Tag: n9

A Dream Come True Part 2: 24 DAYS Around FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN For Less Than ₱170,000 ALL IN – Airfare, Accommodation, Food, Museum Tickets & Transportation Included

I flew to Europe alone in 2019 and explored 4 countries – The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark – for 19 days and spent a little over ₱117,000 for everything. The total expense included return flights via Singapore Airlines, hostel accommodations, visa application fees, travel insurance and daily expenses. Cheap-o, right? I honestly cannot believe I did it that time. I hope you can check out all the details of this life-changing EU solo trip here – Going Solo in Europe category.

Fast forward to 2022 when prices of everything went up, I did not think I will be able to do it again. In early to mid-2022, my friends and I talked about flying to Europe for a few weeks towards the end of the year. After months and weeks of planning and visa applications, we finally flew to Europe in November 2022 for holiday. I, with some friends, went around France, Italy and Spain for 24 days.

Guess what? I spent a little over ₱167,000 ALL IN for this 3.5-week trip! Curious how I made it happen? Let me share the breakdown of travel expenses below.

Air Tickets

Back in 2020, I booked a ticket with Emirates from Hong Kong to Munich and back from Budapest to Hong Kong for only HK$4,039 or ₱27,072.73 for October 2020. The pandemic happened; I was not able to use that ticket.

Luckily, Emirates offered the most flexible option for tickets booked that year. They offered to keep the ticket and extended its validity for 3 years. They allowed passengers to book their tickets when they are ready to fly. On top of that, they also allowed the passengers to change the airports of origin and destination as long as the airports are within the same Emirates region. Emirates also waived all fare difference, rebooking and change fees.

After securing my tourist visa last October 2022, I called Emirates and advised them my preferred dates and flight schedules. I got my new ticket in less than a minute after I ended the call. I wrote about my Emirates flight experiences last year under the Flight Reports category – EK 335 Manila to Dubai, EK 073 Dubai to Paris CDG, EK 256 Barcelona to Dubai and EK 332 Dubai to Manila. I hope you can check them out.

My friends and I also booked our inter-country tickets before flying to Europe. We flew with Air France from Paris, France to Rome Italy and paid ₱6,854.74 for a one-way ticket. After Milan, my friends all flew back to Manila while I continued my journey to Barcelona. I flew with Vueling from Milan, Italy to Barcelona, Spain. I got my ticket 2 months before the trip and paid ₱3,442.29 for this one-way ticket.

On top of these flights, I also paid the Philippine Travel Tax of ₱1,620 before leaving Manila. This travel tax is required for all Filipinos going out of the country for holiday or vacation.

Accommodation

I mentioned in my 2019 Euro trip summary that accommodations in the continent are expensive. After the pandemic, I noticed that accommodation rates got more expensive in general. I still cannot afford staying in these hotels and private rooms so I opted in staying with hostels again! I am happy I found a travel buddy / friend who is also keen on staying in hostels to save some cash. Just like before, I stayed in popular and high-rated hostels found in central and well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels for 4 nights in Paris (€147 paid during check-in), The Romehello for 5 nights in Rome (€89,26 paid through Agoda days before check-in), YellowSquare Florence for 4 nights in Florence (€95,60 paid during check-in), YellowSquare Milan for 4 nights in Milan (€109,24 paid during check-in) and YEAH Hostel Barcelona for 4 nights in Barcelona (₱5,589.42 paid through Agoda in Philippine Peso).

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip.

I got my travel insurance from Oona Insurance (previously known as Mapfre Insurance) and paid ₱1,969.43 (€34.95) for a 35-day coverage.

Schengen Tourist Visa

I applied for my own tourist visa with the Italian Embassy in the Philippines’ Visa Center – VIA Italy. I paid ₱4,494 (€80) for the visa fee and ₱1,350 for the visa handling fee including the courier fee / service. I opted for the passport pick-up to make sure I get the visa in time for my trip. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa from VIA Italy without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Travelling around Europe is a lot easier when you are connected to the internet throughout the trip. I did not want to get lost during the trip so I ordered a 3UK internet sim card from Travel Sim PH Shopee Store (not sponsored). I got the sim card that has 12GB data allocation valid for 1 month after activation. I paid ₱1,521 for this sim card including shipping fee and had it delivered at home weeks before the trip.

