Tag Archives: travel

Hilarious and Funny Travel Quotes for Millennials

By Dan Forteza

Funny Travel quotes are a great way to get inspired and at the same time to bring fun and entertainment. There is a simple reason for that: they keep the travel persona in you going! Whenever you are not able to travel for whatever reason, a funny travel quote may help you sometimes to get you moving! So here some of my Funny Travel Quotes collection.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about myself becoming a digital nomad. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

Let me know which one is your favorite funny travel quotes. Enjoy!

Funny Travel Quotes for Millennials

Friends: Why are you always gone? Me: Why are you always here?

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/FRIENDS_-WHY-ARE-YOU-ALWAYS-GONE_-ME_-WHY-ARE-YOU-ALWAYS-HERE_-oaj7fwrww5kk9woaz6cbeqjd3qtkqteswg5ml7ery8.jpg" title="FRIENDS_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GONE_ ME_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HERE_" alt="FRIENDS_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GONE_ ME_ WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HERE_">

Dear Flight Attendants, If you see I’m asleep when you’re serving snacks & drinks, please wake my ass up. Sincerely, I want my money’s worth.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Dear-Flight-Attendants-If-you-see-Im-asleep-when-youre-serving-snacks-drinks-please-wake-my-ass-up.-Sincerely-I-want-my-moneys-worth.-oaj6u135szma0oggqpuyd9b3aunzkgjqk5gqfbuosg.jpg" title="Dear Flight Attendants, If you see I’m asleep when you’re serving snacks &amp; drinks, please wake my ass up. Sincerely, I want my money’s worth." alt="Dear Flight Attendants, If you see I'm asleep when you're serving snacks &amp; drinks, please wake my ass up. Sincerely, I want my money's worth. funny travel quotes">

I googled my symptoms. Turns out I just need a vacation.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/I-GOOGLED-MY-SYMPTOMS.-TURNS-OUT-I-JUST-NEED-A-VACATION.-oaj60f66iv34avgrmx40tqadnwlr3p04hlo47jr4sg.jpg" title="I GOOGLED MY SYMPTOMS. TURNS OUT I JUST NEED A VACATION." alt="I GOOGLED MY SYMPTOMS. TURNS OUT I JUST NEED A VACATION.">

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Of-all-the-books-in-the-world-the-best-stories-are-found-between-the-pages-of-a-passport.-oakma828uf4rmy1j8c7omv3n29ft57mn7nqw61l3wg.jpg" title="Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport." alt="Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. funny travel quotes. funny travel quotes">

Traveling solo does not mean traveling alone. Most often, you meet awesome people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/TRAVELING-SOLO-DOES-NOT-MEAN-TRAVELING-ALONE.-MOST-OFTEN-YOU-MEET-AWESOME-PEOPLE-ALONG-THE-WAY-AND-MAKE-CONNECTIONS-THAT-LAST-A-LIFETIME.-oaj5esvtc1hp9qv9vkoxh6opsv5u2b6dili2uft3wg.jpg" title="TRAVELING SOLO DOES NOT MEAN TRAVELING ALONE. MOST OFTEN, YOU MEET AWESOME PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME." alt="TRAVELING SOLO DOES NOT MEAN TRAVELING ALONE. MOST OFTEN, YOU MEET AWESOME PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. funny travel quotes">

Physically I’m here. Mentally, I’m in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Physically-Im-here.-Mentally-Im-in-a-pool-in-Bali-ordering-my-third-mojito.-oaj4g8dhze62a12zqmqvrwqfapjuz1xrfhr7g32cqo.jpg" title="Physically I’m here. Mentally, I’m in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito." alt="Physically I'm here. Mentally, I'm in a pool in Bali ordering my third mojito.">

My friends don’t ask ‘How are you?’, they ask ‘Where are you?’

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/MY-FRIENDS-DONT-ASK-HOW-ARE-YOU_-THEY-ASK-WHERE-ARE-YOU_-oaj3vlt009xji31m6prm244a0b7w261t9edmbhnda8.jpg" title="MY FRIENDS DON’T ASK ‘HOW ARE YOU_’ THEY ASK ‘WHERE ARE YOU_’" alt="MY FRIENDS DON'T ASK 'HOW ARE YOU?' THEY ASK 'WHERE ARE YOU?' funny travel quotes">

Go to work. Open computer. Scroll for plane tickets for 6 hours. Close computer. Go home.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/GO-TO-WORK.-OPEN-COMPUTER.-SCROLL-FOR-PLANE.-TICKETS-FOR-6-HOURS.-CLOSE-COMPUTER.-GO-HOME.-1-oaiovjn9b2movnifr9sbgea2yh3tiq1sccmfw6egao.jpg" title="GO TO WORK. OPEN COMPUTER. SCROLL FOR PLANE. TICKETS FOR 6 HOURS. CLOSE COMPUTER. GO HOME." alt="GO TO WORK. OPEN COMPUTER. SCROLL FOR PLANE. TICKETS FOR 6 HOURS. CLOSE COMPUTER. GO HOME.">

On my flight home, I’m already planning my next trip.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/on-my-flight-home-Im-already-planning-my-next-trip-oaio9vh7qkyp7azoawjyyv5hwnx61y0kp35fkij7r4.jpg" title="on my flight home I’m already planning my next trip" alt="on my flight home I'm already planning my next trip funny travel quotes">

Packing tip: Never unpack so you’re already packed to go next time.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/packing-tip_-never-unpack-so-youre-already-packed-to-go-next-time.-oaing7ok2scyua2pi2zsaclv2y475s9hya1ue6ig3k.jpg" title="packing tip_ never unpack so you’re already packed to go next time." alt="packing tip_ never unpack so you're already packed to go next time. Funny travel quotes">

The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you’ll probably never see again.

                                    <img src="http://dantravels.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/The-hardest-part-about-traveling-is-saying-goodbye-to-friends-youll-probably-never-see-again.-oaklsqadnf6nk7gbdrzn8a0t23nvw06hh2nkmnivpc.jpg" title="The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you’ll probably never see again." alt="The hardest part about traveling is saying goodbye to friends you'll probably never see again. funny travel quotes">

Malaysia to Thailand: Crossing border at Padang Besar (KL-BKK)

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

Heading from Malaysia to Thailand soon? If you are considering going on to this route via Padang Besar border, then keep reading! In this blog, I will be sharing my detailed experience of how I managed to cross the border at Padang Besar coming from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

My final destination in Thailand is actually Bangkok! It may be excruciating to some but for me, it is an adventure of a lifetime! Are you ready?

Please note that I crossed this border on August 2022 (post-covid) wherein borders are already open!

Padang Besar is a border town on the Malaysia-Thailand border. It’s the only border that has a direct rail link between Malaysia and Thailand, so travelers prefer crossing this land border. Besides that, it also has a road crossing between the two countries.

Town of Padang Besar on Thailand's side
Town of Padang Besar on Thailand’s side | Dantravels.org

FUN FACT: The last time I crossed a border was in 2019: the Georgia-Armenia border! Fast forward to 2022, here I am crossing another border: the Malaysia-Thailand border.

DO YOU NEED A VISA TO ENTER THAILAND?

First thing’s first. Before entering any country, you should be aware of whether you would need a visa or not. If you are from a country that doesn’t require a visa going to Thailand, no problem then. Feel free to check out the list here if you are in doubt.

As a Filipino citizen, I can enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days as a tourist.

ANY COVID-RELATED REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THAILAND?

As of August 2022 (when I crossed the border), I was only required to show my vaccine certificate.

Travelers actually need to upload the proof of vaccination online and I wasn’t actually aware of this! But there were locals who are willing to do that for you for a small tip! I paid 2 MYR for that. You’ll meet those local Thais upon entering the Immigration site.

