travel – Dan Travels

4-Day Cairo, Egypt Itinerary With Guide + Budget (Pinoy Solo Traveler)

By Dan Forteza

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No trip to Egypt is complete without a stay in its capital city of Cairo. While the Pyramids are on every traveler’s bucket list, those are just one of Cairo’s many stunners, and I finally got a chance to see them in person this year! Thus, allow me to share my 4-day Cairo, Egypt itinerary with you complete with my actual day-to-day expenses in this blog.

So get yourself ready! =)

Ebrahim and I went together to Giza Pyramids!

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.

But honestly, it’s not just really because of the Great Pyramids of Giza why I wanted to visit Egypt this year. If you’ve been following me for quite a while, you know I am a geek when it comes to Geography.

Personally, visiting Egypt officially marks the fifth continent I set foot into: Africa. There are seven of them in the world. And that would mean I only have two more continents to go: North America and Antarctica.

It is my ULTIMATE travel goal to conquer all seven!

Don’t get me wrong though, seeing beforehand the Great Pyramid of Khufu–the sole surviving ancient wonder of the world has always been in my big travel bucket list. I mean who doesn’t?

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

First things first–do you need a visa to travel to Egypt?

If you’re also a Philippine Passport holder, you need to secure an Egyptian tourist visa first.

Read: my blog on how to get your Egyptian tourist visa with your Philippine passport.

If you’re from another country, you might want to check first the visa policy of Egypt to verify whether you need a visa or not.

EGYPT 🇪🇬

Language: Arabic (Egyptian dialect)
Capital City: Cairo
Currency: Egyptian Pounds (EGP)
Int’l Airports in this trip: CAI
Preferred mode of transportation: Subway / Bus
Time Zone: GMT +2

HOW I GOT TO EGYPT

Finding a cheap flight ticket going to Egypt from the Asia-Pacific region is easy when using Trip.com flight search engine. I got my economy flight tickets from Manila via Cebu Pacific + Flynas going to Cairo (self-transfer in Dubai.) Then I returned to Southeast Asia (in Bangkok) via EgyptAir.

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.

Here were my flight itineraries with costs:

Manila (Philippines) – Dubai (UAE) [$65.51]
Dubai (UAE) – Cairo (Egypt) [$143.08]
Cairo (Egypt) – Bangkok (Thailand) [$331.92]
Subtotal: $540.51

If you’re also coming from the Philippines (or wherever in the world actually), I suggest you check Trip.com as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites. Per my experience, they’re the best!

HOW TO GET AROUND CAIRO?

Subways / Metro
- Subway or Metro is the best way to get around Cairo especially for first-time travelers. Inexpensive and efficient.
- Signages are both in Arabic and English.
- Tickets cost between 3 to 5 EGP ($0.2 to $0.32) depending on the distance.
Buses / Minivans
- Another cheap transport network serving the metropolis.
- Signages are in Arabic only, so don’t be shy to ask locals where the bus is going!
- Airport to metro station: 4 EGP ($0.25).
- Downtown Cairo to Giza: 2.5 EGP ($0.16).
Uber Taxi
- Operates in Cairo and is often much cheaper than standard taxis.
- Hostel to airport: 100 EGP ($6.35).
Other Transport Travel Tips
- Use offline map apps like Google Maps or Maps.me.
- Remember to walk a little more! As I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog—“walk as much as you can!”

NOTE: I have only listed the transport services I used per my experience during my Egypt itinerary travel.

WHERE DID I STAY IN CAIRO, EGYPT

My Room Accommodation:

Downtown Cairo, Egypt
- Name (1): Nile Plaza Hostel
- Name (2): Bella Casa Hostel
- Room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Cost: refer to the day-to-day expenses below

You can book a room through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually use Booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options. If a hotel isn’t to your liking, try Airbnb for a more local feel!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to $43 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

MY 4-DAY CAIRO, EGYPT ITINERARY with EXPENSES

My 4-day trip to Cairo happens one week before things get crazy on the coronavirus outbreak. I actually intend to travel and see more of Egypt but I ended up taking another week in Cairo just basically staying at my hostel in the hope that the virus will just die out.

However, day by day it was getting worse. I ended up canceling my flight to Morocco and instead I booked a flight to Bangkok, Thailand. I don’t want to be stuck in northern Africa while countries are closing borders and declaring lockdowns. So I decided to seek my refuge in Thailand until the situation improves.

I left Egypt one day before the Egyptian authorities suspend all international flights in and out of the country. So I guess I was lucky that I was even able to get back to Southeast Asia!

Anyway…enough of that! Let’s get back to my detailed day-to-day Egypt itinerary. See below:)

DAY 0: ARRIVAL at CAIRO AIRPORT

Arrival Cairo — Day 0: I arrived at Cairo Airport at around 8:00 AM

EGP 4 – Bus: Bus terminal to El Shams Club station, see note 1
EGP 7 – Metro: El Shames station to Attaba station
EGP 88 – Hostel (Nile Plaza Hostel): 1-Night stay
EGP 45.5 – Food: McDonald’s Meal
Subtotal: EGP 144.5 [$9.17]

NOTES:

1 – A guy named Ahmed (in the photo above) helped me with directions. He even paid for my bus fare because the bus conductor didn’t have change for my 200-EGP banknote!

DAY 1: DOWNTOWN & COPTIC CAIRO

USD 21.39 – Hostel (Bella Casa Hostel): 4-Night stay
EGP 3 – Metro: Opera station to Mar Girgis station
EGP 10 – Food: Sandwich Bread
EGP 10 – Softdrink Miranda
EGP 5 – Metro: Mar Girgis station to Mohamed Naguib station
EGP 12 – Food: 4x Instant Noodles
Subtotal: EGP 377 [$23.9]

NOTES:

Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo) is easily reachable through metro at Mar Girgis station. Mohamed Naguib or Sadat station are the nearest metro stops for Bella Casa Hostel.

DAY 2: MOSQUES OF IBN TULUN & SULTAN HASSAN, AND CAIRO’S CITADEL & MUSEUM

Day 2: Ibn Tulun Mosque is the largest mosque in Cairo in terms of land area.

EGP 12.75 – Food: 3x Croissant Bread
EGP 9.25 – Food: 1-kg Rice
EGP 9 – Softdrink: Miranda
EGP 4 – Bus: El Sayeda Aysha terminal to El Tahrir Square
EGP 200 – Entrance Fee: Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
EGP 80 – Top-up internet 3 GB data
Subtotal: EGP 347 [$22]

NOTES:

I walked almost 3 km to reach Ibn Tulun Mosque from my hostel. Later that night, I met Ebrahim (who I met via a language exchange site); he let me use a spare SIM card, which was a huge help for data!

DAY 3: MOSQUES OF SULTAN AL MU’AYYAD, AL AZHAR, & CAIRO’S AL-MUIZZ LI-DIN ALLAH ST.

EGP 16 – Food: Bread and Coffee
EGP 5 – Metro: El Geish station to Mohamed Naguib station
EGP 6 – Food: 4x Eggs
EGP 20 – Food: Koshary (the national dish!)
Subtotal: EGP 56 [$3.56]

NOTES:

Cairo’s Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street is oozing with fine medieval buildings. It’s free to enter many of these mosques, though be wary of anyone trying to charge you an “entrance fee” while you’re already inside—I had a funny run-in with someone at Sultan al Mu’ayyad and just walked away! Haha.

