travels – The Wknd Travel

Tuesday Tips: 10 Things To Know Before Traveling To Europe

Flying to Europe has long been a dream for me. After 7 years, this dream came true. Last October to November 2019 when I flew to & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark for 19 days spending less than ₱120,000 all in. Not bad, right?

People close to me know that I enjoy staying longer in places but at the same time, I don’t plan my itineraries. I do very little research about the places I visit & I always go for spontaneous plans. I enjoy how each destination surprise me with their good & bad sides. The 2019 solo trip to Europe I mentioned above was not an exception. I flew to Europe alone with no plans at all; I only had hostel & flight bookings. I didn’t even know how to go to Amsterdam Centraal from Schipol Airport or how to go to my hostel from the airport. I had the same level of spontaneity throughout the trip & I’m glad I survived!

In case you missed it, I shared 11 Europe thrift hacks that worked for me during the trip. Check out the list & know ways on how to save some cash & unexpected expenses during the trip.

Having close to no research about travelling around Europe, some things surprised me when I was there. I want to share these 10 things you should know so you’ll be ready for your own Euro trip.

Sparking Water is a thing!

Yes, it’s not just water in Europe. It’s either sparkling water or still water & they love the first one more. I am not a fan of sparkling water but guess what? I kept getting it. I went to an Albert Heijn supermarket in Amsterdam on my first day & accidentally brought 2 big bottles of sparkling water. It took me days to finish these 2 bottles. I can’t just throw the water away because it was damn expensive. It took me 9 days to finally check every single bottled water I buy – to make sure it’s still water.

Beer is cheaper than water in Czech Republic!

Yes, you read that right! Beer in Czech Republic is cheaper than still or sparkling water in terms of cost per liter. It’s not a secret that Czechs love beer. In fact, they consume more beers per capita than any other country in the world! They’ve been record holders in this category for years! All the 0.5L of beers I bought in Czech Republic range from 28 Kč to 37 Kč while a 0.3L bottle of water costs 30 Kč to 35 Kč. Well, I always went for the beer when I was there. 😂

Bring Small Euro Bills

Many shops & establishments in the Netherlands & Belgium don’t accept Euro bills higher than €50; some even accept only up to €20. First, it’s hard to give change for high-value notes like €100 & €200. Second, these high-value Euro notes were associated to crimes in the past. Third, it’s also risky to bring these big notes while walking around on a daily basis. I had trouble using my €100 notes in supermarkets & restaurants in Amsterdam & Brussels. They won’t accept it. To be sure, just bring Euro notes up to €20 when flying to Euro-accepting countries.

Money Changers Charge High Convenience Fees

Money changers in Europe, particularly Euro-accepting countries, charge high convenience fees. I tried to change my €100 note in Amsterdam & only got about €94 back. I read somewhere that they charge around 5.5% for every transaction. It’s a complete opposite here in the Philippines where money changes don’t charge any other transaction fees. Don’t worry, most money changers in Czech Republic don’t charge these fees. It pays to always ask the money changer for their fee before transacting with them. It’s also best to research online for the money changer that gives the best exchange rate in the city where you are visiting.

Bring Credit & Debit Cards

Don’t forget to bring a credit card & a debit card when going for a Euro trip. While most places still accept cash, there are some that prefer card payments. Most establishments in Copenhagen, including hotdog stands & street food carts, prefer payments using credit & debit cards. Copenhagen metro stations don’t have ticket booths; they have ticket vending machines that only accept cards for payment. The ticket vending machine in Brussel-Central doesn’t accept cash & credit cards, only debit cards. Most restaurants, supermarkets & convenience stores all accept credit cards as payment.

Avoid EuroNet ATMs

EuroNet ATMs are found everywhere in Europe & in the world. Please avoid using these ‘worldwide ATMs’ no matter how conveniently located they are. This ATM charges high usage fees & conversion rates. It’s always best to go for the local banks when getting cash. Don’t forget to call your bank to inform them of your trip, also to avoid denied transactions abroad.