Pre-Booked Tickets & Tours

Weeks before our trip, my friend and I booked several tickets that we will use for the trip. We booked our bus tickets from Rome to Florence, Florence to Milan and the return bus tickets to Serravalle Designer Outlet. We also booked entry tickets to museums like the Vatican Museums in Vatican, Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence and the Last Supper in Milan. We also booked day trips to the Colosseum in Rome, Tuscany countryside in Florence and Lake Como in Milan.

All these tickets were booked using our credit cards and cost us ₱20,206.70 each.

Daily Expenses

I tried to set a daily budget for the trip but I noticed I have been spending more than the allotted amount. I decided to just let things go with the flow. Most of the day-to-day expenses came from food and transportation. I brought some euros to Europe and used my credit card for other purchases.

POCKET MONEY

Before leaving for Europe, I managed to change some cash to Euros to serve as my pocket. I changed ₱29,980 worth of Philippine pesos to €500. Towards the end of my stay in Italy, I also withdrew some cash from the ATM. The withdrawal cost me ₱9,435.93 including the international withdrawal charges.

I used the cash for day-to-day expenses like transportation and food. I also used the money to get my Navigo card and Paris Museum Pass in Paris.

TRAVEL EXPENSES CHARGED TO CREDIT CARD

Credit cards are widely accepted in Europe. In fact, it is the preferred mode of payment of some establishments. I used my credit cards a lot of times during the trip – mostly for food and transportation.

FOOD

I tapped my card in a lot of restaurants, fast food chains, hostel buffets and supermarkets during the trip. For instance, I used my card in paying for all the hostel breakfast buffets I availed at The RomeHello and YEAH Hostel Barcelona. I also used it in various restaurants in Florence, Milan and Barcelona. I even used my credit card in getting food from different fast-food chains and supermarkets.

In total, I charged ₱20,424.28 to my BPI Credit Card (not sponsored) only for food.

TRANSPORTATION

I also used my credit card in paying for transportation costs like airport trains, subways, buses and ride-hailing applications such as Uber, Bolt and FreeNow. In total, I charged ₱6,865.51 to my BPI Credit Card (not sponsored) for all transportation-related expenses.

Summary of Expenses

Here is the summary of all the expenses mentioned above.

The total amount spent for this 24-day trip around France, Italy and Spain is ₱167,752.45. This total cost includes flight tickets, accommodation bookings, visa application fees, travel insurance, entry tickets, food and transportation costs.

Please do not get me wrong, ₱167,752.45 is a big amount of money. At the same time, it was everything I spent for a 24-day trip to Europe from the Philippines. It may be a little over 40% higher than my 2019 Euro trip but it is still cheap given all the places I have been to in this trip.

Blog List

Here is the list of blog posts that are related to this 2022 trip to Europe.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 335 – Manila to Dubai – Overnight Long-Haul Flight with the Middle Eastern Global Carrier [November 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 073 – Dubai to Paris CDG – Excellent Airbus A380 Superjumbo Flight to the Famous French Capital [November 2022]
Flight Report: AIR FRANCE AF 1304 – Paris CDG to Rome – Short Inter-European Hop to Italy’s Capital City [November 2022]
Flight Report: VUELING VY 6333 – Milan Malpensa to Barcelona – Superb Flying Experience with a Spanish Low-Cost Airline [December 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 256 – Barcelona to Dubai – Impressive Intercontinental Flight on a Rare Long-Range Aircraft [December 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 332 – Dubai to Manila – Underwhelming Inflight Meals on a Busy & Full Flight Back to Manila [December 2022]

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District
Hostel of the Day: THE ROMEHELLO – Affordable, Hospitable & High-Rated Accommodation That Felt Like Home
Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE FLORENCE – Lively & Social Hostel Outside (But Near) Florence City Center
Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE MILAN – Hidden Hostel Gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District
Hostel of the Day: YEAH HOSTEL BARCELONA – 4 Fun & Solid Nights in One of the World’s Best Hostels

VISA APPLICATION ✍️

Tuesday Tips for Philippine Passport Holders: Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application with VIA ITALY

PARIS 🇫🇷

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2]
N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5]
N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog
PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