Once they uploaded your vaccine info, they’ll ask you to take a photo of a certain QR code which then you will show to the personnel inside the building. Then personnel will put a sticker on your passport that says “fully vaccinated” after scanning your QR code.

PS: I myself was inoculated 3 times (including the booster.)

After that, I proceeded to the line to finally get my entry stamp. More info here for the entry stamp.

MY ROUTES FROM MALAYSIA TO THAILAND (KUALA LUMPUR TO BANGKOK)

ROUTE 1: TRAIN – KUALA LUMPUR TO PADANG BESAR (MALAYSIA)

1. Buying the ticket at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur

  • A day before my trip, I went to KL Sentral train station to buy my ticket first. KL Sentral can easily be reached by metro trains if you’re within Kuala Lumpur. Once you’re there, just look for the KTM ticket counter. Here is the timetable of the train schedule.
  • I took the earliest train that departs at 07:08 AM and arrives at Padang Besar (Malaysian side) at 12:41 PM. Padang Besar is the last station of this trip. It costs me 107 MYR for the ticket.
Train ticket booth of KTM at KL sentral in Kuala Lumpur | Dantravels.org
Train ticket booth of KTM at KL sentral in Kuala Lumpur | Dantravels.org
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=KL%20Sentral%20train&t=m&z=15&output=embed&iwloc=near

2. Be at the gate 10 minutes before the departure time

  • Look for your designated gate at KL Sentral station. It is also indicated on your ticket. In my case, it is Gate B.
KTM train Gate B going to Padang Besar
KTM train Gate B going to Padang Besar | Dantravels.org

3. Enjoy the 6-hour train ride

  • Yes, it is a 6-hour ride! And in case you get hungry, there is also a food bar inside the train. I bought sandwiches and a cup of coffee during my trip there.
KTM's food bar
Food bar inside the train | Dantravels.org

4. Arriving at the Padang Besar station (Malaysian side)

  • As I get off the train, I basically just followed the mass of people exiting as well.
  • There are cars and taxis waiting at the exit of the building. I took one of those cars to take me to the Malaysian Immigration to receive my exit stamp. I paid 10 MYR for the car (Note: I was sharing the car with another person.)
  • The Malaysian Immigration is in fact walking distance according to my Google map but I took the car anyway.
The Padang Besar train station
The Padang Besar train station | Dantravels.org

5. Getting the Exit Stamp from the Immigration (Malaysian side)

  • The driver pointed the building to where I need to get my exit stamp. So then I walked a bit and stood on the queue where people are already lining up.
  • After getting the exit stamp, I walked for 10 minutes to get to the actual border
Malaysian Border Gate at Padang Besar
Malaysian Border Gate at Padang Besar | Dantravels.org
Malaysian Immigration at Padang Besar
Malaysian Immigration at Padang Besar | Dantravels.org
This is the exact moment as I cross the Malay-Thai border
This is the exact moment as I cross the Malay-Thai border | Dantravels.org
Thailand's Custom border house in Padang Besar
This is the first building you will see on Thailand’s side once you cross the border | Dantravels.org

ROUTE 2: VAN – PADANG BESAR TO HAT YAI (THAILAND)

NOTE: There is a railway train at Padang Besar (Thailand side) but locals told me that it is best to go to Hat Yai, the nearest Thai city, to take the train or any other means of transportation. From what I understood, it will take a couple of hours or so for the train to arrive.

NOTE 2: There is also a van going to Hat Yai at the exit of the building of Thailand immigration, but I went ahead and walk to the town to find a money exchange shop first.

1. Getting the Entry Stamp from the Immigration (Thailand side)

  • So I am officially in the land of smile, Thailand! But before anything else, getting the entry stamp is a must!
  • There are local Thais there who are welcoming travelers at the Immigration entrance site. But they are actually those people who asked for a small fee to process your COVID vaccine certificate online (as mentioned here). I paid 2 MYR, not bad.
  • Then I lined up for the immigration queue. But when the Immigration officer found out I am a Filipino, she asked me to go to her supervisor’s office. I believe Filipinos are subject to interrogation due to the rising numbers of Filipinos working there without proper documentation. The supervisor guy asked me about my intention of coming to Thailand–which I replied purely for tourism purposes. Then he gave me a visa-free stamp for 30 days.

2. Finding a Money Exchange Shop at Padang Besar (Thailand side)

  • After getting the entry stamp, I walked for another 10 minutes heading to Padang Besar town (Thailand side) to find a Money Exchange shop since I still have a couple of Malaysian Ringit banknotes with me. I found this Chop Thai Saeree shop (as pictured below).
  • The shop is opposite the Krung Thai Bank, refer to this map location.
Money Exchange shop at Padang Besar, Thailand side
Money Exchange shop at Padang Besar, Thailand side | Dantravels.org

3. Heading to Hat Yai, the nearest Thai city from the border

  • There is a van terminal, within walking distance from the Money Exchange shop. Here is its map location.
  • I paid 60 THB for this trip.
  • The drop-off is at Hat Yai terminal.
Van terminal at Padang Besar going to Hat Yai
Van terminal at Padang Besar going to Hat Yai | Dantravels.org

ROUTE 3: VAN – HAT YAI TO BANGKOK (THAILAND)

1. Heading to Bangkok from Hat Yai

  • There are different means of transportation going to Bangkok from Hat Yai: train, bus, or van. But I took the van since it is the one that is leaving the soonest.
  • I paid 925 THB for this trip. And it took around 14 hours for its arrival in Bangkok! That’s a lot but I did enjoy the ride.
  • The drop-off is at Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok.

IN SUMMARY:

  1. Train: Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar
    • 107 MYR (price)
    • almost 6 hours
  2. Van: Padang Besar to Hat Yai
    • 60 THB (price)
    • 1 hour
  3. Van: Hat Yai to Bangkok
    • 925 THB (price)
    • 14 hours

And there you have it! Did you find this blog useful? I hope it did!

Anyhow, have a safe trip to Thailand wherever you may be! =)

How COVID-19 Ended My Travels and Had Me Stuck 2 Months in Bangkok

By Dan Forteza

I was on a personal journey to travel to Northern Africa with a long-term travel plan in mind last March 2020. But my supposedly long-term travel plan was unfortunately short-lived.

Out of the growing fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, everything has changed quickly and unexpectedly.

Before I go further, let me give you a quick background of my travels last year:

Five months after quitting my job last April 2019, I embarked on a quest to do solo backpacking abroad. I was lucky enough to travel to 9 more countries from September 2019 to December 2019, summing up to 30 countries since 2015.

I went back to the Philippines in December 2019 to spend the Christmas holidays with family and in order to plan ahead my next journey abroad which I scheduled March 2020.

Yep, there is more to it.

I plan to travel for 3 weeks in Egypt (my 31st country.) Then fly to Morocco and stay there for a month or two. I might even go to the US or further south of Africa if my travel budget lets me.

I really tried to plan it out as much as I can. My flight itineraries to both Egypt and Morocco were already booked before February 2020.

But then the pandemic happens…

The global coronavirus pandemic is an obvious crisis. Some news articles even said that this is way worse than the post-world wars! It’s possible and I’m not going to argue about that.

So what I am about to share with you here is my own experience and struggles while traveling abroad, far from home, amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Sad to say, but the timeline below is how COVID-19 ended my travel plans and left me locked in Bangkok, Thailand for almost two months.

MY TRAVEL TIMELINE:

Allow me to tell my story in a timeline manner so you’ll get a better picture and understanding of each scenario and how they correlate in sequence.

In other words, you may consider this as my COVID-19 travel diary.

  • March 6

From Manila, Philippines, I was able to leave my country for Egypt.

During my first week in Egypt, it still felt normal. I was even able to perform my 4-day budget itinerary for Cairo, Egypt.