It’s always useful to have at least one credit card & one debit card when going around Europe – just don’t use these cards on unnecessary purchases.

Always Pay in Local Currency

You always get the best value of your purchase or meal if you pay using the local currency. Shops, banks & establishments usually have a higher on-the-spot exchange rate if you’re paying on your own currency. Always opt for the local currency when the staff asks you which to charge to your card.

Toilet Use Comes With A Fee

Say goodbye to free use of toilets when you’re in Europe. Restaurants, cafes & even fast food outlets like McDonalds charge people for using their toilets. Toilet use costs 50-cents – around ₱30 in Philippine peso equivalent to a sundae from McDonalds Philippines. Expensive, right? Some cafes & restaurants have their toilet door codes in the bottom parts of the receipt. People have no choice but to buy something from the establishment. You want to get rid of these toilet fees? Join SANDEMANs New Europe walking tours. Each walking tour has a 15 to 20 minutes break in a cafe or restaurant. The use of toilets during these breaks are free-of-charge.

Cross Borders Like Domestic Destinations

Crossing borders from one Schengen state to the other is like going / flying to a domestic destination. Inter-Schengen flights only ask for your identification cards or passports during check-in. Bus drivers only ask for your bus tickets & not your passports. People don’t need to clear immigration when going from one Schengen state to the other. I only went through immigration upon arrival in Amsterdam Schipol Airport in Netherlands & before flying to Singapore from Copenhagen Airport. There are literally no border controls within the Schengen zone.

Plan But Don’t Aim To See Everything

Europe is a big continent – it has many countries with big cities & small towns. It is impossible to go & see everything a city or country has to offer in a 4-day visit. I already spent 4-5 days each in Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark & mind you, I haven’t seen everything. Yes, I took day trips outside the main cities but I heard there are a more beautiful unknown places that can be visited.

My tip for you is to plan out the places you want to see in every city you’re planning to visit but don’t aim to see everything. It’s also better to stay longer in a country or city than staying just for a day or two (like how travel agencies plan out itineraries) not to rush things but to enjoy & see more of every place.

Every city or country is different & it’s cool. As tourists / travelers, it’s always good to know something about the places / countries you’re visiting. It helps in conditioning your mind & wallet on what to expect. To be honest, I was shocked by the money changer convenience fees & pay-per-use scheme of toilets but at the same time I was happy with the cheap Czech beer.

I hope the list above helps you in your planned trip to Europe in the future. Do you have any questions or clarifications on anything mentioned above? Please don’t hesitate to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll get to them as soon as I can.

Thanks for joining me in today’s set of Tuesday tips! Don’t forget to check out the individual posts about Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark under the Going Solo in Europe category. This post officially marks the end of the 2019 Europe trip content in this website. I had fun sharing them to all of you; I hope the posts help you in one way or another. Until the next Tuesday Tips post!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

A Dream Come True: 19 DAYS Around NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK for Less Than ₱120,000 – Airfare, Accommodation & 12-Hour Singapore Stopover Included

Last October to November 2019, I flew to Europe all by myself for 19 days & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. I never thought this trip that took 7 years to plan would finally happen & that I would do everything alone & DIY – no help from any travel agency, consultant or whatsoever. If you’ve been following me the last few months, I’ve shared every single detail of this Euro trip from city itineraries, flight reports, to hostels & even local food. You can find all posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Going to Europe for a long trip like this is not a cheap trip to do. Some people spend hundreds of thousands on airfare & accommodation & add probably another hundred for food, pocket money & tours. I didn’t have that much savings for this kind of expensive trip so I did a lot of research to make it happen in a relatively affordable budget. AND I DID IT! I flew to Europe for 19 days around 4 countries including airfare, accommodation & a 12-hour Singapore stopover for less than ₱120,000 all in. Let me share with you how I made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Disclaimer: There are ways to make this trip even cheaper than what I spent – staying in cheaper hostels, taking low-cost carriers / buses with cutting trips, etc. – but I wanted to make it special (as a first time) & splurged a bit on some parts like food (& beers), high-rated hostels & better transportation options. Also, I only chose to visit 4 countries instead of hopping on from one country to the other after a day or two to have a better appreciation of every country / city. I am not a fan of rushed trips; I enjoy staying longer in one place or country.