ROME 🇮🇹

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Arrival, Colosseum Tour & Trastevere Food Tour [Part 1 of 3]
N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Vatican City, Necropolis Tour & Papal Audience [Part 2 of 3]
N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Rome at Night, City Walking Tour & Departure [Part 3 of 3]

FLORENCE 🇮🇹

The Rape of the Sabine Women

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City
N9 in Europe: TUSCANY EXPERIENCE CLASSIC TOUR Photoblog – A Day Trip to Pisa, San Gimignano & Siena
P’s List: 7 Food Places to Check Out in Florence

MILAN 🇮🇹

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital
N9 in Europe: LUGANO & LAKE COMO DAY TRIP FROM MILAN Photoblog – Exploring 3 Places in 2 Countries in 1 Day

BARCELONA 🇪🇸

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I made it happen? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in summarizing my 2022 trip to Europe. I may be months behind in posting everything about this trip but I hope it is never too late to share these details. I would like to thank my N9 friends for joining me in this life-changing and memorable trip to Europe. I cannot wait to go back to the continent in the future!

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I will end this post with this statement. I DID IT AGAIN – 24 DAYS AROUND FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN FOR LESS THAN ₱170,000 ALL IN AND I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.

And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano, Lake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: YEAH HOSTEL BARCELONA – 4 Fun & Solid Nights in One of the World’s Best Hostels

After spending 2.5 weeks around Paris and the major Italian cities – Rome, Florence and Milan, I flew to the next and last destination city of this 2022 European trip – Barcelona, Spain. My friends all flew back to the Philippines while I extended for a few more days in Spain to meet with an old friend.

I spent 4 full days in the city and had a fun and solid stay with one of the world’s best hostels – Yeah Hostel Barcelona. This hostel will be today’s hostel of the day feature. Read on below to know why Yeah Hostel should be the hostel you need to book when visiting Barcelona.

Yeah Hostel Barcelona

Yeah Hostel Barcelona opened its doors to the public 7 years ago in 2016. Located in the busy Eixample District, the 7-storey hostel building accommodates hundreds of guests in its private and dormitory rooms. The hostel has complete facilities and amenities; it even has a rooftop terrace and a swimming pool.

This high-rated hostel is known for its social vibe where guests meet with co-travelers and guests through the daily hostel walking tours, dinners and night party events. The hostel has won multiple awards from Hostelworld over the past years – 3rd, 4th and 8th Best Large Hostel in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and 10th Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers in 2020. These awards are testaments to the hostel’s reputation over the years.

Location & Access

Yeah Hostel Barcelona is located at Carrer de Girona 176, 08037 Barcelona, Spain. It is within the Eixample District and is located between Passeig de Gràcia and Sagrada Familia. The hostel is near Verdaguer Station of the Barcelona Metro Lines 4 and 5 and Diagonal Station of the Metro Line 5.

The hostel is in a busy commercial neighborhood; it is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, specialty shops and supermarkets. The nearest restaurant is literally beside the hostel while the nearest supermarket is within 100 meters. It is also near known landmarks such as La Pedrera-Casa Milà (750 meters away by foot), Sagrada Familia (1.1 kilometers away by foot) and Casa Batlló (1.3 kilometers away by foot). It is also near Passeig de Gràcia – one of Barcelona’s most famous shopping and commercial street.

Guests can easily reach Yeah Hostel from Barcelona’s major transportation hubs. Those flying in can take the Aerobus from Barcelona El Prat Airport and get off at Plaça de Catalunya. From there, they can either walk 20 minutes up to the hostel doors. They can also take the Metro Line 4 towards Trinitat Nova, get off at Verdaguer Station and walk to the hostel. From Sants Train Station, guests need to take Metro Line 5 towards Vall d’Hebron and get off at Verdaguer Station. From Barcelona Nord Bus Station, guests can take Metro Line 1 towards Hospital de Bellvitge, get off at Urquinaona Station and change to Metro Line 4 towards Trinitat Nova and get off at Verdaguer Station.

The hostel’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is practically near everything; it is also accessible to all modes of public transportation making it easy for guests to go to the property.

Room Options

Yeah Hostel Barcelona has both dormitory and private rooms.

The hostel dormitory rooms are configured as follows: 6-bed female dormitory room, 6-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed female dormitory room and 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. All these dormitory rooms feature in-room shower and ensuite, air conditioning and heating systems, a table and chair (per room), lockers, daily housekeeping and free Wi-Fi connection. All dormitory beds have curtains, a pillow, blanket, individual lights, a small console and personal lockers under the beds. Towels and padlocks are not included and are available for rent from reception.

