Michi Photostory

I found some rooms with kitchenette but the price was over my budget so I gave up and looked for hotels that are good for 3 adults. I also asked helped from my husband, I told him, nastress na ko maghanap ng hotel, magsearch ka na rin. Hehehe! 

He searched too and discovered Best Western Hotel. There are a few Best Western Hotels in Melbourne and we were down to two choices which are Best Western Melbourne City and Best Western Queen Victoria Hotel.

Best Western Melbourne City is much cheaper and has a good location but because of the online reviews, we did not choose this. We booked at Best Western Queen Victoria Hotel because it is new and has good reviews. 

To get a Member’s Rate and earn points, my husband signed up (Free) before booking a room. He booked 1 Queen and 1 Single room for 7 days. I checked the breakdown of the rate and every day is different. For one week of stay, we paid a non-refundable AUD1386 = PHP54,790.15. We booked two months before our trip. 

Best Western Queen Victoria Market Hotel is a brand new 4-star hotel but it only has four levels. It is a 5-minute walk to Queen Victoria Market. The nearest tourist spots are Melbourne Museum, The Princess Theatre, Docklands, Marvel Stadium, Flagstaff Gardens, and Flemington Racetrack. There are bus and tram services near the area. 

0.19 kilometer(s) from Victoria Street & Peel Street Bus Stop 

0.12 kilometer(s) from Peel Street & Victoria Street Tram Stop. Free tram from Peel Street into Central Business District (CBD). 

Best Western Queen Victoria Market Hotel has no email address on its website. I wanted to ask "how to get to their hotel from Southern Cross Station Bus Terminal". So we relied on Google Maps and I was so shocked when I learned that we needed to walk for 28 minutes. The distance from Southern Cross Station to Best Western Queen Victoria Market is 1598 meters. Mas malayo pa ito sa Generator Stockholm Hotel namin in Sweden. Waah! 

So with luggage in tow, we walked from Southern Cross Station to our hotel and temperature at that time was 7 degrees Celsius. Brrr… I monitored our walking time and it is really 28 minutes, may konting stop pa ito kasi napagod na ko pagdating namin sa Flagstaff Garden. 

We arrived at the hotel around 8:30 AM and as expected, the room was not available yet because check-in time is 2PM. We paid AUD50 for Security Deposit and left our luggage in their storage room. Then off we went to Queen Victoria Market. 

Check-in Time: 2:00 PM

Check-out Time: 10:00 AM 

After few hours, we went back to the hotel and we decided to wait there kasi pagod na talaga kami maglakad sa market. I think around 12:30 PM, the staff informed us that our room was already available. Finally, we could rest. 

This is our room, it looks new and clean. We had 1 Queen and 1 Single Bed, Desk, TV, mini fridge, hanging rack, and coffee and tea facilities.

The bathroom is also small, the complimentary toiletries are lotion, shampoo, body wash, and soap. If you need laundry bags, iron, iron boards, and emergency toiletries, it is available upon request but I brought my own laundry bag and slippers so I did not ask for this stuff. 

Breakfast meals are not included in our room package but the hotel has breakfast packs for AUD18.90. I have no idea if it is good for sharing or not. I also don’t know what is included in that pack since we bought our own breakfast from the grocery or we will eat at the market. 

The reception is not available 24/7 so the hotel is always locked and you need a key card to enter the hotel and use the elevator. So do not forget to contact the hotel if arriving outside of office hours:

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM 

Saturday 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM 

Sunday and Public Holidays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM 

We had no problems when we checked in since the office was already open but for check out, we asked the staff about it. The staff informed us to drop our key card with the paper sleeves so they would know what is our room number. We left before 6AM so we dropped our key in their Key Card Return Box.

Overall, we had no problems with our stay at Best Western Queen Victoria Market, the staff always made up our room and replenished toiletries, and coffee and tea. Our room is on the second level but we did not hear any noise from the street. The only noise we heard was from the elevator since, our room is near the elevator so if guests are talking while waiting for the elevator, we can hear them. But it is not an everyday scenario since we were always out. 