In case you missed it last week, I posted an article on 11 Europe thrift hacks that I did on this trip. These thrift hacks helped me save on some expenses like food & tours. Check out that article here.

Air Tickets

I took the risk & booked a return ticket to Europe with Singapore Airlines during their January promotion with BPI Credit Cards. I got the economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore & Copenhagen to Manila via Singapore for only 719.23 USD. The ticket includes 30-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, in-flight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens & their 5-star Singaporean hospitality. My BPI credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including foreign transaction fees. Not bad for a ticket to Europe considering it’s with Singapore Airlines, right?

Months before the trip, I figured out the route I’ll take & the countries I’ll visit. Then, I booked air tickets for my inter-European transfers. Train tickets were more expensive & would take a few changes while bus trips, even if cheap, will take ages & a few transfers before you reach the next city / country. I paid €67,40 for a plane ticket from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic on Brussels Airlines. I booked another ticket from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark on Czech Airlines for 1,588 Kč. Both tickets include 23-kilogram check in baggage. I got charged ₱4,000.85 & ₱3,658.88, respectively for these 2 tickets.

I booked these 3 tickets without a Schengen tourist visa. Some people don’t recommend this, but I took the risk & did it. I was confident that time that I will be granted visa for this trip & luckily, I got one.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Europe is not cheap. A dormitory bed in a hostel costs about €30 to €40 a night, depending on the room configuration & location. Hotels & private rooms are more expensive. I can’t afford them. I booked my hostels 4 months into the trip. All these hostel bookings had free cancellation options if I don’t push through. I became picky with the hostels I’ll stay with since it was my first time in Europe. I stayed in popular & high-rated hostels found in central & well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam (₱8,885.82 for 4 nights – paid in Philippine Peso), Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels (€122 for 4 nights – paid during check-in), DREAM Hostel in Prague (1,790 Kč for 4 nights – paid via credit card on check-in) & Steel House in Copenhagen (US$ 116.24 for 4 nights – paid via Agoda). I paid ₱26,117.54 for 16 nights in these 4 countries – roughly ₱1,632.25 per night in Philippine Peso or €28,49 per night in Euros. I think I still got a good deal from these hostels! It would’ve been cheaper if booked my stay at least 8-10 months before.

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 coverage online from Standard Insurance; I got their Travel Protect Policy which covers up to €37,500 medical coverage for 19 days. I paid ₱1,918 for the 19-day coverage.

Tourist Visa

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. The visa fee cost €60 (₱3,420) + ₱901 VFS handling fee. I opted for the passport delivery service instead of picking up my passport in the VFS office. I paid a small fee for the courier service. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Traveling around Europe alone isn’t easy. I made sure I was connected to the internet for the whole duration of the trip. I bought an internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. The sim card was operated by Three UK & it included 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK for 30 days. The sim card cost ₱1,600 with free shipping. The data, call & text services worked well during my stay in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark.

Travel Tax

All Philippine passport holders are required to pay a travel tax of ₱1,620 before going out the country for holiday. I paid the travel tax right before I checked in for my flight from Manila to Singapore.

Daily Budget & Unexpected Expenses

I mentioned in my Europe thrift hacks post that I set a daily budget of €40 for food, transportation & entrance fees. I spent more in some days but I was traveling on a €30-€35 per day budget. There were days where I had to buy last-minute museum tickets (Heineken Experience & Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), join guided tours (Canal Tour in Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in Holland & Kutná Hora in Czech Republic) & go on side trips (Utrecht, Bruges, Ghent & Český Krumlov) which cost me more. I also bought last-minute train & bus tickets in Belgium & Czech Republic – the downsides of not following an itinerary.

