Budget Travel – Page 14 – The Wknd Travel

Flying 101: Comparing Low-Cost & Full-Service Carriers

It’s been months since leisure travel was banned for us, Filipinos. If not for Covid-19, many of us might be somewhere else blending with beautiful nature, walking around modern & vibrant cities & enjoying the sunset in islands & beaches. The pandemic stopped tourism or leisure activity & forced people to stay in their own homes.

I can’t believe my last leisure travel was my solo trip to Europe in late 2019. It’s the first time I’ve been on the ground this long. I may have run out of recent trips to share or post but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop sharing travel-related information & experiences with you. Since we’re all stuck at home, I figured out it’s the best time to go back to basics.

Today, I will start a blog series called Flying 101. It is a blog series that will talk about the basics of flying & all other details around it. By the end of this series, I hope you’ll know the ins & outs of flying & you’ll learn to maximize it once leisure travel is back to its pre-pandemic level.

The first topic in this Flying 101 series is a comparison between low-cost & full-service carriers. There are thousands of airlines around the world & all these airlines are either low-cost or full-service carriers. Join me in today’s topic as I define to you what are low-cost & full-service carriers, what are their similarities & their differences. Find out at the end of the post which type of carrier you should fly with in your next flight.

DEFINITION

A low-cost carrier is an airline that provides flights & fares at a low-cost & eliminates the luxuries of flying. On the other hand, a full-service carrier, from its name, is an airline that provides a comfortable (up to some point luxurious) full-board flying experience. A full-service carrier has a long & eventful history & are usually the flag carriers of the country of origin.

Of the 3 main carriers here in the Philippines, Philippine Airlines is the only full-service carrier. The other 2 carriers – Cebu Pacific Air & Philippines Air Asia – are low-cost carriers. I will mostly use these 3 airlines to point out the similarities & differences between the low-cost & full-service carriers.

SIMILARITIES

Even with the different service models they use, low-cost & full-service carriers still have similarities as detailed below:

Destinations & Hubs – A low-cost carrier has almost the same destinations & hubs with that of the full-service carriers. All the 3 Philippine carriers mentioned above fly out from Manila, Clark, Cebu, Davao & other smaller hubs to various domestic & international destinations. 2 out of 3 carriers, if not all, fly to almost the same destinations depending on their fleet & the approved passenger traffic by the authorities.

Loyalty Programs – Airlines, regardless of the service model they use, offer loyalty programs to their passengers. These loyalty programs allow passengers to earn points & miles every time they fly or they avail from partner establishments. All the 3 airlines above have their own loyalty programs – Philippine Airlines has Mabuhay Miles frequent flyer program, Cebu Pacific Air has GetGo lifestyle rewards program & Philippines Air Asia has Air Asia BIG loyalty program.

DIFFERENCES

Believe it or not, low-cost & full-service carriers have a longer list of differences. Know more about these differences in the detailed list below:

Pricing – The biggest difference between low-cost & full-service carriers is pricing. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest fares to & from their destinations. These carriers are known for providing no-frills fares – meaning fares only include a guaranteed seat in the flight & a limited carry-on baggage allowance. Their base fares can go as low as ₱1 or even ₱0 or free. Any extra service or benefit in a low-cost carrier comes with a fee. On the other hand, full-service offer flights at a higher price but with added benefits included.

Here’s a sample PROMOTION ticket FOR 1 to Taipei, Taiwan on EVA Air – a full-service carrier.

This is a ticket FOR 2 to Taipei, Taiwan on Cebu Pacific Air – a low-cost carrier. Cheap-o, right?

Cabin Class – Low-cost airlines usually adopt an all-economy class cabin; they pack airplanes with its maximum passenger capacity. Both Philippines Air Asia & Cebu Pacific Air pack their Airbus A320 with 180 economy class passengers. Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A330 can accommodate up to 436 passengers – the densest seating capacity for that type of aircraft.

Full-service carriers offer up to 4 cabin classes in their flights – first class, business class, premium economy class & economy class. First class is the most luxurious cabin & economy class is the cheapest. Only selected airlines fly all 4 classes but most airlines either have either business & economy classes or business, premium economy & economy classes. Philippine Airlines offer both business & economy class experience to most of their network & offer premium economy to selected routes.

Please take note that some low-cost carriers outside the Philippines, like Air Asia X, Scoot, Jetstar & Norwegian, have started offering premium cabins (their own version of business class) on their medium to long-haul routes.