My only concern is, that it is far from Southern Cross Station so it is really a long walk, lalo na kapag tapos na yung tour namin. Pagod na pagod ka na pero ang layo pa ng lalakarin. Four out of our 7 Days trip, yung need namin maglakad from Southern Cross Station to hotel and vice versa. 3 kms na agad yan na balikan.

77 - 79 Capel Street,  West Melbourne 3003 

Toll Free (US & Canada) Worldwide Numbers: 1(800) 780-7234 

Hotel Direct Number: +61 3 91017898

A few weeks after we booked our tickets, we received an email regarding “Temporary Aircraft Partner”

“To enhance our service reliability and continue delivering the high standards you expect from us, Philippine Airlines has entered a temporary wet lease partnership with Wamos Air, one of Europe’s leading charter carriers known for its expertise in charter and wet lease operations.    

Wamos Air is also certified by the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit, ensuring top-tier safety and service. ” 

So flights from Manila to Sydney and Melbourne and vice versa will be operated using a Wamos Air Airbus A330. This was the first time I heard about this airline so I just hoped and prayed that we would have a safe flight. 

Prior to our trip there was Typhoon Kristine so we experienced blackout so late kami nakapag-online check-in. For the first time, hiwa-hiwalay kami ng seats, pero okay lang naman kasi lahat kami aisle seats. I don’t understand bakit hindi kami makapili ng seats na tabi-tabi pero 2 seats naman pala ang vacant sa tabi ko pero nagstick na lang kami sa pwesto namin. 

Just like our Manila to Sydney flight, we passed different Security checks, before the check-in counter, after the Immigration Counter, and at the boarding gate. 

Our airplane is Wamos Air but when you entered the craft, Philippine Airlines pa rin naman yung logo sa loob. The airline staff are a combination of Wamos Air and Philippine Airlines. 

Our seat has a monitor but we can also use “mypalmedia” so wala ng mypalplayer app, ito na yung gamit ng Philippine Airline. 

For long-haul flights, we have a blanket, headphones, overnight kit, hot towel, and two meals. Beef Salpicao for dinner and Corned Beef Sandwich for breakfast.

When my husband did the online check-in, we just accepted our assigned seats because we were fortunate na XL seats kami napunta and seated together. 

Our flight was early so we left the hotel before 6AM and arrived at Melbourne Airport just in time for the opening of the counter. I was glad the check-in counter opened 4 hours before our flight so hindi kami nagmamadali. 

The flight was a little bit delayed but boarding was so organized so mabilis din naman kami nakaalis.

This is the XL seat, more space nga. 

Sharing our flight meals. Beef with Mashed Potato and Tandoori Chicken + Brownies. 

I’m thankful for the smooth flight. 

Cricut Philippines #flexitfriday is back so I joined the Cricut-made Parol theme. I already submitted my Filipino Parol Ornaments last year so I was browsing Cricut Design Space for possible projects. Still, I need a Cricut Access Subscription for all the projects that I like to create. 

So I browsed my computer files and stumbled upon the Christmas Bunting I purchased a few years ago. I already made the Christmas Lights before so this inspired me to create Christmas Star Bunting or Mini Parol Bunting using the colors of Christmas Lights. 

I uploaded my files on Cricut Design Space but if you have a Cricut Access Subscription, the SVG files are also there. I used different glitter, foil, and holographic cardstock for this project. 

I love how it turned out and plan to create more if I have extra time so I can hang them in our home or give them to my son’s classroom. You can check my reels here.

One way to get into airport lounges is to apply for a credit card with this benefit. This is why we were able to stay at MIASCOR but we deactivated our credit cards because they did not waive our annual fee. Since we are not frequent travelers naman, we don’t need that credit card. 

A few months ago, I received emails and text messages from my bank about “credit card application” and hindi ko pinapansin kasi may credit card na naman ako. But last month, out of the blue, niresearch ko yung credit card benefits and I found out na may FREE AIRPORT LOUNGE and no annual fee pala. 

So after one week of contemplating, I finally gave in and filled out the form online and crossed my fingers na umabot yung credit card sa biyahe namin kasi usually, 15 business days. I was so happy when I received my credit card in less than a week. And because of that, nakapagstay kami sa PAGSS Premium Lounge before our Manila to Melbourne flight.

