*burp*yawn*

* tadaa...

Pokai Planet: A Cheapo's Guide to Europe Travel

1) Search for the cheapest way to get there. ie. flight, bus, train or hitch hiking.

2) If travelling by plane, (budget flights such as EasyJet) book months in advance. Flight tickets can go as low as €50 both ways.

3) When your transportation is confirmed, time to search for accommodation! If you have friends staying in that particular city, time to take out your address book and keep in touch with those long forgotten friends. :D If not, ask for a friend's friend. If really really really not, ask for friend's friend's uncle's father's son's cousin's whoever's contacts. :p But if your skin is not as thick as the Berlin wall, refer to number 4

4) Search and book online for hostels. Prices can go as low as €8 a night (depending on location and facilitles)
Preferable hostels that are in the city center i.e near train stations and main tourist spots. This way you save on transport tickets by walking (refer to number 6). Try to find hostels that provide breakfast. (refer to number 5)

5) Food: Bring/prepare your own food. It's easy, not messy and filling. Buy bread and cheese/salami at the cheap grocery store and prepare your own sandwiches. And you can eat it while on the go. Snacks such as cookies, chocolates or fruits are also recommended. (Maggi mee also can lar, but where to get hot water in the middle of sightseeing right?)
If your hostel provide breakfast, eat as much as you can so you feel full and skip lunch. (If you're kiasu/brave enough, steal some sandwiches from the hostel breakfast. :p

6) Transport: If everything is near, WALK. (In Europe, a 20 minutes walk IS near) You save on bus/metro tickets and also get some much needed exercise. :)
If you must take the public transport and don't feel like paying, you can! Just get on! If you're lucky you get through. If not, risk getting caught by the controllers and get slapped with a hefty fine.

7) Souveniurs: Why is there need to buy souveniurs anyway? People will just keep them on the shelves collecting dust. Memories are the best souveniurs. :P But if you cant help it and need some...search for those souveniurs that go €10 for 3 or something like that. Try to convince your travelmate to share with you. :)
*Best souveniur tip: Postcards. Nothing beats receiving a personally handwritten postcard from different cities. :)

8) Museums/tourist spots: If it's FREE Go! If you're a student, remember your student card to get discount. If the museum is not interesting, you don't have to go if you don't want to. Taking photos outside will do. :)

9) Travelmates: Last but not least, travel with a friend or two and enjoy yourself. Although you cant eat the best food and sleep in the best hotels, the memories and adventures you experience with your friends is totally PRICELSS. Good company can make shitty sausages and chicken organs taste like mom's homecooked food. :D


Side note: All of the above have been tried and tested. Results:
A 2 day 1 night trip to Amsterdam cost about €100 including bus ticket.
A 2 day 1 night trip to Prauge cost about €100 including bus ticket.
A 3 day 2 night trip to Rome cost about €200 including flight ticket. Ok, we kinda splurge on this one here. Rome is an expensive city and not to mention the cost to cover our missed flight too.
A 3 day 2 night trip to Athens for me cost only a little over €100, including flight ticket!
A 2 day 1 night trip to Geneva cost less than €100.


*Pokai = (adjective) broke, without any money to spend

posted by swern @ 7:36 PM