AL-MUIZZ LI-DIN ALLAH STREET GALLERY

DAY 4: THE GREAT PYRAMIDS

Ebrahim asking for directions — Day 4: This was Ebrahim asking for the minivan route to the Pyramids

EGP 20 – Food: Koshary
EGP 2.5 – Minivan: Charles De Gaulle St to downtown Giza
EGP 5 – Minivan: Downtown Giza to Pyramids entrance
EGP 200 – Pyramids Entrance Ticket (Main gate)
EGP 33 – Food: Koshary (again!)
EGP 9 – Return Minivans to downtown Giza and Cairo
EGP 13 – Food: Canned Tuna
Subtotal: EGP 282.5 [$17.94]

NOTES:

Visiting Hours are typically 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. I didn’t use a horse or camel; I walked the whole complex! The best view is from ‘the Panorama’ dunes. If you walk, just be mindful of scammers—ask if something is free before agreeing to a photo, as typically nothing is free there! Haha.

And there you have it! Including the flight costs, here is the overall total of my expenses in Egypt for 4 days:

TOTAL: $540.5 (flights) + $76.6 (on the ground costs)

OVERALL TOTAL: $617.10

RECOMMENDED TOUR PACKAGES

If you have more days to spend in Egypt, you might consider these cool package tours:

Search More Tours on Viator

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Accommodation: Booking.com is my go-to for hostels with free cancellation.
Flights: Trip.com usually has the cheapest rates from the Philippines and Asia.
Local Experiences: Viator is the best resource for booking guided tours in advance.

7-Day Peru Itinerary With Guide + Budget (Pinoy Solo Traveler)

By Dan Forteza

If you ask me what’s my favorite country out of the growing list of countries I visited, it would be hard to answer honestly. But definitely Peru would always pop into my head alongside Japan as my reply.

Personally, visiting Peru’s Machu Picchu has always been a dream of mine ever since I was in high school and got fascinated with world geography.

That’s why in this blog, I decided to share a more detailed budget travel guide of Peru taken from my two-week South American travel blog article.

Thus, expect that I’ll be sharing my 7-day Peru itinerary when I visited this amazing South American country last December, complete with a trip to the glorious Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.

If you’re a budget traveler like me, this blog is without a doubt for you.

NOTE: Before you set foot in Peru or other South American countries, be sure to get your yellow fever vaccination first. If you’re somewhere around Manila in the Philippines, you can get it at the Bureau of Quarantine.

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 .

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

If you’re also a Philippine passport holder, you can enter and travel around Peru up to 90 days without a visa. This is also true for other South American countries where Filipinos can enter visa-free! I was lucky enough to visit Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador in South America which are visa-free countries for Filipinos.

If you’re from another country, you might want to check first the visa policy of Peru to verify whether you need a visa or not.

PERU 🇵🇪

Language: Spanish
Capital City: Lima
Currency: Peruvian Soles (PEN)
Int’l Airports in this trip: LIM, CUZ
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber Taxi
Time Zone: GMT -5

HOW I GOT TO PERU?

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Peru from the Asia-Pacific region is a bit difficult. They’re way more expensive in comparison to flights within Southeast Asia!

In my case, I utilized different airlines to jump from one country to another within South America. This is also to maximize my travel itinerary while only in a two-week vacation and to take advantage of being halfway around the world.

Here were my flight itineraries with costs:

Manila (Philippines) – Sao Paolo (Brazil) [$927.80 Round Trip]
Sao Paolo (Brazil) – Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) [$92.18]
Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) – Lima (Peru) [$301.40]
Lima (Peru) – Cusco (Peru) [$58.84]
Cusco (Peru) – Lima (Peru) [$70.33]
Lima (Peru) – Bogota (Colombia) [$94.25]
Bogota (Colombia) – Quito (Ecuador) [$314.90]
Quito (Ecuador) – Sao Paolo (Brazil) [$313.50]
Sao Paolo (Brazil) – Manila (Philippines) [Included in RT]

NOTE: Manila to Sao Paolo route (and vice versa) was via Ethiopian Airlines and has two layovers at Hong Kong and Addis Ababa airports. No transit visa needed.

Timeline (of when I purchased them) and flight details are found here .

If you’re also coming from the Philippines (or wherever in the world actually), I suggest you check Kayak as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites. Per my experience, they’re the best!

HOW TO GET AROUND PERU?

Intercity Flight
- Flying is the quickest way you can travel from one city to another (e.g., Lima to Cusco). As mentioned above, you can book using Kayak to get the best flight deals available.
Taxi – Cities of Lima and Cusco
- Uber Taxi – Hailing an Uber taxi is the most convenient way of getting around big cities in Peru. Uber is also widely used in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador.

TIP: You should integrate your credit/debit card as your primary payment method when using the Uber app so you won’t have to worry about paying in cash. Your Uber app will also adapt to the local currency of your location.

Train – Cusco to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
- Incarail.com – Book your train ticket in advance online to avoid hassle. Incarail is the site I used to book my transport ticket from Cusco City to Machu Picchu.

The transport consists of two services (called Bimodal):

Minibus (Cusco → Ollantaytambo)
Train (Ollantaytambo → Machu Picchu Pueblo)

Here were my train itineraries with costs:

Cusco – Machu Picchu [$79]
Machu Picchu – Cusco [$76]

Subtotal: $155

Timeline and train details are found here .

NOTE: I have only listed the transport services I used during my 7-day Peru itinerary travel. If you have more time, you can also use public transport such as buses, mototaxis, and shared taxis called Collectivos.

WHERE DID I STAY IN PERU?

You can book a room at any hotel in Peru through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my accommodations through Booking.com. Room options range from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Booking.com also offers free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options.

If hotels aren’t to your liking, try Airbnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes, giving you a more local experience. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and loved it!

If you’re new to Airbnb, you can get up to $43 free travel credit by signing up through this link.

Book AGODA here
Book BOOKING.com here
Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

My Room Accommodations:

Lima City
- Room type: Airbnb private room
- Cost per night: $14.18 ($28.36 for 2 nights)
Cusco City
- Name: La Casa De Ingrid in Cusco
- Room type: Private room
- Cost per night: $12 ($36 for 3 nights)
Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
- Name: Pirwa & Waca Machu Picchu (now Illapa Inn Machupicchu)
- Room type: Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory
- Cost per night: $6.30 ($12.60 for 2 nights)

Subtotal: $76.96

Airbnb private room in Lima, Peru — Lima: Airbnb private room | Dantravels.org

Cusco private room at La Casa Ingrid Hostel — Cusco: Private room at La Casa Ingrid Hostel | Dantravels.org

Shared room at Pirwa and Waca Machu Picchu — Machu Picchu Pueblo: Shared room at Pirwa & Waca Machu Picchu | Dantravels.org

ANY OTHER TICKETS TO BUY IN ADVANCE?

I highly suggest booking your Machu Picchu ticket in advance to avoid running out of slots on the day you plan to visit.