Baggage Allowance – Baggage allowance in low-cost carriers come with a fee, depending on how big the baggage allowance is. On the other hand, baggage allowance is included in full-service carriers. Allowance depends on the cabin & fare classes but it’s usually 25 to 30 kilograms for economy class passengers on international routes.

In the effort to earn some revenue & to offer lower fares, some full-service airlines like Malaysia Airlines & Philippine Airlines have started offering baggage allowance for an additional fee on economy light fares.

In-flight Food, Entertainment & Experience – Full-service carriers outweigh low-cost carriers in terms of in-flight experience. Full-service airlines offer free snacks, liquor & up to 2 meals on board depending on flight duration. Each seat in a full-service airline plane has a bigger leg room & seat pitch & features personal entertainment screens in most flights. If not, they offer entertainment options via the airline’s mobile application. Each seat also offers a pillow, blanket & an earphone or headphone. Some full-service carrier airplanes even offer in-flight Wi-Fi. Premium cabins have wider seats, lie-flat beds, bigger entertainment screens & luxurious food options.

In-flight experience in a low-cost carrier is nothing if you don’t pay for additional services. In-flight meals & snacks are available for purchase on the website & during the flight. Low-cost carries don’t offer entertainment options & amenities (pillow, blanket & earphones / headphones) on their flights. Every single added benefit on a low-cost airline comes with a fee.

In-flight entertainment on a full-service carrier (SQ)

Please take note that airlines have various policies on in-flight features. Some full-service airlines offer snacks or meals for a fee on certain routes, particularly in Europe. I remember when I flew with Brussels Airlines & Czech Airlines; both flights I flew with offered snacks for sale during the flights. If you want to experience the full-service airline benefits, it’s best to fly with Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates & the likes.

Airports & Airport Terminals – This may not be entirely true here in the Philippines but some, if not most, full-service carriers fly from the main & nicer airports & airport terminals. Low-cost carriers have their own terminals, if not secondary airports. Secondary airports are mostly applicable to European low-cost carriers like Ryan Air & WizzAir. These secondary airports keep taxes & fees lower than that of main airports making it more attractive & fit for the low-cost carrier’s service models.

For example, most full-service carriers fly out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Main Terminal while low-cost carriers fly out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. Another classic example is Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi & Don Mueang Airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport hosts majority of the full-service carriers flying into Bangkok while Don Mueang Airport accommodates most of the low-cost carriers flying into the city. Here in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific Air uses the relatively newer Terminal 3 (for domestic jet flights) & the older Terminal 4 (for turboprop flights), Philippine Airlines fly out of Terminals 2 & 3 (for domestic flights) & Philippines Air Asia only uses the older Terminal 4 for their domestic services.

Code-Share Agreements, Alliances Networks – Full-service carriers have code-share agreements with other full-service airlines which make their networks even bigger. These airlines also are members of world airline alliances which make transfers easy & hassle-free. Passengers have access to farther destinations & even to smaller regional airports with only 1 check-in. It’s rare for low-cost carriers to have code-share agreements & alliances. It then makes their network only limited to their destinations.

Philippine Airlines is not a member of a world airline alliance but has code-share agreements with All Nippon Airways (Japan), Malaysia Airlines, Turkish Airlines & a few more. Cebu Pacific Air, on the other hand, is a member of Value Alliance. I am not sure if the alliance is still operational & I haven’t tried it too. Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world’s biggest airline alliance. Passengers can fly to various destinations worldwide as long as the destination is part of the Star Alliance network.

WHICH ONE TO FLY?

Now that we know what low-cost carriers & full-services area, its similarities & differences, you might ask me which one should you fly. I always consider 4 factors when choosing which one to fly – Fare, Flight Duration, Loyalty & Comfort.

Fare – I will always go with the low-cost carrier if the fare is way cheaper than that of the full-service carrier. If the promotional fare is at ₱1 or free base fare, no doubt I’ll go with the low-cost carrier but considering the 3 other factors below.

I won’t mind taking a 3.5-hour flight to & from Japan if the fare is this cheap – ₱2,873.74 return!

Flight Duration – I already flew 4 times a low-cost carrier on an 8-hour flight & I had a 50-50 experience. The passenger load was half empty on the first 2 flights so it was alright. The last 2 flights had full passenger load & it was the worst. I told myself that I won’t mind flying a low-cost carrier for flights up to 4.5 hours. I will take a full-service carrier for flights over 4.5 hours.

