How to Eurotrip like a boss: Part 1
Many of my friends asked me to write a blog or even a book about my journey. I did actually, I wrote in my iPad but some assholes stole it and i didn't have the backup. I'm not a good writer, but at least I can share few tips. I want to clarify a misconception. Eurotrip is not that expensive, if you know the tricks. Using travel agents? That's so 70s dude. If i have to choose to take a tour with a whole village or just by myself even with half the budget, i prefer the later.
I'm so lucky (thanks to God), I can visit 33 countries (hope 35 next month) in the last 2,5 years. And according to my magnets collection, i've been visiting 137 cities. Now I realized why people wonder whether i'm studying or not here (I did btw, i just didn't take picture when i was in school hehehe). Btw, I wasn't a traveler before. The first foreign country I visit was.. France.
Okay... When you travel, there are 4 main unavoidable expenses: transportation, entrance fee, foods, and hotel (and some souvenirs). You can't do anything for the first two, but there are many tricks to save money for the other.
1. TRAVEL LIGHT. All cheap airlines like RyanAir (I'm in hate-love relationship with this airline) or EasyJet has really strict rule about baggage. One bag means one bag and no more than 10kg. I once was traveling for three months nonstop and had to think what the hell should i do? Here are some tips:
The problem with RyanAir is over once you enter the boarding room. When I was in Greece, they told me my luggage was 3 kg heavier and I have to buy additional fee for €20. Bitch please, I said I'll be back, go to restroom, and I wore 2 jeans, 4 shirts, one sweater and one jacket. It was in summer, i look like a clown, hot like hell and sweating like shit. But they allowed me with the security look at me suspiciously when i cross the scanner. After that i put it back in my bag. Simple.
Do not bring soap, shampoo, etc. Just buy it later. It's cheap anyway. Different case if you're girl.
2. BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Right after when you booked your hotel, make sure you do a full research how to get there. Getting lost while carrying your baggage is sucks. And remember, you won't have internet. So what I do is look for directions (all hotel must provided how to get there), which tram/metro/bus i should take, open google maps, and save as many screenshot as you can. Use satellite view. Don't depends on asking to people or hoping you can find wifi somewhere. Forget taxi, they'll rip you off. And goodluck if you are in Paris. With streets that all look the same plus super complicated metro plus no one who can speak English. Remember the golden proverb, "the only good Parisian is Parisian tourist. And if you really lost and need wifi, always look for McDonalds! Most likely they can speak English. And their wifi is unprotected. As long you can find the direction with Google Maps, that should be fine. Thank you McD for saving me lots of time :')
3. ONCE YOU ARRIVE. Ok, now you're in new city. When i was still noob, i researched deeply about what the city looks like, what are the sightseeing, or how to get there. But then I realized, it was like spoiler alert. I just looked wikitravel, see what interesting place, and that's all. Once I arrived in hostel, I asked the receptionist. And they will always provide you with the maps and some other useful tips. You had no expectation, so once you see by yourself, it's always surprise. And surprise is always better (except surprise your phone or wallet was stolen in metro). When I was traveling with my friends, when we know that the place is in front of us, we looked down and down, then we seeit. We called it UWOOOOHHH moment. I always did this to my guest when I showed them Eiffel tower. Their face expression were priceless.
4. BUY SIMCARD. For the love of God, buy simcard! I just learned this from my friend when we traveling in Africa. Hell, i never thought about this before. Buy simcard with internet data only. It's freaking useful. with google maps, forget about getting lost. And you can upload your photos in real time :) It's cheap btw. And forget about guide, just google it. But I only buy it if I stay more than three days in one country.
5. INSTALL APPS. Two years ago, i spent at least a week to do research about where to go, save all the timetables, had fixed plan, booked hotel in advance. Now? Meh. If I have to go tonight without any plan, I can still have better trip than me two years ago. How? One word. Technology. Your phone is so powerful, but sometime you don't know how to use it. Again buy a simcard and use maps. And if you travel by train, you have to download RAIL PLANNER. I use Android, i don't know about iphone, and if you using blackberry, i'm so sorry, sell it. This apps is fantastic! You can see all the train timetable in europe without using internet! That's why i managed to take my parents to 28 cities in 24 days.