Day 4: The Pyramid of Khafre.
The Pyramid of Khafre in Giza, Egypt | Dantravels.org

Back then, there were only 3 reported cases of COVID-19 in Egypt.

But day by day, it was getting worse.

  • March 11

The COVID-19 viral disease had swept into at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people by this time and was now officially a pandemic as announced by the World Health Organization (WHO).

That was not a piece of good news to start off the day. I felt like the time is chasing after me.

My gut was telling me to cancel my flight to Morocco and get back to Southeast Asia or the Philippines where I myself would feel safer. I know it was crucial to make a quick decision before it was too late. But another part of me was telling me to wait…

I know, I know.

This coronavirus pandemic has affected everybody’s way of living.

That’s when I knew I really need to always look after my safety first and not just for the sake of fulfilling travel goals.

From that time on, I kept myself updated with the latest news and became more vigilant.

  • March 12

The Philippines, my home country, will be in community quarantine (or lockdown as they say it) from March 15 until April 14.

Domestic air, land, and sea access to the 17 cities/districts of Metro Manila would be suspended during that period.

International flights in and out of the country would also be limited.

No matter how I condition my mind that this pandemic will just die out in the next few days, it just won’t. This is something out of my control.

  • March 16

The Egyptian authorities have announced the suspension of flights in and out of Egypt effective March 19 until March 31.

Morocco has done the same by canceling flights from/to European countries including Egypt which had almost 100 cases by now, the highest number of cases in all of Africa.

At this point, all I thought about was getting out of Egypt as soon as possible, or at least before my Egyptian visa expires which is due the first week of April.

Luckily, I was able to book a direct flight from Cairo, Egypt to Bangkok, Thailand scheduled March 18, one day before the flight suspension was to take effect.

Phew, I thought I was going to be trapped in Egypt thinking of nowhere else to go!

Thanks to Kayak’s flight search engine that I was able to quickly browse and book the cheapest ticket I can find from Egypt to Southeast Asia!

Later that day, I canceled my flight to Morocco with a heavy heart.

  • March 18

While most of the countries in Europe and other parts of the world were suspending international flights and restricting land-border crossing, I was able to safely arrive in Bangkok, Thailand.

However, because of the lockdown imposed by the Philippine government, I was not able to immediately find a direct flight back to Manila, Philippines. Flights via AirAsia and Cebu Pacific were only available April 15 onwards.

That would mean I had to stay for almost a month in Bangkok, Thailand!

  • March 31

I keep checking flight restriction details from time to time due to this COVID-19 pandemic. And it looks like ALL Southeast Asian countries have imposed flight and border-crossing restrictions. A few of them have exemptions for foreigners, like Cambodia, but only if you can present a medical certificate, medical insurance, etc.

Since my free-visa entry in Thailand only allows me to stay in the country for 30 days, I decided to book a flight going to Manila scheduled on April 16. Just in time before my free visa expires on April 17.

  • April 4

In the hope to spend less, I decided to move to another hostel in Bangkok on this day. The hostel was cheaper compared to my previous hostel and was just a walking distance to Don Mueng International Airport.

It’s my 17th day in Bangkok and the first time from that period I’ve seen the city again as I have been staying most of my day at my hostel.

Social Distancing measures in BTS Bangkok, Thailand
Social distancing measures in BTS metro seats | Dantravels.org
How covid-19 pandemic stopped me from traveling
An empty street near Phaya Thai BTS station | Dantravels.org

From that day onward, I was counting down the days before I head back to the Philippines.

  • April 7

The Philippine government has just announced that they are extending the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila and Luzon until April 30.

On the same day, AirAsia, my flight carrier to Manila, canceled my Bangkok-Manila flight (scheduled April 16) due to this directive. The said airline has canceled all domestic and international flights to/from the Philippines until April 30.

Oh well…change of plan, then.

  • April 8

The Prime Minister of Thailand signed the plan to grant automatic visa extensions for foreigners currently in Thailand to April 30.

This means that I don’t need to worry about my visa expiring on April 17.

But still, since the community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila / Luzon has also been extended to April 30, I have no choice but to extend my visa so I’ll be able to stay in Thailand beyond April 30.

  • April 13

I have rescheduled my flight to May 15. Since it’s the airline that has canceled my flight, it’s free to reschedule the flight on or before October 31 including unlimited flight changes as per airline’s official statement.

Some people I talked to also advised me to reschedule it to May 1 and just pay for a one-day overstay fine costing to 500 THB per day in comparison to a 30-day visa extension costing to 1,900 THB.

Although that is feasible, I don’t think it is safe to assume nothing will change. I fear that the lockdown in Manila might again be extended beyond April. So I’d rather go for a 30-day visa extension!

Wooh! So I initially thought I’d be only stuck in Thailand for a month but it’s going to be two months?

And here another reason I probably should mention: it’s been my tradition to spend my birthday away from home (I just preferred that way haha). My birthday is sometime in May, so I might as well stay a little longer until May and wait until the situation improves.

When exactly is my birthday? Keep reading.

  • April 21

A second automatic visa extension for foreigners in Thailand was approved by the Thai authorities. This is to prevent long queues at immigration centers and stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Foreigners whose visas had expired since March 26 will be permitted to stay until July 31 without having to apply for an extension.

Thus, I don’t have to worry about lining up to the immigration center to have my visa stamped and extended nor spending more money for the visa fee.

What a relief!

  • April 25

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over places considered to be COVID-19 high-risk areas, such as Metro Manila was AGAIN extended until May 15 as per announced by the authorities.

So I would again expect that the flight I rescheduled May 15 will be canceled.

And it did. The next morning I got an email from AirAsia suspending my flight to Manila, Philippines.

  • May 1

F*ck it! You know what, I’ve made my decision to stay here in Thailand (or jump to another country in Indochina) until September for safety purposes.

This is also to round up a gap year of nomadism that I started September 2019!

I don’t think it’s safe to go back home to the Philippines while the COVID-19 cases are getting worse there.

I must also commend Thailand and its authorities for taking the fight to COVID-19 outbreak so seriously that they were able to flatten the curve against the disease.

  • May 10

Up to this day, I’m still in Bangkok and in a new hostel. And surprise…it’s my 30th birthday!

All those ‘I-wanna-travel-to-the-fullest-before-I’m-30’ sentiments I’ve said on this blog: do they end today?

Maybe…But one thing I’ll do for sure is to keep the adventure going!

So let me end this travel diary of mine here and enjoy the rest of the day.

WHERE DID I STAY?

My Room Accommodations:

Lobby of Sleep BKK hostel in Bangkok
The lobby at Sleep BKK hostel in Bangkok.

Just like everyone else, I was also practicing social distancing while staying in the hostel.

There are only 3 or 4 guests in the hostel, so it’s not that hard to self-isolate myself from the rest.

Sleep BKK hostel's lobby.
Sleep BKK hostel’s lobby.

I usually hang out at the hostel’s lobby.

With their free coffee or tea while I do some blogging works on my laptop–that is all need to keep my day productive.

Not to mention, the hostel has a good connection of high-speed internet which is perfect to stream a movie or do video calls when boredom strikes.

The nearby food stall where I get my food.
The nearby food stall where I usually get my food. Only takeout is allowed as per Thai authorities directives due to the pandemic.

I only go out when getting food, withdrawing cash, and doing the laundry.

I know I am stuck but I feel alright and safe.

This is what I have been eating most of my day in Thailand.

On to my second hostel: Diamond and Rust Hostel, here is the video I captured while showing the lobby and my bed in the dormitory room.

I usually book my room accommodations through Agoda or 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.

Or you can also try AirBnB. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME AND MY TRAVELS?

To be honest, I really don’t know.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to travel again. It seems very uncertain at this moment in time.

Even my travel blog that I was hoping to back up my travel savings was also greatly affected by the pandemic itself.