I splurged on beers in all 4 countries; I paid more for food in Denmark (food there is expensive) but I’m happy I still had about €120 cash left at the end of the trip. I counted all my expenses from pocket money, to credit & debit card transactions & debit card withdrawals for 19 days. I spent ₱34,327.78 (around €600) for 17 full days (travel days not included) on food, transportation, walking tours, entry tickets, guided tours & beers – about €35 per day on average.

Singapore Stopover

My flight from Manila to Amsterdam had a 12-hour layover in Singapore. I took this time to meet 2 friends – one for lunch + milk tea & one for early dinner. I also used this time to walk around the beautiful city, check out a city library & walk around The Jewel at Changi Airport. I spent around S$50 (₱1,859.4 conversion that time) on this 12-hour stop – food, drinks & transportation included.

Summary of Expenses

After all the costs & numbers mentioned above, let’s see how much I actually spent for the trip.

Exchange rate at the time of trip: €1 = ₱57.3 Exchange rates of purchases & withdrawals vary. There you go! I spent ₱117,092.85 pesos for a 19-day trip around 4 European Countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark – with air tickets, accommodation costs & a 12-hour Singapore stopover included. If you’ll include the transportation expenses during the visa application process, to & from the airport when I left & arrived, it’ll be somewhere around ₱118,500 – still less than ₱120,000!

Don’t get me wrong, ₱117,092.85 is a very big amount but we’re talking about a 19-day trip to Europe here flying with one of the world’s premium airlines – Singapore Airlines & visiting first world & expensive countries like Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. I couldn’t believe this when I listed all my expenses after the trip. I wanted this trip to be fun, memorable & spontaneous & I’m happy it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. This solo trip to Europe is so far my longest, most expensive & most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Every single peso spent was worth it!

Blog List

In case you’re interested in the posts about this trip, check out the blog list below.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – 5-Star Economy Class Experience In A New Generation Boeing Dreamliner
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn’t Feel Like One
BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience
CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation
SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast
DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town
STEEL HOUSE COPENHAGEN – 4 Nights in Danish Capital’s New York-Inspired Industrial Style Luxury Accommodation

VISA APPLICATION & TIPS ✍️

Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS
11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know
10 THINGS TO KNOW Before Traveling To Europe

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City
UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City
NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands
6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?
BRUGES – Cobbled Alleys, Gingerbread Houses & Pretty Canals in Belgium’s Picture-Perfect City
GHENT – Belgium’s Underrated Port City
5 Must Try Belgian Treats

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿

PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City
KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town
4 Czech Eats To Savor

DENMARK 🇩🇰

COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City
7 Danish Delicacies Not To Miss
7 Interesting Observations About Denmark

Thank you for joining me in today’s Euro trip summary. I’ve made use of the pandemic to finish all the posts about this trip. It’s a shame that my next planned trip to Europe this October won’t push through, but it won’t stop me from planning my next trip to this beautiful continent. We may all be stuck in our own homes but we’ll surely go back to the time when travelling is safe & sound. It’s never too late to give up on your dream trips to Europe! Make use of this downtime to research about the cities & countries you want to visit & plan out the route you’ll take.

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 did it? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I’ll finish the post with this.. I DID IT – 19 DAYS AROUND NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK FOR LESS THAN ₱120,000 ALL IN & I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

TAIWAN All Over Again – Family Long Weekend In Taipei

Over the last few weeks & months, I shared with you details about our Taiwan family trip last June 2019. The whole family went on a 4-day weekend in Taiwan, also to celebrate Father’s Day for the first time outside the country. I’ve already been to Taiwan twice in the past – one in 2015 with my high school friends & another one in 2017 with my colleagues at work, but I didn’t mind going back with my family to this beautiful country. Besides, our last family trip was in 2016 when we welcomed the new year in Singapore.

