Tag Archives: Travel

How I Successfully Applied for a Schengen Visa Through VFS in the Philippines: My Experience with the Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Germany

Posted on April 21, 2025 | Leave a comment

I’ve been receiving a lot of messages in the Schengen Visa Facebook group I’m part of, asking about my Schengen visa application to the Czech Republic through VFS. So, I thought I’d post this here to reach more Filipinos like me who are planning to apply for a Schengen visa and want to know how to successfully navigate the process. This isn’t my first time—I’ve successfully obtained my Schengen visa from both the Netherlands and Germany embassies, and their processes are almost the same. This time around, I applied for a one-year visa through the Czech Republic Embassy. Here are some tips and things I did to get that one-year visa.

Visa Type: Short Stay / Tourism
For context, this visa is for short-term tourism, allowing the holder to explore the Czech Republic and visit other Schengen-area countries during the validity of the visa.

My Schengen Visa Application Timeline

September 19 2024: Submission of Documents
I went to the VFS Global center in Manila, where I submitted my documents. There was a minor hiccup, though: I had initially filled out the application form for The Netherlands Embassy, not realizing that there were small differences in the forms across Schengen countries. I had to redo the form on the spot (and yes, my handwriting is far from perfect). But that’s okay—VFS was very understanding, and I quickly fixed the mistake.

In the afternoon, I received an email from VFS confirming that they had forwarded my application to the Czech Republic Embassy in Makati City.

September 24 2024: Updates from VFS

By the morning, I got another email from VFS letting me know that the Czech Embassy had processed my application and forwarded it back to VFS. Later in the afternoon, I got a second email saying that my passport was ready for dispatch.

September 25 2024: Visa Approved!
The very next day, I received my passport back via LBC (you can either pick up your passport in person for free or have it delivered via courier for a fee), and with it, a Schengen visa valid for one year! I honestly wasn’t sure if they’d approve my request for a one-year visa, but they did—and I couldn’t be happier.

Documents I Submitted for My Application
I want to share the full list of documents I submitted to help other applicants. Here’s what you’ll need for a Schengen visa application via VFS for the Czech Republic:

Completed Application Form (make sure it’s the correct form for your embassy!)

Cover Letter – I specifically requested a one-year visa in my letter.

Day-to-Day Itinerary – Detailed travel plans for my trip.

Flight Reservation – Proof of flight booking (doesn’t have to be a fully paid ticket).

Travel Insurance – Must cover the entire Schengen zone for the duration of your stay.

Photocopies of Passport Stamps – Including past Schengen visas (weirdly, VFS asked for these copies even though they were in my current passport).

Certificate of Employment – To show proof of stable employment.

Leave of Absence Certificate – Proof that I’m on approved leave for my travel.

Income Tax Return (ITR) – For the year 2023.

Payslips – I submitted payslips for the last six months.

Bank Certificate – From my savings account.

2 Bank Statements – One from my savings account and one from my payroll account (from October 2023 to July 2024).

Credit Card Details – Photocopy of the credit card page showing the credit limit for the last six months.

SSS Member’s Data Page – This was downloaded from the SSS website.

Life Insurance Policy Page – Also downloaded online.

Maxicare Coverage – Not sure if it made a difference, but I included it anyway.

Photocopy of Birth Certificate – Standard requirement for ID verification.

It’s worth noting that the VFS staff requested photocopies of some of these documents, even though they were already in my passport. They were also very thorough in checking everything.

My Thoughts and Tips for Fellow Applicants
To be quite honest, I was confident about getting my application approved, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get the one-year validity I requested. So, I was really relieved and happy that they granted my request.

My advice for anyone applying is to double-check—or even triple-check—each form and document before submitting them. If possible, have someone else double-check them for you as well. Every detail counts. I believe that consistency and accuracy are key here.

To anyone waiting for updates or still in the process of applying: Sending you all positive vibes! 🍀✨ Stay confident, stay organized, and most importantly, don’t lose hope!

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Euro Vacay Day 10-13: New Year’s Eve in Paris!

Posted on January 2, 2021 | Leave a comment

Okay, so I’ve been posting these throwback blogs I’ve been meaning to share pre-pandemic, and I know that we’ve just welcomed the new year, but let me still share with you my very short Paris adventure when I welcomed 2020! I know, who knew that it would be such an eventful year!