My website traffic started to crash in February 2020 since people became less and less interested in searching for travel-related articles. Thus, my Google AdSense and affiliate earnings have crashed as well.

My Google Adsense earning January vs February 2020
My Google Adsense earnings: January 2020 vs February 2020

I understand things are crazy right now.

But there will come a time in the near future where things get back to a “new normal”. A normal that’s similar to how things were before.

People will search for things that they’ve always searched for.

Restaurants will be full.

Football games will be sold out.

The travel industry will prosper again.

So yeah, things are far from normal now. But we can use this time to get ready for when they are.

9 Of The Best Places in Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

If you look at the city of Chiang Mai on Google Map, you’ll see the square-looking area called the old city moat surrounded by massive walls and water gates. Yep, that is the downtown of Thailand’s Chiang Mai, often called the Old City of Chiang Mai!

In this blog, I will be mainly focusing on the best places to see in this historic Old City of Chiang Mai. I have listed my top 9 favorite places in this article which I’m sure will be worth your while as well.

But before we get started, let me pin those 9 places on the map. You may refer to the image below.

chiang mai old city tourist map

HOW TO GET AROUND CHIANG MAI OLD CITY?

There are several ways to get around the Old City of Chiang Mai such as songthaew, tuk-tuk, buses, taxis, and of course Grab! However, despite being a popular tourist city, the public transport here isn’t quite convenient to the level you may expect.

I would however suggest just going on foot since the places are not far apart from each other. If it tires you along the way, go ride with Grab bike or motor-taxi!

So install that Grab App as well as it might save you in times you need a quick and convenient ride.

If you know how to drive a motorbike, you can rent one. Just inquire with your hotel/hostel. I’m sure they know where to point you.

If you’re going as a group or you’re a solo traveler wanting to be in a group tour, I suggest you book a group city tour through Viator! Check out the button below.

Tours via Viator

Now let’s get started!

9 BEST PLACES IN CHIANG MAI OLD CITY

1. WAT LOK MOLI

wat lok moli
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20lok%20moli&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

If you’re staying on the north side of the old city (like the Nimman area,) this should be your first stop!

The color of Wat Lok Moli’s temple is very distinctive – with ivory white and reddish roofs giving the temple an eye-catching marvel. The details in the wood are also very appealing adding to the temple’s distinctive look. Its chedi (tower) is one of the biggest in Chiang Mai.

2. WAT CHIANG MAN

wat chiang man chiang mai
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20chiang%20man&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest known Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, so this is totally a must-visit for all history buffs out there!

The most striking part of this temple is the murals inside. Beautifully painted and colorful, they enliven the inside and are a joy to look at. Be sure to exit through the back of the temple to see more buddha statues around the perimeter and the lovely chedi (tower) in the back, supported by elephant statues.

3. THE THREE KINGS MONUMENT

three kings monument chiang mai
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=the%20three%20kings%20monument&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

The Three Kings Monument, situated close to the center of the Old City, is one of the famous and important landmarks of Chiang Mai. It is actually considered the “symbol” of Chiang Mai that’s why this monument should not be missed when you’re in the city.

PS: This sculpture is of the founding fathers of Chiang Mai Kings Mengrai, Ramkamhaeng, and Ngam Muang.

4. WAT PHAN TAO

wat phan thao
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20phan%20tao&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

Located beside Wat Chedi Luang (number 5 on this list), Wat Phan Tao served as a throne hall for one of Chiang Mai’s Kings of Lanna Kingdom. You’ll immediately notice the beauty of the exquisite Lanna-style wooden temple upon your entrance. It has a beautiful and elegant grace yet it’s simple at the same time.

At the back of the wooden temple, there is a very ornate golden pagoda with a lot of yellow Buddhist flags around it.

5. WAT CHEDI LUANG

wat chedi luang
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20chedi%20luang&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

The main attraction here is the chedi (tower) which is in the center of the compound – a giant stone structure sits in the center of a stone-paved square and just dominates its surroundings. Visitors might be surprised to know that the top 100ft is missing, fell by an earthquake in the 16th century.

The compound is large with a number of beautiful other temples and buildings within.

6. WAT PHRA SINGH

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20phra%20singh&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

Located on the western side of the old city, it is a major Buddhist temple complex originally built in 1345 and has since gone several restorations throughout time.

Two of its most popular and stunning buildings are the Golden Pagoda and the main temple which enthrones the Golden Buddha statue. The temple gets its name from the Lions or Singh guarding the complex.

7. BUAK HAAD PUBLIC PARK

buak haad public park chiang mai
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=nong%20buak%20haad&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

This is Chiang Mai’s oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. It has a nice green space in the Old City and has a very peaceful park set on a small lake with nice landscaping and multiple areas to enjoy the shade, have a picnic, and just chill. There is a spot to feed the fish as well.

8. WAT SRI SUPHAN

wat sri suphan
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat%20sri%20suphan&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

Another temple complex in Chiang Mai that stands out from the rest includes the temples painted with silver. Truly a must-visit in Chiang Mai, not only for religious purposes but admiring the skills of people who created all their creative works for this place.

Unfortunately, women are restricted from entering the silver-looking temple, but there are other temples inside the complex that women can.

9. THA PHAE GATE

tha phae gate chiang mai
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.7878644%2C98.993400&t=m&z=18&output=embed&iwloc=near

This is the Eastern gate of the walled city and the most known among the four gates. You can’t come to Chiang Mai and not see this!

It is a good place to end your Old City tour as it leads to the lively and buzzing nightlife of Chiang Mai. There is also the Tha Phae Walking Street and also a lot of coffee shops and restaurants nearby.

30 Useful Thai Expressions For Travelers To Survive Thailand

By Dan Forteza

Are you visiting Thailand anytime soon? If you are, learning a few basic Thai expressions or phrases can immensely help you when traveling around Thailand. Take it from me! As of this writing, I’ve been here for more than a year and have been enjoying my time especially those moments when I interact with the local people. When you try to speak their language, most locals will appreciate the effort and may even have a friendly giggle at your pronunciation.

Although English is widely spoken in touristy areas, having a few Thai words ready in your pocket can surely help.

In this blog article, I am going to walk you through 30 useful Thai expressions that will definitely help you enjoy your trip.

Read also: my one-day tour itinerary in Chiangrai, Thailand.

one of my most used thai expressions is anne tao rai which means how much is this
This is me buying street food in Bangkok, Thailand

30 BASIC THAI EXPRESSIONS (with GRAMMAR TIPS and AUDIOS)

In this list, I have also included grammar and pronunciation tips to help you speak like a local! It would also help if you listen to each of the audio to help you guide on the pronunciation. Those audios were recorded by a Thai friend of mine.  So good luck or I should say susu na krap!

1. sàwàdee (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Hello! 

TIP 1: In Thai language: if you’re a male, you add “kráp” at the end of each expression to make it sound more polite. If you’re a female you add “kâ” instead. Usually, local men would just drop the “r” in “kráp” sounding it more like “káp” or “háp.”

Sàwàdee is basically the usual Thai greeting. So it can also be used when saying “Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening, or even Good bye.”

TIP 2: When you’re greeting an elderly, a teacher, or basically someone you respect, the “wai” greeting is usually paired with the word “sàwàdee”, thereby making it a greeting and also a way in which to show someone respect. The “wai” consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.

Nakhon Nayok Bamboo Tunnel
All of us doing the “wai” sign with our local Thai guide in the middle

2. sàbaaidee măi (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: How are you?

Reply: sàbaaidee (kráp/kâ) [means: I’m well.]

TIP 3: The word “măi” has no literal translation in English. When “măi” is added at the end of an expression, it makes the expression a question.

Sàbaai literally means “relaxed” while dee means “good”. So the expression “sàbaaidee măi” literally means “Are you good?” or something like “You good?” And most of the time the Thai word for “You” is omitted in either a question or a response.