If you also want to hike Waynu Picchu (the famous mountain behind Machu Picchu), you really need to book early because only about 200 hikers per day are allowed. I recommend booking at least 3–6 months in advance.

You will choose whether to add the Waynu Picchu hike when booking your ticket online and select your preferred schedule. I chose the 10:00–11:00 AM slot. Visit the official site here.

If you’re curious what the ticket looks like, here is mine.

TIP: My credit card was not accepted when booking the ticket online. I solved this by booking my hostel in Cusco early and asking the hostel owner to help me purchase the ticket locally.

You can also book Machu Picchu tickets easily through Viator:

Machu Picchu Only
Machu Picchu + Waynu Picchu Hike

Also consider booking the famous Rainbow Mountain tour when visiting Cusco.

Book the Rainbow Mountain one-day tour

Machu Picchu + Waynu Picchu ticket $60
Rainbow Mountain tour $31.50

Subtotal: $91.50

MY 7-DAY PERU ITINERARY

DAY 1: EXPLORING LIMA CITY

Plaza de Armas in Lima — Day 1: Plaza de Armas (Lima Square) | Dantravels.org

Plaza de Armas Lima — Day 1: Plaza de Armas (Lima Square) | Dantravels.org

Day 1: My favorite Chaufa con Pollo & Potato | Dantravels.org

PEN 195 – SIM Card with Internet (Lima Airport)
PEN 37.5 – Uber Taxi: Lima Airport to Airbnb
PEN 2 – Bread
PEN 1.5 – Bottled Juice
PEN 12.5 – Uber Taxi to Lima Square
PEN 16 – Lunch: Chaufa con Pollo
PEN 16 – Dinner: Chaufa con Pollo
PEN 2 – Bottled Water
PEN 9.5 – Uber Taxi back to apartment

Subtotal: PEN 292

NOTE: You will notice many “Chaufa con Pollo” meals in my expenses list. It means fried rice with chicken. As an Asian, I love rice, so whenever I was unsure about local dishes, I usually chose anything with rice!

DAY 2: EXPLORING LIMA CITY (2)

Day 2: Somewhere in Lima with a good friend | Dantravels.org

Day 2: Cirquito Magico Del Agua in Lima | Dantravels.org

PEN 3.5 – Some coffee near my apartment
PEN 3 – Laundry detergent and fabric conditioner
PEN 1.5 – Bottled water
PEN 9.2 – Uber Taxi: Apartment to Lima Square
PEN 16 – Lunch: Chaufa con Pollo (Fried rice, chicken, potatoes)
PEN 16 – Dinner: Chaufa con Pollo (Fried rice, chicken, potatoes)
PEN 11.5 – Uber Taxi: Somewhere to apartment
Subtotal: PEN 60.7

NOTE: Yep, I did the laundry that day. My Airbnb host was very kind to assist me with my laundry needs.

I also met my Peruvian friend Ciprian, who took me to the Magic Water Circuit Show.

DAY 3: EXPLORING CUSCO CITY

Coca Tea at La Casa De Ingrid in Cusco — Day 3: The famous Coca Tea of Peru at my hostel – La Casa De Ingrid | Dantravels.org

Day 3: Cusco Cathedral at Plaza Mayor in Cusco | Dantravels.org

Cusco tour guide — Day 3: Our tour guide during the Cusco city tour | Dantravels.org

Day 3: Cusco sightseeing bus tour | Dantravels.org

Cristo Blanco statue — Day 3: The statue of Cristo Blanco | Dantravels.org

PEN 33 – Uber Taxi: Apartment to Jorge Chavez (LIM) Airport
PEN 10.5 – McBreakfast at LIM Airport
PEN 25 – Taxi: Cusco (CUZ) Airport to La Casa De Ingrid Hostel
PEN 5.05 – Uber Taxi: Hostel to Plaza Mayor
PEN 20 – Cusco city sightseeing bus tour
PEN 0.2 – Toilet fee
PEN 1 – Bread
PEN 7 – Food (Chicken, rice, potato)
Subtotal: PEN 101.75

NOTE: I saw many tour agents around Plaza Mayor offering city tours. I decided to take the chance and experience the Cusco sightseeing bus tour.

DAY 4: EN ROUTE TO MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO

Minibus from Cusco to Ollantaybo — Day 4: Our minibus ride from Cusco City to Ollantaybo | Dantravels.org

Voyager train to Machu Picchu Pueblo — Day 4: Voyager train from Ollantaybo to Machu Picchu Pueblo | Dantravels.org

Inside Voyager train — Day 4: Inside the Voyager train | Dantravels.org

PEN 4.92 – Uber Taxi: Hostel to Plaza de Armas
PEN 25 – Food (Chaufa con Pollo) with bottled water at Machu Picchu Pueblo
Subtotal: PEN 29.92

NOTE: I was in transit to Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as Aguas Calientes) this day. Fortunately, the train ticket included lunch and snacks.

Departure: 09:00 AM (estimated)
Arrival: 02:00 PM (estimated)

DAY 5: EXPLORING MACHU PICCHU RUINS

Tour guide explaining Machu Picchu history — Day 5: Our tour guide explaining the history of Machu Picchu | Dantravels.org

Day 5: The glorious Machu Picchu | Dantravels.org

Day 5: Machu Picchu ruins | Dantravels.org

Machu Picchu ruins close up — Day 5: More of the ruins of Machu Picchu up close | Dantravels.org

Hiking Waynu Picchu — Day 5: Hiking up to Waynu Picchu | Dantravels.org

Summit of Waynu Picchu — Day 5: Reaching the summit of Waynu Picchu | Dantravels.org

View of Machu Picchu from Waynu Picchu — Day 5: View of Machu Picchu from the top of Waynu Picchu | Dantravels.org

PEN 3 – Bottled water
PEN 40 – Bus ticket: Pueblo to Machu Picchu ruins
PEN 50 – Tour guide fee
PEN 2 – Toilet fee
PEN 40 – Bus ticket: Machu Picchu ruins to Pueblo
PEN 6 – Bottled water
PEN 25 – Hamburger
PEN 48 – Food (Chaufa con Pollo)
Subtotal: PEN 214

NOTE: Machu Picchu can be reached either by hiking or by bus from Aguas Calientes. Hiking takes around 2–3 hours. My advice: just take the bus!

ANOTHER NOTE: I originally planned to explore Machu Picchu on my own. However, someone invited me to join their tour group for only 15 USD (50 PEN). It turned out to be one of the best tours I had.

TIP: Food is very expensive in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Bring or pack some food if you’re traveling on a tight budget.

DAY 6: BACK TO CUSCO CITY

Day 6: Exploring Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) before heading back to Cusco

Day 6: My room at La Casa De Ingrid in Cusco

PEN 22 – Food (Chaufa con pollo)
PEN 21 – Food (Chaufa con pollo)
PEN 4.14 – Uber Taxi: Cusco drop-off to La Casa De Ingrid Hostel
Subtotal: PEN 47.14

NOTE: Later that day, I was in transit from Machu Picchu Pueblo back to my hostel in Cusco City.

