European Tours II

[m_lim]

^thanks sis Vhanya!

cheaper ang Etihad compared to Qatar: Manila-Paris (one way)- $654.22

but pag Rome to Manila, cheaper ang Qatar-506euro

[mama squeak!]

^sis, mas mahal lumalabas. EUR506 is USD697 na.

[m_lim]

^sis mama squeak, i mean pag:

Manila to Paris- $654.22
Rome to Manila- 506euro.

ang plan kasi namin Manila to Paris (1 week) then Paris to Rome (10day cruise ng Greece, Turkey, etc) then after ng cruise from Rome ,uwi na ng Manila.

[mama squeak!]

^sis, teka na-confuse ako bigla. Ito pagkaintindi ko sa post mo, please correct me lang ha:

MNL-CDG on Eithad USD654.22
FCO-MNL on Qatar  USD697.00 (EUR506)

Total: USD1351.22  (is this all-in meaning kasama na ba taxes or plus plus pa?)

Mahal pa nga rin sya. I made a mock booking for May 10 and return on May 31. Sa KLM with the same routing you can get USD1158 (all-in). While for the same routing and dates on Qatar is USD1293.52 (al-in)

When you do mock bookings make sure you choose the multi-city/stop-over option and NOT the one-way option kasi lalabas mas mahal kung dalawang one-way compared to a round trip or multi-city routing.

[m_lim]

^ooh ganun pala yun. One way ginawa ko kasi. KLM is Royal Dutch Airlines?

bale dapat Manila-Paris-Rome ang kunin ko?

[vhanya]

ang galing talaga ni mama squeak. never done that multi-city booking hahah! puro one-way ako pag multi-city. thanks mama squeak! =)

[m_lim]

^LOL! ako rin! mas mura pala pag ganyan.

[mama squeak!]

@m_lim, yes KLM is Royal Dutch airline. Re the routing, click first on the multi-city, in KLM's website it's "return from / to a different destination" then input mo Manila to Paris. Then second destination will be Rome to Manila.

I suggest to wait for promo fares to come out muna, matagal pa naman your departure. If you need a booking certificate to present for your schengen visa application, you still have time to wait since you can only apply for the visa at least 3 months prior to your departure.

@vhanya, sis, the multi-city booking to get a cheaper fare is mostly true for international flights. But for domestic flights here in Pinas round trip is just the same as two one ways.

 

[vhanya]

ah yeah, domestic flights same lang naman. i have to try that multi-city soon for international flight! =) might go on a europe trip with my tita this fall. sana matuloy!

[melodymedley]

I had a blast in Europe! Sucess ang aking first solo backpacking trip!

I stayed in hostels dahil budget mode ako. Hosteling is so much fun! Met a lot of cool people and solo travelers like me. Nag-inarte pako nung una because I chose rooms with a private bathroom. Hindi naman kelangan. Yung dorm type na room with a public bath is actually more convenient kasi pwede ka mag-CR anytime.

Food:
Breakfast - included in the hostel
Lunch - 5-10 euros. I eat on the go so I mostly buy sandwiches and drinks.
Dinner - If I am not too tired, I splurge here. Usually 15-20+ euros. Minsan, pagod nako from a day of sightseeing so I just eat a sandwich too.

I drank tap water in Italy and France. I drank bottled water in the other countries. I shopped in the groceries for my daily snacks/emergency food stash.

Outfit:
Very difficult for me to pack light. I want to look good in the photos. Ayoko naman magmukhang patapon. I brought lots of clothes kasi gusto ko talaga may mix and match options. I bought a pair of boots, walking shoes and slippers. By the time I was in Rome and because I was flying to Paris, my baggage was too heavy so I shipped off some stuff back home. I also shopped a bit kasi along the way. Blame the H&M outlets. Sa end of Nov pa ang dating dito sa Pinas. I shopped for clothes. Sya na yung outfit ko for the trip.


Lesson: Next time, I'll just use nipple tapes instead of bras. Hahahaha! And I'll just bring a couple of clothes and then just shop there.

Valuables:
I placed my passport, credit card, ATM and major money in a money belt which I wore all the time except when I take a shower. The camera is in a strap around my neck. I also have another small bag around my neck for the daily tickets, money for the day and map.

