Are you a Muslim traveler looking for halal-friendly hotels in Bangkok? Having a lot of foreign and local Muslim friends who traveled to Bangkok and found it hard to look for halal-friendly hotels around, I felt the need to help them and everyone in the community. With that, I compiled this list of 6 halal-friendly hotels in Bangkok, Thailand. I have indicated here the features that make them a halal-friendly hotel, their address, and booking links.
Note that the booking links take you to agoda.com website. This website (www.sherlynmaehernandez.com) is a certified Agoda affiliate, hence I will earn a small commission if you will book through the links I provided (which I use for the maintenance of this website), with absolutely no additional costs on your part. I would appreciate your support to this passion project.
So without further ado, here is the list you clicked here for! 🙂
HALAL-FRIENDLY HOTELS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND: Your recommendations are welcome! 🙂
I am happy that I was able to provide you halal-friendly hotels in Bangkok that came from different categories (cheap, mid-range, to luxury). You are, of course, very welcome to book them using the links I provided. So, I do hope you will have a comfortable travel to Bangkok, which is one of the most vibrant but cultural cities I have been to.
In the meantime, happy travels, and let me know if you happen to need some help along the way and I’ll try my best to accommodate them!
IF YOU NEED HELP LOOKING FOR GUIDED TOURS AROUND BANGKOK, CLICK HERE OR THE KKDAY ICON BELOW:
For me, a chance to be able to visit Bangkok again meant taking the opportunity to visit nearby destinations I haven’t visited yet, especially the ones with no direct flights from Manila. Given that, I took the opportunity to visit Laos. Having a very limited time, it was hard for me to choose between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and between an overnight bus and a plane. A tough decision-making process led me to choose to fly to Vientiane via Lao Airlines. Well, I can always go back to visit Luang Prabang next time.
TOUCHDOWN, WATTAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT! There, I felt it once again! That particular heartbeat of excitement upon landing in a country for the first time! I have officially set foot in all ten ASEAN countries and it’s the awesomest feeling in the world!
SEE YOU LATER, VIENTIANE! I flew from Bangkok to Vientiane via Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Lao Airlines check-in counter is at the faaaaarmost right of the airport. I looooove the color and quality of the ticket of Lao Airlines! I’m more than excited to see a new country and my 10th ASEAN country yay! My return flight ticket is yellow green in color which is also very awesome!
LAO AIRLINES GROUND CREW AT SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT. I will be aboard that small aircraft and the ground staff are getting the flight ready. So excited! The last time I flew with the same kind of aircraft (Legazpi to Manila and Manila to Coron), there were typhoons and those were scary flights. Hoping this flight will go smoothly since the sun is shining bright!
INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. I love the wooden-ish finishing of the area leading to the cockpit. I am on a flight with some group of Thai tourists and they give a happy vibe inside our small plane. I did not feel alone that time. I was just not able to take a photo of the Cabin Crew uniform of the airlines, but they are very beautiful and elegant.
IN-FLIGHT SNACKS. Aside from the baggage allowance, the ticket cost of course comes with a complimentary meal. It’s just a one hour flight, so this is just perfect. I skipped coffee on a flight this time. The pastries are very good! (They better be, since they are a former French colony jk but seriously, French breads are one of the things I look forward in this trip.
IN-FLIGHT NEWSPAPER. If you know my background, I am a Politics and International Relations major and I am teaching Politics and Southeast Asian Studies, so printed newspapers are my thing. I kinda collect them (they are part of my souvenirs from trips abroad), so I’m keeping this after I read.
WAIT, WHAT? Upon reading the arrival area of the airport, there was some kind of a (happy) commotion. I think some actress or big personality is around, but I’m not gonna identify him/her most likely anyway, so I did not try to see what’s happening. Part of the welcome committee are these three. I kinda get what the message in the jacket is, but it’s composed very badly. She has a nice overall outfit, though! Love her culottes and heels!
AT WATTAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVAL AREA. This small airport seemed busier than I thought. There are a lot of arrivals, and the airport staff are very busy providing assistance to the passengers. I was expecting a quaint little town for Vientiane, but I’m happy to see a little bit of a hustle by the locals. Welcome to Laos, indeed!
SNAPSHOTS: ASIA Trailer
SNAPSHOTS: ASIA PHOTO ESSAY #8: FLYING WITH LAO AIRLINES (PIN IT! )
Thailand!!! Finally we meet again! It’s been a while since I visited Bangkok. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular place to visit in Southeast Asia (and loved by my friends from Western countries!). Not gonna lie, but Bangkok has a certain kind of charm sans the crazy traffic jam. How locals would greet you “Sawadee ka” is so calming and you will definitely feel their respect for you. Anyhoo, I was able to visit Thailand again, this time for an academic paper presentation at Srinakarinwirot University. I had a short but sweet 24 hours to explore the city before the big day, and taking another red eye flight did not stop me from doing so. I took a GrabBike to beat the notorious Bangkok traffic, and passing by Soi Nana on a GrabBike is such a beautiful experience because a lot of mixes of Thai and Chinese cultural heritage can be seen. Yes, I took all of these photos with my Samsung Galaxy S8 phone while on a GrabBike en route to a temple. Enjoy!
