Let’s say you have a week off from work and Php100,000 to spend on a trip.
What if I told you that you can go to Europe within this budget?
Marvel at the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles at night, watch a Mozart opera in Prague or toss a coin at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Do all these and more for Php100,000. Yes! This is doable.
Going on DIY trips can be a bit tricky especially if you’re not savvy with google maps.
But we’re Filipinos after all, and the word impossible is not in our dictionary.
So, I have taken on the challenge of creating a week-long itinerary for a European trip with a budget of Php100,000.
Here are 7 Steps to Planning a Budget Trip for Europe:
1. Timing is key.
When you travel, when you buy your plane tickets and book accommodations all affect how much you spend on the entire trip.
And, before you buy tickets, you will first need a Schengen visa to enter Europe.
The good news is that you can now file your visa application as early as six months before your trip.
This new visa policy is important because it will impact cost.
Plane tickets and hotel accommodations tend to be cheaper when you book them ahead.
I am planning the trip now, in April and the trip dates for illustration purposes are between November and December, 2024 because these are the cheapest months I could find.
Traveling in February is also affordable in terms of flights.
2. Book your plane tickets early.
In my experience, the plane fare usually takes up half or more of the total cost
for the entire trip.
So, I always start by looking at Google Flights’ calendar to give me a quick view of daily prices for my chosen destination.
It doesn’t have to be a fixed date at this point. I just need to get an idea of when I should file my visa application.
Once I get this covered, it will be easy to adjust the other factors of the trip.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS CALENDAR VIEW
MANILA TO PARIS
ROME TO MANILA
There is not one single factor that greatly impacts cost as much as time does.
On my first trip to Europe, Emirates and Etihad were the most affordable airlines. I bought the tickets in Dec. 2022, traveled in Feb. 2023 and spent Php65,000 on the roundtrip tickets.
Ideally, you would have already secured your visa 3 to 5 months prior so you can take advantage of the cheaper plane fares.
3. Getting from Point A to B
Planning a Php100k trip also means you are doing this on your own, without guides and travel agents to prepare the itinerary for you. This has been the only way I’ve done trips so far because I like to move at my own pace.
I have very specific places in my bucket list that a rigid itinerary will not cover; a terrace café in Prague with a view of the castle, the Mozart opera or an Instagrammable cafe in Paris for example.
For some, it can be scary to navigate unfamiliar places.
You would think budgeting a Php100k trip is hard, but it’s not.
Most will not do DIY trips because they are afraid of getting lost.
Let me tell you, it is easier to get lost in Metro Manila than in Paris.
If you can find your way around Metro Manila where there are no proper bus stops and signs, then riding metros and trams in Europe is easy-peasy.
The key is to be savvy with Google Maps. If you’re not confident enough, practice using the app at home before your actual trip or join free walking tours.
Take time to research on the transportation system at your chosen destination, especially traveling from and to the airport.
Also, even if you won't be taking the metro or tram the whole day, it is good to get the unlimited pass. Just in case you get lost, then you can ride on all modes of transportation for multiple times and eventually find your way back.
I have put together a list of resources at the end of this blog to help you understand the transportation system in Europe.
4. Stay in hostels or Airbnb instead of hotels.
You may have heard of hotels being called 3-star or 5-star hotels.
These have nothing to do with customer reviews or the quality of the accommodation. This simply refers to the amenities they offer.
A 5-star hotel will normally have bathtubs, yoga centres, meeting rooms, etc…
An average 3-star hotel room for two in Paris is about €253 to €600 a night. But if you stay in a hostel, it can be as affordable as €40 to €80 a night for one person.
A hostel is a dorm-type of accommodation where you share a room with 3 or more other people. These rooms usually come with lockers and bunk beds that have privacy curtains, lights and power outlets.
The People Paris Marais, for example, is located in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Paris, is centrally located, has a common kitchen, co-work space and is just 2-minute walk from the metro.
Understandably, there are some hesitations about sharing a room with strangers.