Sometimes I hear Thai people say “dee dee dee” which means “good good good.” Haha!

3. chai/mâi chai (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Yes / No

Don’t be confused “mâi” with “măi”. Each has actually different pronunciation and meaning. When mâi is added before a word, it becomes”negative” or meant the opposite.

TIP 4: Another way of saying “yes” is kráp or kâ. When you understand and agree with one’s statement, instead of replying “yes” or “right”, you can say kráp (for male) or kâ (for female.)

TIP 5: And another way of saying “no” is “plao”.

4. kòp kun (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Thank you.

The Thai word “kun” means “you” but it could also translate to Mr. or Ms. So “Kun Daniel” would mean Mr. Daniel. Please note that last names in Thailand have only been in used for the last 50 years so it is common for Thai people to call me Kun Daniel.

5. mâi pen rai (kráp/kâ)

Translation: No worries or Not an issue.

This is the usual response to “Thank you.”

TIP 6: It is common to pronounce the “r” sound in Thai like an “l” sound. I personally feel like I am more understood by the locals when I pronounce “r” as “l”.  So instead of saying “mâi pen rai”, I’d say “mâi pen lai.”

Before we continue with the list, let me just introduce first the two basic pronouns in Thai.

  • Pom/Chan – Pom and Chan both mean “me”, “myself”, or “I”. Take note that Pom is only used by men. Chan is used by both men and women. I personally use pom though.
  • Kun – As I’ve explained in #3, this means “you” and could also mean “your”.

6. róo/mâi róo (kráp/kâ)

Translation: I know/I don’t know

In this expression, ” róo” means “know”.

TIP 7: Local Thais usually omit personal pronouns Pom or Chan when saying this but you can also say it as “Pom róo/Chan róo and “Pom mâi róo/Chan mâi róo.

7. mi/mâi mi (kráp/kâ)

Translation: I have/I don’t have

I used this expression a lot when buying something at 7-11. Upon payment, the cashier would ask me “All Member mi krap/ka?” (Do you have All-Member card?), so I just simply respond by saying: “mâi mi kap” (I don’t have.)

8. dâai/mâi dâai (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Possible/Not possible

This can also mean “I can” or “I can’t”

9. kun pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai măi?

Translation: Can you speak English?

So we’re now in the point where we’ve learn a couple of Thai words and where we can mix and match them to create phrases of different meaning. In this expression, the literal translation word-by-word is:

  • kun – you
  • pôod – speak
  • phasăa ang-grìt – English or English language (phasăa means language)
  • dâai măi – can?/can you?

Reply:

  • Pom pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai krap. [I can speak English.]
  • Pom pôod phasăa ang-grìt mâi dâai krap. [I can’t speak English.]
  • Pom pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai nidnoi krap. [I can speak English a little.]

NOTE: When someone asks me if I can speak Thai, I’d normally say “Pom pôod phasăa thai dâai nidnoi krap” or just simply nidnoi (meaning a little.)

10. leaw kun la (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: And yourself?

If you want to ask someone back with the same question, you can say this expression.

To put it into perspective, so here is a sample dialogue in Thai.

  • A: kun pôod phasăa ang-grìt dâai măi? [Can you speak English?]
  • B: dâai. leaw kun la krap? [Yes, I can. And yourself?]

In the next five sentences, I’ll be using the Thai word “na“. In a nutshell, adding “na” makes the expression “softer” and it adds the sense of sincerity when you use it.

11. kŏr tôht na (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Sorry.

12. tôht na (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: Excuse me.

I used this expression quite a lot, too. I used this whenever I want to ask politely for something or I might do something that might affect someone like me getting through a crowded place.

13. susu na (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Fighting! or Good luck!

This is one of my personal favorite Thai expressions. Whenever you wish someone a piece of good luck and just a word of encouragement, you can say “susu!” or “susu na k’ap!“

14. laa gòn na (kráp/kâ)

Translation: Good bye.

TIP 8: Another way of saying goodbye is “jer gan.” It literally means “see you”. I believe this is more colloquial and common to say goodbye.

15. àrai na  (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: What did you say? or Say that again, please.

The Thai word for “what” is “àrai“. And when you add the word “na”,you are basically politely asking someone to repeat what he/she said because you didn’t get it the first time.

TIP 9: There is another way of saying this but only with your closed friends. You can say “àrai wa?” which literally translates to “what the heck?” or to some extent “what the f*ck?” This is a bit rude if you are talking to someone you don’t know or someone superior to you.

Now in the next expressions, I’ll be introducing to you the equivalent WH-question words. I won’t be covering them all but the common ones are:

  • àrai – what
  • têe năi – where
  • tâo rài – how much / how many
  • mue rài – when
  • tham mai – why
  • yàang-rai – how

These normally appear in the end of a Thai sentence. Refer to the next sample expressions.

16. kun chêu arai (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: What’s your name?

The Thai word for “name” is “chêu“. Again, you can omit the pronoun “kun” and simply say “chêu alai kap?”

17. kun maa jàak tee năi (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: Where do you come from? /  Where are you from?

The Thai word for “come” is “maa” while the Thai word for “from” is “jàak“. Simple as that. =)

18. hông náam yòo têe năi (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: Where is the toilet?

The Thai word for “toilet” is “hông náam” which literally translate to “water room” (hông is room; náam is water.) Yòo is some sort of an article like “at” or “on”.

19. an née tâo rài (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: How much is this?

This is another Thai expression that I used very often. When you’re at the market and you see a fruit you want to buy for instance, then you point it out and you say “an née tâo rài kap“? The Thai word for “this” or “this one here” is “an née”.

20. phasăa thai … pôod wâa yàang-rai (kráp/kâ)?

Translation: How do you say … in Thai?

This is the longest expression in this list but you’ll need this in case you’re now in the stage where you want to learn more vocabulary. So you can simply ask a Thai local and say “phasăa thai an née (this one) pôod wâa yàang-rai (kráp/kâ)? Wâa is some sort of an article connector.

21. chai măi?

Translation: Right? or Correct?

Another favorite expression of mine and I used this all the time! I normally mixed it up with an English expression and then ending it by saying “chai măi?” So basically you’re asking the person you’re talking to if your statement is correct. Say for example: “You’re a student here, chai măi?” If he/she agrees he/she would simply say “chai” (meaning yes.)

22. khâo jai măi?

Translation: Do you understand?

This is useful when you can’t express something in Thai and while you’re saying it in English, you want to make sure you pause and ask them if they indeed understood you so you say “kun khâo jai măi?” or simply remove “kun” and say “khâo jai măi?”

23. jing ná? / jing jing?

Translation: Really? / Seriously?

I think this is a good one. I like using this Thai expression as well. It’s like I’m blending in so much!

24. yin dee têe dâi róo jàk.

Translation: Pleased to meet you. / Nice to meet you.

25. neung, song, sam, see, ha, hok, jet, paed, gao, sip

Translation: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

These counting numbers are very useful in a normal Thai conversation. And most importantly when you’re at the grocery store, you’ll be aware of how much you’re going to pay for!

Counting in Thai language is easy. You basically just need to mix and match the numbers from one to ten and you’re all set! For example:

  • Twelve: Sip song (10 and 2)
  • Thirty: Sam sip (3 and 10)
  • Eighty five: Paed sip ha (8, 10, and 5)

There are two exceptions though:

  • you don’t use “neung” in saying “eleven” (or other tens ending by one. Instead, you use “ed.” So eleven would be “sip ed” and thirty one would be “sam sip ed.”
  • also, you don’t say “song sip” for “twenty”, instead you say “yi sip.” So twenty one would be “yi sip ed“

26. pai!

Translation: go!