GRAND CHINA HOTEL FACADE. Everywhere you look, you will see an evidence of the grand heritage of the Chinese culture in Bangkok. Grand China’s hotel facade is so elegant but I hope these electrical lines will be fixed sometime in the future to pave the way for a better view of the hotel’s facade.
A COLORFUL TUKTUK. Tuktuks are a common local public transportation in Thailand, and if you’re a tourist in Thailand, experiencing to ride a tuktuk is a must. It really defines the local culture of Thailand. Plus, who doesn’t love an open air strolling experience around the streets of Bangkok?
SHADES OF YELLOW. This photo could have been taken in a better composition, but since I am on a GrabBike, I can only do so much for this photo’s composition. I love how the shade of yellow of the building met with the taxi’s different shade of yellow.
SAWADEE KA, SOI NANA! Look at this!!! This was my favorite photo of Soi Nana because it looks so vintage-y! These LED signs resembles the ones in Hong Kong, and I would love to see this light up at night time next time!
AN ‘OCCUPIED’ PEDESTRIAN LANE. At some point in our (driving) lives, we have accidentally occupied a pedestrian lane on a red light. I don’t know about you, but photos like this just depict the real life and energy there is in a place.
BANGKOK STREET FOOD. I love love the Bangkok street food scene! And I don’t mean those touristy stalls along Khao San Road or something, but a random street food stall on any neighborhood or street would do! For one, the price is not touristy, and second, I believe it’s a more authentic experience to eat in a street food stall not built for tourists but for locals. Anthony Bourdain once mentioned that if you want to have an authentic foodie experience in a place, ask the locals about their favorite place to eat, not “Where should I eat?”.
THE THING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES IN BANGKOK. LIke in traffic-congested areas like Manila and Jakarta, you can win over the traffic jam in Bangkok by taking a motorcycle. When I say the traffic in Bangkok is crazy, believe me.
MEGA PLAZA MALL. Mega Plaza is one of the department stores in Chinatown area, and is located in a very vibrant neighborhood. I just love the post-processing I did for this photo because of the vintage-y colors.
SNAPSHOTS: ASIA Trailer
SNAPSHOTS: ASIA PHOTO ESSAY #9: GOOD MORNING, SOI NANA! (PIN IT! )
This was my attempt to assess if my current professional circumstances can mix business trips with vacation. (I wish I can just travel for work! But can I?)
Every chance I get to go out of the office, whether it’s for an out-of-office task, a training/workshop, or a visit to another office, believe it or not, I consider them excursions. Being stuck sitting the whole day for five days a week sometimes get to my nerves. I know some people who are very good and comfortable with routines, but I’m not that kind of person (but of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean that routines are bad). If you’re gonna see the personality tests I took in the past, you would realize why constantly yearn for changes in scenery, why I am bored all the time, and why things seldom work out for me.
The truth is, I’m the kind of person you should not expect to be in the same place for a long period of time. I have always been a wanderer. My mind loves constant change and the quest to find something new and exciting. I know, I know, a lot of people have told me it’s not a healthy state of mind, but where I am right now is a result of that kind of mindset, and it this kind of life? Something I will never trade with anyone else. I’m completely okay with it.
I have handled several responsibilities when I worked with the Philippine government not-so-long ago, but all of those responsibilities have occasional travels and fieldwork, that’s for sure. My out-of-office tasks could be as simple as going to another part of Manila for a meeting, attending or organizing activities wherein we would live in a hotel for a week, or performing project monitoring activities, data gathering, and fieldwork. Sometimes in faraway places you never knew existed, sometimes in high risk areas where you have to be escorted by military personnel.
“Hey, it’s been a long time since I visited this city still inside Metro Manila. Perhaps after the meeting I could visit this coffee shop or eat at this restaurant.”
“A week of workshop and working beyond 5PM? No problem! I’m staying in a nice hotel, anyway! And the breakfast buffet was great!”
“Traveling all the way here and leading this project is so exhausting! Perhaps after today’s activities, I could call a massage service, or do a quick city tour, or catch-up with long distance friends based on this area.”
“Going to a conflict area? Challenge accepted! I am not certain if I will get this kind of chance to visit that place and meet people there in another occasion. I’m in!”
You see, this is how I treat any kind of work or task outside the office. A lot of people call me “lucky” to having the kind of job that sends me to places, but I’m sure they’re aware that it’s absolutely not for a vacation, right? But my mantra has always been to treat them like mini-breaks or vacations, and to tell you the truth, it’s not all fun. Not at all.
I remember asking one of my friends who does field work maybe 80 percent of the time and only stays in the office with the remaining 20 percent, “Do you still go on vacations? Like a REAL vacation?”
“No, it’s pointless. First, no kind of work ever gets done. Second, if you went missing for a few days to relax and take a break, going back to the office with a pile of backlogs only offsets your whole vacation.”