But trust me, you will only be spending a few hours a day in your room, and most of your roommates will be out exploring too.
And once you’re there, you will discover it’s actually fun to make friends with people from other parts of the world.
If you’re traveling with a group or as a family, then Airbnb might be the better option.
I use platforms like Hostelworld, Booking.com, Agoda and Airbnb to search for accommodations during my trips.
5. Eat like a local.
An average restaurant meal in Paris is about €20 to €50.
As a rule of thumb, I like to set a daily budget for food and sightseeing, eat out once a day and buy food from the supermarket or cook the rest of my meals.
If you eat out only once a day and buy food from the supermarket, then €40 to €50 a day is sufficient.
While in Paris, I mostly bought quinoa or tabbouleh to substitute rice, some falafels maybe, and other proteins. I often paid between €4 to €8 for a bowl at the salad bar in Franprix supermarket near my hostel.
A dozen eggs costs €4 and a 400 gram jar of chicory coffee is €8.
We would buy freshly baked croissants(€2) or quiche from a nearby boulangerie every morning and have these with eggs for breakfast.
While there is a saying that man shall not live on bread alone, the French literally do in Paris.
One thing to know about traveling in Europe is that it often costs more to eat Asian food.
So have a break from eating rice once in a while and eat like locals do.
Eating cheese, charcuterie and berries while drinking wine for dinner, and having croissants for breakfast is not so bad.
This is part of the adventure.
6. Sample Php100k itineraries complete with links and real time prices
I have prepared three actionable itineraries where you visit two countries for a week, complete with time schedules, links to map directions and prices.
A lot of the places in these itineraries are those that I’ve actually gone to.
Understandably, our preferences and travel style will vary. But these itineraries are meant to give you an idea of how far Php100,000 can get you in Europe.
Itinerary 1- Paris-Prague- full itinerary here (Php 100,000)
Itinerary 2- Paris-Rome- full itinerary here (Php 95,900)
Itinerary 3- Amsterdam-Paris- full itinerary here (Php 97,100)
7. The Fine Print
Going on DIY trips is not for everyone, and you have to be mentally and physically prepared for this sort of trip.
There will be lots of walking.
Most of Paris is still very medieval with lots of stairs and cobbled streets. While the transportation system is efficient, getting from Point A to B will still involve a lot of walking.
Wearing good comfortable shoes is a must.
Travel light
If you are carrying heavy luggage, then taking the metro is not for you. Most of the metro in Paris only have stairs and do not have escalators.
Traveling from the airport to your hostel can easily be a nightmare if you are carrying heavy luggage. You will also need to pay more for them during flights.
Traveling from airport to hostel and back
I normally take the metro to get to my hostel from the airport.
Sometimes, I take the Uber which is relatively affordable too.
On our last trip, Prague hostel to the airport via Uber was Php1500; Paris hostel to the airport was Php3600. You can easily split this if you’re traveling with a friend.
Airport taxis in Paris have fixed rates between €50- €60 per way.
Do not try to cram so many things into your itinerary.
Remember, you are on a DIY trip and what normally takes 15 minutes can turn into an hour if you’re unfamiliar with your surroundings.
Two to three destinations in a day is plenty.
This is a vacation after all and not Amazing Race.
Water is clean and free.
Water fountains are scattered all over Europe and they are safe to drink. So carry a water bottle, refill it at different water fountains around the city and save €10 a day.
Do not drink from the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Safety
Europe is a lot safer than Metro Manila.
But then again, exercising moderate precautions like holding your sling bag in front of you and not waving your mobile phone in the air is a good practice.
As a rule of thumb, I do not drink alcohol when traveling alone.
Visa fee is not included in the computations.
Visa fee is €80 or about Php4,800. I have not included this in the computations here.
Prices may still change.
The prices I am quoting are those that I see now, in April 2024. They can still change months from now.
You can check Google Flights again for alternative dates.
Resources:
French visa guide from TLS