The private rooms are configured as follows: 6-bed private room (3 bunk beds), 4-bed private room (2 bunk beds), quadruple room and double room. These private rooms have the same features as that of the dormitory rooms except for towels which are already included in these rooms. Rates per nights of these rooms depend on where you are booking your stay. Yeah Hostel offers 15% discount if you book with them directly and use the promo code IGDIRECT.

I booked my stay with Agoda 1.5 months before my desired dates and only paid ₱5,589.42 (Yes – in Philippine Pesos) for 4 nights. I paid in Philippine Pesos because I booked the non-refundable ‘pay now’ option. I paid ₱1,397.36 per night for staying in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. Not bad, right? I don’t very well remember how much but I believe I also paid the city tax (charged per night) upon check-in.

I was assigned a lower bunk bed (request granted) in one of the rooms in 4th floor. I asked the hostel if they can put my friend and I (with 2 separate bookings) in one room and they granted our request. Our room was clean, spacious for 4 people and had enough space for big luggage.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Yeah Hostel Barcelona has a long list of amenities and facilities which guests can enjoy during their stay.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All hostel guests have access to free Wi-Fi during their stay.

In-House Bar – Yeah Hostel has an in-house bar which offers beers and cocktails for affordable prices. The staff also gives out complimentary nuts / snacks to those who buy drinks.

Affordable Breakfast Buffet – Guests can avail the hostel’s breakfast buffet for only €7 per person (December 2022 rate). The buffet starts at 8:00am and is open until 11:00am.

Cozy Communal Lounge – The hostel has a cozy communal lounge located just above reception. It is the first hostel I have seen that has a bed in the communal lounge area.

Kitchen & Dining Area – Yeah Hostel also has a communal kitchen and dining area where guests can cook, prepare and eat cooked food or food from outside.

Free Coffee & Tea – The hostel offers free coffee and tea for those who want to have some.

Rooftop Terrace & Swimming Pool – Yeah Hostel has a rooftop terrace and swimming pool that offers a beautiful view of the area. This area was ghosted during my visit because it was the winter season.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – All hostel rooms are equipped with separate shower and toilet areas.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are also equipped with air conditioning and heating systems. Guests can turn these systems on or off but cannot change the temperature. Please reach out to reception if you need to change it.

Computer Access – Hostel guests who need to research or plan out their next trip can use the computers found near the reception area.

PlayStation & Boardgames – Guests can play games using the PlayStation or the boardgames found in the communal area.

Library / Book Exchange – Yeah Hostel has a small library where guests can read and/or exchange books.

Laundry Facilities – Guests who need to wash their clothes can use the hostel’s laundry facilities located near the communal lounge.

Daily Walking Tours – The hostel hosts free (tip-based) walking tours everyday at 11:00am. These tours are either happen in the Gothic Quarter or modern area where the Sagrada Familia is located.

Daily Hostel Dinners – The hostel hosts dinners for a small fee (sorry I forgot how much) at 9:00pm every day. This dinner includes a starter, a main course, a dessert and a drink.

Nightly Pub Crawls – After dinner, the hostel staff asks around who wants to join the nightly pub crawl or party tour. This tour comes with a free but already includes the entrance fee to a club.

24-Hour Reception – Leaving early or arriving past midnight? No problem – Yeah Hostel’s reception is open 24 hours every day.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers luggage storage to guests who are waiting for check-in or who have already checked-out of the property. Please reach out to reception if you need to have your bags stored for a while.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel staff cleans all rooms and facilities every day.

Friendly & Amazing Staff – Yeah Hostel’s staff are one of the friendliest I have dealt with in a long while. They make sure that guests have a memorable and enjoyable stay at the hostel. They also engage guests into conversations.

Lift Access – Guests who bring large suitcases need not to worry about carrying their bags up to the stairs. They can use the hostel’s lift for easier access.

Secured Hostel Access – The hostel doors can only be opened by the staff assigned at reception. Guests need to ring the bell to request the door to be opened. On top of that, the hostel rooms can only be accessed via key cards assigned during check-in.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with security and surveillance systems that keep the premises safe and watched all the time.