That kinda made me think. I had my moments when I would file leaves for my birthday or for some long holiday, and my supportive bosses would approve them. They were guilt-free, worthy vacations. However, when I go back, I have to catch up with everything I missed out during the time I was away, and it was stressful every single time. The feeling sucks and I kinda don’t wanna do it again.
That’s when it hit me: If traveling will be of a high priority to me and it is something I really, really want to do, then I need to have the type of job where I could travel. Sure, this government job has pinned so many new places to my travel map, but this is not the kind of travel I am looking for. I want some real travel and I want money at the same time. I’m not gonna lie, money is the first thing that will make every traveling possible, so I aspire for it as much as I aspire to travel.
After finishing my Master’s Degree a few years ago, I created this travel blog because I have a lot of stories to tell from my previous travels (which, btw, I really need to write soon before they totally vanish from my memory huhu!). Moreover, the whole time I was doing my graduate studies, my whole life only revolved around work, waiting for paydays, paying my tuition, and attending my classes, with occasional business travels in between. Now that graduate studies is (temporarily) out of the picture (I say ‘temporarily’ because I have an upcoming PhD studies to prepare for), I needed to fill the huge hole that it will leave.
I had a fierce and bold attempt at full-time travel blogging when I had my “F*ck it, I’m leaving!” moment with my government job. After blogging for only a year while still with my government job at the same time, I learned a lot, and I realized it’s not that simple. (I could talk about ALL the things you need to learn as a travel blogger in another post. For sure, it’s waaaaay more than just posting photos and writing articles.) I quit my government job and tried learning as many things as I could.
I was a newbie nobody travel blogger, I was able to land big and small projects which made me survive financially for a couple of months. But seeing that I still have a lot to learn and it’s still a long way to go, I went back to having a full-time job, again: this time, I went back to teaching. Teaching was actually the post-Masters grand plan (and not the full-time travel blogging thing), and given that the job is more travel-friendly and has a more flexible schedule compared to my previous government job, I went in.
I discussed my typical day as a travel blogger and a Professor at the same time in another post and mostly mentioned the upsides of the flexible schedule I have with this kind of job. The first few months into teaching, I saw the value of another platform: Instagram. I have been earning with Instagram way more than I was earning with my website alone, so I started abandoning this website for one f*cking year (MY BIGGEST MISTAKE, EVER).
The “Pad Thai Incident”: My Business Travel to Bangkok
Can we mix business trips with vacation? For PAD THAI, YES!
One of the perks of being a research-oriented University Professor is being able to present your written works in academic activities all over the world, sometimes for free (because some organization might fund your trip or the university would do it). Being a research Professor is also like being a travel blogger — landing projects, negotiating with client organizations, and producing outputs in exchange for sponsored trips. Already excited with being a Professor now?
Can we mix business trips with vacation?
But let me tell you what you have to do before landing those kinds of precious perks.
This Bangkok conference I attended, for instance, started with a ‘Call for Papers’ which you have to submit a 300-word-ish research abstract (in other words, you are pitching something you will present before the international academic community of your discipline. In my case, I proposed a research paper exploring the factors fueling the terrorist activities in Southeast Asia (by the way, in case you’re new here, I am an International Relations Professor who intends to specialize in Southeast Asia and terrorism. Here’s my LinkedIn account to prove it). Hashtag: LEGIT.
Then. you have to produce a plagiarism-free, grammar-checked, academically-written paper of a minimum of 6000 words. In order to produce that, you need to go camping inside the library. No, I’m kidding haha, but before finishing this paper, I would be the last person to leave the office at 9 or 10-ish (PM!) or the library around the same time. Or sometimes you would find me in 24-hour coffee shops at wee hours in the morning. Those things, ON TOP OF MY 5 CLASSES PER WEEK.
I could say, it was all worth it. I was happy with my paper, and I am excited to present it to esteemed and popular Professors, which, if they criticize my paper, I will be happy instead of being sensitive about it, because it’s them guiding young Professors like me (this, guys, the mindset of winners!). Plus, my trip was fully-funded by an international NGO! I literally don’t have to spend a dime for this trip (I mean, work). Bangkok, here I come!
“Why don’t we make it x days? The conference is for x days, but you take the earliest flight to Bangkok the day before it and depart with the latest flight the day after it?” This was the reply of the Country Manager of the organization sponsoring my trip.
Anyone who will read this kind of email reply will instantly think about doing temple runs, rummaging around for the best pad thai or mango sticky rice, or looking for a massage service near my hotel. And naturally, since they have given me two free days (free, I mean time-wise, I was the one who paid for the expenses beyond the scope of the conference, like side trips), I thought exactly of planning side trips. No, I did more than that. I flew to Vientiane for a quick day tour, using my own money, where I cried on the plane going back to Bangkok.
Touchdown, Bangkok!
It’s not my first time in Bangkok, but I never had the chance to go around like how I did for this more recent trip (because my main destination then was Siem Reap). I did not have time to visit the temples then, so for my first day in Bangkok, I went temple-hopping. BUT, since I am there for work, I have to go back before dark because I have to prepare my corporate attire, finalize my slides, and rehearse my presentation for the actual purpose of my trip: the conference.
