Budget and Safety tips in Solo Backpacking Central Europe

France-Switzerland-Luxembourg-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany-Czech Republic-Austria-Italy
October 10 to November 02, 2013

Central Europe Hostels and Dormitories I checked-in

Europe solo backpacking is very, very expensive. This was the most ultimate and extreme budget deficit I ever had in my traveling life. Imagine for just Schengen visa processing, I spent more than $600 for total combined cheapest round-trip tickets, hostel accommodation, travel insurance, and other visa fees. By the way, read and understand travel insurance policy. Bring the original copy and have a scanned copy just in case as this might come in handy. In addition, I decided to travel in Autumn season because of the off-peak treatment aside for the major reason of 1st time travel with Foliage and not-so chilling ambiance. Off-peak season is from October to March while peak season is from April to September. Peak season fares and prices (train, accommodation, food, service, etc) can boost to almost 50%. 

In terms of security, what was mostly being reminded in all crowded tourist spots especially in Paris and Rome is BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS. Though I always bring my important stuff with me at all times, I constantly checked its presence at least 20 times a day . This was my first time being so much attentive to my things, I'm not like this before. Although there were no gut feeling of suspicion and people here are more smarter, I have to not lower my guard at no time. Even when I'm sleeping in hostel, I hug my important things with me in bed.

In terms of kindness, everyone is absolutely accommodating and willing to help. Though I experienced a little pissed-off moment in Paris and Vienna, most of the time I was overwhelmed of their kind attitude, especially Belgians and Dutch. Embrace the adventure, feel the local way of living. I asked mostly the local resident to challenge my social skill and adapt local language.

1st time collection of cheapest ref magnet comprising of the 9 countries of Central Europe

Central Europe Hostels and Dormitories I Checked-in

France-Switzerland-Luxembourg-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany-Czech Republic-Austria-Italy

October 10 to November 02, 2013

Train travel experience and tips in roaming Central Europe last part

* 5 star is the highest, 1 star lowest. Recommended means the hostel/dormitory passed my overall qualification based on satisfaction stay.
* All booked accommodation have 10% reduction in their actual price during payment on arrival. This is due to the 10% payment did on hostelbookers website.
* Italy requires 2 Euro city tax for every night stay.

Friends Hostel, Paris (booked) Oct. 10-13, 2013, 3 nights for 54 Euro
- just infront of barbes rochensuart metro stn, very cheap & walking distance away to souvenir items and red light district
-somehow rude staff, only 1 outlet for 6bedroom dorm, very narrow bathroom, scheduled wifi(9am-6pm) & lots of bystander blacks infront
- somehow recommended (2.5 stars)
 
St. Charles Train Station, Marseilles Oct. 13-14, 2013.
- I intentionally sleep inside train station due to the ff;
1. I must exchange my booked online ticket to the SNCF counter (opens at 0500h) due the machine does not accept Mastercard intl, only Mastercard europe
2. I finished roaming around the city by almost 11pm and my etd was 0506h the next day. Its a waste of money for approx 5hrs sleep.
3. St. Charles stn is very clean and safe. I slept discreetly (on seating postn) behind the stores inside.

Hotel Glocke Backpacker, Bern

Train Travel Experience and Tips in Central Europe 1st part

France-Switzerland-Luxembourg-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany-Czech Republic-Austria-Italy
October 10 to November 02, 2013

Vatican city last part; 551 steps up to St. Peter's Basilica Dome

Total train ticket fare cost was more than $1,100 for all schedule types. Route included was Paris-Marseilles-Lyon-Geneva-Bern-Lucerne-Luxembourg-Brussels-Amsterdam-Cologne-Hamburg-Berlin-Fussen-Munich-Prague-Vienna-Salzburg-Deichtstein-Venice-Milan-Florence-Pisa-Rome.