I know this is just a word but if you use it together with other Thai words you just learned, then this is going to be one heck of a relief. If you’re telling a taxi driver to go to “Sukhumvit 55th st., you can say “pai Sukhumvit soi ha sip ha” (soi means street.)

27. kun gin arai?

Translation: What did you eat?

Now we knew “kun” is “you” and “arai” is “what”. The new word here is “gin” and it means “eat.”

28. aroi mak!

Translation: Very delicious!

You’ll be using this so much when you’re complimenting how delicious food is! The Thai word for “delicious” is “aroi” and for “very” or “extremely” is “mak“. 

With the word “mak“, you can basically partner this to any word. Say for example; instead of saying “kob kun krap,” you can say “kob kun mak krap” to say “thank you very much.”

29. mâi phet / phet mak

Translation: Not spicy / Very spicy

I bet most of us want to go to Thailand for a food trip, chai măi? I gotta tell you though that Thai food is quite known for being spicy! So if you want to say you don’t want to have something spicy, you can say “mâi phet.” The Thai word for spicy is “phet.” Phet mak on the other hand means “very spicy”.

30. sai krong  dâai măi?

Translation: Can you put it in a container?

From the previous list, we knew “dâai măi” means “can you”. The Thai word for “put” is “sai“. This Thai expression is useful when you want to take out food. Krong is a sort of a food container.

TIP 10: Or if you want to say like: “Can you put it in a plastic bag?”, you can just change “krong” to “tong” (the word for plastic bag.)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Well, what can I say… Thai can be a difficult language to learn as it is a tonal language. One word can have multiple meanings depending on how it is pronounced.

You are most definitely going to make mistakes, but don’t let that put you off. Personally, I love learning this language because I love getting wide grins and chuckles from locals when I say something unexpected in their language.

Anyway, please let me know what is your favorite Thai expression. I would love to hear you’re thoughts on this! Kob kun mak krup!

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

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

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!
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:

Bella Casa Hostel
Bella Casa Hostel

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

Downtown
Day 1: The beautiful architecture of downtown 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

Ibn Tulun Mosque
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.

Zuwayla Gate
Day 3: Zuwayla Gate
  • 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

Mausoleum
Mausoleum of As-Saleh

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 Japan Itinerary With Guide + Budget (Pinoy Solo Traveler)

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

I don’t know about you guys but for me, Japan is one of the best countries in the world!

When I visited this East Asian country in February, there were no dull moments and everything was spectacular following my 7-day Japan itinerary which I’ll be writing about in this blog. If both Tokyo and Sapporo are on your bucket list amongst Japanese cities to visit, then this blog perfectly made for you!

I have also included my detailed day-to-day expenses which I’m sure budget travelers will find very helpful to estimate their overall travel cost when traveling to Japan. Because let’s face it, this country has one of the highest costs of living in the world.

Yokohama's skyline | Dantravels.org
Yokohama’s skyline | 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.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

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

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

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

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

JAPAN 🇯🇵

Language: Japanese
Capital City: Tokyo
Currency:  Japanese Yen (JPY)
Int’l Airports in this trip: NRT, CTS
Preferred mode of transportation: Subways / Trams
Time Zone: GMT +9

HOW I GOT TO JAPAN

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Japan from the Asia-Pacific region is easy breezy. In my case, I got my economy flight tickets from Cebu Pacific and Jetstar Airlines. Here were my flight itineraries with costs:

  • Manila (Philippines) – Tokyo (Japan) [$65.80]
  • Tokyo (Japan) – Sapporo (Japan) – Tokyo (Japan) [$89.30]
  • Tokyo (Japan) – Manila (Philippines) [$73.80]
  • Subtotal: $228.9

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

HOW TO GET AROUND JAPAN?

  • Intercity Flight
    • Flying is the quickest way you can travel from one city to another (e.g., Tokyo to Sapporo). As mentioned above, you can book using Trip.com to get yourself the best flight deals available. Most economy flights are even cheaper than traveling by train!
  • Subways / Trains in Tokyo and Sapporo
    • Subways are the best way to get around big cities in Japan like Tokyo and Sapporo. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“
  • Trams or Streetcars in Sapporo
    • Sapporo’s tram network is one of the city’s 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.
  • Other Transport Travel Tips
    • Buses are also one of the best transport services in Japan but aren’t really recommended for short-term visitors.
    • A prepaid Suica card is the BEST way to pay for transport which both can be used in Tokyo and Sapporo. You can buy a Suica card online at GoVoyagin.com for pickup at Narita or Haneda airport.
    • Your navigation would be much easier if you are using Google Maps. In Japan, it is very reliable and accurate. If you’re looking for travel directions, it will give you all different options and even 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

NOTE: I have only listed the transport services I used per my experience during my 7-day Japan itinerary travel.

WHERE DID I STAY IN JAPAN

You can book a room at any hotel in Japan 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 hotel 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 43 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

My Room Accommodations:

  • Tokyo, Japan
    • Name (1): Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori
    • Name (2): Hostel Waqwaq Tokyo
    • Room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Cost: included the day-to-day expenses below
  • Sapporo, Japan
    • Name: Capsule Inn Sapporo
    • Room type: Capsule Room (for Male only)
    • Cost: included the day-to-day expenses below
Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori
Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori | Dantravels.org

MY 7-DAY JAPAN ITINERARY with EXPENSES

NOTE: I created a more detailed itinerary and guide of my trips to Tokyo and Sapporo, each has a separate blog but unfortunately has no cost breakdown. Click here for Tokyo and here for Sapporo.

DAY 0: NARITA AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN TOKYO

Day 0: Train from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo
Day 0: Train from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 3,300 – Sim Card
  • JPY 1,030 – Train: Narita station to Nipporo station (Keisei Main Line)
  • JPY 8,500 – Hostel (5-Night Stay)
  • Subtotal: JPY 12,830

DAY 1: TOKYO’S TAITO (ASAKUSA), SUMIDA, & ARAKAWA (NIPPORI)

Day 1: Tokyo Skytree viewed from Sumida Park
Day 1: Tokyo Skytree viewed from Sumida Park with the Kototoi Bridge | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 210 – Train: Nippori station to Tokyo Skytree station
  • JPY 170 – Train: Asakusa station to Minami Senju station
  • JPY 121 – Food: 7-11 Noodles (ahaha!)
  • JPY 160 – Train: Minami Senju station to Nippori station
  • Subtotal: JPY 661

NOTE: In my hostel in Tokyo, there is an available free water + juice drink dispenser. I normally carry a bottle filled with any of those drinks to keep me through the day. I also brought some Oreos from the Philippines so I don’t buy too much food in Tokyo.

Later in the afternoon, I grabbed a strolling map pamphlet (for Nippori area) at my hostel lounge. I really didn’t expect to see much in my hostel area at first but by following the recommended places in the pamphlet–there are a lot to see!

Day 1: Nippori-Yanaka strolling map
Day 1: Nippori-Yanaka strolling map | Dantravels.org

DAY 2: OFF TO YOKOHAMA, MT. FUJI & THEN TOKYO TOWER + SHIBUYA CROSSING

Day 2: The amazing Skyline of Yokohama City | Dantravels.org
Day 2: The amazing Skyline of Yokohama City | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 550 – Train: Nippori station to Yokohama station
  • JPY 210 – Train: Nihon odori station to Yokohama station
  • JPY 260 – Train: Yokohama station to Yamato station
  • JPY 200 – Bus: Yamato to Tomei Yamato bus stop
  • JPY 1,050 – Bus: Tomei Yamato to Gotemba
  • JPY 240 – Food: Bread with Coffeemilk
  • JPY 84 – Food: Choco Bread
  • JPY 500 – Train: Gotemba station to Matsuda station
  • JPY 780 – Train: Shin-matsuda station to Shinjuku station
  • JPY 210 – Train: Shinjuku station to Shibuya station
  • JPY 280 – Train: Shibuya station to Akabanebashi station
  • JPY 280 – Train: Onarimon station to Nippori station
  • Subtotal: JPY 4,644

NOTE: Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, is almost an hour train ride from Nippori, Tokyo. I even went further south to Gotemba to hopefully get a closer look of Mt. Fuji that day. But unfortunately, Mt. Fuji is covered by huge thick clouds and thus unseeable even from afar.