As I was going temple-hopping, I realized everyone was right about Bangkok (or Thailand in general) could be the most visited Southeast Asian destination, especially by Westerners. People are everywhere — your typical big group of Chinese tourists, families on a trip, couples on a trip, solo travelers, Western backpackers, Instagrammers, there’s just a lot of people everywhere. But to be fair, people in Bangkok are very calm and respectful. I met some locals who struggle to communicate in English, but you would really feel their desire to connect with you.
The Grand Palace is something I missed in my previous Bangkok travel because I failed to plan that trip properly. When I went to visit the Palace, it as closed around lunchtime but will reopen in 2 hours. There’s just an important event involving His Majesty. I was wearing my usual white button down shirt which I love wearing to work which I repurposed to match with my tan maxi skirt and white sneakers. I walked all the way from Wat Pho to the Palace entrance (which was far, btw, but my “always ready to have some exercise” body accepted the challenge). But I would stop for some fresh, overpriced coconut juice along the way.
As I was waiting for the reopening of the palace, it started to rain. I had to go to a nearby establishment to kill time. You know where I (always) went? Starbucks.
But there’s a fancy-looking Thai restaurant beside that Starbucks in the Bangkok Riverside I was in. But there’s no way my haggard ass will get in there. I have been spending the morning moving from one temple to another in a scorching heat and riding GrabBikes to move around. But no, I freshened up in a public washroom (which, btw, I observed that Thai people queue up in public places very orderly. Respect.) and went in.
My Pad Thai is legit and don’t you dare argue with me
I ordered some Thai food in the menu that I could consume, playing blind with the expensive prices at the side. At that point, I was tired, it’s gonna be my first legit Thai meal in Thailand, and I’m gonna splurge on it. I ordered pad thai, mango sticky rice, and Thai iced tea.
No, it’s not the legit Thai food you could eat in the floating market or the streets, but boy, I’m eating it in freaking Thailand so don’t argue with me when I say it’s legit. Plus, it was one of the most valuable expenses I spent on any trip.
It was one of the best meals I had. I’m not exaggerating. I could even recommend you the place.
When I billed out, the staff asked me if I have a Facebook account because he would request me to review the place. It took me him a few repeats for me to understand the word ‘Facebook’ because his accent was a little hard to understand. When I confirmed, he handed me a QR code and when scanned it, it directs you to their TripAdvisor page *scratches head* (Kuya (brother), I thought you’re asking for Facebook?)
Upon going back to my hotel, I had to accomplish all the real to-do list I brought. It also means that I have to wake up very early and forget about all my travel fantasies and focus on attending the event in the next couple of days. The mindset-switching involved in a business trip slash vacation is mentally exhausting. It has its downsides.
As much as I want to wake up as late as I can when I will have enough time to go to the University for the event, I have to wake up as early as 5AM to rehearse my presentation, again. Take note, I am a young, inexperienced Professor who will be presenting in a room full of experts and notable people in the field of International Relations worldwide, so I cannot screw this up. That presentation should attract other scholars with the same research interests for possible collaborations in the future. (But at the back of my mind, I am also obsessed about the content I want to produce for my blog and Instagram).
Mixing business trip with vacation (or maybe mixing two kinds of jobs in one trip), if not planned very, very carefully, will ruin your whole trip. I have a very active spontaneous side when it comes to traveling, but even if you’re spontaneous, an enormous amount of planning is still necessary, especially for complicated or multi-category trips like this.
Can we really mix business trips with vacation?
Can we mix business trips with vacation? SANA ALL!
YES. I’ve done it a long time, and it’s totally doable. However it depends on the kind of work you’re expected to perform in that business trip, and how much time you can allocate for non-work stuff. There’s just ONE BIG TAKEAWAY from this trip: PLANNING. You need to plan things out. I am a huge advocate for planning everything and every aspect of your life. In the meantime, we could talk about planning in a different post.
Can you mix business trips with vacation? Your thoughts are welcome! 🙂
I see, you’ve reached this far. After all, what’s travel without some drama, anyway?
As a traveler coming from Asia, I have been hearing from my fellow travelers from Western countries that Southeast Asia is a very affordable destination to do backpacking, and I must say, I feel #blessed for coming from this beautiful region. I have visited all Southeast Asian states, and per my observation, Bangkok is one of the most popular cities among backpackers.
Budget traveling encourages us to stay in hostels which we only had to pay for as low as USD5 per night to have a comfortable bunk bed, a nice place to socialize with fellow travelers, and possibly to snap that beautiful photo to be posted on your Instagram accounts and other social media accounts featuring the beautiful interior design of the hostels. Yes, I will repeat, all for as low as USD5 per night.
I have been to Bangkok several times, and I must say, there are countless Instagrammable hotels and hostels to choose from! I make it a point to stay in another hotel or hostel whenever I have the chance to travel back to Bangkok so that I can try the best of the best.