Hostel Experience

As the title says, I had a fun and solid 4-night stay with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. I have stayed with many hostels in the past and I must agree with Hostelworld – Yeah Hostel is indeed one of the best hostels in the world!

Allow me to share my insights on why I believe Yeah Hostel is one of the world’s best based on my stay. First, the hostel offers reasonable rates (2nd cheapest in this trip after The RomeHello) for such a great location. It is in the middle of the city between Passeig de Gràcia and Sagrada Familia. Second, the hostel amenities are top-notch and well-maintained; the rooms are spacious too. The hostel dormitory beds even have curtains which is rare to find in Europe.

Third, the hostel provides an excellent breakfast buffet for only €7 per person (December 2022 rate). They serve breads, pastries, fruits, eggs with hot and cold drinks. Fourth, the hostel offers fun and memorable activities. From daily free (tip-based) walking tours, to hostel dinners and pub crawls, the staff makes sure that the guests have an unforgettable time. They may not offer an extensive list of activities like other hostels do, but they surely make it up in the quality of the activities they offer.

Fifth, the hostel staff are beyond amazing. From Pablo, to Leo, to everyone at reception, kitchen, bar and even housekeeping. They are all friendly, nice and hospitable. They are like your friends whom you have known for a long time. Last and probably the best part of staying in Yeah Hostel Barcelona is the hostel’s vibe. Everyone (staff and co-guests) is warm, respectful and friendly. You will surely meet a lot of people in the hostel and spend great times with them.

The only not-so-good experience I had with the hostel is the longer-than-usual waiting time in the elevator especially during check-out hours. Honestly, I did not mind the long waiting time because I had a great stay with the hostel.

Will I go back and stay again with Yeah Hostel Barcelona? For sure, I will. This hostel will be my go-to hostel when coming to Barcelona! Planning to contact

Yeah Hostel Barcelona? Here are the platforms where you can reach them:

Yeah Hostel Barcelona
Address: Carrer de Girona 176, 08037 Barcelona, Spain
Phone Number: +34 935 310 135 | +34 636 711 346
E-mail Address: info@yeahhostels.com
Website: www.yeahhostels.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yeahhostels
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yeahhostels

Are you looking into staying with Yeah Hostel Barcelona? Do you have any questions about the hostel or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. If you are shy enough to comment, you may also send you questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital

After going around Paris, Rome and Florence for almost 2 weeks, we headed to the capital of Italy’s Lombardy Region – Milan! We took Flixbus from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station to Milan San Donato Station and only paid €8.99 per person. We found the travel experience to be comfortable, quick and affordable. We stayed in Milan for 4 full days, enjoyed the city and even took a day trip out to the nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Know more about our adventures in today’s post about the beautiful city of Milan.

Before exploring Milan, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany Region!

Milan

Milan (Italian: Milano) is the capital of the Lombardy Region in the northern part of the country. It is the country’s financial, business and fashion capital. It is the home of the country’s stock exchange – Borsa Italiana. The city is also the home of many headquarters and offices of both national and international companies. The city is one of the world’s fashion capitals with many luxurious brands headquartered in the Italian metropolis; it also hosts the world-famous semi-annual Milan Fashion Week.

Milan is an important Italian city – it is the center of business, trade, finance, fashion and all other aspects.

Accommodation

Milan, like Florence and Rome, is a popular tourist destination to local and international visitors. The city’s profile and popularity led to surging accommodation costs anywhere in the city. The city’s accommodation options are far more expensive than Rome and Florence’s options.

My friend and I were travelling on a budget. We decided to go for a hostel and booked 4 nights at YellowSquare Milan. We stayed in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory and paid €109.24 each (charged ₱6,644.92 by our local credit card) – the most we paid in an accommodation during our trip to Italy. We had a great stay with YellowSquare.

I recently wrote about YellowSquare Milan and our hostel experience for 4 nights; I hope you can check out YellowSquare Milan’s Hostel of the Day feature here.

Going Around Milan

Going around Milan is easy. The main and important parts of the city are connected by an extensive metro and bus network. The city’s main train stations are Milano Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The city’s main bus stations for intercity travel are Milan Lampugnano Bus Station in the north and Milan San Donato Bus Station in the south. 