After returning from my visit to the Auschwitz–Birkenau camp, I immediately took a hot shower at my hostel and booked an Uber to take me to Krakow Glowny, from where I would head back to the Czech Republic for my flight to Paris. The FlixBus trip back to Prague took around six hours, and from Prague Zličín, I had to take another Uber to get to Václav Havel Airport for my flight via Czech Airlines to France

I arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport around nine in the morning on the 31st of December, so I really had all the time in the world to make it to my hostel before the celebrations began in the evening. I was expecting a lot of people to be at the airport, but surprisingly, there were just about the usual number of people I see in some of the busiest airports I’ve been to, considering it’s a holiday. It was very easy for me to navigate, and you can also ask for assistance, particularly regarding which train is heading to Paris!

Ah, Paris! I’ve been dreaming of visiting this place for so long, and I was just very anxious and excited to explore the city since I’ll be spending four days here! Too short, I know, but I’m pretty sure there’ll be a next time. I booked my accommodation at the Perfect Hotel & Hostel located on Rue Rodier. Making sure I wouldn’t get lost, I opted to walk there from the Gare du Nord station. It wasn’t that far, and I was able to easily navigate the streets of that part of Paris using Google Maps. You see, I really do prefer walking when traveling overseas! Hah!

The hostel was very quaint and clean, and the room wasn’t so bad. After spending days with other people at night, I was already used to sharing space. After lying down for a bit, I decided to walk around the neighborhood while the sun was still out. It was still very cold, mind you, but the day was just beautiful!

That night, I introduced myself to one of my roommates, a guy from Spain who teaches English in Colombia and was spending the holiday in Paris. I asked him if he’d like to go out together. He and I decided to head to the area near the Eiffel Tower to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately, the traffic was terrible, and it would have taken us forever to get there. So, we decided to celebrate at the Arc de Triomphe instead. It was a very exciting and unforgettable experience, to say the least. I had a blast waiting with everyone for the clock to strike midnight, marking the dawn of the year 2020.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing my little walking tour in Paris. I didn’t get to see everything because it was cloudy, wet, and cold, but it’s still an experience that I’ll treasure forever.

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My Unforgettable Auschwitz-Birkenau Day Tour

Posted on December 31, 2020 | Leave a comment

I never learned about the Holocaust in school. History lessons were very compressed at my public elementary and high schools. My first exposure to the Nazi genocide against the Jews in Europe was through the film Schindler’s List, which I accidentally watched around 1997-1998. I’m not certain about the exact date, but during that time, I was at the cusp of puberty. I was a sensitive and emotional child, and that film touched something in me that stayed with me into adulthood.

I attempted to learn more about it in high school, but the ineffective teaching and inadequate resources left me thirsty for more until I attended university, where I finally grasped the scope of this terrible part of our history. I read books, articles, newsreels, and film archives, trying to absorb as much information as possible. There were so many unanswered questions that I wanted to address, but to this day, some of them remain unanswered, or rather, unanswerable. The ‘whys’ and the ‘hows’ are just too much and unfathomable.

That’s why this trip was especially meaningful for me. Having the opportunity to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, among the thousands of Nazi concentration camps, felt like a blessing somehow. It felt like it would answer some of the questions I’ve had since I was a teenager, and I felt that I would somehow connect with the victims of this horrifying human tragedy, and most importantly, pay my respects by never forgetting about them.

For the record, I do not personally know a single Jewish individual, but I do believe that as human beings, we must acknowledge what transpired here and in the rest of the concentration camps around Europe. I believe that we owe it to the victims to keep their memories alive, to be reminded of what is at stake, and to understand what should be done to prevent such a colossal tragedy in human history from ever happening again.

The tour started very early in the morning. It was freezing that day. I thought I was already accustomed to the cold, but the weather that day made me feel lethargic for some reason.

I took this picture of the beautiful Krakow morning while waiting for the bus to pick me up.

Auschwitz is located in Oświęcim, which is 66 kilometers west of Krakow, or around 2 hours from Krakow.

The phrase ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ over the Auschwitz gate is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Holocaust. It means ‘Work Sets You Free,’ serving as a disturbing reminder of Nazi cruelty.
These are Zyklon B cans, which contained the gas used as a killing tool in the gas chambers.