But before anything else, you can check other best hostel recommendations in other countries/cities:
Moreover, you can watch this simple vlog I made from the street video clips I collected from one of my previous Bangkok trips:
So without further ado, here are some Instagrammable hostels in Bangkok that I recommend you to stay! You are welcome to book any of these through the links I provide via Agoda.com. I am a verified Agoda affiliate (hence the links are legit, promise!) where I earn commissions from your bookings with no additional costs on your part, at all (sometimes you will even get discounted deals from my links)! 🙂
There you have it! These hostels do not only provide basic but comfortable places to sleep, but also corners to snap that Instagrammable shot to be shared to your social media followers! A vacation does not only involve seeing different spots in a place, but also having a wonderful experience in the place that you checked in, whether it is a hotel or a hostel.
INSTAGRAMMABLE HOSTELS IN BANGKOK: YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME! 🙂
Do you think there are other Instagrammable hostels in Bangkok that I missed including on this list? I know there are a lot of Instagrammable hostels in Bangkok, but let’s see if we could include more on this list. If so, please feel free to slide me a DM on my Instagram account @wheressherlyn. In the meantime, I hope you have a safe and Instagrammable travel experience in Bangkok, and if ever, let me know if you happen to pass by or stay in Manila! 🙂
A lot of Filipino travelers I know have expressed some frustrations on how less ‘powerful’ the Philippine passport is compared to other countries because we are only eligible to enter a few countries without the need for a visa. To someone who is aiming to visit all nation-states in the world, yes, it would be a struggle, but it won’t hurt if you start traveling to visa-free countries first, right? That’s also what I am currently working on.
But hey, it is not the end of the world, guys! In fact, setting up a good and clean travel record to visa-free countries is a brownie point should you apply for a visa in the First World, like Europe and the US. After all, there is so much to explore in these visa-free countries which deserve to be visited first by us, Filipino travelers.
With “start traveling to visa-free countries first”, I meant the Southeast Asian region. In fact, Southeast Asian region is one of the most popular regions visited by travelers from all parts of the world and from all walks of life. There is so much to see in this region: cultural and historical heritage sites, natural wonders, cities, beaches, mountains, name it! Did you know that your Philippine passport entitles you to travel around Southeast Asia, visa-free? 🙂
Why can Southeast Asian citizens travel around the region visa-free?
The members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an ASEAN Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption in order to achieve a lasting friendship and cooperation among ASEAN countries, hence as ASEAN Citizens, we Filipinos can travel around ASEAN region without a visa. How cool is that? You can have your own Southeast Asia visa free travel bucket list before exploring the rest of the world!
Without further ado, here is the list of visa-free Southeast Asian countries for Philippine passport holders:
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM (visa-free for 14 days)
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Anyone up with seeing some beautiful mosques and feeling a legitimate sense of peace away from your home countries? Brunei is definitely the place to be.
For more travel articles about Brunei, click on the banner below:
CAMBODIA (visa-free for 21 days)
Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Temple run, anyone? You are entitled to roam around Angkor complex in Siem Reap and explore magnificent historical structures around Phnom Penh without a visa!
For more travel articles about Cambodia, click on the banner below:
INDONESIA (visa-free for 30 days)
Bali Museum, Denpasar, Indonesia
Mount Bromo, Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia
Hotel Majapahit Surabaya, Indonesia
Bank Museum, Jakarta, Indonesia
Whether you’re exploring historical sights in big cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, exploring the countryside and natural wonders in Probolinggo, or having the vacation of your life in Bali, you can do all of these without the need to apply for a visa. How’s that?
For more travel articles about Indonesia, click on the banner below:
LAOS (visa-free for 30 days)
Haw Phra Kaew, Vientiane, Laos
Laos is the most underrated Southeast Asian country!!! Please please consider exploring this beautiful country! There’s so much history and culture in here, and oh, it’s the most heavily-bombed country in the world (well, Vietnam War-speaking, because I know Syria feels the same way, too). Unfortunately we don’t have direct flights from Philippines to Laos, but hey it doesn’t hurt to include this in your itinerary, let’s say, when you go visit Thailand.
For more travel articles about Laos, click on the banner below:
MALAYSIA (visa-free for 30 days)
Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, Malaysia
Sunway Lagoon, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Malaysia is a melting pot of different cultures, and as a result, there’s just a variety of good food here! You can explore Malaysia if you want to go shopping (everything here is, for some reason, cheaper than Manila), have some food trip, or have some cultural immersion, Kuala Lumpur can provide them for you. If you want to have some amusement park-ish type of fun with friends, Petaling Jaya is the place to be.
For more travel articles about Malaysia, click on the banner below:
MYANMAR (visa-free for 14 days)
Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay, Myanmar
Old Bagan Ruins, Myanmar
Yangon Zoological Garden, Myanmar
Myanmar is also one of the least popular Southeast Asian destination to Filipinos because there are no direct flights to here from Manila. But, I could attest that you will not regret going this far because Myanmar is so authentically uninfluenced by any external culture (I’m talking about Westernization hehe). It’s indeed the “Golden Land”, literally, because of the golden stupas all over.
