Personal experience: how I traveled six countries for 45 thousand rubles

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Where to live, what to eat and what to see for the budget traveler.

I have been traveling since 18 years old. Now I am 24, and there are 20 countries on my list. Most often, I go on trips abroad alone: it is rare to dock a vacation with friends, and it is not always possible to agree on the desired destination.

It is a thankless task to search for tourist vouchers for one person: you can only find a tour for a price slightly less than a trip for two. Therefore, the best option is to shape the trip yourself. I do this in 90% of cases, including during my last trip, which took place in October 2018. At that time, I had a C3 Schengen visa, which involves multiple entries.

Somewhere in August, I realized that the visa ends in November, and I don't want to lose the opportunity to visit Europe again. So I started planning my trip. The budget was small - only 45 thousand rubles, too little time - two weeks. At the same time, I wanted to see as many countries as possible.

The main point for me was France. Further from it, it was possible to move south towards Portugal and Spain (it turned out to be expensive), to the north - to Belgium and the Netherlands, or the third option - to make a more difficult route with two stops. I chose the latter.

As a result, the travel plan looked as follows: Moscow - Belgrade - Paris - Lille - Brussels - Charleroi - Riga - Vilnius - Riga - Tallinn - Riga - Kaliningrad - Moscow.

Transport

When planning a trip, I always start by calculating travel costs. This is usually the most expensive part of the trip, but also the most unpredictable, because there is a high probability of finding special offers or stumbling upon a promotion from the carrier company.

Aircraft

Plane tickets can be purchased on the airline's website or using search services, for example, or. Before buying, be sure to compare offers: sometimes the prices for tickets from the carrier and in the general database can differ significantly.

In two weeks, I made only three flights:

1. From Moscow to Paris with a transfer in Belgrade. Due to the docking, the flight took 25 hours, but it cost only 4,649 rubles and made it possible to see the capital of Serbia. Tip: pay attention to connecting flights, they are usually cheaper than direct flights.
2. From Brussels to Riga. A ticket to the Ryanair low-cost airline cost only 19 euros (about 1,600 rubles). It would seem super beneficial, but there are pitfalls. Ryanair aircraft take off from Brussels-Charleroi Airport. It is not located in the capital, but in the city of Charleroi (distance - 46 kilometers). You can get to the airport from Brussels on a special shuttle, the ticket for which costs 13 euros. There is another way - to come to Charleroi from Brussels by intercity bus for 5-6 euros, and then get to the airport by public transport for 7 euros. The price is the same, but you can see the city.
3. The third flight is already in Russia: Kaliningrad - Moscow. A ticket to the Pobeda low-cost airline - 2,600 rubles.

On a budget trip, you always need to go light, for example, with one briefcase or backpack. You can easily take it with you on board a low-cost airline and not check it into the luggage compartment of buses.

Important! Do not take too large a backpack: usually the dimensions of carry-on luggage are limited and a bag of only 55 × 40 × 20 cm or even 36 × 30 × 27 cm is allowed on board.

Buses

Most often, between countries (and sometimes cities) I traveled by bus. Fortunately, traveling around Europe in this way is a pleasure: the roads are smooth, the journey takes four hours, everyone has their own tablet with a library of films and music in the cabin. And sometimes a bonus is also unlimited coffee from a vending machine, for example, from Ecolines buses.

I search for tickets using the application (Omio). This is a search service that contains all possible options for moving around Europe. There is no point in describing each trip in detail, but the prices translated into rubles were as follows:

• Paris - Lille, 480 rubles;
• Lille - Brussels, 423 rubles;
• Brussels - Charleroi, 420 rubles;
• Riga - Vilnius - Riga, 1,400 rubles;
• Riga - Tallinn - Riga, 1,320 rubles;
• Riga - Kaliningrad, 1,200 rubles.

Public transport

On public transport, I tried to save as much as possible and walk instead. European capitals are small in size, and you can walk from one landmark to another in a maximum of an hour or two.

But sometimes you just can't do without transport. For example, when you need to get from the airport to the city center. Transfer prices are different in all cities - the cheapest option is in Riga (1 euro), the most expensive in Paris (17 euro). However, public transport is always the most cost-effective way to get to the city center.

During the trip itself, I used public transport only in Brussels (once) and Paris. In the latter, she took the subway every day, because she lived in the suburbs. A single ticket costs 1, 9 euros there.

Accommodation

When choosing a home, I compare three characteristics: price, living conditions and distance from the main attractions.

An airport

It is difficult to call the airport housing in the literal sense of the word. It is rather a place to spend the night. Ideal if you are arriving late or departing very early: usually public transport is closed at night and taxis to the city center are expensive.

