey Itinerary — Day 3: Inside the tour bus going to Bursa | Dantravels.org

Ferry heading to Bursa Pier is loaded with our tour bus Turkey itinerary — Day 3: This Ferry heading to Bursa Pier is loaded with our tour bus | Dantravels.org

The Bursa sign at the Green Mosque Turkey itinerary — Day 3: The Bursa sign at the Green Mosque | Dantravels.org

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DAY 3 TURKEY ITINERARY:

Bursa Day Tour. Bursa is regarded as the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire.

NOTE: We arrived back to Istanbul at 10:00 PM

DAY 3 EXPENSES:

Simit (bread) – 1.5 TL
Bottled water – 1 TL
Coffee & Bread – 10 TL
Toilet fee – 1 TL
Open Cable Car ride – 30 TL
Ice cream – 5 TL
Two Bottled water – 3 TL

NOTE: Lunch is included in the tour.

DAY 3 TOTAL: 51.5 TL = 9 USD

DAY 4 Photo Gallery

Nohutlu Pilav in Istanbul Turkey itinerary — Day 4: I love this Nohutlu Pilav! | Dantravels.org

Flight tickets to Moscow turkey itinerary — Day 4: My boarding pass to Moscow | Dantravels.org

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DAY 4 TURKEY ITINERARY:

Fly to Moscow. I left downtown Istanbul at around 7:00 AM to catch my flight to Moscow.

DAY 4 EXPENSES:

Food (2 x fried rice with chicken strip or Nohutlu Pilav) – 10 TL
Havabus ticket to Airport – 15 TL
Souvenirs (keychains) – 55 TL

DAY 4 TOTAL: 80 TL = 14 USD

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms!
Flights
- TRIP. All of my flight bookings are all from TRIP.
Istanbul Package Tours
- Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide.
- Bursa Tour – I booked at Marco Polo Tourism & Travel agency located at Divanyolu Street, Istanbul.

More Tours Here

The trip was absolutely quick! I’m sure you’d think that a three-and-a-half-day stay in Turkey is not enough. You’re right, but I did enjoy every second of it. No doubt.

It would be worth mentioning also that visiting Istanbul ticks the ‘Visit Europe continent’ in my travel bucket list because I was technically on the European soils!

If you’re just planning to visit Istanbul, go ahead and make it a reality! I hope that by the help of this Turkey itinerary blog will make your travel easy and convenient. Safe travels!

How To Apply For A Turkish Tourist Visa With Your Philippine Passport

By Dan Forteza

So you wanna go to Turkey? That’s right. Turkish tourist visa is the first thing you need to be concerned about in order to set your foot on the Turkish land.

Istanbul and its Bosporus Strait | Dantravels.org

In this blog, I will show you the step-by-step guide on how to get your tourist visa based on my experience. If you want to know the questions thrown at me during the interview, I created a separate blog post about that.

Click HERE to read the post so you’ll get an idea of what questions you’ll be facing during your interview.

Please note that I will only be discussing here the tourist visa, so if you’re looking for another type of visa other than the tourist visa, then this blog is not the right one for you.

But first, I’d like to start off by saying that no one can give you the guarantee of your Turkish visa’s approval – not me, not even a lawyer or a travel agent. If anyone does, is most likely a scammer.

As a travel blogger, what I can offer you here is just a guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that Turkish visa.

So let’s get started.

TWO WAYS TO GET A TURKISH TOURIST VISA

There are two (2) ways to get a Turkish Tourist visa.

(1) If you have a valid visa or residence permit from any one of the Schengen countries, or you have a valid US, UK or Ireland visa, then you may course your application online at www.evisa.gov.tr . This is the E-Turkish Visa.

The time I applied for my Turkish Visa, I have none of the above and thus I was not eligible, so what I will explain further in this blog is the “long process”.

(2) If you are NOT eligible with (1), then you should prepare your requirements, apply for pre-application via Turkish Consular website, schedule your appointment, personally go to the Turkish embassy and return on the release date of your passport/visa. That is why I call this the “long process” and I have personally experienced this. More details of this application process will be discussed below.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE TO APPLY FOR REGULAR TURKISH TOURIST VISA

PART I: Pre-Visa Application And Scheduling An Appointment

(1) Gather all your documents and scan them. Group them into seven (7).

