TPT Masterlist
This is our compilation of travel essentials and the hotels, attractions, and tours we have tried in various destinations around the world, sorted by country and city. You’ll also find links so you could easily compare the latest rates and book them.
Agoda Hotels: 10% OFF
Discount: On hotels, up to PHP 5,900 (USD 100).
AGODATPT
Up to 5× use.
Agoda Activities: 5% OFF
Discount: On tours, tickets, up to PHP 1770 (USD 30).
AATPT
Up to 5X use
Klook: PHP300 OFF
Discount: On hotels and most attractions.
THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK
Up to 5X use.
StarCruises & Dream Cruises: 5% OFF
Discount: 5% OFF the cruise fare for Star Navigator, Star Voyager and Genting Dream.
Royal Caribbean: 5% OFF
Discount: 5% OFF the cruise fare when you book at Cruising.com.ph.
WORTHIT
TravelJoy Insurance
Special rate: On PGA Sompo TravelJoy travel insurance.
WORTHIT
Accessories
- Universal Travel Adaptor, very useful when traveling abroad and charging multiple gadgets.
• TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter with multiple USB-A and USB-C ✅
• Momax 1-World Universal 2-Port USB Travel Charger 20W - Power Bank, to charge your gadgets on the go.
• Anker MagGo Powerbank 10,000mAh, with MagSafe ultra fast charger and built-in stand. This is our preferred power bank. ✅
• Momax 1-Power Pass Wireless Powerbank 5000mAh, thinner and cheaper.
• Momax 1-Power Badge+ 2500mAh, with Find My Locator. Very thin and small, for emergency use - Extension Cord/Power Strip, for when the outlet is too far away from the bed/desk:
• Anker 615 USB Power Strip GaNPrime 65W, with short-circuit protection, over-voltage protection, and fire-resistant casing ✅ - Portable Fan, when visiting hot and humid destinations!
• Aecooly Aero Pro Handheld Fan 3500mAh, top and sturdy choice ✅
• Aecooly Halo 01 Portable Handheld Fan 3000mAh, cheaper option - Neck support for flights, much better than neck pillow:
• Abello Neck Support Pillow, lightweight, compact, 3D butterfly wrap-around ✅
Arrival Cards Official Websites
- PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭: eTravel – https://etravel.gov.ph
- AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺: Arrival cards are distributed on the flight.
- CHINA 🇵🇭: Digital Arrival Card – https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC
- HONG KONG 🇭🇰: No arrival card needed.
- INDONESIA 🇮🇩: All Indonesia Arrival Card (AIAC) – https://allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id
- JAPAN 🇯🇵: Visit Japan Web (VJW) – www.vjw.digital.go.jp
- MACAU 🇲🇴: No arrival card needed.
- MALAYSIA 🇲🇾: Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) – https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main
- NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿: New Zealand Traveller Declaration – www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz
- SINGAPORE 🇸🇬: ICA Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) – https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard
- SOUTH KOREA 🇰🇷: Korea E-Arrival Card – www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr
- TAIWAN 🇹🇼: Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) – https://twac.immigration.gov.tw
- THAILAND 🇹🇭: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) – https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card
HONG KONG
Hotels We Tried
- iClub Sheung Wan Hotel. Located in the area next to Central. Close to MTR Station and delicious restaurants!
- Four Points by Sheraton Hotel (Tung Chung). Ideal for visiting Disneyland Hong Kong and Ngong Ping 360 or Big Buddha. Has FREE shuttle service to airport and Tung Chung MTR Station.
- Marriott Hotel Hong Kong SkyCity. Ideal for groups/families because rooms are good for 4 pax. Close to the airport. Great if you’re visiting Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping cable car. With FREE shuttle to and from the airport and Tung Chung MTR Station.
- iClub Mong Kok Hotel (Mong Kok). Squeaky clean rooms. Great if you’re into shopping, but located on the other side of Mong Kok. Close to bus stations but far from MTR. If you’re coming from the airport, and you’re taking the train or A21 bus, you’ll need to transfer or walk for 10 minutes.