During this trip, I stayed overnight at the airport only once - in Belgrade. The flight to Paris was very early in the morning and it would not have been possible to get there by public transport on time.

When you spend the night at the airport, you need to adhere to two rules: find a place near the outlet and stock up on food from the supermarket in advance. If you've already checked in for your flight, it's best to go to the lounge. It is usually more comfortable than the arrivals hall.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a great international network of travelers looking for a place to sleep and people willing to host a foreigner for free. Couchsurfing provides an opportunity to make new acquaintances, exchange cultural experiences and, moreover, not go broke in large cities, for example in Paris.

I always start looking for a host in advance, at least a month before the trip. Then there remains the possibility, as a last resort, to find a workaround in the form of a hostel, hotel or rented apartment.

When choosing rubber, pay attention to the rating and reviews: there should not be a lot of them, but it is desirable that they are all good. I was very lucky with rubber in Paris. He agreed to accept me for four nights, gave me the keys to the apartment and treated me to his own food. So I was provided with breakfasts and dinners. But I didn't want to sit on my neck and overuse the hospitality of the Frenchman, so I cooked food from my own products a couple of times and treated him to.

Bring a rubber souvenir from Russia. Not necessarily large and expensive, but preferably associated with Russia. For example, Alyonka chocolate or buckwheat.

My couch lived in the suburbs of Paris - in the commune of Vincennes. The location of the accommodation on the map scared me a lot. And in vain. Getting to the center of the capital from Vincennes was very simple: by metro, train or even on foot - it took only 40 minutes to walk to Place de la Bastille. So if you are going to Paris, do not be afraid to stop in the suburbs.

Hostels

I always look for hostels in Europe with the help of the service. Comparing several options with each other, pay attention to the services that the hostel provides. Dwellings with the same price can differ in a very pleasant bonus - an en suite bathroom, for example. On my last trip, I stayed in three hostels:

1. In Brussels at the Generation Europe hostel. The latter is a 20-minute walk from the city center and from the southern bus station, where I arrived. Bonuses: bathroom in the room and breakfast included in the price. I paid 2,000 rubles for the night in the hostel.
2. In Charleroi in Generation Europe. The hostel is from the same chain as in Brussels, conditions and payment are the same.
3. In Vilnius in B & B & B & B & B. Wonderful hostel located near the bus station and the historic city center. It was possible to use the refrigerator and stove. For three nights at the hostel, I gave about 1,700 rubles.

Hotels

Over the course of multiple trips, I managed to understand that I cannot spend two weeks on a busy trip without a quiet and restful sleep. Therefore, I try to include one or two nights at the hotel in the middle of the trip. At the same time, I definitely choose something for special offers.

It is easy to find them: in the search engine on sites for booking hotels, there is usually a column of the same name, by clicking on which you can view all the promotional options in the selected city on the desired dates.

This time I stayed in hotels only in Riga, but in two:

1. Skanste. It is located next to the main sports stadium and the Arena Riga concert hall. The hotel is old, the room has a bed, wardrobe, desk and bathroom. The room rate included a modest buffet breakfast. For two nights at the hotel, I paid 2,000 rubles.
2. Dodo. It is located next to the Latvian Academy of Culture and a 15-minute walk from the bus station. The hotel is modern, the room has a TV, bed and bathroom. I booked it for a promotion and paid 1,800 rubles for two nights in a single room.

Food

Supermarkets

The cheapest way to eat is to buy food in supermarkets: prices in them differ slightly from Russian ones. For me, the ideal travel option is to buy a pack of granola and then add it to portioned yogurt or pour it over with milk or juice. One box of granola costs about 2 euros, and it will last for four meals. Yoghurt costs about Euros, juice can be found for the same amount. As a result, one meal will cost 1.5 euros.

You can buy fruits, vegetables, cheese, pastries on a budget. And if there is a kettle in the room, then it is easy to dine with porridge or instant noodles.

Be sure to take a spoon, food container, and bottle or thermos for water from home with you. Then it will be convenient to carry snacks with you during the day.

Public catering

Public catering establishments in Western Europe are too expensive for a budget tourist: a cup of cappuccino costs about 4 euros, a sandwich - 5, and a set lunch - 15. Therefore, I did not go to a cafe there. I used public catering only in the Baltic States. In Riga and Tallinn, for example, there is a budget chain of canteens. For 5 euros you can buy a portion of soup, dessert and tea there.

In Vilnius, I can recommend a network of cafes with traditional cuisine. The price tag in it is average: soup can be eaten for 1.5 euros, and hot for 3.

sights

To see as many sights as possible, the thrifty tourist can only be advised to walk a lot. Usually old cities themselves are quite colorful, contain many architectural monuments and sculptures that can be seen on the street for free.