Later in the evening, my Japanese friend took me to the famous Shibuya crossing. While chillin’ at Shibuya’s Starbucks, we’ve witnessed tons of people crossing Shibuya in action. It’s unbelievable and surreal!

Day 1: My friend, Hayato, took me to the Tokyo Tower as well | Dantravels.org

DAY 3: TOKYO’S CHIYODA, SHIBUYA, & SHINJUKU

Day 3: Tokyo station building | Dantravels.org
Day 3: Tokyo station building | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 160 – Train: Nippori station to Tokyo station
  • JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s meal
  • JPY 200 – Train: Nijubashimae station to Harajuku station
  • JPY 396 – Food: KitKat Chocolate (pasalubong) at Takeshita St.
  • JPY 130 – Train: Sangubashi station to Shinjuku station
  • JPY 180 – Train: Shinjuku station to Tochomae station
  • JPY 180 – Train: Tochomae station to Shinjuku station
  • JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Nippori station
  • Subtotal: JPY 1,946

DAY 4: TOKYO’S KOTO (ODAIBA), TAITO (UENO)

Day 4: My college classmate, Jomark at Odaiba | Dantravels.org
Day 4: My college classmate, Jomark at Odaiba | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 320 – Food: Bento Box (breakfast)
  • JPY 200 – Train: Nippori station to Shinjuku station
  • JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Shinbashi station
  • JPY 320 – Train: Shinbashi station to Daiba station
  • JPY 160 – Train: Daiba station to Shinbashi (via Tokyo Station)
  • JPY 170 – Train: Shinbashi station to Shinjuku station
  • JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Nippori station
  • JPY 280 – Train: Nippori station to Ueno station
  • JPY 140 – Train: Ueno station to Nippori station
  • Subtotal: JPY 1,990

NOTE: In this day, I met my college classmate who works in Tokyo and he took me to Odaiba. He also took me for a lunch treat! =) There are even travel hacks he showed me where one can travel by train the cheapest!

Later in the evening, I met my Japanese friend again and he took me to Ueno Park where cherry blossoms (sakura) have started to show up as early as in February! We also took a stroll to Nezu shrine.

DAY 5: DOWNTOWN SAPPORO (ODORI PARK & TV TOWER)

Day 5: Sapporo Capsule Inn | Dantravels.org
Day 5: Sapporo Capsule Inn | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 1,240 – Train: Nippori station to Narita (via Sky Access)
  • JPY 1,030 – Bus: Airport to Sapporo downtown
  • JPY 500 – Food: Mcdonald’s Meal
  • JPY 5,000 – Hostel: Capsule type room (2-Night Stay)
  • JPY 230 – Food: McFlurry Oreo
  • JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s Meal
  • Subtotal: JPY 8,500

DAY 6: SAPPORO’S CLOCK TOWER, FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE, & MT. MOIWA

Day 6: Inside Sapporo's tram | Dantravels.org
Day 6: Inside Sapporo’s tram | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 244 – Food: Bread and Coffee Milk
  • JPY 200 – Tram: Tanukikuji station to Ropeway Iriguchi station
  • JPY 200 – Tram: Ropeway Iriguchi station to Tanukikuji station
  • JPY 210 – Food: Bread and Coffee Milk
  • JPY 200 – Tram: Susukino station to Denshajigyoshomae station
  • JPY 200 – Tram: Denshanjigyosjomae station to Susukino station
  • Subtotal: JPY 1,254

DAY 7: REST, BACK TO TOKYO, & AKIHABARA

Day 7: Hostel Waqwaq in Ueno Asukusa | Dantravels.org
Day 7: Hostel Waqwaq in Ueno Asukusa | Dantravels.org
  • JPY 1,030 – Bus: Sapporo downtown to CTS Airport
  • JPY 278 – Food: Ramen cup noodles
  • JPY 213 – Food: Chocolates (pasalubong)
  • JPY 160 – Drink: Bottled Tea
  • JPY 1,240 – Train: Narita station to Ueno station (via Sky Access)
  • JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s Meal
  • JPY 110 – Drink: Cofee Milk
  • JPY 210 – Train: Asakusa station to Akibahara station
  • JPY 140 – Train: Akibahara station to Ueno station
  • Subtotal: JPY 3,881

DAY 8 (LAST DAY): BACK TO MANILA

  • JPY 258 – Food: Bread and Coffeemilk
  • JPY 1,240 – Train: Ueno station to Narita station (via Sky Access)
  • Subtotal: JPY 1,498

And there you have it!

Including the flight costs, here is the overall total of my expenses in Japan for one week:

TOTAL: $228.9 (flights) + $338.97 (JPY 37,204 , daily costs)

TOTAL: $567.87

RECOMMENDED TOUR PACKAGES

I hope that you find this 7-DAY JAPAN ITINERARY with GUIDE + BUDGET blog useful!

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

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

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

  • Hotel / Hostel
    • Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well for your Japan Itinerary. 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.
    • Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Japan 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 43 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

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

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

  • Other Package tours in Japan
    • Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding, and booking the best travel experiences worldwide. Perfect for your Japan itinerary!

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Japan.

CHECK OUT ALSO MY YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT JAPAN!

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

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me. Thanks & enjoy!

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.

Read also: My Sapporo, Japan winter itinerary with must-see attractions

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.

Read also: How to get your Yellow Fever Vaccine in Manila

Day 5: Finally reached the summit of Waynu Picchu mountain | 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 .

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.

Read also: How to check if you need a visa for transiting

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
Chaufa con Pollo
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
Day 2: Somewhere in Lima with a good friend | Dantravels.org
Cirquito Magico Del Agua in Lima
Day 2: Cirquito Magico Del Agua in Lima | Dantravels.org
Cirquito Magico Del Agua in Lima
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
Cusco Cathedral at Plaza Mayor
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
Cusco sightseeing bus
Day 3: Cusco sightseeing bus tour | Dantravels.org
Cusco sightseeing bus
Day 3: Cusco sightseeing bus tour
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
The glorious Machu Picchu
Day 5: The glorious Machu Picchu | Dantravels.org
Machu Picchu ruins
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
Day 6: Exploring Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) before heading back to Cusco
Day 6: Exploring Machu Picchu
Day 6: Exploring Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) before heading back to Cusco
Day 6: My room at La Casa De Ingrid in 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: Hike
Day 7: This is probably one of the hardest hikes I ever experienced
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.

CHECK OUT ALSO MY YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT PERU!

2-Day Kandy Itinerary (Sri Lanka) And Travel Guide On A Budget

By Dan Forteza

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

It was September 2019 when I first visited the island country of Sri Lanka where I traveled to two of the most populous cities in the country–Colombo and Kandy.

I must say that Kandy is a more chill and relaxed city than that of Colombo; and also way cheaper! Although I only have two days to spend in Kandy as I need to get back to Colombo to catch my next flight going to Tehran, Iran, this never stopped me from exploring the best of Kandy and what it has to offer in only two days.

Read also: my Tehran, Iran itinerary and travel guide.

That’s why in this blog, I’ve put together the perfect 2-day Kandy itinerary, specifically for budget travelers, which includes the city’s top attractions.

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.