- Cordis Hotel, Hong Kong (Mong Kok). Just a footbridge away from Langham Place. Also a 4-minute walk from MTR Station.
- Victoria Inn (Tsim Sha Tsui). Budget option. Located in Mirador Mansion. The building is old, but the inn itself, while cozy, is clean and well-maintained.
Book Before Your Trip
- Octopus Card — MUST-HAVE!
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
Key Attractions
- Disneyland Hong Kong — MUST-VISIT! ✅
- Victoria Peak Tram — MUST-VISIT! ✅
- Ngong Ping 360 and Tai O Pass — MUST-VISIT! ✅
- Ngong Ping Cable Car Ticket only
- Madame Tussaud’s Hong Kong
- Bus Transfer to Macau — MUST-DO! ✅
- Aqua Luna Victoria Harbour Cruise
- M+ Museum Ticket
JAPAN
Osaka
Hotels We Tried
🔥🔥🔥 GET P500 HOTEL VOUCHER HERE! 🔥🔥🔥
- APA Hotel Shin-Osaka Ekimae (Budget). Close to Shin-Osaka Station. Best for those visiting other prefectures by shinkansen or bullet train. ✅
- Red Roof Inn & Suites NAMBA (Mid-Range). Close to Dotonbori! Great, central location! ✅
- Hotel Hanshin Osaka (Mid-Range). Great view of the city. ✅
- Hotel Chuo Oasis (Budget Inn). It’s been 10 years since we last stayed here, so a lot might have changed.
- First Cabin Hanshin Nishi Umeda (Capsule Hotel). Flight-themed and stylish.
Must-Haves Before Your Trip
- Japan visa
- Visit Japan Web form
- Osaka Amazing Pass — MUST HAVE! ✅
- Kansai Train Passes, depending on your itinerary. Find out the best pass for you here!
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
Key Attractions
- Universal Studios Japan, super popular theme park. ✅
- TeamLab Botanical Garden, amazing outdoor teamLab site. ✅
- Osaka Castle, the city’s main icon — FREE if you have Osaka Amazing Pass!
- Harukas 300 (Abeno Harukas), tallest building in Osaka with great view and projection mapping. ✅
- Umeda Sky Building Observatory, great view with sparkling floor at night — FREE before 3pm if you have Osaka Amazing Pass!
- Kyoto and Nara Day Tour ✅
Fukuoka
Hotels We Tried
- S-Peria Hotel Hakata (Budget). Close to Hakata Station, 4-5 min. walk. On the west side of the station. ✅
- Super Hotel Premier Hakataeki (Mid-Range). Close to Hakata Station, 8-10 min. walk. On the east side of the station. ✅
- THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier (Upscale). Close to Hakata Station, 6-8 min. walk. On the west side of the station. ✅
Must-Haves Before Your Trip
- Japan visa
- Visit Japan Web form
- Fukuoka Tourist City Pass, if exploring Fukuoka City only
- Fukuoka Tourist City Pass, if visiting Yufuin, Nagasaki, and other prefectures in Kyushu
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
Key Attractions
- Yufuin & Beppu Onsen Day Trip, which will also take you to Nyorinji Temple and Kinrin Lake Floating Torii Gate
- Takachiho Gorge, Mount Aso & Kusasenri Day Trip, for breathtaking countryside views! Takachiho Gorge is highly recommended!
- Huis Ten Bosch 1 Day Bus Tour From HAKATA, Dutch-style theme park in Nagasaki, one of the largest in Japan
- One-day tour of Itoshima, Kyushu, Japan, with stops at Totoro Forest Trail & Keya no Oto + Sakurai Futamigaura Couple Rocks + Fukuoka Tower & Seaside Park + Shiraito Falls + Coconut Tree Swing + Raizan Sennyoji Temple (departure from Fukuoka)
TAIWAN
Taipei
Hotels We Tried
- Walker Hotel Ximen, very close to MRT Ximen Station and Ximending main area. Generally OK, but the bathroom floor of the room assigned to us was not the neatest.
