"I don't have the money", "I will travel after my bonus comes in", "I will travel when I am older" -- the plethora of excuses we make to procrastinate or not travel at all. That's sad, because as someone who needs to run off to the mountains or a beach ever so often, you don't know what you're missing out on. You are missing out being closer to yourself, to actually hear yourself speak of what you really want in life and what actually matters. Whilst we are busy with our daily lives, we live in a monotony, go to office, come back, watch TV, sleep, hit repeat. But when we are away, in a new gorgeous place, we can break all the boundaries, discover a new "you", meet new people and immerse in a new culture, or hell, be a beach bum and get tanned. How are you going to do/see the following awesome stuff when you are cramped up in the corner of your cubicle on Facebook? 😉
Get amazed by the gorgeous color palette formed by the volcanic ruins alongside the blue azure waters.
Watch the feisty Rhine Falls with fresh water droplets hitting your face!
When your balcony view looks something like this 😉 At Santorini, Greece!
Appreciating the religion and spirituality at St. Peter's Church.
Did these pictures inspire you enough to get off your bum and book some tickets. 😉 I travelled to four countries in Europe starting from Greece, then Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Every country has its own beautiful quirks and while I was received warmly and treated lovingly, I could observe some noticeable differences. Switzerland was very expensive. I was literally out of money on my second day in the country. The reason being the gondola rides up to the snowy mountains and the inter-country railways to nearby scenic towns are much more expensive in Switzerland. Before traveling, you need to adequately research and set your own budget and know when to splurge and when to save. Greece was very wallet-friendly and the best start to my trip. I could see myself going to Greece and just revisiting those places and I am sure they would inspire me all over again. I would again like to visit the Acropolis museum and stare wide-eyed to those intricate sculptures and read the mythological references all over again. The people of Greece were the warmest of all with their cute Greek accent and extremely helpful nature and ever-smiling faces, they stole my heart away. Italy, with it's delicious food palette and notable architecture and history was a treat to my taste buds. Amsterdam was the epitome of freedom in all its glory.
Today I am going to try to solve one important hindrance of travel for you. MONEY.
Flights: If you book them 3-4 months in advance, you usually get a good deal. Skyscanner is a great tool to compare flight prices and other details which leads you to the booking websites.
Hotels/Hostel/Airbnbs: You can get all kinds of accommodations on booking.com whether hotels or hostels. I personally prefer Airbnbs as that gives me a lot of freedom in terms of cooking and privacy. Note : Booking.com prices get steeper once your travel date approaches.
Phone calling : I travelled across Europe for 2 weeks without spending a cent on phone calls. I didn't even buy a sim card. Why? Because almost all accommodations provide free wifi and many cafes that you dine at provide you with a free wifi too. Exciting times, I know. 😉
Food: The best way to save money on food is to cook for yourself. Of course, you wanna entertain your taste buds with new dishes and you absolutely must. But, out of three meals, one can be cooked at home, to be easy on your wallet. You can also eat at roadside shops and trucks who sell cheaper but no less tastier delicacies. If you walk in to fancy restaurants and bars, it's going to be expensive.
Domestic Transport: The best part of Europe is its connectivity via trains, buses, TRAMS and metro. You never have to take a cab. Even the airport has a bus/metro platform right there, which is incredibly convenient. Buses, TRAMS, Metros have a multi-day pass which is cheaper if you are going to stay for a longer period.
Pack light: Well, this is weird. How will packing light save money? Packing light has a hidden bonus. If you pack light, you can run faster to catch trains or buses. 😉 Kidding aside, most of the airlines have a one-baggage policy, which means even though your two small suitcases are well below the allowed weight, you will still have to pay for the extra suitcase as the allowed baggage is one only. Paying for extra baggage is an absolute waste of money. Also, while traveling solo, you can carry your backpack into the washrooms without having to ask a stranger to take care of it and end up losing it.
Prefer trains/ferries: Greece is a wonderful country blessed with scenic islands. I could have easily taken a flight to Santorini, but I chose a ferry. I was expecting a very ordinary experience, but I was amazed when I entered the Titanic-like ferry. 😉 It was truly a 5-star experience with an amazing deck view where I could gaze at the picturesque landscapes passing by, each better than the previous. My camera and I could not just stop. Taking a ferry was cheaper than a flight and so enriching with wonderful experiences.
Lifestyle Goals -- Living up the snowy mountains in a tiny hut! This view, up the gondola ride to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Come to the important question. How much money did I spend on my Europe trip ? $2340 for 2 weeks! This is the detailed expenses (in INR):
Flight trip (to and fro): 40,000
Visa fees: 6000
Internal Flights (Santorini to Athens, Athens to Rome since it was overseas and there were no trains. I took flights only when necessary): 21,000
Ferry in Greece: 4500
Trains (all the major transport was now done through trains in Italy, Switzerland and Amsterdam): 20,000
Local Transport (Buses, TRAMS, metros): 2000-3000
Food (average 20 euros per day, I cooked too): 17,000
Accommodation (about 2500 bucks per day, I stayed in hotels and airbnbs for privacy and new experiences. Hostels can be booked in 1000-1500 bucks): 30,000
Museums/Gondola rides/Entry fees/Misc.: 10,000
This rounds about to 1,50,000 INR. There you go! Not that steep, eh? Why don't you start planning your next Europe trip soon? These travel tips are pretty generic and can be exploited anywhere.
Are you all geared up to travel a new country and live up some exciting stories of your own? 😀
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