A Traveller's Guide When Visiting Europe for the First Time
Sunday, October 26, 2014
 |
| Beautiful lake view at Brugge, Belgium |
1 - Money
It’s common to have notes changed
when you travel abroad. If you’re travelling to Europe, it would save you money
if you have your cash converted in your homeland. In our case, we could’ve
saved up more if we have our money changed in the Philippines than abroad. In
London and France, most currency exchange counters have commissions (or at
least, the ones we found). Plus, a lot of these counters are closed on Sundays.
So just imagine how much money will be deducted aside from the conversion rate.
The only downside if you’re getting your money changed here is the availability
of a certain currency. It’ll be a challenge for you to find a money changer or
a bank that will let you buy Euros, British Pounds and other foreign currencies
other than US Dollars. Otherwise, withdraw cash using your ATM card. Just make
sure it’s valid for withdrawals done abroad.
2 - Pack Light
If you’re bringing luggage, one is
enough. I know men can fit their clothes and other stuff good for 11 days in
one hand-carry luggage, but that’s just impossible if you’re a woman. I brought
a luggage that could carry up to 30kg. I filled up the suitcase up to 20kg
which was soooo wrong! It got me thinking that I need lots of sweaters and
coats and boots because it was early spring in Europe. Living in a tropical
country, 10 to 12 degrees Celsius is like winter for me. We had airport
transfers in London, Paris and Rome so it wouldn’t be a problem carrying the
luggage wherever we go. However, when you’re getting on a train, you have to
carry all your belongings on your own. And that’s when all the difficulties
began.
 |
| Thello sleeper train from Paris to Milan |
 |
| Trenitalia train from Milan to Rome |
3 - Train Ride
Keep in mind that when travelling
around Europe, especially on neighboring countries, it’s more convenient to
ride the train. We took the Eurostar from London to Paris, Thello from Paris to
Milan, then Trenitalia from Milan to Rome. Most of the time, nobody will help
you carry your [heavy] luggage. It’s just you and your companions. The train
conductors roamed around the train, checking tickets and assisting other
passengers so it’s really up to you to do the work. I was lucky I got help from
Thello conductors. If you have a big luggage like mine, you have to leave yours
at the end of the car. Space for your luggage at the end of the car (or
compartment at the end of the seats) will depend on the type of train and time
of the day. Trenitalia was very spacious, while Eurostar was almost packed so
you have to reach your assigned car or cabin early. Thello is a sleeper train
so imagine being jam-packed in one train compartment with 6 people together
with everyone’s belongings.
 |
| Brugge, Belgium |
 |
| Gelato in Rome |
4 - Food
Rice is a staple food in Asia. So if
you’re bound for Europe, expect to see less of it and more of bread, steak,
potato and pasta. Food is actually great (especially in Italy!), but there are
times when you will be missing rice. It’ll start kicking in by the third day.
If you want rice, go to a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. There are a number of
Japanese restaurants in central Paris, especially around Galeries Lafayette mall.
We even saw a Chinese restaurant that serves buffet lunch for € 12. In London,
however, I don’t remember seeing Asian cuisine. I didn’t miss Filipino and
Asian food when I was in Italy. Pizza, pasta, gelato – it was pure heaven
there! If you think you’re bound to miss food from home, pack something
familiar like cup noodles, bread, peanut butter, etc. You can even buy food at
the grocery and cook if you’re staying at an apartment. In Paris, we didn’t
miss rice too much because the hotel we were staying at served rice in the
morning (though it felt like the rice was half-cooked).
 |
| Pasta with Espresso |
 |
| Bruschetta |
 |
| Pizza Margherita |
5 - Clothes
Know what will be the season when you
get to Europe. Since it was early spring when we got there, the climate was
still chilly. We only get to see the sun a few times in 11 days. Like I said
earlier, I was never a light packer and I want my photos taken with me wearing
different clothes. The key is to get basic pieces which you can mix and match
(that I didn’t do). It saves luggage space and nobody will notice if you
repeated clothes. Just pack maybe around 5 scarves and then use accessories to
differentiate your every ensemble. If you’re visiting Europe in springtime, one
pair of boots is enough. You can just carry flats or sneakers for variation.
And bring laundry soap with you so you can wash some of your basic pieces and
underwear. Just let them dry in the bathroom.
 |
| At an old church in Brugge, Belgium. I wore a knitted black sweater underneath, dark blue knitted skirt, black tights, black leather jacket and a thick, knitted infinity scarf. |
 |
| My sister and I went to the Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros. Studios in London. I wore a mustard sweater, denim jeans, down jacket, scarf and combat boots (photo taken by my sister). |
6 - Supermarket
One thing that can really save you
money is when you rummage through the local supermarket. When I travel, I
always make sure to check out the supermarket or grocery. You’ll get a taste of
people’s lifestyle, food and products without paying for a hefty sum. When I
bring pasalubong or small presents from my travels, I buy packs of local
delicacies or small food items which can be found in their grocery. For
instance, there are Cadbury products in the UK which you cannot find in the
Philippines. Snack treats vary from country to country. Furthermore, if you
want genuine ingredients for a dish you’ll prepare back home, add a few in your
cart.