Belgrade

In general, the sights of Belgrade can be easily seen in a day, so my short stay there was enough in full. Transfer bus A1 from Nikola Tesla Airport goes to Slavia Square. This is the very center of the city, and from here you can walk to most of the interesting places. I remember four most of all:

1. Temple of St. Sava. An Orthodox church that looks very beautiful from the outside. It seems to be inside, too, but I could not appreciate it: during the trip, restoration work was carried out. Free admission.
2. Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park. The main attraction of the city and its historical center. In the evening it is very crowded: the residents of Belgrade come to relax with friends and family. By the way, there is a small souvenir market in Kalemegdan Park with reasonable prices.
3. Prince Michael Street - the main pedestrian street in Belgrade. Located next to the fortress.
4. Buildings of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They were destroyed in 1999 by NATO troops and still stand in the city center without renovation or restoration.

Bonus: In Belgrade, many places are named after Nikola Tesla. If you get bored, you can try to count them all.:)

Paris

Paris is a city with a rich history, therefore, to see everything, you need to spend at least a week here. I was only four days, but I managed to visit quite a few interesting places. By the way, Paris is the only city in which I spent money on a cultural program.

1. The Eiffel Tower. The main attraction of Paris is best viewed from the Champs de Mars. In the evening, tourists and some townspeople gather here to sit on the lawn and watch the illumination on the tower.

   

2. Triumphal Arch. You need to pay to get close to it or to stand under the arch. A budget tourist can afford to look at it only from the outside, but this is quite enough.
3. Notre Dame de Paris. An incredibly beautiful Gothic cathedral, a must see. It is free to enter, but, unfortunately, you will not be able to take advantage of this advantage now. In April, the roof and spire of Notre Dame burned down, so the cathedral can be visited for five years. However, it is worth getting to it in any case: Notre Dame looks impressive from the outside.
4. Montmartre. The area of Paris where many famous artists lived and worked, including Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec. There is also the famous "Moulin Rouge", a steep wall of love, a monument to a man walking through a wall, and many more interesting things.

5. Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. The highest point in Paris with excellent views of the entire city. The basilica itself is stunningly beautiful. It is also free to enter.

   

6. Louvre. It would be an unforgivable mistake to visit Paris and miss one of the most famous museums in the world. I bought the entrance ticket in advance on the official website of the Louvre. It costs 17 euros, plus you can choose the time of entry to the museum. With this ticket, skip-the-line entry to the Louvre (or rather, with a short line of people who also bought tickets online).
7. Center Georges Pompidou. A museum that I advise everyone to visit. It is a modern art center that looks very industrial from the outside and contrasts with the surrounding space. Inside you can find works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Malevich and other artists. The Center has paintings, sculptures, compositions, video works and, in general, a lot of interesting things. Spend three hours there, no less. If you are between 18 and 25 years old, the ticket will cost only 11 euros, if older - 14 euros.

8. Tuileries Garden. A wonderful place to stay close to the Louvre. A cool find of the French is to put not benches in parks, but movable chairs. You can take any one and put it in a convenient place: in the shade or next to a fountain.

   

9. Luxembourg Gardens. Also a resting place. Located next to the beautiful Luxembourg Palace.

Brussels

I spent only a day in Brussels. I managed to see, of course, not everything, but only the main free attractions.

1. Three peeing monuments. The main star of Brussels - a monument to the pissing boy - is located in the city center. Next to him - literally ten minutes walk - there are two more monuments to pee: a girl and a dog.

   

2. Grand Place. A large Gothic square in the city center, which houses the Town Hall and the King's House.

3. Atomium. Hundred-meter steel imitation of a fragment of the crystal lattice of iron. It looks impressive. The Atomium was installed in Brussels at the end of the 50s for the World Exhibition.

   

4. Park of the fiftieth anniversary. Large green space with fountains and waterfalls. The park has a triumphal arch and several museums. The entrance to them is paid.
5. Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula. A beautiful Gothic building located near the central bus station. The interior is decorated with stained glass windows and sculptures.

Riga

I spent three days in Riga. During this time, the city can be walked along and across: it is small, but interesting.

1. Old center. All the main sights of Riga are collected here: the Dome Cathedral, the Swedish gate, the house with black cats, Jauniela Street, where the Soviet film "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson" was filmed. You can walk for a long time and look at each building. The main thing is that the weather is lucky and it is sunny, not rainy.
2. War Museum of Latvia. It is located here, in the city center. Comparatively interesting, admission is free. A great way to save yourself from the bad weather, keep warm and learn a little new information.

