This is the second installment in my Eurotrip planning series.
Here’s Part 1.
I’m not great at spontaneous decision-making, so I like creating space in my cluttered brain to really think and weigh options, which will allow me to relax when I’m actually on the trip.
Part 2: Bookings
I don’t like using travel agencies. I tend to be a control freak, and with an abundance of planning space (rather than funds) I decided to do everything on my own.
As I found prices and started paying online, I created and filled out this sheet that you can download: Excel format, Numbers format. It’ll help a lot, especially when you put in the amount that you’ve saved, as well as how much you’ve spent, so it can automatically compute how much you still need to save.
As you start booking, you’ll realize that your schedule might change. While doing that, it’s a good idea to start fleshing out your itinerary.
I started out like this:
…and ended up with this:
You can download the itinerary template here: Excel format, Numbers format.
1. Airline tickets
I love sites like Skyscanner and Fare Compare. You can easily browse through the cheapest options and hundreds of routes at a glance.
I’m willing to forego luxury of any kind, and was okay with having a stopover somewhere before landing in Rome, if that meant I could get a cheaper fare. However, I balk at sketchy, super-cheap airlines, especially ones that have websites that look as if they were coded by a 12-year-old in the 90s. I would rather stay sane by flying in something a little sturdier than a Century Tuna can, thank you very much.
It took me a couple of months before I made my decision, still a little wary about being able to afford the trip. In the end I found a deal I was happy with on SwissAir, which had just one stopover from Dubai in Zurich before connecting to Rome. The return flight from Amsterdam would also stop in Zurich.
Clicking on “Confirm booking” was the point of no return. I was really going!
2. Accommodation
I had no idea where to start looking. Route Perfect to the rescue again! There were lots of suggestions for hostels, inns, bed-and-breakfasts. These at least gave me a sense of how much I should be paying every day.
I then took out my dream list (from Part 1 – Step 3) and started mentally noting the locations of each activity on Google maps. I narrowed down my hostel search to areas that were close to these points, and ones that were right near metro stations and bus stops.
I also made use of AirBnB and Booking.com. I highly recommend reading the guest reviews because I know how deceptive photos and self-promotion can be!
I chose to stay in AirBnB apartments for Milan and Paris and found some charming, affordable but clean, backpacker-type hostels in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Cinque Terre, where I’d be staying in dorm rooms with 5 or more fellow travelers. This was a huge personal growth moment for me. I am a true introvert who values privacy and personal space. But if I had just wanted to be in my comfortable little bubble, I should probably just stay home!
I ended up making plans to share a hotel room with my friend Jaye in Amsterdam. Since I’ll be spending my birthday there, I thought it would be nice to have a familiar face around!
This will sound a little neurotic but before booking, I actually looked up each hostel and apartment on Google Earth. I went into street view, checking out the immediate vicinity and the walk from the metro or bus stop. I steered away from shady-looking neighborhoods or ones that required me to walk through narrow alleys. Cool shops and interesting cafes nearby were a plus.
Other things I considered: MUST HAVE WIFI, washer and dryer, English-speaking staff, free breakfast, comfortable common areas, and personal lockers.
After finally nailing the places down and printing out my booking confirmations, I made sure to drop a message to my AirBnB hosts to get acquainted with them.
3. Tours
Viator, Viator, Viator. I booked almost every one of my tours on this site. The reviews are great, and you get skip-the-line access to everything. It was a little pricey, but it’ll be worth it when I don’t have to spend hours queueing up!
They have a wide selection of tours, and you can choose the ones that suit you the best. Make sure they offer it in your language.
I had to use Get Your Guide for Da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan, simply because tickets for my chosen dates had already been sold out even 4 months in advance. Crazy! Even on this site, there were only 3 tickets left by the time I grabbed mine. If you want to see the Last Supper, book it at least 5 months before your trip.
I love Impressionist art, and Claude Monet is a major inspiration of mine, so Giverny was definitely worth it. Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum were also no-brainers.
There were some tours that I decided to do on my own, like the Bargello museum (which is pretty small, and isn’t as well known as the other larger museums in Florence), Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon (which are easy enough to just walk around), and the Cinque Terre hike (which I want to do at my own pace). Just read, read, read, and see what’s worth spending your money on.
4. Visa appointment
For those of us who haven’t been fortunate enough to be born with a first-world passport, we need to get a Schengen visa to enter Europe. You will need to process your application in the consulate or embassy of the country of entry, or the country that you will be spending the majority of your time in; in my case, both were Italy.
You can apply for yours 3 months before your day of departure. The Italian Consulate here in Dubai has a website that explains the process and tells you what you documents you need and how much to pay.
Your bookings in steps 1-3 play a part in how successful your application will be. If you have your return tickets and hotel bookings in order, you’ll be approved in no time.
My experience was quite pleasant. My appointment was set 2 weeks after the day I booked it, and I got my passport back with my Schengen visa a full 3 days after my appointment. That’s quick service!
5. Rail pass
Eurail offers several passes that give you the freedom to move around Europe by train. I chose this one: Benelux – France – Italy pass (8 travel days within 2 months + 1 free travel day).
They shipped my package to Dubai, which contained my Eurail pass, an instruction guide, and a rail map.
I also downloaded their mobile app, which gives you train routes, schedules, and updates. Very helpful!
You’re now almost ready to go! By the end of this process, you should have your final itinerary ready.
In my next post, I’ll talk about my packing list. Yay!
Link to Part 3