My friend and I purchased 10 single-journey tickets (carnet) each and used these tickets during our 4-day in Milan. These tickets are sold from €18 to €20 per 10 tickets, depending on the price the tabaccheria has.

Citywalkers Milan Free Tour

You might have noticed that I am a fan of free (tip-based) city walking tours. I consider this as the best way to learn about a city while not spending too much on private guides and tours. During our visit to Milan, my friend and I joined the 10:00am Citywalkers Milan Free Tour in English.

Our tour guide, Marco, shared the history of the city, its landmarks and the stories behind them for almost 3 hours. He literally walked us through the University of Milan, the Duomo Cathedral, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, the Theatre and Square Alla Scala, the Merchant’s Square and the Business Square.

Lugano & Lake Como Day Tour

My friend and I took advantage of our stay in Milan and decided to go on a day tour to Lugano and Lake Como. We joined Citywonders’ 10.5-hour day tour that explored Lugano (in Switzerland), Bellagio and Como (in Italy) and traversed Lake Como by ferry and local boat. We paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each for the guided tour and all modes of transportation – lunch and snacks not included.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts; I hope you can check out our Lugano and Lake Como Day Tour Photoblog here.

Places Visited in Milan

Like any other city, Milan has a long list of places to visit and check out while in the city. However, my friend and I decided to relax during this leg of the trip and just went to the usual ones. We spent a considerable amount of time shopping and looking for stuff to bring home since Milan was the last stop of my friend’s trip. We still visited a few notable places within the city.

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) – Duomo di Milano is a cathedral in the center of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The cathedral took 6 centuries to finish and has witnessed different rulers and leaders throughout the period.

Today, this Duomo is the most famous landmark in Milan. Millions of people visit the cathedral every year. The cathedral can be accessed for a fee from its interiors to the rooftop. My friend and I decided not to go inside the Duomo but basically went to the place everyday during our stay in the city.

Cathedral Square (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The cathedral square is the largest public square in Milan bounded by the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also the famous meeting spot / area in Milan.  

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping arcade and gallery in all of Italy. Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the galleria opened in 1877 and is shaped like a cross covered by glass dome and roofing. The shopping arcade also houses luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the likes.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – Dubbed as the Golden Rectangle of Fashion in Milan, Quadrilatero d’Oro is Milan’s main shopping district. Think of a worldwide fashion brand and you will certainly find it here. My friend and I walked around the shopping district for days and we still have not been to all shops. Milan is the place to go for shopping.

The Last Supper Museum (Italian: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano) – One of the most interesting places we went to in Milan is the Last Supper Museum. The museum houses the Last Supper Mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the last 15th century.

People go inside the museum and the mural area by groups. Each group is given around 30 minutes to look at the mural. Tickets to the museum cost €15 per person and are pre-booked online. Tickets usually sell out fast; it is best to book tickets months before your intended visit.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – Right beside the Last Supper Museum is the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Last Supper Mural is part of the heritage-listed church complex since the 1400s.

Merchant’s Square (Italian: Piazza Meranti) – The Merchant’s Square is an important hub of commerce and politics in Milan since the Middle Ages. It is the place for trade and business for most locals during that time.

Serravalle Designer Outlet Day Trip

While in Milan, my friend and I decided to check out one of the biggest designer outlets in the country – Serravalle Designer Outlet. Located a little over an hour away from Milan in the commune of Serravalle Scrivia, this village-type outlet has over 180 specialty stores offering designer-branded items at big discounts.

We took the timed Autostradale Viaggi shuttle bus from Milan to the outlet and back for €20 (November 2022 price) per person. We only went to selected stores and did not have the chance to go around everything. We managed to find some good stuff for ourselves and our families back here in the Philippines. It was a successful day at the outlet village.

Missed Places

As mentioned in the start of this blog, we took our time going around the city and focused more on getting stuff to bring back to the Philippines. We had to miss some notable places to visit like Sforzesco Castle, Teatro alla Scala (from the inside), Pinacoteca Di Brera, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Navigli Lombardi. These places are already enough to lure us back to Milan in the future.

Milan may not be everyone’s favorite city but it surely has its own charm. Yes, it is the best shopping destination in Italy but it offers more beyond that image. The city has interesting museums and landmarks that are unique in the world.

