Hi, I’m Wendy!
Chronic over-packer, window-seat defender, and the girl behind The Travel Chicken. I’ve spent the last decade saving up, flying out and figuring things out the hard way, so you don’t have to.
So… why “The Travel Chicken”?
Growing up, my family called me manok, which is Tagalog for chicken. Part of it was because I was the youngest and tiniest (the “chick” of the family), and part of it was because I was genuinely scared of everything: dogs, deep water, escalators, strangers asking me for directions. My lola used to joke that I would never leave the house, let alone the country.
Then, at 23, I booked a cheap seat sale ticket to Tokyo on a whim, panicked for three straight weeks, and went anyway. I got lost at Shinjuku Station for almost an hour, ate the best bowl of ramen of my life at 11 p.m., and flew home already planning the next trip. The nickname stuck, but the meaning changed. These days “chicken” is my reminder that you don’t have to be fearless to travel. You just have to go a little scared.
What you will find here
The Travel Chicken is my personal travel journal and a practical guide rolled into one. I write about the parts of a trip that most glossy travel photos skip: how to get from the airport to your hotel without overpaying, what the rental car counter will try to upsell you, which neighborhood is actually worth staying in, and which tours are worth your money (and which ones I regret).
- Destination guides from countries I have personally visited, from Japan and Iceland to my own backyard in the Philippines.
- Airport and arrival tips so your first hour in a new country is the easy part.
- Car rental advice: insurance, deposits, tolls and the fine print I learned to read.
- Hotel and stay reviews, from budget guesthouses to the occasional splurge villa.
- Tours and packages I have booked, with honest notes on what was worth it.
A few quick facts about me
- Home base: Manila, Philippines (yes, I will always recommend Palawan).
- Countries visited: 30 and counting, most of them on a regular 9-to-5 budget and vacation leave.
- Travel style: mid-range comfort, a clean bed, a good breakfast and walkable neighborhoods.
- Favorite airport snack: anything from a Japanese konbini.
- Most embarrassing travel moment: stalling a manual rental car three times on a hill in Italy while a line of Fiats honked behind me.
My promise to you
Everything on this blog comes from my own trips, my own bookings and my own mistakes. Prices and rules change, so I always link to the official source when something matters, like visa requirements or driving laws. If I ever work with a brand, I will tell you clearly. My opinions are not for sale.
Thank you for being here. Whether you are planning your very first trip abroad or your fiftieth, I hope this little corner of the internet makes you feel a bit braver. Go a little scared. It is worth it.
Wendy xx