Allow me to share with you the details of our tour around Taipei City. We had a flexible itinerary because we were travelling with our parents, aunt, uncle & a 2-year old baby. We missed a few historical places & parks, but we definitely enjoyed each others company. Check out the trip details below.

ticket

For my past 2 Taiwan trips, I’ve flown with Cebu Pacific Air. Both tickets were at less than ₱3,000 return. Since Taiwan became visa-free to Filipino passport holders, airfare to Taipei & Kaoshiung became expensive. I found a good deal with EVA Air, Taiwan’s 2nd largest airline, last February. Return tickets only cost $127.32 (about ₱6,600+) & the fare already included in-flight meal, baggage & in-flight entertainment. Know more about my EVA Air experience in this flight report.

Accommodation

We stayed in Uinn Travel Hostel for 4 days & 3 nights. We booked 4 spacious double rooms that came with private bath & toilet. The hostel offers a superb breakfast & has modern facilities. They also have dormitory rooms for those who are travelling alone or on a budget. I’ve featured Uinn Travel Hostel as a Hostel Of The Day in this website. Check out this post to know more about the hostel.

Update: Uinn Travel Hostel has ceased operations.

taichung day trip

My sisters have always wanted to see the flower farms in Taichung. To make them happy, we rented a car through ACWorx Tours Taiwan. We got the car for 10 hours, went to Taichung, visited the Green Fantasy Forest, Houli Flower Farm & the Rainbow Village. Check out the photoblog of our Taichung Day Tour here.

around taipei

Taipei has a very efficient transportation system. All places in the city are connected by either a bus or a train. We used EASY Card, their own version of tap card, in going to different places. We bought the tap cards at the airport train station & just added value / credit when needed. This tap card can also be used in establishments like supermarkets & convenience stores.

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH

We started our day around Taipei with a Sunday English mass at Holy Family Church. It was also Father’s Day that weekend so we decided to attend the mass as a family. The church was packed with people from all over the world. I’ve been to this church in 2015 when I first went to Taiwan with my high school friends.

Access: Daan Park Station – Exit 2

DAAN PARK

After the mass, we decided to have a stroll around Daan Park. The park had a nice pond with ducks & wild birds. My baby cousin enjoyed walking around the park, spotting the animals around. It’s a perfect place to relax & walk around on a cold winter morning or afternoon. Too bad it was sunny & too hot during our visit.

Access: Daan Park Station – Exit 2

TAIPEI 101 MALL

We headed to Taipei 101 Mall for lunch & for sightseeing. The massive Taipei 101 welcomed us upon leaving Exit 4 of the metro station. We went around the different boutiques & shops while we waited for our turn in Din Tai Fung & our Taipei 101 Observatory schedule.

Access: Taipei 101 Station – Exit 4

DIN TAI FUNG

We had our lunch at Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101 Mall. This world-famous restaurant originated in Taipei back in the days. The restaurant is famous for its pork xiao long bao, braised beef noodles & steamed chicken soup. We waited for about an hour before we finally had our table. It was Father’s Day lunch so the family had a feast.

Access: Taipei 101 Station – Exit 4

TAIPEI 101 OBSERVATORY

After lunch, we all headed to the Taipei 101 Observatory. We bought our tickets through Klook on the same day & even got a discount for the large booking. Each ticket only costs about ₱600+ per person after the discount. Ticket redemption was easy; it was through an automated machine located near the ticket booth. We stayed on the 88th floor for about an hour & enjoyed the 360-degree view of the city.

Access: Taipei 101 Station – Exit 4

ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN

My sisters & I decided to hike up the Elephant Mountain after going up the Taipei 101 observatory. We wanted to see the city & Taipei 101 from a different angle. The hike up to the viewpoint took about 30 minutes & another 30 minutes going down. The viewpoint provided stunning images of the city & of the skyscraper. I’ve been to Taiwan twice, but it was only until this trip when I was able to go up the mountain. The best time to go up is either in the morning or during sunset. However, expect more people going up during these times.