1 – 2”x2” Biometric photo with white background scanned in jpg;

2 – Proof of Income scanned in pdf, I included ITR, Bank Certificate, and Passbook copies;

3 – Flight reservation scanned in pdf; (you may search Trip below for cheap flights in and out of Turkey)

4 – Hotel Booking scanned in pdf;

NOTE: I booked all my hostel accommodation at booking.com .

Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Or try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

5 – Proof of commitment to return. Certificate of Employment will do just fine.

6 – Passport Copy scanned in pdf. I also included my old passport.

I included not only my passport bio page but also all the passport pages that have stamps

7 – NSO Birth Certificate – NSO original scanned copy in pdf.

You can request an original copy of this through online via PSA website. I got mine which was home delivered after three (3) working days. Click HERE for the link.

Requirements of Turkish tourist visa — Here is the snapshot from the Turkish embassy website informing applicants that they should have those required documents prepared first before continuing with the pre-application online. | Dantravels.org

(2) Go to visa.gov.tr . Complete ALL the required fields on Nationality and Visa Details, Personal Info, Contact Info, and Travel Info. There is a portion there that will send the reference number to your personal email. Just follow through and when done, proceed to the document upload.

Website - Turkish tourist visa — From the visa.gov.tr website | Dantravels.org

(3) Upload those seven files. Woo hoo! By the way, ensure that each file is 2MB or less! Then proceed!

Requirements - Turkish tourist visa — How I grouped my files | Dantravels.org

Files to be uploaded - Turkish tourist visa — This is how it looks when you successfully uploaded your files | Dantravels.org

(4) Review your info first, download your pre-application form, and click submit.

My Turkish tourist visa application form — The e-file version of my application form | Dantravels.org

Then you will be prompted to make an appointment.

IMPORTANT: You can expect that the earliest available appointment date is one month after your pre-application date! (At least per my experience.)

(5) You’re done! Screenshot and print your appointment details and show it to the guard on duty on your date of appointment.

After one month…

PART II: Document Filing And Interview At The Turkish Embassy

WHERE: 2268 Paraiso Street, Dasmarinas Village
Makati City, Metro Manila 1222
Philippines

CONTACT NUMBERS: (+632) 843 9705 / (+632) 843 9707 / (+632) 887 6373 / (+632) 888 5699

OFFICE HOURS: Mondays – Fridays; 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM (morning only for visa application)

(1) Make sure that you have printed all the required documents prior to your Interview at the Turkish Embassy, including your passport, a copy of your passport’s data page, and two pieces of 2″x2″ ID photo. Otherwise, your documents will be rejected and you’ll be asked to come back once your documents are complete.

Print out also your day-to-day itinerary in case you were asked by the interviewer. I can send you mine — just let me know in the comment section below.

Printed copies of my application documents | Dantravels.org

IMPORTANT: Bring also a copy of your travel insurance. Please make sure to get one because this is often asked by the interviewer on top of your basic requirements. I bought one from World Nomads where most travelers get their travel insurance.

Go to this link to get to your World Nomads travel insurance.

UPDATE: World Nomads is no longer covering residents of the Philippines and the link above was now looped to another travel insurance in the Philippines. Although I was told by World Nomads that they are working their best to get the insurance back in the country, I would suggest for now to go for Safety Wing (this is now my insurance while traveling abroad.) Click here .

(2) Your documents will be collected by the Consular Officer, and he/she may ask you a few questions regarding your trip and financial capacity.

I created a separate blog about my experience during the day of my appointment and interview at the Turkish Embassy.

Click HERE so you’ll know what questions were thrown at me during the interview and how I answered them.

After this, you may pay the visa fee which is 60 USD for a single-entry tourist visa.

NOTE: Please have an exact amount of 60 USD for your payment. Paying in PHP is not accepted.

(3) Then you will be given a claim stub with the date of your passport/visa release. Just wait for it and claim your passport on the scheduled date. This usually takes one to four weeks.

(4) You need to return on the date of your passport release. I do hope by that time, you have a Turkish visa sticker on your Philippine Passport!