6. STAY IN HOSTELS. I said to myself, even when i were rich (amen for that), i will stay in hostels rather than in fancy hotel. Why spending hundreds euro when you just need a bed? You will be outside whole day btw. But the most fun part is when you talk with other traveler, you share stories, tell about your trips, your cultures, it was amazing! And if you're in the same room with a beautiful girl... (it's my secret I won't tell you huehehehe). I made many new friends whom i met in hostel.
But sometime, i just want a single room but with cheap price. How? Stay in GuestHouse or Pension or family-run hotel. From my experience, they're extremely friendly and generous, maybe even better than 5 stars hotel. Here's the tips, open booking online (I always use BOOKING.COM). See if they have available room, remember the price then BARGAIN. You have the power here. It's nothing to lose. If they don't want give reduction, just leave. In the end they will give you. They better got something than nothing at all. Always worked for me. And so many time, they even give me better room. If you booked online, you will get what you booked.
7. HOW TO BOOK HOTEL. I always book hotel one day before or even don't book at all. Because sometimes shit happens then you have to change your plan. And many hotel doesn't have genereous cancellation fee policy. Another reason i never booked online is because I hate dragging my bag to get to hotel. That's why when i arrived in new city, i always find hotel as nearest as possible from the train or bus station where i arrived. Again, if you have internet connection, just search "hotel around me", find the best options and closest one. Most likely when you move to next city, you'll go from the same station. And almost in any cities i visit, the main important place are close to main station. See, what's the point staying in 5 stars hotel but far from everywhere.
If you really want to save money, always cook by yourself! Find hostel that have kitchen. Then go to supermarket. I always cook spaghetti. The spaghetti plus one bottle of sauce cost less than 4 euro but I can eat for two days!
I'm so lucky (thanks to God), I can visit 33 countries (hope 35 next month) in the last 2,5 years. And according to my magnets collection, i've been visiting 137 cities. Now I realized why people wonder whether i'm studying or not here (I did btw, i just didn't take picture when i was in school hehehe). Btw, I wasn't a traveler before. The first foreign country I visit was.. France.
Okay... When you travel, there are 4 main unavoidable expenses: transportation, entrance fee, foods, and hotel (and some souvenirs). You can't do anything for the first two, but there are many tricks to save money for the other.
1. TRAVEL LIGHT. All cheap airlines like RyanAir (I'm in hate-love relationship with this airline) or EasyJet has really strict rule about baggage. One bag means one bag and no more than 10kg. I once was traveling for three months nonstop and had to think what the hell should i do? Here are some tips:
- Buy vacuum plastic bag. It's amazingly useful. It can shrink your clothes up to 70%. I bought from ebay and only cost €3. I bought several size. And still follow the magic rule, always rolled your clothes. With this bag, I can fit 23 shirts, 4 jeans, and still many space left using medium luggage. And buy a backpack that has a roller, i hate carrying 15 kg everyday.
The problem with RyanAir is over once you enter the boarding room. When I was in Greece, they told me my luggage was 3 kg heavier and I have to buy additional fee for €20. Bitch please, I said I'll be back, go to restroom, and I wore 2 jeans, 4 shirts, one sweater and one jacket. It was in summer, i look like a clown, hot like hell and sweating like shit. But they allowed me with the security look at me suspiciously when i cross the scanner. After that i put it back in my bag. Simple.
Do not bring soap, shampoo, etc. Just buy it later. It's cheap anyway. Different case if you're girl.
2. BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Right after when you booked your hotel, make sure you do a full research how to get there. Getting lost while carrying your baggage is sucks. And remember, you won't have internet. So what I do is look for directions (all hotel must provided how to get there), which tram/metro/bus i should take, open google maps, and save as many screenshot as you can. Use satellite view. Don't depends on asking to people or hoping you can find wifi somewhere. Forget taxi, they'll rip you off. And goodluck if you are in Paris. With streets that all look the same plus super complicated metro plus no one who can speak English. Remember the golden proverb, "the only good Parisian is Parisian tourist. And if you really lost and need wifi, always look for McDonalds! Most likely they can speak English. And their wifi is unprotected. As long you can find the direction with Google Maps, that should be fine. Thank you McD for saving me lots of time :')
3. ONCE YOU ARRIVE. Ok, now you're in new city. When i was still noob, i researched deeply about what the city looks like, what are the sightseeing, or how to get there. But then I realized, it was like spoiler alert. I just looked wikitravel, see what interesting place, and that's all. Once I arrived in hostel, I asked the receptionist. And they will always provide you with the maps and some other useful tips. You had no expectation, so once you see by yourself, it's always surprise. And surprise is always better (except surprise your phone or wallet was stolen in metro). When I was traveling with my friends, when we know that the place is in front of us, we looked down and down, then we seeit. We called it UWOOOOHHH moment. I always did this to my guest when I showed them Eiffel tower. Their face expression were priceless.
4. BUY SIMCARD. For the love of God, buy simcard! I just learned this from my friend when we traveling in Africa. Hell, i never thought about this before. Buy simcard with internet data only. It's freaking useful. with google maps, forget about getting lost. And you can upload your photos in real time :) It's cheap btw. And forget about guide, just google it. But I only buy it if I stay more than three days in one country.
5. INSTALL APPS. Two years ago, i spent at least a week to do research about where to go, save all the timetables, had fixed plan, booked hotel in advance. Now? Meh. If I have to go tonight without any plan, I can still have better trip than me two years ago. How? One word. Technology. Your phone is so powerful, but sometime you don't know how to use it. Again buy a simcard and use maps. And if you travel by train, you have to download RAIL PLANNER. I use Android, i don't know about iphone, and if you using blackberry, i'm so sorry, sell it. This apps is fantastic! You can see all the train timetable in europe without using internet! That's why i managed to take my parents to 28 cities in 24 days.
6. STAY IN HOSTELS. I said to myself, even when i were rich (amen for that), i will stay in hostels rather than in fancy hotel. Why spending hundreds euro when you just need a bed? You will be outside whole day btw. But the most fun part is when you talk with other traveler, you share stories, tell about your trips, your cultures, it was amazing! And if you're in the same room with a beautiful girl... (it's my secret I won't tell you huehehehe). I made many new friends whom i met in hostel.
But sometime, i just want a single room but with cheap price. How? Stay in GuestHouse or Pension or family-run hotel. From my experience, they're extremely friendly and generous, maybe even better than 5 stars hotel. Here's the tips, open booking online (I always use BOOKING.COM). See if they have available room, remember the price then BARGAIN. You have the power here. It's nothing to lose. If they don't want give reduction, just leave. In the end they will give you. They better got something than nothing at all. Always worked for me. And so many time, they even give me better room. If you booked online, you will get what you booked.
7. HOW TO BOOK HOTEL. I always book hotel one day before or even don't book at all. Because sometimes shit happens then you have to change your plan. And many hotel doesn't have genereous cancellation fee policy. Another reason i never booked online is because I hate dragging my bag to get to hotel. That's why when i arrived in new city, i always find hotel as nearest as possible from the train or bus station where i arrived. Again, if you have internet connection, just search "hotel around me", find the best options and closest one. Most likely when you move to next city, you'll go from the same station. And almost in any cities i visit, the main important place are close to main station. See, what's the point staying in 5 stars hotel but far from everywhere.
If you really want to save money, always cook by yourself! Find hostel that have kitchen. Then go to supermarket. I always cook spaghetti. The spaghetti plus one bottle of sauce cost less than 4 euro but I can eat for two days!
|
|
Comment Form is loading comments...