- Hotel Cham Cham, mid-range hotel in Banquiao district with good food options, close to MRT Banquiao Station. ✅
- K Hotel Songjiang, very near MRT Xingtian Temple Station, surrounded by convenience stores and local food shops, and not too touristy. ✅
- Hotel Attic, also in Ximending area. But it’s been years since we stayed here.
- Just Sleep at NTU, close to MRT Gongguan Station and across the Gongguan Night Market. It’s a university area so lots of affordable dining spots.
- K Hotels Linsen, near convenience stores and attractions in Zhongshan District. But a 12-minute walk from the nearest MRT Station.
Must-Haves Before Your Trip
- TAIWAN Arrival Card (TWAC)
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
INDONESIA
Bali
Hotels We Tried
🔥🔥🔥 Use the AGODA discount code: AGODATPT (up to P5800 OFF) 🔥🔥🔥
Must-Haves Before Your Trip
- Pay Bali tourist levy
- All Indonesia Arrival Card
- Bali Private Car Charter
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
NEW ZEALAND
Must-Haves Before Your Trip
- New Zealand Visa
- Traveller Declaration Form
- Discounted eSIM. Use promo code THEPOORTRAVELER for 15% OFF.
Auckland & Rotorua
Hotels We Tried
🔥🔥🔥 GET P300 HOTEL VOUCHER HERE! 🔥🔥🔥
- Auckland: SkyCity Hotel, centrally located full-service hotel, just next to the iconic Sky Tower. ✅
- Rotorua: Rock Solid Backpackers, a budget-friendly hostel in the city center.
Tours and Attractions
- Sky Tower Auckland (ticket only) ✅
- Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, you can choose if you want ticket only or with transfers from Auckland or Rotorua. You can also add a Waitomo Glow Worm Caves stop. ✅
- Auckland-Hobbiton-Rotorua One-Way Tour, pick up in Auckland, tour Hobbiton, drop off in Rotorua
- Wai-o-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland (ticket only)
- Waitomo Glow Worm Caves (no transfers) ✅
Queenstown
Hotels We Tried
- Black Sheep Backpackers, a relatively affordable hostel close to the center.
Tours & Attractions
- Milford Sound Cruise & Day Tour ✅
- Skydive Queenstown by NZONE ✅
- Bungy Jumping at Kawarau Bridge (original site by AJ Hackett) ✅
- Mt. Cook Day Tour from Queenstown ✅
- Queenstown to Christchurch One-Way Tour (pick up in Queenstown, Tour Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo, drop off in Christchurch)
- Lord of the Rings Safari Glenorchy Day Tour
Christchurch
Hotels We Tried
🔥🔥🔥 GET P300 HOTEL VOUCHER HERE! 🔥🔥🔥
- Haka House, a newly renovated 19th century house. Loved our stay here. But no elevators.
- Hotel Give, a hotel across Botanic Gardens and Art Centre. We didn’t actually try this ourselves, but our travel companion did and he loved it.
Tours & Attractions
- Christchurch Gondola Ticket ✅
- Botanic Gardens Tour ✅
- Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour (with roundtrip transfers from Christchurch)
- Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo Tour (from Christchurch, with roundtrip transfers)
- Christchurch to Queenstown One-Way Tour (pick up in Christchurch, tour in Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook, drop off in Queenstown) ✅
PHILIPPINES
Bacolod
Hotels We Tried
🔥🔥🔥 GET P300 HOTEL VOUCHER HERE! 🔥🔥🔥
-
UrbanView @ Lacson Street Bacolod City by RedDoorz ✅
Located on Lacson Street, just across from Bacolod’s famous Calea Pastries & Coffee, BongBong’s, and Merzci. -
Acacia Hotel Bacolod ✅
Conveniently located near the port, this hotel is also just a short walk from SM Bacolod and S&R. - Circle Inn – Hotel & Suites ✅ Just a short walk from the hotel, you’ll find the iconic Shary’s Cansi, a Bacolod culinary landmark.