WHAT DOES A TURKISH VISA LOOK LIKE?

Here is a single-entry Turkish tourist visa. VISA APPROVED!

My Turkish Tourist Visa | Dantravels.org

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: Tourist
Visa Validity: One (1) month
Entry Type: Single Entry
Visa Fee: 60 USD (USD cash only is accepted)

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to justify your tourism activity in Turkey for visa purposes, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Turkey itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

(you may choose one or more tours that suit your travel needs)

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com . Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Flights
- TRIP. All of my flight bookings are from TRIP. Trip is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Trip.com (click HERE ) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Travel Insurance
- World Nomads. Please make sure to get travel insurance because this is often asked by the interviewer on top of your basic requirements. I bought one from World Nomads where most travelers get their travel insurance.

Go to this link to get your World Nomads travel insurance.

UPDATE: World Nomads is no longer covering residents of the Philippines. Although I was told by World Nomads that they are working their best to get the insurance back in the country this year, I would suggest for now to go for Safety Wing (this is now my insurance while traveling abroad.)

My Turkish Visa Interview With Tips To Get Your Tourist Visa Approved

By Dan Forteza

The Turkish Embassy is located at Dasmariñas Village (Dasma for short), Makati City. It is an exclusive village so you need to go to Dasma Village front gate (near Magallanes MRT Station) and wait for the shuttle going to the Embassy. Look for the guard on duty, show you appointment details, and he would require you first to log in on the logbook as it is a ‘first-log first-ride-to-shuttle basis’! Then I keep asking myself – ‘am I ready for my Turkish visa interview?’

Your first stop is the Dasma Village Office Hall where you’ll pay 150 pesos for the shuttle fee.

Please note that it is not allowed to bring bag or mobile phones inside the embassy building. Leave it to the guard station once you arrived. Once you’re inside the building (yeah that building in the below photo!), you’ll be logging in again.

The Turkish Embassy Building | Dantravels.org

So wait for your turn to be called.

On my appointment day, there was only one Consular Officer (a Turkish guy) so it took me a while to wait! Also, the AC is down inside the building so bear with the heat!

When I was called, I greeted the Consular Officer and gave him the hardcopies of my pre-application documents. Here’s an excerpt of how the interview went on:

INTERVIEWER: Purpose?

ME: I’ll be traveling to Istanbul. Here is my day-to-day itinerary. (*handed over to him a piece of paper*). *Blah blah blah*…*Also mentioned going to Russia after Istanbul*

INTERVIEWER: You’re staying for 4 days. Ok. What is your work?

ME: I am a Mechanical Engineer.

INTERVIEWER: What company?

ME: *States the Company*. My employment certificate is right here in these papers. Let me find it. *Give to him my Certificate of Employment*

INTERVIEWER: *Stares at my employment certificate and writes something down on my application form*. Do you have birth certificate?

ME: Yes. *I pointed him to last page of the hardcopies I gave him*

INTERVIEWER: Flight and Hotel reservations are also right here?

ME: Yes. *Blah blah blah*

INTERVIEWER: Do you have 60 dollars?

ME: I do. *hands over to him my 60USD cash*

Phew….

That’s it! Then he gives the claim stub. I was scheduled to return after two weeks.

But wait! There is more!

After 13 days…

A lady phoned me a day before the scheduled release date of my passport/visa. She scheduled another interview prior to the release of my Turkish tourist visa. She did not give me any details. It was unexpected but I hurriedly went to Dasma Makati again to check what’s going on.

You can see my conversation with her below. Her name is Gladdy (not sure if it spells correctly) and she was quite strict. Sabe sa ibang blogs masungit daw siya, so I tried my best to be composed and look confident as possible during my interview with her:

INTERVIEWER: Why Turkey?

ME: Ma’am, I love traveling. I’ve been to 14 countries. And I believe Turkey is one of the best countries to visit next (not sure if that’s the exact words I’ve said).

INTERVIEWER: Are you traveling alone?

ME: Yes.

INTERVIEWER: Wala dito Employment Certificate mo… (she can speak Tagalog, I was told she was half Filipino).