– Departure: 06:00 PM (estimated)
– Arrival: 10:00 PM (estimated)

DAY 7: HIKE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Day 7: Horses — Day 7: Some prefer to ride with horses

Day 7: Summit — Day 7: Nevertheless, reaching the summit is all worth it

PEN 1 – Toilet fee at Rainbow mountain
PEN 3 – Coffee at Rainbow mountain
PEN 6 – Photo Op with natives at the Rainbow Mountain summit
PEN 1 – Toilet fee at Rainbow mountain
Subtotal: PEN 11

NOTE: Breakfast and Lunch were included in the Rainbow Mountain Tour.

Rainbow Mountain Tour details:

Pick up time: 3:30 – 4:00 AM
Pick up location: My hostel
Tour duration: One (1) whole day

DAY 8 (LAST DAY): TO BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

PEN 3.4 – Bottled Water and Doritos
PEN 16.59 – Uber Taxi to Cusco (CUZ) Airport
PEN 839.5 (USD 250) – Flight from Cusco to Lima (due to canceled flight)
PEN 16.5 – Coke and Doritos Snacks
Subtotal: PEN 876

NOTE: My flight Cusco-Lima via LC Peru Airlines was canceled. Basically, all LC Peru Airlines were canceled on that day. I just knew when I arrived at the airport. So then I booked a new flight Cusco-Lima via LATAM Airlines and in order to catch another flight Lima-Bogota via VivaAir. You have no idea how frustrated I was.

And there you have it!

Excluding the flight costs, here is the overall total of my expenses in Peru:

TOTAL: $155 (trains) + $76.96 (rooms) + $91.5 (tickets) + $480 (PEN 1632.51, 7-day cost)

TOTAL: $803.46

Because things happen, it is worth noting to set aside an emergency fund for unwanted expenses abroad. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed exploring Peru! I’m sure you would, too.

RECOMMENDED TOUR PACKAGES

If you have more days to spend in Peru, you might consider these cool package tours:

LIMA:

CUSCO:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com – I usually book my hostel accommodation here. They offer options ranging from cheap hostels to luxury hotels, often with free cancellation.
- Airbnb – Great for finding comfy and cozy rooms. I have used Airbnb on many trips and highly recommend it for a more local experience.

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 43 USD off your first stay. Click here to get that discount.

Flights
- KAYAK – All of my flight bookings are through KAYAK. It searches hundreds of travel sites to find the best rates.

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

Tickets to book in advance:
Other Package Tours:
- Viator – A leading resource for finding the best travel experiences worldwide.

CHECK OUT ALSO MY YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT PERU!

Remotasks Review and Detailed Guide: How I Started in Remotasks

By Dan Forteza

I was in a constant lookout for any home-based job I could find after quitting my 9-to-5 day job in the pursuit of long-term travel. In June 2019, I signed up for Remotasks after hearing great things about it.

The best part? Remotasks offers FREE training in the Philippines. They call this the Remotasks Boot Camp, and it happens biweekly in major cities across the country. I was lucky enough to join a 10-day training in Quezon City, which helped me dig deeper into how the platform works.

Hi there! 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 talk about how I quit my job to travel. This story was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

IS REMOTASKS LEGIT?

Remotasks is a LEGIT opportunity to work as a freelancer and start making money quickly. It’s popular because you don’t need special degrees—just a good command of English and the patience to pass exams to unlock tasks.

Try this too: You can also check out SproutGigs (previously Picoworkers) for simpler tasks like surveys or website testing. I’ve earned $0.02 to $1.00 per task there.

HOW TO JOIN REMOTASKS

Simply visit the Sign Up page here and join using your Facebook account. Once in, you can start taking courses at Remotasks University to unlock earning opportunities immediately.

TYPES OF TASKS

Classic Tasks: Includes image annotation (drawing boxes), categorization, and image/audio transcription.
LiDAR Tasks: This involves Light Detection and Ranging technology used for self-driving cars. These are the highest-paying tasks on the platform.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU EARN?

Task Type	Pay Rate (USD)	Duration
Image Annotation	$0.05 – $0.20	< 4 minutes
Categorization	$0.01 – $0.02	< 3 minutes
LiDAR	$5.00 – $80.00	3 – 6 hours

IN-PERSON TRAINING BOOT CAMP

For those in the Philippines, the 10-day Boot Camp is a game-changer. Not only is it free, but you get paid for tasks completed during training and a bonus upon graduation. Training is available in cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Quezon City.

Remotask Boot Camp Training — My co-trainees at Remotasks Boot Camp in Quezon City

Note: LiDAR tasks require a decent computer. Make sure you have at least 4GB of RAM (8GB is better!) to work smoothly from home.

PROS AND CONS

✅ Pros

Quick sign-up and weekly PayPal payouts.
No minimum payout requirement.
Complete flexibility of time and location.

❌ Cons

Tasks can be repetitive and tedious.
Consistently low accuracy can lead to bans.
Requires a good PC for high-paying LiDAR tasks.

MY FINAL SAY

Is Remotasks worth it? If you live in a country where the USD is strong and you don’t mind repetitive work, then yes, go for it! It’s a reliable way to build a consistent income from home while you plan your next travel adventure.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried working on Remotasks before? Let me know in the comments!

How To Get a Yellow Fever Vaccine with Card in Manila, Philippines

By Dan Forteza

Getting a Yellow Fever Vaccine Card was one of the precautions I took before going to South America a year ago.

This year, I will be visiting Africa and will be armed with the same vaccine I had since its validity is LIFETIME. Yep, you read it right. So if you also intend to visit the continents of South America and Africa, most likely you’ll be needing a Yellow Fever Vaccine.

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.

Also known as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, the Yellow Fever Vaccine card is secured to protect both individual travelers and from the risk of importing or spreading the yellow fever virus.

How To Get a Yellow Fever Vaccine Card in the Philippines — My Yellow Fever Vaccine card | Dantravels.org

WHAT IS A YELLOW FEVER?

Mosquitoes are the primary carrier of this tropical viral disease. The “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

The yellow fever virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America. You can check the official WHO list of countries for current requirements.

WHO Colombia Recommendation — From the snapshot above, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends getting a Yellow Fever Vaccine certificate prior to visiting Colombia.

WHO NEEDS THE YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?

Travelers going to countries with risk for Yellow Fever Transmission
Seafarers required by their company to have the vaccination

NOTE: The yellow fever vaccine is said to be safe for people as young as 9 months of age.

WHERE CAN I GET THE YELLOW VACCINE?

One can get this vaccine including its yellow card (or Carte Jaune) in various Bureau of Quarantine Offices across the country. For Filipinos living within NCR, you can obtain this at the Bureau of Quarantine in Manila.

Schedule: Monday to Friday (except holidays), 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

HOW TO GET YOUR YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

Log in and Fill out Forms: Upon arrival, approach the guard to log in. You will receive a Data Form, Yellow Fever Questionnaire, and Waiver form.
Interview: Proceed to the clinic for a short health interview with a quarantine officer.
Vaccination: Submit your forms and receive the shot. You’ll be asked to wait for 5 minutes to check for any immediate allergic reactions.
Payment: Pay at the cashier. The cost is 1,500 PHP.
Verification: Verify your personal details before the card is printed.
Claim Card: Receive your card signed by the Medical Officer.