This is me at the entrance gate of Vahirawakanda Buddha Temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka | Dantravels.org
Me at the entrance gate of Vahirawakanda Buddha Temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka | Dantravels.org

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

Depending on your nationality, you might or might not need a visa. Check out my Sri Lankan visa guide to check if you’re eligible for an e-visa or visa on arrival or no visa at all.

WHERE IS KANDY?

Kandy is located in central Sri Lanka and is just about three hours northeast of Colombo. The historic city of Kandy was once the capital of the Central province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhala Kingdom, a monarchy that flourished for over 2,300 years until it was ended by the British colonial rule in 1815.

Language: Sinhala, Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Nearest Int’l Airport: Bandaranaike (CMB)
Preferred mode of transportation: Tuktuk or Uber Tuktuk, Bus
Time Zone: GMT +4 ½

HOW I GOT THERE FROM COLOMBO:

Before going to Kandy, I first visited and explored Colombo, the commercial capital and most populous city of Sri Lanka.

Read also: my Colombo, Sri Lanka itinerary and travel guide.

NOTE: Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport is the only international airport serving the whole island country of Sri Lanka.

Thus, you might want to find a flight ticket first going to Colombo, Sri Lanka. If you’re coming from Southeast or South Asia, it is relatively easy and cheap. I booked mine coming from Bangkok, Thailand.

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

Colombo is where most people will be coming from when they visit Kandy. You will need to head to Colombo Fort train station and buy yourself a train ticket.

Colombo Fort train ticket line

It would be better if you go there before 8:00 AM, so you can catch the 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM train. Then, you can expect to arrive in Kandy at around 1:00 PM.

For this Colombo-Kandy train route, you will have three classes to choose from – 1st, 2nd, and observation.

How much is the train ticket: I bought my ticket from the observation class costing to 250 LKR (it is actually the cheapest.)

But you can also book your ticket in advance–head to this site where you can buy it online.

NOTE: Another way to get to Kandy from Colombo is by bus or by private transfer. The latter will be considerably more expensive, though.

What I love about this train route is you’ll see a lot of scenic views during the day. And yes, travelers were never wrong when they said the train ride in Sri Lanka is one of best in the world!

HOW TO GET AROUND KANDY?

  • Tuktuk – Also known as a tri-shaw, Tuktuk is a three-wheeled vehicle which I think is the best way to get around Kandy. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“.

Many three-wheelers have meters and some can be booked through Uber App. Some drivers, however, will try to not use the meter or won’t have one. Avoid meter-free three-wheelers or agree to a firm price before setting out.

  • Uber Tuktuk – Ensure you have an Uber mobile app to book your ride.
  • Private Tuktuk – There are so many Tuktuk drivers in the city who will ask you for a private tuk-tuk tour. I think it’s okay, I got mine for only 200 LKR (1.10 USD) and the driver took me to 3-4 different famous places in Kandy.

TIP: Haggle as much as you can when negotiating a Tuktuk ride! =)

  • City Buses – The best way to find out which bus to take is just to ask people at the nearest stop. Although it’s not advisable for short-term travelers you’ll be surprised how cheap they are (way cheaper than Tuktuk).
Bus in Kandy Sri Lanka
Bus in Kandy, Sri Lanka | Dantravels.org

WHERE DID I STAY IN KANDY?

The hostel I booked is located in the city center. From the Kandy train terminal, I just walk about 10-20 minutes to reach my hostel.

  • Elephant Shed Tourist Hostel: (click here to book)
    • Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
Elephant Shed Tourist Hostel Kandy Sri Lanka blog review
Elephant Shed Tourist Hostel

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

You can book a room at any hotel in Kandy 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 Kandy hotel 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 KANDY ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Kandy Lake

I visited this lovely artificial lake before I went to see the Temple of Buddha’s Tooth Relic (2nd stop). It was built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and is located next to the Temple of the Tooth. It has a nice island in the middle that has a garden on it.

It is lovely to walk around the lake in the evening and there are lots of marble benches that you can use to appreciate the view.

Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from hostel)
  • Entrance fee: FREE

2nd Stop: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The temple is one of the holiest shrines in the entire Buddhist world.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from my 1st stop)
  • Entrance fee: 1,500 LKR (8.3 USD) per person

3rd Stop: Kandy Clock Tower

Kandy Clock Tower is built in 1950 and is located at a major intersection, along with the city bus stand. The Clock Tower blends in with the surrounding and does not attract special attention, however, it does registers on the memory, subconsciously, while passing by. On closer scrutiny, I found it to be simple yet beautiful.

It was built there at the behest of Haji Mohamed Ismail as a memorial to his son who lost his life in a rockfall in 1947.

Kandy Clock Tower
Kandy Clock Tower | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
  • How I got there: By foot (from my 2nd stop)
  • Entrance fee: FREE

4th Stop: Royal Palace Park

Royal Palace Park is a small but very well maintained park sited up on the hillside above Kandy Lake. The mature trees do not allow for perfect lake views but it is good to see glimpses of the water from above. It is worth going for some moments of peace and tranquility above the bustling crowded city. There are plenty of seats and shade so it is a good place to bring a picnic.

Royal Palace Park
Royal Palace Park | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from my 3rd stop)
  • Entrance fee: 100 LKR (0.55 USD) per person

5th Stop: Kandy Viewpoint

Kandy Viewpoint
Kandy Viewpoint | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
  • How I got there: By Tuktuk: 50 LKR* (from my 4th stop)
  • Entrance fee: FREE

Don’t forget to haggle when negotiating a Tuktuk =)

DAY 2:

6th Stop: Udawattekele Sanctuary

I went to Udawattekele for a walk to escape the busy city setting of Kandy. It’s only a 10 to 15-minute walk from the center of town, so I expected nothing more but a small forest. What I got though was a full jungle-experience with monkey, snake and barking-deer sightings. You can decide how much time you want to spend walking through as there are several loops, marked out on a big map by the entrance.

This place to near at Kandy lake and Sri Daladha Maligawa (Temple of Tooth).

Udawattekele Sanctuary
Udawattekele Sanctuary | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from my hostel stop)
  • Entrance fee: 660 LKR (3.7 USD) per person

7th Stop: Kandy Garrison Cemetery

This small graveyard is found just behind the Temple of Buddha’s Tooth Relic. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting George, the caretaker, who has heaps of knowledge about every grave there. It’s free but make sure you leave a donation to help protect and fund further restorations of the area.

Kandy Garrison Cemetery
Kandy Garrison Cemetery | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from my 3rd stop)
  • Entrance fee: FREE

8th Stop: Vahirawakanda Buddha Temple

You will certainly get your exercise if you decide to walk uphill to see the gigantic Buddha. I went for a quick hike later in the afternoon towards Vahirawakanda Buddha temple in Kandy. From my hostel, it takes about 20 minutes to hike up on foot with a nice view as a reward. Not bad.

Vahirawakanda Buddha Temple
Vahirawakanda Buddha Temple | Dantravels.org
  • Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
  • How I got there: By foot (from my 3rd stop)
  • Entrance fee: 250 LKR (1.4 USD) per person

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

I hope that you find this 2-DAY KANDY ITINERARY and GUIDE useful!

If you have more days to spend in Kandy or Sri Lanka in general, you might consider these cool package tours:

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

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 at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well for your Kandy Itinerary. 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.
    • Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Kandy 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. Click this link to get that discount.

  • 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.

  • Colombo to Kandy train ticket.

Click here to book the ticket.

  • Sri Lanka Package tours
    • Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide. Perfect for your Sri Lanka itinerary!

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Sri Lanka

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.

Read also: My blog on how I earn money from transcription at GoTranscript.

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.
Lidar Annotations in Remotasks

HOW MUCH CAN YOU EARN?

Task TypePay Rate (USD)Duration
Image Annotation$0.05 – $0.20< 4 minutes
Categorization$0.01 – $0.02< 3 minutes
LiDAR$5.00 – $80.003 – 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!