ME: Nandyan Ma’am. Binigay ko kay Sir on the day of my first interview. Pero bigyan na lang po kita copy . Do you need the original copy?

INTERVIEWER: Yes, please. I also need the original copies of your Birth Certificate and Bank Certificate.

ME: Here. *gives the original copies*

INTERVIEWER: Do you have travel insurance?

ME: Yes. *gives the travel insurance copy*

So I guess I gave her a good impression of my intention to travel to Turkey!

I really thought the interview was enough during the day of my submittals because I know I have completed the requirements and I know they should be reviewing the completeness of the documents too prior to filing them. It was the consulate guy (Turkish national) who interviewed me before. Now it turns out one of the documents was missing and it is the lady consulate who’s interviewing me this time. She requested the original copies of some of the documents. Glad I brought them all!

It is also good to note that the interviewer would likely ask for “travel insurance”, I actually have this (thanks to the blogs I have been reading!) and I intend to show this document only when asked.

Thus, I highly recommend you guys to get a travel insurance. I bought one from the World Nomads where most travelers get their travel insurances. Get yours NOW from the below widget.

Or you can also go to the World Nomads link, click HERE .

UPDATE: World Nomads is no longer covering residents of the Philippines and the link above was now looped to another travel insurance in the Philippines. Although I was told by World Nomads that they are working their best to get the insurance back in the country, I would suggest for now to go for Safety Wing (this is now my insurance while traveling abroad.) Click here .

Unfortunately, the release date of my visa has been pushed a week more. 😦

After a week, I came back to the Turkish Embassy and…

VISA APPROVED! The long wait is over! Haha. Got my single-entry Turkish Tourist visa that day! It took me almost 2 months from the day I submitted my pre-application online. Hoorray!

My Turkish Tourist Visa | Dantravels.org

How To Apply for Russian Tourist Visa in the Philippines (Updated)

By Dan Forteza

You should totally go to Russia! Yes, you! See the beautiful Red Square perhaps, explore the downtown Moscow City, or even drink some cold bottles of vodka. I mean why not? Getting a Russian Tourist Visa is not that hard to get, in fact, it is the easiest tourist visa I have applied for.

LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR RUSSIAN TOURIST VISA

For us Philippine passport holders, application for Russian tourist VISA application requires only five (5) documents:

A. DULY ACCOMPLISHED VISA APPLICATION FORM
B. VALID PASSPORT
C. ONE PASSPORT-SIZED PHOTO
D. TRAVEL VOUCHER / CONFIRMATION
E. CONFIRMED FLIGHT TICKETS

This is the shortest list of requirements I’ve ever seen in my entire life!

Although they require the silly ticket reservations, kudos for not requiring the Certificate of Employee, Bank Certificate, Income Tax Return, detailed itinerary..and the list goes on and on. That’s a relief to most of us.

But before I give you the details on how to apply, I’d like to start off by saying that no one can give you the guarantee of your Russian tourist visa’s approval – not me, not even a lawyer or a travel agent. If anyone does, is most likely a scammer!

As a travel blogger, what I can offer you here is just a guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that Russian tourist visa.

So let’s get started.

GET YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST VISA IN 4 EASY STEPS!

STEP 1: PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Now that we know the required documents, let’s break them down.

A. Visa Application Form – Go to this link to start your application. Make sure you read all the instructions before proceeding. Fill up the form completely ONLINE. You basically need to fill up your visa details, personal details, passport details, visit details, and your appointment details. When you get to the Visit Details page, you will need to provide the confirmation number on your Travel Voucher/Confirmation. More details on how to get your voucher on section D.

Note: Even your application form is not yet finished, you can save it and retrieve when you’re ready to edit again. Just make sure you save your Application ID code.

B. Valid Passport – This is an easy one. Just make sure your passport is valid not less than six months from the date of your departure from Russia.

C. One Passport Sized Photo – This is an easy one, too. This photo will be glued on your printed application form.

D. Travel Voucher / Confirmation – Now, this is probably the trickiest one.

What exactly is a Travel Voucher/Confirmation? This is probably the trickiest item in the list so I look for further explanation on some travel blogs and travel forums around. In simple terms I can put it, this is just a certificate being requested from a certified Russian travel agency in partnership with hotels or any lodging accommodation. It contains the dates of your arrival and departure in Russia, your hotel name and address as well as your personal information.