The Museum collections include:

  • about 40.000 m3 of shoes;
  • about 3,800 suitcases, 2,100 of which bear the names of their owners;
  • over 12 thousand kitchen utensils;
  • 470 prostheses and orthoses;
  • 397 striped camp garments;
  • 246 tallisim;
  • about 4,100 works of art (including about 2 thousand of which were made by prisoners). Source

Our group tour around Auschwitz took about 2 hours, and we had a short break before heading to its adjacent camp, the Birkenau concentration camp.

I bought a copy of this guidebook and Viktor Frankl’s book about his time in various Nazi concentration camps.
Heading to Birkenau concentration camp.
I was able to go to the quarters and touch what remains of their bunk beds. It was heavy and sad.

It took me a while to share these pictures I took when I visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps last December 2019 because I didn’t think it was proper to post them at all. Instead, I posted pictures of the exterior of the camps on my Instagram page. These images felt too personal at the time. However, I realized that I wanted people to know, especially the young ones who have not heard or read about the Holocaust, to be aware of this tragedy, to understand its history, and to glimpse a dark past in human history that should never happen again and must never be forgotten. We should forever honor their memories, as they serve as a constant reminder for us to always treat each other with dignity, respect each other’s differences, and learn not just to tolerate but to accept and view life as a gift. The victims—those who perished and those still alive to this day—gave their lives to be our social conscience, and may we never forget that.

“For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” – Elie Wiesel

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Euro Vacay Day 8-9: Krakow In My Heart

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

I arrived in Krakow at the crack of dawn, still feeling a bit hazy from the lack of sleep inside the bus. The journey from Vienna to Krakow took more or less nine hours, and despite being very tired from my day tour in Vienna, I was too giddy to sleep right away. Who could sleep comfortably inside a bus, though? Haha!

Upon arriving at Krakow Dworzec Autobusowy MDA, I opted to use Uber to take me to the city center, where I had booked a couple of nights. Before that, I exchanged about 100 euros at the station for some Polish złoty. Just a little FYI—although Poland is a European Union member, they still use their own currency.

As mentioned above, I booked two nights at the Ametyst Hostel, and let me tell you, it’s absolutely my favorite hostel of the whole trip. Firstly, the guy at the reception allowed me to check in right away, thank goodness because I still needed a couple more hours of sleep. I stayed in a six-mixed dorm room, and everything was just perfect! I had my own locker, the bed was warm and comfy, and it didn’t feel cramped at all. Plus, their bathrooms were always clean! The most wonderful thing about it is that it’s just five minutes away from the main square! Seriously, it’s right in the heart of the city! I just know that I’ll definitely go back to Krakow and stay with them again!

I was assigned the top bunk near the window!

After getting a few hours of sleep and feeling refreshed, I embarked on my very first winter experience in Poland! Haha!

The weather was a bit overcast but thankfully, it did not rain. It was just too cold as usual!

Eros Bendato’ (Eros Bound) or ‘The Head’ is the work of Polish artist Igor Mitoraj (1944-2014). Situated in the western corner of the market square, this sculpture serves as a popular meeting place and is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

The sculpture at night and up-close.
Adam Mickiewicz Monument in Kraków, is one of the best known bronze monuments in Poland, and a favourite meeting place at the Main Market Square in the Old Town district of Kraków. source
The monument at night.

Mickiewicz is counted as one of Poland’s’s Three Bards (the others being Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Słowacki) and the greatest poet in all Polish literature.

The St. Mary’s Basilica

After Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica is the most important church in Krakow. Its construction began in the late 13th century on the foundations of a former Romanesque church. The new temple was consecrated around the year 1320. Over the centuries, the church underwent numerous reconstructions, both of its exterior and interior.

The atmosphere at the main square was heartwarming! After all, it’s still the holiday season.
The view from the Wawel Royal Castle.
Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków, located on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland.
Saints Peter and Paul Church.
Of course, I had to take a picture with one of Pope John Paul II’s statues in Krakow. This life-sized monument of the former local lad turned Pope turned Saint John Paul II stands across from Wawel Cathedral, near the entrance of the Cathedral Museum. Interestingly, the museum was opened by the man himself, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, back in 1978. Source
A clearer image in the morning. Source
Inside the Wawel Royal Castle
This looks unreal IRL.
Christmas has just ended, and 2020 is fast approaching. How I wish I could go back to those days when we were all still unaware of Covid-19.
Food! Food! Food!
My dinner! Ugh! This was actually more than it looks here!
Dessert!!!
Souvenirs options!
Candies! Candies! Candies!
I’ve almost forgot about this but it’s good!
The artistry!
Heading back to the hostel here!
This was just a couple of blocks away from the hostel! Ugh! Seeing this made me miss Krakow even more!