Access: Xiangshan Staion – Exit 2

RAOHE NIGHT MARKET

We went to Raohe Night Market to have authentic street food for dinner. We got the famous pork pepper buns, pork sausages, fried milk & a lot more. The market was packed with tourists that Sunday night & we haven’t had the chance to try all the food around.

Access: Songshan Station – Exit 5

HUAXI STREET NIGHT MARKET

I met up with my good friend, Richard, after dinner to catch up & have some drinks. I met Richard in the overnight boat tour in Komodo, Indonesia. We’ve been really good friends since then. He was also in Taipei that weekend, waiting for his flight to Spain to be with his family on his birthday. Richard & I literally just walked everywhere until we reached Huaxi Street Night Market. It is a small local market, practically selling everything. This market catered mostly to the locals. Believe it or not, we had a hard time looking for a place to eat up to the point we ended up having pork dumplings & beer in a restaurant near Longshan Station.

Access: Longshan Station – Exit 1

YEHLIU-JIUFEN-SHIFEN KLOOK TOUR

One of the best day trips outside Taipei is the trip to the northeast towns of Shifen, Jiufen & Yehliu. Going to these places is not easy, especially if you’re a big group like us. We decided to avail Klook’s transportation package to make the day trip easy & comfortable. Know more about the tour price & itinerary in this separate Yehliu-Jiufen-Shifen Klook Package post.

Meeting place: Ximen Station – Exit 4 in front of GaKuDen Bakery

XIMENDING

A trip to Taipei will never be complete without a visit to the city’s shopping hub – Ximending. This area is where there young people go for shopping & food trip. It has also become famous for the tourists because of the shops & stores located in this area. The place is full of colorful lights & billboards at night; making it a vibrant hangout place for everyone.

Access: Ximen Station – Various Exits

CHIANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL HALL & LIBERTY SQUARE

The last place we visited before we left Taiwan was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall & Libery Square. This memorial hall was built in memory of former President Chiang Kai-Shek. The hall has different display rooms & galleries where you will know more about the former president. On the other hand, the Liberty Square is Taipei’s largest public square. It is a place used for public gatherings during national holidays & important days in Taiwan.

Richard & I already went to this place the night before our family went. There were no other people there at around 12 midnight. However, the ground gates looked stunning with those lights.

Access: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Station – Exit 5

This sums up the places my family visited around Taipei during our weekend visit last June. I know we haven’t been to everywhere but we had a great time building memories with each other. Have you been to these places in the past? Which one is your favorite & why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Alternatively, you can send me anything, as in anything about this post / blog / website, via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 in Straya Series: GREAT OCEAN ROAD – A Day Trip To The World’s Largest War Memorial

Over the last few weeks, I started sharing with you some details about our Melbourne, Australia Trip last April 2019. I’ve posted about the parks, gardens & heritage sites we visited, the hipster laneways, communal spaces & modern areas we walked through & the famous bathing boxes we went to. I also gave you some insights about Flinders Backpackers Melbourne, the extremely popular & affordable accommodation we booked for 7 nights while in the city. Today, I will share with you 1 of the 3 day trips we took during our trip – that is the Great Ocean Road Tour.

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a 243-kilometer road along the southeastern cost of the Victorian State. This long road stretch was built from 1919-1932 by the returning soldiers for those killed during the World War I. This road is listed in the Australian National Heritage & is also the world’s largest war memorial. Today, the Great Ocean Road is one of Melbourne’s most famous day trips outside the city.

Day Tour Booking

We booked our 1 day Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles Tour with Sightseeing Australia. It’s the same agency where we booked our Hunter Valley Wine Tour in Sydney last year. The agency then endorsed us to another tour company called Wildlife Tours Australia.