Loyalty – I collect & earn miles on selected frequent flyer programs; I also consider this when booking flights. Either I book with Cebu Pacific Air to earn GetGo points, with Philippine Airlines to earn Mabuhay Miles or with Singapore Airlines to earn KrisFlyer miles. As much as possible, when flying with other airlines, I make sure I will have the chance to earn miles or points for the program I am a member of.

Comfort – Comfort & in-flight experience is one factor that I recently started looking into. I make sure that I am okay with the carrier’s seats, service & promised in-flight experience when choosing on which one to fly.

I flew with both low-cost & full-service carriers in the past & I will choose the full-service airline at any time, especially on longer flights. If I am planning to save some cash, then I will go with the low-cost carrier. At the end of the day, you will be the one to decide which one to fly to your destination of choice.

Thank you for joining in today’s Flying 101 topic. I hope you learned something about low-cost & full-service carriers. Now you know which type of carrier you’ll fly with on your post-pandemic trip. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Be up to date with cheap fares, airline promotions & the upcoming Flying 101 posts by following me on these platforms – Facebook & Instagram. See you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 923 – Fukuoka to Manila – Strict But Well-Organized Free Base Fare Flight Back To Manila

Hey, I hope you’re coping well. I know most of us miss flying & going on vacations. The Covid-19 pandemic stopped leisure travel & has forced us to stay in our homes indefinitely. While most of the countries all over the world are restarting leisure travel, we, Filipinos, are still not allowed to do so – even domestic travels are not allowed. All we can do now is to look back & relive the great memories we made in our previous trips.

One of the trips I keep on revisiting is our Fukuoka 2019 surprise trip. My friend & I surprised another friend in her supposed-to-be first solo international trip. I already shared with you details about this trip in the following posts – 48 Hours in Fukuoka for less than ₱12,500 all in, Nekokura Hostel of the Day feature & 5J 922 Cebu Pacific Air Flight Report. Today, I will share with you details of our Cebu Pacific Air 5j 923 flight from Fukuoka, Japan back to Manila, Philippines. Know how organized Japanese people & airports are & generally how the flight went in this new flight report.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Cebu Pacific Air

As mentioned in my previous 5J flight report, Cebu Pacific Air is the Philippines largest low-cost carrier. It flies to more than 60 domestic & international destinations across the country, Asia-Pacific & the Middle East. It is wholly owned by JG Summit Holdings, led by the Gokongweis. Including its subsidiary Cebgo, the airline operates a fleet of 70+ Airbus & ATR commercial & cargo aircraft with a number of new generation aircraft orders in place.

The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic & international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base fare promotions offered a few times a year. It has its own loyalty program called GetGo & is a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers.

Airfare & Inclusions

My friend & I got the return ticket to & from Fukuoka, Japan for only ₱2,873.74. We booked it through the airline’s loyalty program, GetGo, ‘5,000 points off’ promotion. At the time of booking, one-way base fare to Fukuoka were valued at 2,400 points. The return ticket cost us 4,800 points plus airline (minus 5,000 points – yay, so basically free base fare) & airport taxes. My friend & I only paid for the taxes & charges imposed by the airline – a decent deal, eh? It definitely was a steal considering the tickets were bought 3 weeks before the flight schedule.

Cebu Pacific Air is a low-cost carrier – meaning tickets only include the passenger’s base fare & taxes. The airline offers baggage allowance, seat selection, meals & refreshments & all over flight services for a fee. The airline’s fleet don’t have personal or communal entertainment screens. The fare my friend & I bought only includes a 7-kilogram carry-on luggage which was enough for our 48-hour Fukuoka trip. The full list of the airline’s add-on charges is found in their website.

Flight & Aircraft Information

This Fukuoka to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by a 5.5-year-old (that time) Airbus A320-214 aircraft with registration RP-C3277. The airplane has an all-economy configuration (just like all other Cebu Pacific Air aircraft) with 180 seats on a 3-3 layout. The flight left Fukuoka station at 7:48 pm JST & arrived Ninoy Aquino International Airport (in Manila) at 11:10 pm PHT. The flight took 4 hours & 22 minutes from one airport gate to the other.