I think I returned to the hostel after 11 PM. I still need to wake up early the following day for the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour I booked via Klook!

Krakow will always hold a special place in my heart. Ugh. Writing about this part of the trip made me emotional for some reason. I hope to come back here real soon.

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Euro Vacay Day 7: My POV of Vienna, Before Sunrise Style

Posted on December 29, 2020 | Leave a comment

Let me tell you that for most of this trip, I’ve relied on FlixBus to take me from point A to point B and vice versa. Now, here’s a little glimpse of my day trip in Vienna before heading to Krakow, Poland.

Similar to Prague, Vienna wasn’t on my original itinerary. But since it’s relatively close by, I thought I might as well take a look at this beautiful and historical city. It also happens to be the main setting of one of my all-time favorite films—Before Sunrise.

This was technically the first snow I’ve seen during this whole trip, and I was inside the bus heading to Vienna. According to my iPhone, we were in Ruda at that time.

I had to leave my luggage at Vienna West Station and only took a string bag and some granola bars. I also bought a one-day transportation ticket to explore Vienna for the whole day (which, by the way, I was not able to use extensively!)

Noticed this first inside the mall at the train station.
I walked my way to the Zollamssteg Bridge—this is where the protagonists Jesse and Celine from ‘Before Sunrise’ meet the guys promoting their play. It’s located alongside a railway station, as evidenced by the shot of the rail lines passing diagonally beneath the bridge. Since I was the only person there that day, I took the chance to do a bit of a photoshoot, with the help of my ever-reliable tripod, of course! 😅
The art tho.
I mean, I don’t really need to go inside a museum here.
Next stop: The Wiener Riesenrad, a giant ferris wheel at the western end of Prater Park. This is where Jesse and Celine shared their first kiss.
I decided to walk all over the city because I felt like I might get lost if I used the tram. It was definitely worth it, though, because I got to experience the city’s vibe much more.
In front of the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and stands as one of the most significant landmarks in Austria.
Albertina Palais Museum.
This is where Jesse recites part of W.H. Auden’s ‘As I Walked Out One Evening’ to Celine on the balcony of the museum: ‘O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time.
Ugh. I felt so kilig remembering the scene at this location!
By this point, it was getting late, and I was getting kind of tired. Since there was a line to get in, I decided to just take this quick selfie. This is where that iconic telephone game happened! I wanted to try it if only I had someone with me. Haha!
My final stop was at the 15th-century Gothic church of Maria am Gestade, located at Salvatorgasse 12.
I don’t pray often, but I found myself praying here. There’s just something about this church, being alone at the time, that allowed me to truly connect.
While it wasn’t a complete Before Sunrise tour, I realized that I may have to return next time. A day tour here isn’t enough to fully savor what the city has to offer.
So, for the record, this was the shortest stay I’ve ever had in any country. I cannot wait to visit again!

 

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Update: Japan Multiple-Entry Visa Application for Filipinos!

Posted on August 2, 2018 | Leave a comment

I am going to be lodging my Japan Visa Application by the end of August for my Osaka trip in October which I’m pretty excited about so I’m hoping that I’d be able to finish my deadlines at work and have all of the prerequisites ready. It will be my first time to apply for a Japan Visa and I will be gunning right away for a Multiple Entry Visa since said visa could be my entry for my planned South American tour next year with a friend (see, we’re planning to use the MNL-MEX-COL route which at present is the cheapest route that we’re seeing online).

I’m not even sure if I’ve abundant funds enough for the consul to grant me an ME visa (3) Applicant with abundant financial capacity) Oh well, I’ll just hope for the best then.

Going back to the Multipl Entry Visa Application, the Japan Government recently added some provision for Multiple-entry Visa for Philippine Nationals. Below is exactly what the government has added that you can also read thru: http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000035.html

MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE, AND CULTURAL OR INTELLECTUAL FIGURES

The following is an outline of application procedures for nationals of Republic of the Philippines who wish to apply for a multiple-entry visa for business purpose, and for cultural or intellectual figures (period of stay: 15, 30, or 90 days, visa validity: 1, 3, 5, 10 years ). The visa is for the purpose of business affairs for the first visit, but from the second visit it is possible to use as tourist or visiting to relatives/ acquaintances as well. But it is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue generating business operations or activities to receive remuneration.