The day tour cost us AUD 105 per person. It includes all pick-up & drop off at selected places, morning snack, park entrance fees, wildlife viewing & a friendly & informative bus driver / tour guide. Lunch meals were not included.

Itinerary

Allow me to share with you our day trip itinerary. The tour bus picked us up (you can choose your pick-up station upon booking) at St Paul’s Cathedral, corner of Swanston St & Flinders St at 7:15 in the morning & dropped us off at around 8:00 in the evening. The tour usually lasts 12 hours; may even take longer depending on traffic.

MORNING TEA

We drove for a few hours away from the Melbourne CBD & stopped in a park / public open space for 30 minutes & had morning tea. Our driver / guide brought us some cookies, coffee & tea for snacks.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD MEMORIAL ARCH

We continued the journey & stopped at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. This arch marked the original start of the 243-kilometer war memorial. We stopped here photos.

EASTERN VIEW BEACH

A few meters from the memorial arch is a pristine beach in Eastern View, Victoria. We took some time to walk around the nice beach & got some amazing photos.

WYE RIVER COASTAL RESERVE

We went on for about 30 minutes until we reached the Wye River Coastal Reserve. It is a reserve where we saw wild koalas. The reserve had a caravan park in it & the Great Ocean Road beach was just at the other side of the road. We also stopped by a lookout which gave stunning views of the Victorian coast.

APOLLO BAY LUNCH

Next stop, lunch! We headed to the coastal town of Apollo Bay to have lunch for 45 minutes. We went into this local restaurant & ordered food. I got the Aussie staple food – fish & chips! The meal prices were higher than the usual, maybe because it is a popular stopover area.

OTWAY RANGES RAIN FOREST

After lunch, we went away from the coast & headed to the Otway Ranges Rain Forest, still on the Great Ocean Road. We took a guided walk through the rain forest, among the ancient Eucalyptus trees & cool forest scenery.

TWELVE APOSTLES

From the rain forest, we drove for an hour to reach Port Campbell National Park, also known as the Twelve Apostles. It is Melbourne’s & one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore. These landmarks were formed by erosion & natural occurrences. If I remember it right, only 7 or 8 of the original 12 can be seen from the view deck. This part of the tour was the highlight of this day trip. Too bad the skies were not clear during our visit. Nonetheless, the views from the boardwalks were stunning.

LOCH ARD GEORGE

Loch Ard George is located a few minutes away from the Twelve Apostles. This place is famous of its beautiful limestone cliffs as well as the famous shipwreck site of Loch Ard.

GIBSON STEPS

The final stop of this Great Ocean Road day tour was a brief stop at the Gibson Steps. We were given a few minutes to go down & have a final walk at the Great Ocean Road beach.

From there, we started our trip back to Melbourne. It took us about 3 hours before we reached our final stop, St Paul’s Cathedral. Overall, it was a long but a great day tour. The views were stunning & one-of-a-kind. It’s a unique place to visit in Melbourne & in Australia, something one should not miss when visiting the city / state. I recommend taking a tour through this agency because doing it your own could be too tiring. I won’t mind doing it again in case I fly back to Melbourne.

(L-R) Me, Leng, Shane & Lord at Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell, VIC. Photo courtesy of Shane.

Have you been to the Great Ocean Road? Which was your favorite spot? Was the weather nice & clear during your visit to the Twelve Apostles? I hope the weather will be perfect in my next visit as I’m surely going to be back. Share your experiences in the comment section below. Do you have any questions about the Great Ocean Road or Melbourne in general? Feel free to post them below or e-mail them to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll answer as soon as possible. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Before I forget, I want to let you know that it’s been a year since I first went to Australia with my friends. We explored Sydney for a few days & I flew to Brisbane for 3 days to spend some time with my relatives. Check out the Sydney & Brisbane blog list below to know more about my Australia previous trip.