Why did I bring my passport around? I was more praning to leave it in the safe of the hostel. Mas comfortable ako kapag dala ko sya. And kapag shopping at may tax refund, useful sya.

Tickets et al
I mostly bought online. Note that most passes lets you skip the line in buying the ticket. But it doesn't let you skip the lines sa entrance. I had the Paris Museum Pass but I still had to line up sa Chateau Versailles' entrance line. I didn't bother getting audio guides kasi ang haba din ng pila and I am not an artsy person anyway.

Yung nga lang sa Eiffel Tower, hindi ako nakabili online. Sabi ko on the day itself na lang. I had to queue for 1 hour to buy the ticket and another 1 hour to get inside.

Planning mode na ko for my Europe 2013 which will include Spain and Greece. And maybe Portugal too. Ipon ipon ipon ulit! 

Happy Europe trip planning everyone!

[m_lim]

^sis saan hostel ka nagstay sa Paris? how much? thanks!!

[melodymedley]

^I stayed at the Plug-Inn Hostel. Rooms were small but I think so is every room for rent in Paris? hehe. Place is in a safe and quiet neighborhood very near Moulin Rouge. No lockers in the room so you have to leave your valuables in their main safe. Walking distance from the metro. Rooms are clean and cleaned everyday. Breakfast is ample - buffet for cereals, coffee and juice + two pieces of bread.

[Crissy]

^Sis melodymedley, nice to know that you have a wonderful trip :-) sis, if you don't mind, how much lahat na spend mo including the airfare?

[melodymedley]

^Sis melodymedley, nice to know that you have a wonderful trip :-) sis, if you don't mind, how much lahat na spend mo including the airfare?

All in all, around 5,000 USD including pre-expenses, airfare and shopping. I think if I took out the extras and the unnecessary stuff, around 4,000 USD. It depends on what city you are going, some are more expensive than others talaga. So if you will be staying in an expensive city more, more expenses. Venice and Paris are relatively expensive.

That is inclusive of the airfare which is 1,000 USD RT. MNl-AMS-MNL. Promo fare of CX. I took a chance.  I paid before the visa was granted. I think nasa 1,200-1,300 kapag normal price (other airlines).

BTW, my actual expenses significantly decreased from my forecast when I decided to DIY the tours instead of joining guided tours. I bought tickets online as I went along. I had more time with DIY and I was more comfortable with my own pace. More time to take pics too. I just joined 2 tours - one walking tour in Amsterdam and the Cinque Terre tour in Italy.

[scarlet]

Hi sis! ask ko [textspeak!] kung yung Paris Museum Pass ba san ba pwede mag purchase nun sa Paris? Kasi pag nag purchase kami online, 10 days pa yung shipping. eh di na aabot sa alis namin. 

[melodymedley]

^I got my Paris Museum Pass in Rodin Museum - my first museum stop. You can also buy it at the airports. Remember to read the instructions and write at the back of the pass. May list ng points of sale sa website nila. 

[scarlet]

^I got my Paris Museum Pass in Rodin Museum - my first museum stop. You can also buy it at the airports. Remember to read the instructions and write at the back of the pass. May list ng points of sale sa website nila. 

Thanks sis! Any idea also ano oras lumulubog at sumisikat ang araw sa Paris? I heard kasi na pag November eh, shorten ang day time nila.  Mahaba daw ang night time.. How true? Thanks!

[mama squeak!]

^Winter time expect shorter daylight hours. Check this website to guide you on the sunrise/sunset times in Paris:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=195&month=11&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

Btw, please use the caret sign when replying to posts directly above yours. Kindly revise/edit your post.

Thanks!

 

[Crissy]

Mga Sis, I need your suggestion please.  This are my initial plan itirenary for a european tour sana , France-Amterdam-Parague-Vienna-Budapest. Ok ba ang order of pkace and How would I go to this places if DYI lang? Masyadong mahal if I join the tour, pang shopping ko na lang :-P

[mama squeak!]

^sis, try to backread this and the other Euro thread because a lot have been posted there with links to websites you can visit on how to DIY a trip. Would also help if you check a map to see how far or near the places you would want to visit. After ka mag backread, post mo lang additional questions mo.