There are a couple of Russian travel agencies or websites which do offer this and you’ll find them over the web. During my application, I tried one at www.moscow-hotels.net. Good news is it’s FOR FREE! Provided that you’ll either book hotel accommodations at their website (*which I find very expensive by the way*) or at booking.com using only the link from their site. By using the link, the moscow-hotels receives a small commission from Booking.Com due to referrals. I do prefer using booking.com link because I can find a lot of cheaper accommodation there.

Go to this link to get to the page on the snapshot below (please read the full instruction in their page). Just click that circled link and it will lead you to Booking.com. From there, book your hotel/hostel accommodation and pay it in full.

Yes, you have to pay it in FULL, otherwise your voucher will not be processed. After booking your accommodation on Booking.com, you will receive a confirmation email with a booking number. And so by following the next step, you just need to provide your personal and travel information including the booking number to complete your visa support request from Moscow-Hostels.

I submitted my voucher request at 1:00 PM then at around 9:00 PM on the same day, I got an email with my travel voucher attached. Woo hoo!!

Russian Confirmation / Travel Voucher | Dantravels.org

E. Flight Tickets – Yes, this should be booked prior to your application. The dates (arrival and departure) here should be the same as in the confirmation and application form. This will also be the date of validity on your visa if approved. (You may search Kayak below to find the cheapest flight in and out of Russia.)

STEP 2: SUBMIT THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DOCUMENTS TO THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY

Please print the documents and head to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines to submit your Russian tourist visa application.

Where: Room 402 A, 4 fl., RCI Building, 105 Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Working hours: Monday – 08:00 AM – 5:00, Tuesday, and Friday – 08:00AM – 4:00PM

Take note: The application typically opens at 10:00AM until 1:00PM. So please get there in the morning. Get there as EARLY as 6:30AM if you want to be the first in line. It is a ‘first-log-in, first served’ basis.

RCI Building with my Application | Dantravels.org Documents

STEP 3: PAY FOR THE VISA FEE

Once done submitting, you’ll be given a deposit slip to be paid at UCPB. The Embassy does not accept cash. The nearest UCPB branch is Herrera branch shown below.

Regular processing fee costs PhP3,612.00 in two weeks time to claim.

Once payment is done, you need to come back to the Embassy to get your Claim Slip.

Paying Russian Visa fee at UCBP Herrera Branch | Dantravels.org

STEP 4: WAIT. RETURN. CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT/VISA

Typically, the Embassy will schedule you to come back in 2 weeks time after your application. The Embassy will give you a claim slip when you finished the application process.

LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR RUSSIAN TOURIST VISA

For us Philippine passport holders, application for Russian tourist VISA application requires only five (5) documents:

A. DULY ACCOMPLISHED VISA APPLICATION FORM

B. VALID PASSPORT

C. ONE PASSPORT-SIZED PHOTO

D. TRAVEL VOUCHER / CONFIRMATION

E. CONFIRMED FLIGHT TICKETS

This is the shortest list of requirements I’ve ever seen in my entire life!

As a travel blogger, what I can offer you here is just a guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that Russian tourist visa.

So let’s get started.

GET YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST VISA IN 4 EASY STEPS!

STEP 1: PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Now that we know the required documents, let’s break them down.

Note: Even your application form is not yet finished, you can save it and retrieve when you’re ready to edit again. Just make sure you save your Application ID code.

B. Valid Passport – This is an easy one. Just make sure your passport is valid not less than six months from the date of your departure from Russia.

C. One Passport Sized Photo – This is an easy one, too. This photo will be glued on your printed application form.

D. Travel Voucher / Confirmation – Now, this is probably the trickiest one.

I submitted my voucher request at 1:00 PM then at around 9:00 PM on the same day, I got an email with my travel voucher attached. Woo hoo!!

STEP 2: SUBMIT THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DOCUMENTS TO THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY

Please print the documents and head to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines to submit your Russian tourist visa application.