Tuesday Tip: 6 Steps On How To Apply For An Australian Tourist Visa
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours
N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute
N9 In Straya Series: HUNTER VALLEY Day Tour – Australian Wine Tasting At Its Finest
N9 In Straya Series: SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS – Nature & Adventure In One Place
N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD
Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

Thanks for joining me today.. Until the next Melbourne post! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: BRIGHTON BATHING BOXES – Iconic & Photogenic Bathing Boxes Found In A Coastal Melbourne Suburb

Over the last few weeks, I shared with you some details of our walk-a-thon around the City of Melbourne. I talked about the places we’ve been to in the city, mostly parks & gardens, heritage sites, hipster laneways & communal spaces. Melbourne is such a walk-able city – most of the places to visit can be reached by foot. I mentioned in one of my previous posts that my friends & I also went on day trips outside the city to see what the Victorian state has to offer.

One of the day trips, or should I stay half day trips, we took is a morning at the Brighton Bathing Boxes site. The iconic Brighton Bathing Boxes are located in Dendy Street Beach in Brighton, Victoria. These boxes played an important role in the seaside bathing culture in Melbourne in the 1900’s. Out of the thousands of bathing boxes present in the costs, only 82 of them remain. All these 82 bathing boxes are found at the Dendy Street Beach. Up to now, these boxes are licensed by the local government council as bathing boxes; although some of them are no longer functional.

The Brighton Bathing Boxes have become a popular tourist attraction outside Melbourne. Visitors flock to this site to see & have a photo with the colorful & uniquely-designed boxes. These boxes sport the intricate Victorian architecture with its original wooden materials. A photo with the bathing boxes is perfect for your next Instagram post or your Facebook profile photo. This place may be out of the way, but it’s definitely worth the visit.

Planning to visit Australia soon? Getting a tourist visa is easy as 6 steps. Check out my post on how you can get your visa to Australia.

Access

Going to the Brighton Bathing Boxes is very easy. From Flinders Street Station, take the Sandringham Line to Sandringham. Get off at Middle Brighton Station & walk for about 15 minutes to Dendy Street Beach. The boxes are located on this beach. Take note that the nearest station to the bathing boxes is Middle Brighton Station & not Brighton Station.

The Sandringham Line was under repair / redevelopment during our visit. Public Transport Victoria provided free bus rides to Sandringham from the Parliament Station. These buses stop at every station on the Sandringham Line. We rode these free buses to Brighton & back to the city. It also helped us save some cash. Make sure to check the Public Transport Victoria website for service interruptions / maintenance.

Looking for a place to stay in Melbourne? Check out Flinders Backpackers. This hostel is affordable & has a great vibe. Know more details about the hostel by clicking this link.

Brighton Bathing Boxes

The 82 Brighton Bathing Boxes are positioned as one line on Dendy Street Beach. Visitors have 82 boxes to choose from for their best photo. We went there around 10-11 in the morning on a public holiday & oh boy, there were a lot of people. There were only a number of people swimming in the beach due to the relatively cold but sunny weather.

Brighton Beach

My friends & I decided to check out Brighton Beach since we were already in the area. Brighton Beach is about 15-20 minutes walk (about 1.2 kilometers) away from the bathing boxes site on Dendy Street Beach. Brighton Beach was quiet compared to the bathing boxes site. There were close to no one swimming because of the cold winds. We took the ride back to the city from Brighton Station.

This sums up our brief morning visit to Brighton & the Bathing Boxes site. Is this place worth going? Definitely. Will I visit the place again when I fly back to Melbourne? I don’t know. Seeing the boxes for the first time is great & that’s it. There’s nothing else to see in the area.

Have you been to the Brighton Bathing Boxes? What is your favorite bathing box? Were there a lot of people during your visit? Share your experiences & trips in the comment section below & let’s engage in a discussion. Do you have any questions about Melbourne & Brighton in general? You can also post them in the comments below or send it to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for taking your time to read my post. Watch out for my upcoming stories about our Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island & Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tours. It should be posted on this website soon!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.