Ground & Airport Experience

International flights arrive & depart from Fukuoka Airport’s international terminal. The terminal is 10-minute (free) bus ride from the Fukuoka Airport Subway Station / Domestic Terminal. Upon arrival at the terminal, my friend & I went to Row C check-in counters. The counters opened 3 hours before the flight.

Check-in process was quick & efficient. Heavy bags & boxes undergo security checks before they can be accepted by the ground staff for check-in. There were 3 normal check-in & 1 online check-in counters that day. All ground staff strictly check & weigh each passenger’s carry-on items. They only allow 7-kilograms of carry-on baggage & up to 2 items only. My friend & I already checked-in online & queued in the online check-in counter. We requested for exit row seats; the lovely check-in counter crew granted our request. Our whole check-in process took 20-minutes & that included 15 minutes in queue for the luggage security check.

In case you missed it, we almost missed our Manila to Fukuoka flight because of lengthy check-in process & slow immigration lines in NAIA 3. Know more about this almost-missed flight in this flight report.

Immigration & final security took less than 10 minutes. There were no long lines or whatsoever. The flight boarding process commenced 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Passengers with children & those needing special assistance boarded the aircraft first. The regular passengers boarded next. We boarded from Gate 56 & finished after 15-20 minutes. Boarding has quick & smooth.

In-Flight Product

Cebu Pacific Air is known as a no-frills airline. The airline keeps their fares low by providing the most basic product on air – a guaranteed seat on the flight & a 7-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance. Additional flight features such as baggage allowance, in-flight meal, insurance, seat selection & the likes are available at an extra cost.

My friend & I were assigned at exit seats 12B & 12C. These exit row seats have enormous legroom but do not recline. Regular seats on Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A320 aircraft feature 28 inches of seat pitch & generous reclines. These seats were made & designed by Recaro, a world-renown seat manufacturing company known for their light & ergonomically-designed seat products. Each seat features a decently sized tray table & a small seat pocket with the aircraft safety card. The seats don’t feature personal entertainment screens. The only available form of entertainment is the monthly in-flight magazine found in every seat pocket.

Shortly after take-off, the cabin crew rolled out their snack cart & offered snacks to all passengers. The list of items for sale is found in the Fun Café menu in the seat pockets. The crew also handed out the pre-ordered snacks & meals to those who availed them. The airline allows passengers to pre-book their meals & snacks from the time of booking up to 24 hours before the flight.

This night flight didn’t feature the usual in-flight fun game. The crew gave the passengers the time to rest & sleep. I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory during the flight; I was dead tired after a long day of walking around the city.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew welcomed us into the flight with their biggest smiles. One crew also went up to us & explained the additional protocols for passengers seated in the exit rows. I didn’t have much chance to interact with the crew on this flight but those small encounters made a big difference in the flight experience.

Overall Experience

It was another pleasant flight with Cebu Pacific Air. My friend & I definitely enjoyed this flight from Fukuoka to Manila. The pleasant experience started with getting return tickets for only ₱2,873.74 without baggage. I still can’t imagine how this is possible in the current times? The ticket is even cheaper than a domestic ticket to destinations like Coron & Siargao or even international destinations like Hong Kong & Singapore. Cebu Pacific Air changed the game by giving every Juan the chance to fly in the most affordable rate.

The airport & ground experience was superb! It was the total opposite of my experience on the flight from Manila to Fukuoka. The check-in lines were fast-moving bur organized. The check-in process was efficient. The ground staff were reasonably strict but were nice & very accommodation. Immigration, final security check & boarding process didn’t take long. It was my 3^rd time flying out of this airport & the experience hasn’t changed. I am amazed how the airport management maintained it even with the increasing number of passenger traffic. All my Fukuoka Airport experiences were very close to ideal.

The flight experience was alright as expected. The cabin crew greeted us with their best smiles upon boarding & disembarking from the plane. I didn’t have much to talk about the in-flight experience because I was asleep most of the flight. The only thing I didn’t like was our plane didn’t have an available airport gate when we landed in Manila station. We waited inside the plane for more than 15-20 minutes before we finally got our Terminal 3 gate assignment. I really hope the local airport authorities do something about this once everything does back to normal.