A. Eligible Applicants １. Applicant with business purpose Applicant who is applicable to one of the following categories and his/her spouse or children

(1) A regular employee of a public (government) enterprise.
(2) An employee of a private company which is listed on the stock exchange (including Japan and third countries)
(3) A regular employee of a Japanese-affiliated company which is a member of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and has a management base in Japan
(4) A regular employee of a joint venture company, a subsidiary company or a branch office of a company which is listed on the stock exchange (including Japan and the third countries)
(5) A regular employee of a private company with constant business transactions with a Japanese company which is listed on the stock exchange
(6) A regular employee of a company among the “Top 1,000 Philippine corporations in terms of gross revenue”
(7) A regular employee with a travel record to Japan for business purpose and travel records as temporary visitor to G7 countries (except Japan) in the last three years
(8) A regular employee with more than three travel records to Japan for business purpose in the last three years

２. Applicants for cultural or intellectual figures etc. Applicant who is applicable to one of the following categories and his/her spouse or children

(1) An artist (Fine Art, Literary Art, Music, Stage Play, Dance etc.) , a specialist in humanities (Literature, Law, Economics etc.), or a scientist (Technology, Medicine etc.) who has relevant accomplishments
(2) A lawyer, certified public accountant, patent attorney, judicial scrivener, notary, medical doctor who has a national or international qualification and actually working as the same position.
(3) An amateur sports player who has relevant accomplishments
(4) A full-time professor, assistant professor, or lecturer of a university or a college
(5) A director or higher post of a national or public research institution or a museum
(6) A Diet member, government official, local assemblyman, local government official

B. REQUIREMENTS All documents must be original unless otherwise stated.
1. Philippine Passport
• Broken passport is not accepted. Passports must be signed and must have at least two (2)
blank visa pages.

2. Visa Application Form
• Available at the Embassy website, at the entrance of the Embassy or at any of the accredited
travel agencies.
• Application form should be filled out all items correctly, If item is not applicable, please fill in
[N/A]. Embassy may not accept application with blank item, no signature or no date in the
form; may deny the application that is filled out incorrectly or wrong information.

3. Photo
• Specs: 4.5cm x 4.5cm, with white background
• Photo must be taken within 6 months.
• Please write applicant’s name and birthdate on back side of the photo.
• Photo must be pasted on the application form.

4. Employment Certificate (with applicant’s salary, tenure and position)
• Owner of a company should submit a copy of “Certificate of Business Name Registration”
issued by Department of Trade and Industry or Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission

5. Documents to prove the applicant is qualified for one of the categories abovementioned
A.1(1) ~ (8), A.2(1) ~ (6).
• If qualified for abovementioned A.1(7) or (8),current or old passport that shows Japanese and
G7 countries’(except Japan) temporary visitor visas as well as entry stamps in the last three years.
• If qualified for abovementioned A.2(2),Copy of ID card(issued by Profession Regulation
Commission)

6. Explanation letter for requesting multiple-entry visa (must be made by applicant)  Please fill in embassy prescribed form “Reason For Requesting Multiple Entry Visa”, check items that apply and fill in reason for request.

7. A letter of explanation stating the reason of applying for the multiple visa (letter of mission
or travel requisition by employer, etc.) * for business purpose

8. Documents to prove kinship ( birth certificates, marriage certificate and copy of passport and
visa page of the multiple entry visa holder (parent or spouse) )
[NOTICE]  Size of document for application should be A4 size only. If document is other size, please submit copy that is already adjusted in A4 size from its original and without staples or pasting
pages.  It is applicant’s responsibility to ensure that he/she meet the requirements for the grant of a visa. Submission of any supporting documents not listed above is encouraged (e.g. applicant’s
economic or social ties with the Philippines, urgent reasons for visit: medical certificate,
wedding invitation).

I am hoping that I’d really get a multiple entry visa but a single entry would suffice since I really wanted to visit Japan for the longest time now!

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Reaching Greater Heights: Mt. Pulag – The Third Highest Peak in the Philippines!