For more travel articles about Myanmar, click on the banner below:
SINGAPORE (visa-free for 30 days)
Central Perk Cafe Singapore
Deemed as one of the best countries in the world, this small island nation never failed to impress everyone who goes here. From the vast number of museums, to hawker centres, to the very efficient transport system, and the very progressive economy, I could say that Singapore is really very utopian for me.
For more travel articles about Singapore, click on the banner below:
THAILAND (visa-free for 30 days)
Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand
From beautiful temples to happy people to nice beaches, Thailand is a perfect destination for almost all types of travelers. Drinking some Thai tea overlooking Chao Phraya River? Priceless.
For more travel articles about Thailand, click on the banner below:
VIETNAM (visa-free for 21 days)
In front of Ben Thanh Market with a view of Bitexco Tower, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam, being the second largest producer of coffee in the world, is not only home to the best coffee out there, but also to the healthiest set of green leafy cuisine! A legit banh mi sold by the street sides is a must-try!
For more travel articles about Vietnam, click on the banner below:
There you have it! To Philippine passport holders, Southeast Asia is literally visa-free! It can ease everyone’s travel hassle and more energy and money can be dedicated to this beautiful region. I just hope Southeast Asia visa requirements for all Southeast Asians will be lifted indefinitely because it can indeed contribute to the region’s economy as well as the awareness of ASEAN citizens about the region and the countries surrounding them.
So, I’ll just wait for your travel stories, then? Safe travels and prepare your passports to be stamped now! 🙂
Direct flights to Southeast Asia may have been limited before, but more routes have been opening to so many destinations connecting the East and the West every now and then. Flights to Brunei Darussalam, for instance, are increasing, hence Bruneians and other travelers have more options on where to go next. Brunei has direct flights to six (6) Southeast Asian countries. As part of my passion project to help travelers have a seamless navigation experience around Southeast Asia, I am writing a series of flight guides to help you have the best travel experience in this beautiful region of the world. The first of this series is this comprehensive article guide about direct flights from Brunei Darussalam.
DIRECT FLIGHTS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA: FLIGHTS TO BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Are you currently in Brunei and planning your next Southeast Asian destination? But wait, I do hope you were able to visit this beautiful places during your stay in Brunei:
Non-Stop Flight Time (BWN-KUL): 2 hours and 20-25 minutes
Kuala Lumpur is known to have a lot of direct flights to Southeast Asia destinations, including flights to Brunei Darussalam, because of the presence of low-cost carrier AirAsia.
Airlines that fly directly from Brunei to Kuala Lumpur:
Non-Stop Flight Time (BWN-MNL): 2 hours and 35 minutes
Manila is known to have a lot of direct flights to Southeast Asia destinations, including flights to Brunei Darussalam, because of the presence of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific.
Non-Stop Flight Time (BWN-SIN): 2 hours and 5 minutes
Singapore is known to have a lot of direct flights to Southeast Asia destinations, including flights to Brunei Darussalam, because of the presence of many routes by its flag carrier Singapore Airlines.
Airlines that fly directly from Brunei to Singapore:
Non-Stop Flight Time (BWN-BKK): 2 hours and 45 minutes
Bangkok is known to have a lot of direct flights to Southeast Asia destinations, including flights to Brunei Darussalam. It is also a good transit point to many Southeast Asian destinations.
Airline that flies directly from Brunei to Bangkok:
Non-Stop Flight Time (BWN-SGN): 1 hour and 55 minutes
One of the nearest destinations to Brunei outside Borneo, Ho Chi Minh city also operates a lot of flights to Brunei Darussalam and other destinations to Southeast Asia
Airline that flies directly from Brunei to Ho Chi Minh City:
See? I told you there is a lot of flights from Brunei Darussalam! There are so many direct flights to Southeast Asia and direct flights from Brunei is just one of the many destinations to choose from. Are you ready to draft your ultimate Southeast Asian itinerary covering these amazing destinations and hop on that plane to take one of the next direct flights from Brunei?
To be honest, I have been planning on writing hotel reviews of all the hotels and hostels I I have checked in during my overseas travels (meaning outside the Philippines, because I’m based in Manila). However, I never had the time to actually take photos to help my readers appreciate my reviews. Most of the time, right after checking in, I would jump in the bed and throw away my stuff all over. I am either very tired, had no sleep, or just not in the mood to do the effort of taking photos.
But don’t worry! Here I am, and I will try to make use of the limited photos that I took from the hotels I stayed in, together with a very quick review. I will also tell you if, based on my standards (which are not really so high, believe me), I will consider checking in again in these places. Also, feel free to click on the hotel names for more info and booking. Enjoy!
The hotel is a little far from the airport, but don’t worry too much about road distances in Brunei. You can get there in no time. The hotel is located in Jerudong area, a very quiet and peaceful part of Bandar Seri Begawan, and you will definitely enjoy your time there. The rooms are beautiful and elegant. When I stayed there during the Christmas holidays, I saw that they were preparing a backdrop for the New Year’s Eve, so I guess they were planning an event then. I wish I was able to witness it. There was just one morning when I woke up to the sound of the mass at the mosque, but it was really calming and I did not really mind.