Note: The whole process usually takes 10 – 30 minutes. Sweet!

MY FINAL SAY

As Desiderius Erasmus said, “Prevention is better than cure.” Getting protected before you travel ensures you don’t run into issues at immigration or, more importantly, with your health. Let me know in the comments how your experience went!

How To Apply For An Egypt Tourist Visa in the Philippines (2026 Updates)

By Dan Forteza

Visiting the Great Pyramids in Egypt is definitely one of my travel goals this year. That’s why as early as January, I have already been researching on how to get the Egypt tourist visa for Filipinos. And I successfully managed to get one at the Egyptian Embassy in Manila, Philippines!

In this blog post, I’ll be giving you the step-by-step guide, a list of the requirements, my experience throughout the whole application process, and other tips to help you get your Egypt tourist visa!

But again, just like in other visa application blogs I’ve written, no one can give you the guarantee of your Egyptian 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 Egypt tourist visa.

Anyway, enough of that and let’s get started!

REQUIREMENTS FOR EGYPT TOURIST VISA

Duly filled-up Visa Application Form; You can download the application form here. (Note: This is the universal form accepted by the Manila Embassy).
Two (2) pieces 2×2 size recent colored picture (with white background); I actually used only one (1) 2×2 photo which was pasted on my application form. But it wouldn’t hurt if you bring an extra photo.
Valid Passport which must have remaining validity of more than six months; You might not be required to submit your passport on the day of your first visit to the Embassy. Most of the time, the Embassy will take and review your requirements without your passport. The review might take up to 15 days and the Embassy will let you know its decision via phone call.
Bank Certificate, preferred to be one-week-old;
Employment Certificate with compensation / Business Registration if applicable; I’ll be honest. I actually did not exactly provide this because I quit my job to travel long term. Thus, I provided an Employment certificate from the previous company I worked for.
Travel Tour Itinerary; I can provide you a copy of mine if you like. It is a one-week long tour itinerary. Just leave a reply on the comment section below.
Copy of Philippine residency/ visa / Immigration ID Card (for foreign national applicants only).
Marriage Certificate / Birth Certificate, if traveling with family members.
Add a cover letter stating the purpose of your trip even if it’s not a requirement I think this should be a must especially if you have a case like mine that one requirement is not fully met. Thus, I prepared myself a visa cover letter personally explaining my situation, my capacities, and my hunger to travel.

Plane Tickets. This is NOT required but I submitted this anyway because I already have this. I had a plane ticket from Manila to Dubai and I intend to book my next flight from Dubai to Cairo (in Egypt) if my visa is approved. I suggest you check Kayak (use the widget below) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

WHEN AND WHERE TO APPLY

WHEN: Application should be made at least one month prior to your intended departure. Please note that there is a waiting time (up to 15 days) in case the embassy needs to fully review the requirements you submitted.

💡 DAN’S PRO-TIP: CHECKING YOUR STATUS
If you haven’t heard back after 10 working days, don’t hesitate to send a polite follow-up email to embassy.manila@mfa.gov.eg. Include your Full Name and Submission Date in the subject line to help the secretary find your records quickly!

📅 HOLIDAY NOTICE: The Embassy observes both Philippine and Egyptian holidays. If you are applying around this time, expect potential closures and factor in extra processing days!

WHERE: Visa application must be submitted personally to the Embassy during consular working hours from Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. till 12:00 P.M. except holidays. Please take note of the Egyptian holidays, too.

Egyptian Embassy – Manila
7th-floor G.C. Corporate Plaza, 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati
Tel: (+63) 2 8843 9220 / 8843 9232
Email: embassy.manila@mfa.gov.eg / egyptmanila@gmail.com

For more information, please contact the above.

GET YOUR EGYPT TOURIST VISA IN 4 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: PREPARE & SUBMIT THE REQUIREMENTS

Prepare ALL the abovementioned requirements. Proceed to the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Philippines at 7th Floor, G.C Corporate Plaza Bldg., 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City to submit these documents.

STEP 2: WAIT FOR THE EMBASSY’S CALL

Once submitted, wait for the call with the Embassy’s decision. If your visa is approved, then they will contact you to submit your passport (for the visa sticker) and payment.

You can also do a follow up by calling their contact number I indicated above. No worries, the Filipino Secretary (I think her name is Marian) is very accommodating and friendly.

💡 HOW TO GET “INSTANT” APPROVAL: While the standard wait is 15 days, I managed to get mine the same day! The secret? A rock-solid cover letter explaining my travel history and status as a digital nomad. It pays to be honest and detailed!

STEP 3. SUBMIT YOUR PASSPORT & PAY THE VISA FEE

What I like about this Embassy is they do not charge the visa processing fee unless and until your visa is approved. Yes, you heard it right! There is absolutely no risk in getting this visa! If your visa is approved, submit your passport and pay the visa fee.

The Egypt tourist visa fee costs 1,500 PHP. Then, the Secretary will give your receipt with date of when to claim your passport with visa.

⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE (2026): According to recent traveler reports, the Egypt tourist visa fee at the Manila Embassy has increased from 1,500 PHP to approximately 4,000 PHP. It is highly recommended to bring extra cash to your appointment as fees are subject to change without prior notice.

STEP 4. CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT WITH VISA STICKER

Finally, pick up your passport with visa sticker and congratulations on successfully getting your Egypt tourist visa!

VISA SUMMARY

Type: Tourist Visa
Visa Validity: 6 months from the day of approval
Maximum Stay: 30 days within validity
No. of Entry: Single Entry
Visa Fee: 1,500 PHP (30 USD)
Visa Fee: 1,500 PHP (30 USD)
- UPDATE (2026): The fee is now around 4,000 PHP

MY EXPERIENCE

When I arrived at the Embassy at around 10:00 AM, there were already 6 to 8 people in the waiting room. Some of them are still filling up the visa application form.

From that, I can tell that the Egyptian Embassy is informal and chill. You just need to turn off your mobile phone before entering the office.

Remember: Prior to entering the building, your bags will be checked and will require you to leave one government valid ID at the lobby, so bring one!

The Secretary then collected our documents and left the room. She probably handed it over to the Egyptian Consul (in another room) to review the documents.

She went back to the waiting room and announced those people who can now pay the visa fee. Please note that if you pay the visa fee, it means your visa is approved.

I was lucky that steps 1-3 all happened in one day! So I submitted my passport and paid the visa fee, all in 30 minutes! I saved one Makati trip. I met other applicants in the room who has to go and wait up to 15 days for approval and went back to the Embassy 3 times.

They did not tell me the reason why my visa was approved instantly, but I have a strong feeling it has to do with my travel history, capacity to travel, and my very personalized cover letter. I even mentioned in my cover letter about quitting my day job just to travel long term. As they say, honesty is the best policy =)

NOTE that I applied Monday and claimed my passport (with visa) Friday of the same week. So it only took four (days)! I was just so happy to save the step where you have to wait up to 15 days for the Embassy’s decision.