I cannot wait to fly out again with Cebu Pacific Air in the future. I have plans of trying their long-haul flights (again but this time feature it) to perhaps Sydney or Melbourne once Australia opens. I also want to just fly out to wherever possible & take some time off. I will surely fly with them on those trips. For those of you who want to know the flight & aircraft details, here are the information you want or need:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 20 October 2019
Flight Number: 5J 923
Route: Fukuoka (FUK) Japan to Manila (MNL) Philippines
Duration: 4:22 hours
Seat Number: 12C
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: RP-C3277
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 6 years old
Year Delivered: 2014

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Do you have any questions about the flight or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

How I wish we can all soon go back to the times when flying & travelling is safe & places are virus-free. Those safe times are far from happening based on the current vaccine & treatment developments but I hope you are coping well with the effects of pandemic. Let’s us all hope for better times in the future. For the meantime, we can all connect & talk about our previous travel experiences. Follow me on my social media channels – Facebook & Instagram.

Don’t forget to check out my previous Cebu Pacific Air flight reports: Legazpi to Manila, Manila to Jakarta, Manila to Caticlan (Boracay), Caticlan (Boracay) to Manila on Cebgo & Manila to Fukuoka. Other flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Until next time. Stay safe!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

P’s List: 5 Philippine Destinations I Won’t Get Tired of Visiting

Before I started flying to different international destinations, I’ve been going around different Philippine destinations. I remember in 2012, I had 4 trips in 4 consecutive weekends – I went to Cebu, then to Bacolod, Legaspi & Puerto Princesa. I may not have been to all 81 Philippine provinces, but I can say I’ve been to some of them.

Falling in love to a place you’ve been to maybe a cliché but it really happens. I enjoy every single place I visit but I don’t necessarily fall in love with it. It takes jaw-dropping views, fun & exciting inland & island tours, great company & tasty food for me to fall in love with a place. Today’s P’s List will feature 5 Philippine destinations where I can say I fell in love with & I won’t get tired of going back again & again.

Boracay

It may be the most touristy & commercial island destination in the country but it is still Boracay. The island’s white sand beaches, spectacular sunset & relaxing holiday vibe make it a unique beach destination. The island isn’t famous for nothing. I’ve been to the island a couple of times & I keep on coming back. It’s one of those islands where you can fly in, lie down in the fine white sand & just relax thinking about nothing.

Palawan

Continuously hailed as one of the world’s best islands, Palawan stole my heart since I visited the island in 2012. I’ve been to Puerto Princesa once, Coron once, Port Barton twice & El Nido four times & I still look forward to visiting the island again. Palawan has pristine beaches, world-class islands, stunning views & rich marine life. My favorite spots / activities in Palawan include Iwahig firefly watching activity in Puerto Princesa, Malcapuya Island & Kayangan Lake in Coron, Nacpan Beach, Big Lagoon & Entalula Island in El Nido & Turtle Point, Twin Reef & Maxima Island in Port Barton. It has everything an island destination can have; it is hands down my favorite domestic destination next to home.

Siquijor

I went on a spontaneous weekend trip to Siquijor with friends in July 2017. I feel in love with how simple & untouched everything is in the island. The island is relatively unknown compared to its neighbors but has the beautiful Paliton & Salagdoong Beaches, the one-of-a-kind Cambugahay Falls, the interesting Balete Tree & the old but preserved Lazi Church. I instantly feel in-love with the island on my first visit & I want to go back & explore it again.

Siargao

I may not be a surfer but I surely fell in love with Siargao on my first visit. The beautiful tour locations (in the morning) & the crazy party vibes (at night) made this Siargao a great place to visit. I fell in love with Sugba Lagoon, enjoyed Magpupungko’s tidal & rock pool & liked the tour around Sohoton. The jellyfish sanctuary visit was really cool. I also loved Cloud 9’s island vibe. Ahh, I want to go back to Siargao soon!

Albay

Nothing beats a place called home; Albay will always be my favorite. You may find it biased but hey, you can’t blame me for being one. It’s where I grew up & where my family is. Add to it the spectacular view of Mayon Volcano, which I can see from our house’ gate. I miss home, I can’t wait to go back when this pandemic is over. Albay is the place which I’ll never get tired of visiting.

I honestly can’t wait to visit these places again. I know international travel won’t be allowed in the next few months but I hope the government will allow domestic tourism as soon as it’s already safe for everyone. How about you? Which Philippine destinations do you always keep on visiting & why? Share your own list in the comments section below!

Do you have any questions about the destinations mentioned above? If yes, you may send them 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 lists & itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for joining me in today’s list. Until the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re.

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.