This is a hotel within a mall. On the Ground Floor, you will find restaurants and shops, and there are a lot of restaurants to choose from! Above the hotel are more shops and the cinema. You don’t need to go out of the building and it has got everything you need. It’s also very close to the airport. I stayed in a room with a window but no view, and if you got assigned to a room close to the elevator, you will hear the noise of the people. I did appreciate their complimentary newspaper, though. Breakfast buffet was a little meh.
I love Kolab Sor! The design was very minimalistic and the lobby was super big and beautiful! They have desktops that can be used by guests at the Ground Floor. The rooms were so minimalist and cozy. The shower was very spacious, and I remember clearly that they have a good set of toiletries. It is also near establishments like restaurants.
To be fair, this hotel is near Pub Street, but I had a lot of issues. The hotel is old and I feel like dusts are everywhere. The oldness of the hotel is like more of ‘woods and red carpets’ type. Elevators and hallways are a little creepy, but the rooms were surprisingly okay. They have a big pool but the water is dirty and mossy. Breakfast was served outdoor by the pool, but it doesn’t even look good, I did not trust its cleanliness, and they lack so many utensils and necessities.
They have a mini-outdoor gym but the equipment are just dumped in one side and accumulating rust. Oh, there was a power interruption exclusively in that hotel only for two nights and it scared the heck out of us! I feel like the place used to be very elegant (like Manila Hotel-type) but it just lost its former glory. Our shower’s ceiling also has a huge hole and we had to cover it in a plastic just to make sure nothing bad will happen.
Don’t trust the photos of this hotel you see in Agoda.
This place is located right at the heart of Mong Kok area and very close to the Mong Kok MTR station. There are so many establishments and big malls around and it is a busy area. The rooms resemble a typical Hong Kong tiny apartment, but it was clean and the view outside was great. They provide hot and cold water in a dispenser outside the room. The price is good for a private room in a hostel.
This is located in Central Bali (therefore far from the airport). It is situated in an area where a lot of farms are located, and it was really quiet there. I was told by the cab driver that the area is a favorite retreat spot of Westerners, so no wonder the vibe is like that. I rented a very nice rustic room for a very affordable price, and a healthy breakfast was served. The staff went the extra mile to help me with my broken luggage lock and even assisted me with my luggage upon check-in and check-out because the homestay was a few walks from the main road.
If you have been dreaming of a #thisvillalife Bali vacation, this place is perfect for you! Situated at the heart of Seminyak area, Villa Koru is a luxury 3-bedroom villa with a big and beautiful pool that can accommodate solo, couple, and family travelers! The staff were very helpful and efficient, and the owner was one of the kindest host I have met so far in all of my travels abroad! He will make sure you are provided with everything you might need: from floaters, to day tours, to airport transfers, and many more!
To be fair, the hotel has a relaxing vibe at the outside. There were trees, and the corridors are white. However,the room I stayed in was a little small, the AC unit was broken, there were no toiletries provided, and the water pressure was meh. The rooms have sliding doors and will not completely close, therefore you’ll hear all the sounds from the outside. I did not like my stay there hence I took back my payment for the next succeeding days I checked-in and went to another hotel. But, they have a big potential to improve.
You can literally walk from this hotel to the airport! It was a big hotel with many rooms, and I liked its swimming pool. It has a nice vibe with great music. The rooms are very clean, great, and comfy as well. The staff are very friendly and will give you tips on where to go around the area. Oh, they have free transfers to and from the airport, since it’s literally a couple of meters away.
Laos in general surprised me! And this hotel is part of all the surprises I had. The room I had is very, very cheap! The same quality in another country could cost 3 or 4 times I paid for Mini S Hotel. The staff, even though finding it hard to understand my accent, were very patient enough, and they were kind enough to help me out in terms of places to see. The small outdoor pool is also beautiful and every corner is clean and Instagrammable. I had the perfect chill vacation because of Mini S Hotel. they provided a porridge breakfast which was good and the hotel is near convenience stores, restaurants, and that al fresco restaurants by the Mekong River. They also provide shuttle services to the city center.
The moment I was looking for an accommodation in Macau for my very quick trip, Macau Hotel S caught my attention when I saw that it participated in a street art activity and its vicinity has a lot of beautiful street art (street art enthusiast here!). Macau Hotel S was not the cheapest deal, but it was the best deal.
The room I booked was so big and nice and I love their toiletries! I also love the complimentary jasmine tea they provide, and from my room window I have a nice view of the Macau Tower. It is also a few walks away from the bus stop which you can wait for a bus which could drop you exactly at the airport. It is a walking distance from tourist spots such as Senado Square. Lastly, I can’t stress enough that the hotel restaurant has a very creative interior and good food! I will definitely stay here again.
ViPod residences is a walking distance from Pavilion Mall and the KLCC train station, and it also has a club/bar just across, which also explains the presence of street food vendors around the area. Entering the building feels like you’re entering an Embassy or something. The security is a little tight, and there are several doors leading to the lobby. The room we stayed is very tidy and spacious and the price was really affordable. There is a convenience store at the ground floor (where I bought some Maggi Kari) and wait until you go to the rooftop pool and gym! The view of Petronas Towers is perfect!