Now that your visa is (hopefully) on its way, here are a few essentials I recommend packing for your Egyptian adventure:

🇪🇬 QUICK EGYPT PACKING LIST:
• Modest Clothing: Respectful attire (covering shoulders and knees) for visiting mosques and local areas.
• Sun Protection: A wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and quality sunglasses—the desert sun is no joke!
• Universal Power Adapter: Egypt uses Type C and Type E wall plugs.
• Comfortable Walking Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking around the Giza plateau and ancient temples!

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to justify your tourism activity in Egypt for visa purposes, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Egypt 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 here as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel options.
Airbnb: Try Airbnb for comfy and cozy rooms! I have used it on many trips and loved it.

Flights: KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are from KAYAK. It’s a great travel search engine that compares hundreds of sites.

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

Top 15 Budget Travel Tips That Every Traveler & Backpacker Should Know

By Dan Forteza

If you will be traveling abroad on a small budget and looking for great tips in order to avoid spending too much, then this blog is perfect for you! Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a newbie in backpacking, I’m sure you’ll find these 15 budget travel tips helpful for making your saving cash easy breezy!

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.

Batu Cave in Kuala Lumpur — At Batu Cave, Malaysia. My first ever solo backpacking trip | Dantravels.org

15 PROVEN BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS

1. Book your flights / accommodation in advance.
I use many different search engines, but hands down, Kayak is one the best for scooping up deals. Read also: My 14-day South America cost breakdown.

2. Pre-book your main attraction tickets.
Don’t wait until the last minute for places like Machu Picchu. I use Viator or GetYourGuide to book with confidence.

3. Don’t take too much luggage.
Airlines charge heavy fees for big bags. I stick to a 55-L Backpack and a small laptop bag to keep things mobile and avoid check-in fees.

4. Stay connected.
Googling is a lifesaver for navigation! If you don’t buy a local SIM, use Maps.me for offline navigation.

5. Mind your currency abroad.
Avoid airport exchange booths! Withdraw from local ATMs for better rates, and always keep some emergency USD hidden in your bag.

6. Get travel insurance before you leave.
It’s imperative for lost luggage or injuries. I recommend World Nomads for the best value.

7. Go Couchsurfing.
Couchsurfing lets you stay with locals for FREE. It’s an eye-opening way to make friends, just be sure to check references first!

8. Try hostels for cheap stays.
Hostels are way cheaper than hotels. I use Booking.com, Agoda, and Hostelworld to find the best spots. Read also: My 1-day Chiang Rai itinerary.

9. Bring a water bottle.
Sodas and bottled water add up! That extra money could pay for another night in a hostel every week.

10. Avoid eating near touristy restaurants.
Go down a few blocks and eat where the locals do. It’s cheaper and usually tastes much better!

11. Ask for local advice.
Don’t be shy! Ask hostel staff or locals what things should *normally* cost to avoid “tourist prices.”

12. Walk and minimize transportation costs.
Walk as much as you can. For long distances, use subways or buses and look for “day passes.” Read also: My 4-day Russia itinerary.

13. Take free walking tours.
It’s the best way to learn about a city. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

14. Cross the border by land.
Buses and trains are often cheaper than planes, and the scenery is a bonus! Use Rome2Rio to compare costs.

15. Minimize your souvenirs.
Postcards and photos are the best souvenirs. Don’t weigh your backpack down with things you don’t need!

At Kuala Lumpur City Gallery Sign | Dantravels.org

Which travel budget tip is your favorite? If I missed anything, share it in the comments below! Let’s show the world that traveling doesn’t have to be expensive.

✈️ BUDGET TRAVEL CHEAT SHEET

Screenshot this quick summary for your next adventure!

PRO-TIP	KEY ACTION
1. Flights & Stays	Book 2–4 months in advance. Use Kayak or Skyscanner.
2. Attractions	Pre-book main tickets online via Viator or GetYourGuide.
3. Luggage	Travel light! Stick to carry-on limits to avoid bag fees.
4. Connectivity	Get a local SIM for navigation; use Maps.me for offline use.
5. Money	Withdraw cash from local ATMs (avoid airport exchange!).
6. Insurance	Crucial! Don’t leave home without World Nomads.
7. Accommodation	Try Couchsurfing for FREE stays, or book hostels via Booking.
8. Food	Carry a water bottle and avoid eating in touristy areas.
9. Transport	Walk! Use public transport and free walking tours. Avoid taxis.
10. Souvenirs	Minimize! Opt for postcards or just your own photos.

How I Quit My Job to Travel (Filipino Digital Nomad Guide 2026)

🌏 Introduction

I’m a licensed engineer from the Philippines who made a decision most people only dream about:

👉 I quit my job to travel.

No rich background. No guaranteed income. No perfect plan.

Just enough savings, some preparation, and the willingness to take a risk.

This was my life before I decided to take that leap.

If you’re thinking of doing the same, this guide will walk you through:

What I did before quitting
How I made money
The real challenges I faced
And how you can start too

🤔 Can You Really Quit Your Job to Travel?

Yes — but not blindly.

Quitting your job to travel is possible if you:

Prepare financially
Start building income streams early
Understand that uncertainty is part of the journey

👉 This isn’t about escaping work.
👉 It’s about building a lifestyle that supports travel.

✅ Steps I Took Before Quitting My Job

💸 1. I Saved Money

Before resigning, I made sure I had savings to support myself.

Cover basic expenses
Give me time to adjust

👉 Your savings will be your safety net.

✈️ 2. I Built Travel Experience

I started with budget trips and DIY itineraries to learn how to travel cheaply and avoid mistakes.

🌐 3. I Started a Blog

I created a travel blog to document my journey and eventually earn online. At first, it made nothing—but it grew over time.

💻 4. I Tested Online Income Streams

I explored different ways to earn remotely before quitting.

💡 Want to start earning online while traveling?

When I was starting out, I tried beginner-friendly platforms to get my first online income. This is where I got some of my first online income:

👉 Try GoTranscript – transcription work I personally used to earn online

👉 Try SproutGigs – simple online tasks to earn extra money

These platforms helped me get started while I was still figuring things out, and they can be a good first step if you’re new to earning online.

Read also: My blog on how to sign up to GoTranscript.

These are not “get rich quick,” but they are a practical way to start earning while building bigger income streams.

👉 You don’t need a perfect income system — you just need to start somewhere.

🛂 5. I Learned About Visas

Understanding visa rules, entry requirements, and stay limits is essential for smooth travel.

📦 6. I Explored Other Income Options

I also tried e-commerce and other online opportunities to learn what works.

💰 How Much Money Did I Have?

When I quit:

I had savings
I had small online income streams
My blog was earning around $200+ per month

💡 In my first month of monetizing my blog, I earned around $200 — enough to cover my basic expenses.

👉 It wasn’t stable — but it was enough to keep going.

🌍 The Reality of Being a Digital Nomad

⚠️ Challenges

Unstable income
Uncertainty
Travel fatigue
Moments of doubt

Long layover flights in Kuala Lumpur with my two carry-on bags!

There were times I questioned my decision.

👍 Benefits

Freedom over time
Exploring new places
Personal growth

👉 It’s not perfect — but it’s meaningful.

