With no mid to high-end resorts available in Laiya for the third weekend of March, my mother booked us an accommodation at Matabungkay Beach Hotel instead. Also called Matabungkay Beach Resort, this vacation spot was known to be one of the best high-end resorts in Batangas, Philippines during the 80’s.

As my mother reminisced her days as a regular employee, she said only managers and high ranking officials in their company could afford to go to Matabungkay before. Staying over the hotel equated to luxury - but for the aging millennial, this I had to find out myself.

I booked airport transfers with Klook for the first time during my recent visit to Japan. Because the two local travel companies that we know do not offer transfers if you don’t book at least one tour activity with them, I looked for reputable and legitimate online booking sites for this service. Luckily, I was able to find the service that I need with Klook.

What are the benefits of getting an airport transfer? First, it’s very convenient. We just need to ride the van and sit comfortably until we reach Narita Airport. Second, we had an early morning flight, thus local trains aren’t in operation yet by the time we leave the hotel. Third, having an airport transfer was actually more cost-efficient for us, since we’re traveling in a group of 6. And finally, it’s expected that we’ll be carrying HEAVY and additional luggage due to shopping. I can’t imagine dragging two pieces of luggage at a time as we catch the local train and N’EX bound for Narita.

So how was the booking process and the entire journey? Here’s how.

Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort is a popular winter destination for tourists who want to ski or snowboard because of its convenient location. Being the only snow resort in Japan with its own bullet train station, you can hop on the train in Tokyo and be at the resort in as short as 77 minutes.

When you’re going to this snow resort, the main and most convenient transportation you need to ride is the Shinkansen (bullet train), particularly Joetsu, which goes directly to Gala Yuzawa station. Not only is it convenient but it’s also stress-free. With that said, let me guide how to reach Gala from your starting point: Tokyo station.

I never thought of the importance of the JR passes until I needed one. In my recent travel to Japan, the highlight of our vacation was the one-day trip to Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort from Tokyo. I’ve researched instructions on how to get to the snow resort, Shinkansen fares, and asked on TripAdvisor for transportation recommendation, until the members suggest I take the JR TOKYO Wide Pass.

JR-EAST (East Japan Railway Company) is Japan’s biggest passenger railway company and they offer various discount passes for tourists coming to Japan. They have the JR EAST Pass for Nagano, Niigata area (¥18,000 for adults, valid for 5 days) and another one for Tohoku area (¥20,000 for adults, valid for 5 days). Both passes are very convenient and cost-effective to use when traveling outside of Tokyo. Since we only have 4 full days to spare (and only decided to go out of Tokyo for the snow resort), we opted to purchase the TOKYO Wide Pass, which is only valid for 3 days.

Ride the Ducks Guam is a fairly new sightseeing tour that lets tourists take on an adventure around Guam – on land and on sea. If you’re a history buff or if you’re traveling with small children and the elderly, this is one of the most fun and adventurous trips you can take with your family.

What makes this tour unique is that you get to ride an amphibious vehicle that goes on the road like a bus and then makes it way to the sea like a boat! I haven’t been on an amphibian before and I only see this in the Philippines as a rescue-type vehicle for flood victims. It was quite exciting to get on board this bright yellow vessel, like I’m hopping onto a theme park ride!

Fish Eye Marine Park is Guam’s underwater observatory intended for those who want to experience the beauty of Piti Bay’s marine life, without having to change into snorkeling or diving outfits. Experiencing first-hand the authentic underwater habitat without getting wet in the sea makes this attraction pleasant and educational altogether.

Fish Eye Marine Park's 1,000 ft boardwalk

The first time I went here was during sunset and it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever witnessed. Going back for the second time around, I was pleased to see that the 1,000 ft wooden boardwalk still stands. The long walk going to the underwater observatory is an attraction itself. You’ll get plenty of panoramic photos and Instagram-worthy shots from the boardwalk alone.

Hafa Adai is a Chamorro phrase which means “Hello” or “What’s Up?” in Guam. Pronounced as “half a day”, it’s very common that you hear this whenever you meet local citizens in stores, restaurants, and hotels. You’ll encounter this multiple times a day and it’s quite easy to respond to people with the same greeting.

Now that you’ve brushed up on your basic Chamorro phrase, let me guide you through these 12 useful tips on where to stay, where to eat, how to go around, and how to save money when you travel to Guam.

Ah. Queenstown. One of God’s beautiful scenic creations and I can’t get enough of it. Once you’ve been there, you know it’s a place you’ll come back to over and over again. Queenstown is the titleholder of the “Adventure Capital of the World” and every adrenaline-junkie knows this is their death-defying playground.

Snow-capped peaks and lush trees. View from Camp Street, Queenstown.

I’ve only been there for four days and really, that’s way too short of a time to explore Queenstown fully. Nevertheless, my experience will help you plan for your trip to New Zealand’s must-see destination. Now before you embark on an exciting journey to the world’s adventure capital, here are 10 things you should know when traveling to Queenstown.