This hotel is right in front of the Mandalay Railway Station which is very, very convenient! I love the whole ambiance of the hotel, from the reception area to the rooms. They serve a good breakfast, and the place is near many establishments, including a mall and the Ocean Supermarket. Staff are very friendly as well.
This hotel is just like a typical provincial home. The price is very cheap but you will be provided with a quality stay. It is located at the Old Bagan area which is near the market and the temple complex. They have bike and e-bike rental services. The staff are very kind and friendly. When we left our keys inside the room, one of the staff was kind and patient enough to climb the window just to get access to our room. We also saw squirrels through our windows and they are amusing.
What I love about this hotel is its interior design. They have a lot of artworks hanging around the entire place. Moreover, this hotel is right at the center of Yangon and everything is really accessible from there, from market to cinema, to the zoo, and the Sule Temple in particular. Their breakfast area and the way going to the rooms were a little tight, though. But if you are catching a flight at Yangon International Airport, I think this place is a strategic and practical one to choose.
To be fair, this hotel is located at the main road (Serangoon Road) right at the heart of Little India, which is a good starting point if you want to go around the district. Their breakfast is also great (I have a bias towards Indian food because it’s delicious and healthy at the same time). The staff are accommodating and friendly as well. However, I think the entire building is a little old and therefore needs improvement. When we entered the room, we were greeted by cockroaches and the room was dimly lit. The shower also looks untidy. Good thing we only stayed there for a layover.
There are several Cube Hotels around Singapore, but I think location-wise, this one at Kampong Glam is the best. It is located right at the heart of the Kampong Glam tourist area, very near the Masjid Sultan. The hotel is quite new and it was my first time staying in a capsule. At first I thought it’s going to make me claustrophobic, but I had the most comfortable stay. The idea of capsules give you the privacy that you need. The bathroom and shower is clean and well-maintained, and their toiletries are good! They also have a washing machine and dryer where detergent and fabric conditioner are provided. Breakfast is also awesome!
I heard that this hotel was newly-renovated and I think they did a great job doing it. The Great Madras has a very friendly staff and the location is near establishments, including the Indian Heritage Centre. The have millennial-friendly Instagrammable interiors. They have nice bathrooms with good set of toiletries. The swimming pool area is a nice place to chill and the poolside is good for doing some yoga. I love their breakfast (also given my bias with Indian food).
In a nutshell, this hotel is very affordable and yet you will be provided a good quality of stay! It is located right at the heart of Taipei (walking distance from the Taipei Main Station), and very near establishments and tourist spots. The reception area is so nice, it’s literally a pink beetle with a lot of cute plushies. The rooms were clean and nice, and the room we stayed has a bathtub. The breakfast is so good and the brewed coffee is the best thing there!
This hotel has a very clean and minimalist look. It is located near the Don Mueang International Airport but a little far from the city center. Do not worry because the area where the hotel is located is very secure, quiet, and elegant. We were able to find several good coffee shops, convenience stores, and restaurants around, as well as yummy street food! The rooms are very spacious, and the toiletries there are the best ones I had so far!
Will stay here again? Can I instead stay here for good? 🙂
I love, love, love this hotel! The staff were really friendly, and they embody the Thai hospitality. I was assisted very well from check-in to check-out. They also gave me a room closest to the reception desk, which was favorable and convenient for me. I could walk from here to so many establishments, like restaurants, pharmacies, groceries, fastfood chains, coffee shops, etc. I can’t stress enough how colorful and Instagram-worthy the place was! The pool was beautiful! The breakfast area was very relaxing and the food selection was very heavenly! My room has a bathtub also! I wish I could live here!
Will stay here again? I want to, but I really don’t know.
I’ve been seeing nice photos of the hotel on Instagram and other online sources, and it’s a little popular among young travelers, given its location which is very near a lot of bars and restaurants. The room photos in the booking sites were also good. However, upon arriving at the place, the door men will not even provide you a little assistance with your luggage and will not even open the doors for you. The reception area was great, the staff were friendly, and upon the looks of it, the hotel is really a beautiful hipster place. However, I was given a room at the topmost floor and at the other end of the elevator which was a loooooong corridor walk and you will be greeted by creepy life-size mural of people as you walk.
They have no telephones at the room, so when my keycard did not work, I had to go back to the reception area myself. The room was a little dim and the vibe was a little heavy. I want to give the hotel another chance by seeing how good their breakfast is, only to find out that the breakfast is only available at 0730, which was a little late. Since I had to leave before 7AM for my flight, I was only provided bread and coffee (which was okay), but did not really get what I paid for.
I had a short but good stay in this hotel. The rooms are spacious and homey, and there are some furniture items made of bamboo. The hotel is just right across YOLO Bar (which is a good bar!) and near a lot of convenience stores and restaurants. The breakfast was awesome (you can make your own banh mi sandwich!), but the lady at the breakfast area was a little rude and yelled at me.