7 - Expenses
Water is expensive in Paris (well
Europe in general). I am not kidding. Go to the grocery if you want something
cheaper but the usual cost you can find in vendo machines is € 2 (around Php
110). It’s about 350 to 500 ml. I’m not sure if restaurants provide service
water like here in Manila, but the average cost of water in restaurants range
from € 2.50 to € 3. Water is a bit cheaper in London and Rome than in Paris and
Brugge. Unlike in Asia, there are a few public toilets in Europe. I don’t
remember seeing toilets in train stations or in the metro. There’s one in Paris
Gare de Lyon (big train station for trains crossing countries or borders) but I
remember paying for € 0.10 or € 0.30 just to pee. In addition to that, you
can’t just barge in a restaurant to use the toilet. You can use the toilet for free
when you eat there or you can pay up. Take advantage of museums and tourist
spots even if you have to shell out money. If you want to go up the Eiffel
Tower, do it at night so you’ll pay cheaper.
 |
| Water served in a glass bottle as we dine at a restaurant in Brugge |
 |
| The sight of the Eiffel Tower at night. It really is a magnificent view when you visit starting from 10PM. |
8 - Fare and Accommodation
Grab your chance to visit Europe when
there’s a promo airfare sale. Plus, it’s also cheaper if you arrive and depart
in the same destination. When we visited Europe, we got Philippine Airlines’
promo roundtrip airfare Manila-London-Manila (around Php 46,000+). In terms of
accommodation, the bigger your group is, the more savings you can get (given
you’ll be staying in one room or apartment). You can rent an apartment and save
tons of money than when you stay at a hotel. You also need to consider the
location. You pay cheaper for an accommodation far from the city but you will
be facing transportation costs. On the other hand, a slightly expensive
accommodation in the city can save you tons of time and transportation costs.
 |
| Typical Paris neighborhood |
 |
| Unlimited train ride around Rome for one day at € 6. |
Keep in mind that most hotel
accommodations in Europe, especially 3 stars below, have small rooms (really,
really small) and not as extravagant as the rooms you can find in Macau. If you
stay in Paris, there are day tours which can take you to other nearby countries
like Belgium, Netherlands and more. Riding the taxi will definitely be more
costly so learn to take the train when you’re in the city and buy a card that
lets you have unlimited train rides within the day. However, riding the train
can be very much tiring and time consuming. If you’ve got extra money in your
pocket, take advantage of hop-on hop-off buses. They cost around € 25 in Paris
valid for a day. If you’re planning to have a day trip to another country,
consider booking coaches (buses) in advance. They’re much cheaper than trains.
9 - Pickpockets and Scams
Beware of pickpockets and scammers
when you travel around Europe. If you think it only happens in third world
countries, wait ‘til you get to Rome. In Roma Termini train station, you’ll see
a group of teenage, European girls who converge in the station and they really
know how to steal your stuff. We were warned by other Filipinos as soon as we
reach the station and true enough, these girls were doing their business to
another passenger on the train. You’ll actually think they’re harmless because
they look beautiful, young and innocent but be careful. You cannot harm them of
course, and the authorities just call their attention without bringing them to
the police because these girls are minors.
 |
| Red phone booth and Big Ben - Find this very famous spot when you visit London! |
The safest I’ve been to: London and
Brugge. A colleague of mine had an experience at Notre Dame church in Paris
where he was scammed. A ring was placed on his finger and the scammers demanded
for payment. Not sure if they used the “religion speech” for the ring, but I’m
glad that didn’t happen to us during our visit. Just remember to keep your
personal belongings close to you, especially your passport.
10 - Research
Learn something about the country
you’re visiting. Don’t just stick to the obvious like the weather, currency,
tourist spots, food and shopping. Most importantly, learn about their culture.
For instance in escalators, stay on the right side if you’re not in a hurry.
This, I think is applicable anywhere else in the world, but not in the
Philippines. In Paris, when it’s rush hour, do not occupy seats near the doors.
Just stand up. Read before you ask. Don’t talk too loud in certain places. Learn
a little bit about their culture. Watch people move. And best of all, learn how
to say “hello”, “thank you” and “sorry” in their native language.
Will you be travelling to Europe soon? What are your dream destinations? Comment down below and I'll happily get your questions answered!
Will you be travelling to Europe soon? What are your dream destinations? Comment down below and I'll happily get your questions answered!
0 comments