💻 How I Make Money While Traveling

Blogging (ads and content)
Online work and gigs
Side income streams

💡 If you’re starting with zero experience:

Focus on simple income first.

Platforms like GoTranscript and SproutGigs can help you begin,
while you build more sustainable income streams like blogging or freelancing.

👉 Multiple income streams = more stability

🧠 What I Would Do Differently

Build income before quitting
Focus on one income stream first
Grow my blog earlier

🚀 Should You Quit Your Job to Travel?

Do I have savings?
Do I have a way to earn online?
Am I ready for uncertainty?

If yes — you can do it.
If not — prepare first.

The snowy mountains in Almaty, Kazakhstan

💬 Final Thoughts

Quitting my job to travel was one of the biggest risks I’ve taken.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t perfect.

But it gave me freedom, growth, and experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything.

👉 You don’t need to be rich to start.
👉 You just need to be prepared.

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

By Dan Forteza

Get your US Tourist B1/B2 Visa ready because you’re going to see what the United States has to offer! Though I understand US visa is probably one of the hardest visas in the world to get but it is all worth it. In this post, I’ll be giving you a step-by-step guide, a list of the requirements, my experience throughout the whole application process, interview questions, and other tips to help you get your US tourist visa!

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash | Dantravels.org

But again, just like in other visa application blogs I’ve written, no one can give you the guarantee of your US tourist visa’s approval – not me, not even a lawyer or a travel agent. If anyone does, is most likely a scammer!

I know you must have heard tons of horror stories from people regarding their denied US visa applications. Because of the huge number of Filipino illegal immigrants, the US Government is very strict about its immigration laws.

It’s alright to feel nervous. I was nervous, too! But for now, let’s set aside those negative thoughts. Let’s be positive so that that positive energy will radiate to the people around you.. even to the interviewer! =)

Anyway, enough of that and let’s get started!

US VISA B1/B2 FOR TOURISTS

The B1/B2 visitors visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B2)

B1 visa is for attending business conventions and educational conferences
B2 visa is for tourism, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment

To be granted a US tourist visa, you must be able to prove that:

your visit is only temporary
you have enough money to cover all your expenses during your stay
you have binding ties that ensure your return to your country

WHEN AND WHERE TO APPLY

WHEN: Application shall be made at least 2 months prior to your intended departure. But since I was on a hurry, I did it all in a month! =) Here is my application timeline:

Day 1: Read Blogs
Day 5: Book Hostel Accommodations (I need this information prior to submitting the Application form online).
Day 6: Get myself an ID picture both digital and hardcopy
Day 8: Pay for the Visa Fee
Day 9: Submit Application Form Online (I am rushing, I know!)
Day 9: Schedule Interview Appointment. Note that I chose the earliest available date which is 21 days away!
Day 30: Day of Interview. On this day, you’ll immediately know whether you’re approved or not.

WHERE: Application and personal appearance interview will take place at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines at 1201 Roxas Boulevard Manila, Philippines 1000. Please be at the Embassy gate 30 minutes prior to your interview

GET YOUR US TOURIST VISA IN 5 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: PAY THE VISA FEE

There are 2 ways to pay US Visa Application Fee:

Online via BPI website or Bancnet website
Directly at the BPI Bank Branches

In my case, I chose to pay it directly to the BPI Bank Branches.

Go to the visa info page of the US Embassy website. As of April 2019, the visa fee is USD160. This is the costliest visa fee I’ve ever paid!
Then go to this page. Download and print your $160-deposit slip. Or click HERE to download directly the slip.

US Tourist Visa Bank Option Payment — US Tourist Visa Cash at Bank Payment Option | Dantravels.org

NOTE: There is an expiration date on the deposit slip. Ensure that you pay it before it expires!

US Tourist Visa Bank Deposit Slip | Dantravels.org

NOTE: Visa Fee are non-refundable & non-transferable. After you have paid the visa application fee, keep the BANK receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

STEP 2: FILL UP THE VISA APPLICATION (DS-160) FORM

If you are a solo backpacker like me, you need to book first your room accommodation. You will need this information to answer the form of where you’ll be staying.

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

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

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.

To start filling up your own form, click this link (DS-160 Form). You can access a DS-160 form sample in this link as your reference.

NOTE: Prepare also your 2″x2″ digital photo. This will be uploaded on your application form.

US Tourist Visa DS-160 Form | Dantravels.org

TIP: Be brutally honest when filling up the application form. The interviewer will base his/her questions on your filled up form. So when he/she caught you lying from something that you wrote in the form, you’re dead! =(

The confirmation number generated after filling up the form is needed to set up appointment. Shown below is my confirmation page, please print this as you’ll be needing this during the day of your appointment.

STEP 3. SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT

After making payment (step 1) and completing the DS-160 Form (step 2), you can now schedule your appointment. Prepare these 3 info: Passport Number, Paid Receipt Number, and Confirmation Number. Go to this SITE to schedule your appointment.

US Visa Appointment Site | Dantravels.org

Once done, save and print you appointment letter. The appointment letter should look like this – see below.

STEP 4. PREPARE OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Once you’re done setting up your appointment online and while waiting for your appointment day, you need to prepare supporting documents. In order to support your answer during the interview, the interviewer will most likely ask for proof of documents. Here are the set of documents I’ve prepared:

Old Passport – To prove your travel history. Your travel history will most likely be asked during your interview like ‘Have you traveled before?, Where and When?’.
Hostel Booking – I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. They have free cancellation options.

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.

Itinerary of planned tourism activities

I can provide you a copy of mine if you like. Just leave a reply on the comment section below.

Latest Income Tax Return (ITR), Certificate of Employment, Payslips, Bank Passbook / Bank Certificate.
Travel Insurance – I highly recommend getting travel insurance from World Nomads.

STEP 5: GO TO THE EMBASSY AND KILL THE INTERVIEW!

Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your interview. Bring a printed copy of your Appointment confirmation, DS-160 confirmation page, One recent 2″x2″ photo ID, and all passports. NOTE: Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

There are also things NOT allowed inside the Embassy such as mobile phones. Interview proper is next. I created a separated blog post from experience during the interview. Click HERE to read.

After the interview, you’ll know immediately if your visa is approved or denied. By the way, I was approved and got my 10-year multiple entry US visa after 3 days! So I wish you all the best! =)

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: B1/B2 (Business/Tourism)
Visa Validity: 10 Years
Entry type: Multiple Entry
Visa Fee: USD160.00

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your U.S. itinerary:

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel: Booking.com – ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels.
Airbnb: Sign up with my link to get up to 42 USD off your first stay.
Flights: KAYAK – usually offers cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

My US Visa Interview With Tips To Get A 10-Year Valid Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa

By Dan Forteza

I entered the US Embassy building at 9:55 AM and left at 11:00 AM with a visa-approved look on my face! My interview ended up going very well.

My interview happened this morning (March 19th). My schedule was for 9:45 AM, and by 9:30 AM, I was already in the waiting hall. At 9:55 AM, we were directed inside for the three stages of the application:

Pre-screening
Fingerprint Scanning
The Interview

The most interesting part is the INTERVIEW. I kept telling myself, “You got this, Daniel!” As I moved closer to the windows, a Filipino couple let me go ahead of them. I later realized they were avoiding the interviewer on the leftmost side—she was loud, dominant, and had just rejected the lady in front of her. That’s when I got really nervous!