Have you been to Milan? How did you find the city? Which places were your favorites and which places did you regret going to? Feel free to share your Milan adventures and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Milan or anything mentioned above? You may also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining me in today’s run-through of our time in Milan last year. Milan was my friend Leng’s final European city on this trip. We spent most of our time just enjoying the city’s vibe and the cold weather, going around supermarkets for food finds and shopping for our friends and loved ones back home. We will surely go back to Milan to explore more.

In case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano and Lake Como on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to my last destination on this trip – Barcelona, Spain!

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: LUGANO & LAKE COMO DAY TRIP FROM MILAN Photoblog – Exploring 3 Places in 2 Countries in 1 Day

After spending 4 beautiful days around Florence, my friend and I moved to our last destination in Italy for this trip – Milan. To be honest, we did not find a lot of things to do around the city so we decided to visit the countryside. We wanted to spend a day each in Lugano, Switzerland and Lake Como but we also had to allot a day to check out Serravalle Designer Outlet for some good finds.

To make use of the limited time we have in Milan and to satisfy our wants in visiting the countryside, we decided to join a guided day tour to Lugano and around Lake Como. We booked with our day tour with City Wonders. Join me as I share with you where we went and what happened on this guided day tour to 3 places in 2 countries – Italy and Switzerland.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these beautiful places – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany.

Tour Cost & Inclusions

My friend and I booked this 10.5-hour day tour with City Wonders on their website and paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each. We were charged by our bank ₱6,393.94 each including foreign currency conversion fees.

This tour fee included a comfortable air-conditioned bus ride to Lugano, Lake Como and back to Milan. It also included all non-coach (ferry and boat) transfers to Bellagio and Como, an English-speaking guide and individual tour headsets. The fee did not include meals. Tour guests were responsible for paying their own food expenses during the tour.

The day tour fee was a little bit expensive but reasonable considering the guests only had to worry about their lunch and snacks. Everything else was provided including information about the places visited during the day.

Check-In & Departure

We arrived at Milan Porta Garibaldi Station before 8:00am and went to the meeting place outside the station. Our tour guide arrived a few minutes after, confirmed our bookings and distributed our individual headsets to be used during the day.

At exactly 8:30am, we walked to where our tour bus was parked, boarded the bus and left Milan for Lugano.

Lugano

Lugano is an Italian-speaking city in the southern part of Switzerland. It lies along the beautiful Lake Lugano and is a famous day-trip destination of people coming to Milan, Italy. The lakeside city provides visitors a glimpse of Switzerland during these day trips and gives tourists a chance to take home Swiss Chocolates back to Milan. It is also a famous shopping destination for both Swiss and Italians. The city accepts both Euro and Swiss Franc as monetary payments.

We first went to Lugano from Milan. We were given an hour to explore the small city, to check out the shops and to spend some time by the lake.

Bellagio

Bellagio is a picturesque town located along Lake Como. Known as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” this town is famous for its cobblestone alleys, photogenic streets, artisan shops and local restaurants offering a spectacular view of Lake Como. This town is at its full charm every summer. It is also a good place to visit during cold season but expect it to be quiet with most shops and restaurants closed.

We stopped by Bellagio for lunch. After lunch, we took the boat ride to Como and saw the villas where Star Wars and James Bond movies were filmed. We also saw George Clooney’s private villa.

Como

Como is a city in the Italian-Swiss border. It is in the southern tip of Lake Como and is famous for its Gothic Cathedral. It also offers beautiful views of the lake with the green and untouched hills on the sides. It was our last stop on this trip.

We were given 30-ish minutes to walk around the city, to visit their beautiful cathedral and to check out their Christmas market.

Drop Off

From Como, we all hopped on the bus and took an hour trip back to Milan. We were dropped just outside Milan Porta Garibaldi Station at the same place where we rode the bus in the morning.

This wraps up our day tour around Lugano, Bellagio and Como. It was great experience visiting these lakeside cities and towns offering stunning views of Lake Lugano and Lake Como. We would love to go back and spend more time in all these places and perhaps visit them during the warm months.

Have you been to Lugano, Bellagio or Como in the past? How was your visit? Feel free to share your experiences and visit details in the comments section below. Do you have any question about the day tour above? You may also send those via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for checking this day trip post. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Florence and Tuscany before we visited Milan. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.