And the good thing about this credit card is I can bring one companion pa. We paid for an additional person since we are a group of three. The rate is PHP1,500, not bad na rin kasi ganun din naman magagastos namin kapag kakain sa airport. But I told my husband na mag-apply na rin siya ng credit card na may lounge benefit.

Upon arrival, I just showed my boarding pass and credit card. I was advised that the lounge was full so we went to the extension lounge. This is my old blog post about PAGSS Airport Lounge at NAIA 1 where my husband stayed using his Mabuhay Miles benefit. 

When we entered the room, the place is already crowded and akala ko nga wala na kami pwesto pero may other side pa pala and luckily, maluwag pa. The choices on the buffet spread are limited compared to Mabuhay Lounge but it was fine with us since we only needed to eat snacks.

We also requested instant cup noodles and ice cream. We only stayed for 2 hours and already went to our boarding gate. Another security check pa kasi sa boarding gate.

But last month, NAIA announced the new parking rates, from PHP300 to PHP1,200 for overnight rates. Waah! That is so expensive so nastress ako bigla because we will be flying to Melbourne, Australia. We live outside Metro Manila so mahirap magcommute. 

I was contemplating kung saan ba kami makakamura because NAIA parking is no longer an option. My choices are: 

1. Rent a van 

2. Take Ube Express P2P Bus 

3. Park N Fly 

But my husband chose the Park N fly so nagbabalik loob na kami sa Park N Fly. My husband immediately made a reservation online. 50% downpayment to reserve a slot. 

During our trip, we left early because we knew that there was an additional 30-minute to 1-hour waiting time at the Park N Fly. Based on our experience, from the time we arrived, we waited for 40 minutes for the airport shuttle service. 

Park N Fly has new building na pala, doon kami pinapunta ng guard. The office is much bigger and may Convenience Store & Pasalubong Center. 

They also offer “Complete vehicle maintenance and repairs, including detailing/cleaning packages available”. My husband availed the car wash kaya shining and shimmering ang sasakyan namin pag-uwi. 

Upon arrival, after claiming our luggage my husband called Park N Fly Shuttle Service to pick us up at Bay 6 - NAIA Terminal 1. I think we waited for 30 minutes before the airport shuttle service arrived.

Mia Road Corner Domestic Road Airport, 

Pasay City Philippines 1301 

8854-9302 to 04 and 8852 1946 to 48 

0918-991-0000

Anyway, last week we visited Brighton Beach, one of Melbourne's iconic beaches. We don’t have a plan to swim because it is Spring Season but I still included the beach on our itinerary. We visited Bondi Beach when we went to Sydney Australia so I want to see the beaches in Melbourne too. 

I love to see the famous 82 vibrant and colorful bathing boxes. The bathing boxes were initially built for the privacy of women so they could change their clothes without problem but now it is used to store beach equipment and accessories or for family get-togethers. 

The size is smaller than a standard car park but the price is around $450,000. It is the price of one bathing box that was sold in 2023. It is so expensive and only local Bayside residents can purchase these bathing boxes. It is considered a lifestyle investment for rich people so for an ordinary person like me, icraft na lang for souvenir. 

I made these Beach Huts Layered Craft before our trip and I was happy because the color and look are quite similar. I used the following SVG files. 3D Nautical Bundle and Beach Huts Shadow Box.

Then last week, I received a sample pack of shrink plastic so I decided to use it for my Bee Happy Weeklies 42. The theme is “Bloom” and I made a keychain using the images from the Wildflower Sublimation Bundle. 

This was my first time doing this project so trial and error in estimating the size and shrinking the plastic. My first trial was printing the design and shrinking the plastic using my heat gun but all my projects only curled up so it went straight to the trash bin. 

My second trial was printing the design and using our oven toaster to shrink the Printable Shrink White Plastic. Pero nasunog ko, nasobrahan yata sa heat. So I tried again and hindi na nasunog. 

And because of the successful result, I printed the design again using Printable Shrink Clear Plastic. 

I was looking at my finished projects and to be honest, my favorite is yung nasunog ko kasi parang vintage look. hehehe!

I was happy with my finished project pero napapaisip ako kung magagamit ko pa ba yung oven toaster namin o need ko ng bumili ng bago. Waah!