3. Latvian National Library. The library in Riga is very cool and modern. There are always some exhibitions in the building. For example, I got to an exposition dedicated to the digitalization of society and tracking systems.

   

4. Riga parks. They are in the city literally at every step. In them you can relax, enjoy the silence and have a snack.
5. Latvian Academy of Sciences. For fans of Stalinist architecture or those who collect photographs with identical buildings from the expanses of the former USSR.

Vilnius

Vilnius is also a small capital, so it is easy to see the city in three days.

1. Historical Center. In old Vilnius, you should definitely see the Church of St. Anne, the City Hall and the Cathedral Square.

2. Uzupis. District of artists and art workers. In 1997, the inhabitants of Uzupis proclaimed the area an independent republic with their own flag, anthem and currency. A very unusual place.

   

   Uzupis

   

   Uzupis

   

   Uzupis

3. Bernardine cemetery. When walking around Uzupis, be sure to reach this oldest cemetery. The place will be interesting for those who like to look at beautiful gravestone crosses and sculptures.
4. Mountain of Three Crosses. It is located in the center of the city, so it is not difficult to find it. At the top of the mountain is the Three Crosses monument. In general, it appeared in the XIV century, but was destroyed during the Second World War. It was recreated in the image of the old one in 1989. You can climb to the top by stairs, and it is worth doing this not only for the sake of the monument: there is an excellent view of Vilnius from there.

5. New town. Located on the other side of the Neris River. It is worth a visit, even though there are no sights as such. This area looks contrasting compared to the old town and it is no less interesting to walk around it. Be sure to check out the Swedbank Terrace: a modern observation deck where you can relax and eat.

   

   Swedbank terrace

   Swedbank terrace

   

   Swedbank terrace

   Swedbank terrace

Tallinn

I spent only 14 hours in Tallinn and moved around the city only on foot. Here's the route I got:

1. Tammsaare Park. A small modern square near the city center.

2. Old city. It is divided into two parts: earlier, artisans lived below, and representatives of the nobility lived above. Walking through the historic center, pay attention to the Town Hall Square, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Cathedral. By the way, from the upper part of the old town there is an excellent view of the whole Tallinn.

   

   View of Tallinn from the Patkuli observation deck

   

   View of Tallinn from the Patkuli observation deck

3. Memorial to the victims of communism. Opened in 2018. It looks like a large black corridor with a list of repressed Estonians and various facts about political prisoners on the walls.

   

   Memorial to the victims of communism

   

   Memorial to the victims of communism

4. Kadriorg Park. The palace and park complex, on the territory of which there are greenhouses, a Japanese garden, a small artificial pond and the Kardiorg Palace itself. Created by order of Peter I.
5. Monastery of Saint Brigitte. Catholic monastery that was destroyed in the 16th century during the Livonian War. Now only the walls remain of the monastery, which have become an open-air monument. Entrance fee is two euros.
6. Pyrite. The embankment of the Tallinn Bay, along which you can walk for a long time and breathe fresh air.

Souvenirs

The point that travel cannot do without is souvenirs. When you are a budget tourist, you will not be able to roam too much. The best gift option for friends or family in this case is a postcard. It is inexpensive, and supplemented with your own words becomes a personal souvenir. You can add some local sweetness or snack to the postcard.

From the trip I want to bring something for memento and for myself. As a typical tourist, I collect magnets. You can find them in two places:

1. At the gift shop. Look into all the souvenirs: the rule “the farther from the center, the cheaper” works extremely rarely. For example, in Paris, I found the most inexpensive souvenirs within a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame.
2. Bookstores. Often, it is in them that the cutest and most original magnets and postcards are sold.

conclusions

It is quite possible to see several countries with a small amount in your pocket. Of course, you won't be able to rest in two weeks of constant travels, but there will be a lot of impressions from such a trip. To make your budget trip successful, follow a few rules:

1. Plan the route yourself. Browse applications, compare several transport options and choose the most profitable one. Start looking for tickets in advance - at least a month before your trip.
2. Don't take a lot of things. Try to fit everything you need into one backpack - then you don't need to overpay for luggage.
3. Don't be afraid of hostels and couchsurfing. These housing options will allow you to save money, make it possible to make new friends and find out how foreigners live.
4. Give preference to supermarkets, canteens and inexpensive cafes. In the menu, check the page with special offers and promotions.
5. Explore the city. Try not to use public transport and walk a lot instead. While walking, you can soak up the spirit of the city and stumble upon cool sights not listed in popular travel guides.
6. Set aside a small amount for unforeseen needs. Anything can happen on your trip: from torn socks to meeting scammers or street thieves. In such cases, a thousand or two hidden will come in handy.