Posted on March 28, 2018 | 2 comments

I’m an amateur mountain climber. While I’ve tackled a few peaks in the past, my health and time constraints prevented me from fully diving into the hobby. This year, as part of my New Year’s resolution, I promised to climb more mountains.

Already, I found myself on my second climb of the year, tackling the highest peak in Luzon: Mount Pulag. This mountain is also the third highest peak in the entire archipelago of the Philippines, following Mt. Apo and Mt. Dulang-Dulang, both located in Mindanao.

I even trained for this climb because I was told it would be strenuous. I focused on strengthening my legs for about three weeks, coinciding with my decision to start working out. This preparation proved essential for the challenging ascent of Mount Pulag.

I joined the Bokal Extreme event along with my officemates – the Kaladkarins – for this little ‘expedition,’ lol.

Travel time from Manila to Baguio was very smooth and fast – thank you, SCTEX! It took around 5 hours, inclusive of a couple of stopovers.

We were picked up at the Baguio Victory Liner terminal by what they call the ‘Monster Jeep.’ I don’t have the foggiest idea why they call it that, since it looks like a regular passenger jeepney to me, albeit a bit bigger (ding!). From there, we went to the DENR office for registration and orientation. The travel time there is about 3 hours. We had a 30-minute stopover for breakfast and a little photo op.

(Side note: You can also buy hiking gear here, which I found to be way cheaper! Bought my mess kit here!)

Before you’re allowed to climb Mt. Pulag, you have to present a ‘Fit to Climb’ medical certificate and attend a 30-40 minute orientation regarding Mt. Pulag, its history, and the know-how of climbing it.

After the informative lecture, we went to the jump-off site to set up camp for the night.

We woke up around 1:30 in the morning and started the trek at 2 AM. It was really muddy since it rained the night before, and it was still drizzling throughout our hike.

My number one advice for newbie climbers of this great mountain is to wear appropriate clothing. I was stupid enough to think that I could endure the cold by wearing my favorite football jersey, so I was freezing by the time we arrived at the ‘first summit.’ It was such a foolish move on my part, so please, just please, wear something warm during your climb here.

For amateurs like myself, Ambangeg is the preferred trail. The hike wasn’t that hard even though it was all muddy, so I thought if the weather had been really good at the time, it would have been an easier trek for us. It’s a good thing we waited for the weather to clear up and saw the beautiful mossy plains at the summit and the sea of clouds, which are the summit’s main attractions. Watching it is like being one with nature – just beautiful! I think the whole hike, ascending and descending, took us close to 12 hours. Yes, it was that long, but it was all worth it.

I cannot wait to revisit this majestic mountain in the future!

(This was a long overdue post. Since most of my blog posts are pre-scheduled, I didn’t realize that this one didn’t make it to my published posts. It’s still on my draft folder which I’ve only seen today! Ugh! Anyway – here’s my adventure at Mt. Pulag)

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Gallery

In Photos: A Day in Brgy. San Diego, Lian, Batangas

Posted on November 1, 2016

This gallery contains 18 photos.

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Gallery

In Photos: Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan, La Union

Posted on September 19, 2016

This gallery contains 11 photos.

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December To Remember In Sagada Part 2: Rocky Valley Inn and Cafe Review (December 2013)

Posted on January 11, 2014 | Leave a comment

I booked a room for two as early as November since most of the Inns that I’ve contacted are fully booked already because of the bonfire festival and naturally, December’s a peak season in Sagada. I was able to booked at Rocky Valley Inn. I was asked to deposit half of the rate for three days (it’s 250/pax/day.) The inn is located near the Sagada Weaving and is in front of a gas station. It was a  good 8 minute walk from/to the center.

via saggas.org

via saggas.org

the rock formation fronting our veranda

the rock formation fronting our veranda

The place was very clean of course. I thought Alex, the guy who assisted us was very professional. The room given to us was at the second floor with a veranda which I loved by the way because it’s fronting a big beautiful rock formation and it was naturally, freaking cold.

sam_5267

They have WiFi connection at the ground floor and they also served food. The food was good and reasonably priced. Our only critique is the lack of hospitality from the other girl who’s manning the place who keeps sneering on us. She was probably in a bad mood that weekend. o_O  Overall, our stay was rather okay because the rooms are clean as well as the shared rest rooms. Just good food and clean room. *wink*

Rating: 4.5/10

To be continued…

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