THE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

ME: Good morning, Ma’am. (I handed over my passport)

INTERVIEWER: Good morning. (Looking at her computer) What will you do in Los Angeles?

ME: Vacation, Ma’am. Sightseeing, backpacking style.

INTERVIEWER: What do you intend to see?

ME: Hollywood… Hollywood Walk of Fame… (I went blank for a second) Ro-rodeo Drive, Venice Canals—the famous ones.

INTERVIEWER: (Sees my Turkish visa) Oh, you went to Turkey. What did you do there?

ME: I went backpacking, Ma’am. I have been to 21 countries before.

INTERVIEWER: How do you fund your travels?

ME: I have a job here in the Philippines, Ma’am.

INTERVIEWER: What kind of company?

ME: I work as a Mechanical Engineer for an engineering firm.

INTERVIEWER: But what does your company actually do?

ME: (Blank again!) We buy equipment… basically, we’re a contractor and a middleman between the client and the vendor to build power plants. It’s in the Oil and Gas industry.

INTERVIEWER: Alright. What other countries have you been to?

ME: Recently, I went to South America—

INTERVIEWER: (Cuts me off) Yeah, you have a Peru stamp. Where did you go in Peru?

ME: I went to Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.

INTERVIEWER: What college degree did you finish?

ME: Mechanical Engineering at Sorsogon State College.

INTERVIEWER: SORso-what?

ME: SORSOGON State College.

INTERVIEWER: When did you graduate?

ME: April 2011.

INTERVIEWER: How do you travel so much despite your work?

ME: I normally file leave for 4 days to a week. For South America, I used 2 weeks because I sacrificed my Christmas vacation for it.

INTERVIEWER: Who do you live with? Where is your family?

ME: I live alone in a rented room. My family is in my hometown, Sorsogon. It’s about 600km from here.

INTERVIEWER: Backpacking in Los Angeles. Interesting. How do you do backpacking?

ME: It’s a low-cost style of travel, for example, staying at hostels.

INTERVIEWER: Do you have relatives in the US?

ME: No, Ma’am.

INTERVIEWER: Your visa is approved. You’ll have it in one week.

ME: Thank you so much!

*Phewww*

Yep! She did not ask for any documents. The interview was 5-8 minutes long I think. It went fast. But I must admit the first minute of the interview, I was nervous and shaky.

I know you’re nervous, too. And it’s okay. But just like myself, you’re gonna rock this!!! Just be true to your intentions but also make sure you established your rootedness to the Philippines. You need to convey to them that you will return after your touristic trip. That is very important. Like in my case, I have to come back to work after my trip.

💡 TOP 3 TIPS TO NAIL YOUR INTERVIEW

Be Brutally Honest & Consistent: The interviewer already has your DS-160 data on their screen. If you wrote “backpacking,” stick to it! Don’t try to sound like a luxury traveler if you aren’t one. Like I did, it’s okay to admit you’re staying in hostels—they value consistency over “rich” stories.
Prove Your “Rootedness”: This is the most important part! You need to show them you have every reason to come back to the Philippines. Mention your job, your family in the province (like my 600km connection to Sorsogon), or your rental commitments. They need to know you aren’t going there to stay illegally.
Keep Your Composure (Even if you blank out!): I went blank twice during my interview—once about the places in L.A. and once about my own job description! It happens. Just stay calm, smile, and explain it simply. You don’t need a perfect “script”; you just need to be a real person.

Bonus Tip: Don’t let the “loud” interviewers at the other windows scare you. Focus on your own window and your own story!

Feel free to read a separate blog I made on How To Apply A US Visa With Your Philippine Passport HERE. It is a step-by-step guide to apply for your US Visa.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a reply below. I will respond as soon as I can to help you somehow. That’s a promise.

Indian e-Visa for Filipinos: Step-by-Step Guide (2026 Update)

By Dan Forteza

India is so much more than just the Taj Mahal. India to me is a mix of everything. It is astonishing and fascinating; it is loud and crowded. It is INCREDIBLE and always calls for an adventure! Now, if you’re planning to visit India and looking for a guide on how to apply for an Indian e Visa (or Indian Tourist Visa), then you’re in the right place.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to get the Indian e-Visa (formerly called ETA). This is the best visa option if your purpose is tourism, visiting friends/family, or short-term stays.

The term “ETA” is now rarely used. The system is officially called “e-Visa”.

WHAT IS THE INDIAN E-VISA?

The Indian e-Visa was introduced in 2014 and has expanded significantly over the years. It now includes categories such as e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical, and e-Conference visas.

As of 2026, most travelers (including Filipinos) apply under the e-Tourist Visa, which is available in 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year validity options.

Getting an e-Visa is fast and straightforward. In many cases, approval comes within a few days.

Processing usually takes up to 72 hours, but it’s best to apply at least 4–7 days before your travel date.

But just like any visa application, approval is never guaranteed. Be careful of anyone claiming guaranteed approval—it’s most likely a scam.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You are eligible for an Indian e-Visa if:

Your purpose is tourism, visiting friends/family, short yoga programs, or short-term business/medical visits.
You have a passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
You have a return or onward ticket.
You have sufficient funds for your stay.

Activities such as employment, journalism, or long-term study are NOT allowed under e-Visa.

You must also enter India through designated airports or seaports.

The list of entry points is regularly updated, so always verify from the official e-Visa website before your trip.

If you meet all requirements, then you’re good to proceed!

HOW TO APPLY FOR INDIAN E-VISA (STEP-BY-STEP)

STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS

Passport (Bio Page) – Save as PDF (recommended under 300KB–500KB)
Recent Photo – White background, JPEG format (under 1MB)
Accommodation Details – Hotel or hostel booking

Blurry photos or incorrect sizes are one of the most common reasons for delays or rejection.

TIP: You can scan documents using mobile apps like CamScanner, Adobe Scan, or Microsoft Lens.

You can book your accommodation via Booking.com — from budget hostels to luxury hotels.

STEP 2: APPLY ONLINE

Go to the official Indian e-Visa website and fill out the application form.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Only apply through the official Indian government website. Many fake websites charge extra fees.

Fill in your personal details, travel info, and upload your documents.

STEP 3: PAY THE VISA FEE

After completing the form, you will be asked to pay the visa fee online using a debit or credit card.

As of 2026, Filipino travelers can avail a FREE 30-day Indian e-Tourist Visa (valid for double entry) until July 31, 2026. After this period, regular visa fees will apply depending on the visa type (1-year and 5-year visas are NOT free).

STEP 4: RECEIVE YOUR E-VISA

Once approved, your e-Visa will be sent to your email. Print a copy and bring it with you when traveling.

Always bring a printed copy and keep a digital copy on your phone for backup.

FINAL TIPS

Apply at least one week before your trip
Double-check all uploaded documents
Avoid third-party visa websites
Keep copies of all documents

And that’s it! The process is simple, fast, and very doable even for first-time travelers. India is truly an unforgettable destination—hope this guide helps you get there!