Where: Room 402 A, 4 fl., RCI Building, 105 Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Working hours: Monday – 08:00 AM – 5:00, Tuesday, and Friday – 08:00AM – 4:00PM

STEP 3: PAY FOR THE VISA FEE

Once done submitting, you’ll be given a deposit slip to be paid at UCPB. The Embassy does not accept cash. The nearest UCPB branch is Herrera branch shown below.

Regular processing fee costs PhP3,612.00 in two weeks time to claim.

Once payment is done, you need to come back to the Embassy to get your Claim Slip.

STEP 4: WAIT. RETURN. CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT/VISA

Typically, the Embassy will schedule you to come back in 2 weeks time after your application. The Embassy will give you a claim slip when you finished the application process.

My PAID Claim Slip is shown below.

My Russian Visa Claim Slip | Dantravels.org

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I must say that reading blogs really helped a lot from the very start of my application. After getting all my document ready and printed, time to head to the Embassy! I was guided by the blogs that I need to go the Russian Embassy Consular Office EARLY in order to log on to the applicants’ list as it is a ‘first log, first serve’ basis.

By the way, do not be confused with the Russian Embassy Main Office at Dasmariñas Village, Makati. All visa application shall be made at 4th Fl., RCI bldg. in Rada St, Legaspi Village, Makati – the Consular Section is located here. So I walked about 15 minutes from Ayala MRT station to the location. Google map is always a friend you can depend on!

I arrived at the Russian Embassy Consular Office at around 6:30AM and I am the second person to log. The Office opens at 10:00AM, so imagine how much time you need to wait. Patience is the key! You can tambay muna sa 7-11 store (back of the RCI building) if you want.

At about 9:15am, we were told by the guard to proceed to the 4th floor and wait. The waiting room is small with about 15 seats only. But it was not that crowded, see photo below. The time the window opens at 10:25 AM, the guard orderly organized the queue. Releasing first then Application next.

Waiting Area for Visa Applicants | Dantravels.org

When it was my turn, I just handed over my documents to the Consular officer at the transaction window. He checks them then asks me if ‘Regular’ or ‘Fast’. ‘Regular’ processing costs P3,612.00 in two weeks time to claim. I choose ‘Regular ‘ and he gives me the claim stub that needs to be paid to the UCBP bank – the Herrera branch which is a few blocks away. Once paid, I returned to the Consular office and show the ‘paid’ stamped slip. The slip is yours for claiming so keep it! Finally, I was done at around 11:30AM.

Moreover, I was told by one applicant there (I think she works in a tour agency since she has these tons of passports and other documents with her) that Releasing is only done in the morning and so is the Application. The Consular office is closed normally in the afternoon, she added. Again, important to take note of: the Consular office is only open M-Tu-F as they have different working days!

Then after two weeks…

I returned to the Embassy. Same process as before: RELEASING process first then APPLICATION process next. I patiently waited till my passport is handed over to me. When my name was called, the Consular guy happily gave me my passport with an APPROVED VISA!

Woo hoo! Again, I believe as long as you have completed the requirements, you have a big chance of approval!

My Passport with Russian Visa Sticker | Dantravels.org

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: Tourist Visa

Visa Validity: Per confirmed travel dates and flight tickets

Entry type: Single Entry

Visa Fee: PhP3,612.00 (Regular Processing)

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to justify your tourism activity in Russia for either visa purposes or simply jumpstarting your actual itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Russian itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

(you may choose one or more tours that suit your travel needs)

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Moscow-hotels.net via Booking.com. Use the link I shared above to book your hostel.
Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Travel Insurance
- World Nomads. If you don’t have travel insurance when times get tough, basically you are screwed. Traveling always comes with inherent risks attached. Whether you are trekking in the Ural mountains or wandering the streets of Moscow, unforeseen events can suddenly upend your world. Generally speaking, travel insurance covers you for the following: Medical Costs – hospital visits, emergencies, evacuations; Property Loss – luggage and their contents; Travel Issues – accommodation and transportation expenses. Thus, I highly recommend you guys getting a travel insurance. I bought one from the World Nomads (available in 130+ countries) where most travelers get their travel insurances.

Go to this link to get to your World Nomads travel insurance.