I have soft copies of all booked tickets on my mobile phone in case the barcode of print-out hardcopy I brought is unreadable. Usually 2nd class are free seating assignment especially on off-peak timings, whether in upper or lower deck. I always double confirm the ride by looking again on print-out ticket, bulletin board, section letter, class type, led monitor on the body of the train and inside, transfer station, route and seat allocation (if applicable). As what happened to me, I ignore the route allocation, I just hopped in. A fine of 3Chf has been charged (current ticket price subtracted by purchased ticket).

For every train station I arrived, I went first on the departure timings bulletin board (yellow paper posted inside anywhere) to confirm my next destination. Then, if there's a query or doubt, I went to Train Information Desk. Afterwards I went to Tourist Info Office and grab a free city map. I usually start my journey by navigating the hostel first, leave bag then begin the tour. If no hostel, go to train station locker area then proceed to city tour.
Book train tickets online as early as possible, price treatment is almost the same with plane tickets. The later purchase, the expensive. I did not buy Euro Rail Pass due to following;

1. Around 585 Euro ($761) 1st class only offered for solo traveler plus $25 delivery charge.
2. Limited slots for all train though hop-in anytime
3. There are some promo fares offered on respective train companies.
4. Seat reservation is not included
5. I have almost less than 2 weeks before my flight departure when I received my visa. Home delivery has 7days minimum.
6. Most of the travel online forum suggested to book tickets as early on respective train companies, they do not recommend to buy Europass.
7. Its not clear whether the peak timings and night trains are ALL included in Europass
8. The main reason; I am not sure if this more than 30 days vacation shall be approved because of complications and operational requirements at work.

France (SNCF) train

Swiss Alps Seen above Mount Pilatus

Central Europe 2nd part; 2-days solo backpacking in Switzerland

October 14 to October 16, 2013

Iconic fountains; Bern City specials

Mount Pilatus elevation is 2,128 meters and has an excellent summit viewing deck to sightsee the majestic Swiss Alps. I went to this mountain via Silver class trip Lucerne – Alpnachstad – Pilatus Kulm – Kriens – Lucerne (train) for 76.4 chf ($84.4) with travel hours 0900H-1600H.

In discovering the Pilatus Kulm, there are 7 places to explore. Esel which is the 6,953ft summit part, Hotel Bellevue which has wide window for sightseeing, Hotel Pilatus-Kulm which is just beside Hotel Bellevue, Dragonpath which is route underneath the summits, Chriesiloch which is the end of Dragonpath, Oberhaupt which is the 6,913ft summit and Tomlishorn which is the highest peak at 7,000ft. 

Whether you take the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad or the panorama gondolas and aerial cableway from Kriens, the Pilatus offers a unique alpine experience! Climb aboard and enjoy magnificent panoramic views: the panorama gondolas  takes around 30 minutes to travel from Kriens – via the Krienseregg – to the Fräkmüntegg summit terminus. The breathtaking mountainscape at the summit is awe-inspiring – experience, too, the unique alpine atmosphere. The best views at 2132 metres above sea level are a further five-minute cablecar ride away.

http://www.pilatus.ch/en/railway-cableways/

Swiss Alps seen above Mount Pilatus

12 Iconic Fountains; Berne City Specials

Central Europe 2nd part; 2-days solo backpacking in Switzerland

October 14 to October 16, 2013

Bern City tour by day and at night

Out of fascination, that's all! This is the reason why I have special post for this 12 artistic statues along the streets in the central city of Berne. There is no intention at all initially but when the Hostel caretaker handed-over to me the free map, my sight caught the attention the lower right corner side of the map where the description of this 12 fountains and their locations. Curious to know what makes this fountain be a subject of my camera, I immediately navigate myself each of them one by one.

The incomparably beautiful picture presented by the medieval streets of Bern would not be complete without the fountains from the Middle Ages, whose colourful pillars and statues greatly enliven the extensive rows of grey houses. The artistic fountains, which were erected about 1550 in place of earlier wooden ones, demonstrate clearly the wealth of the old Bernese community. But the practical mind of the Bernese combined utility with art, and for the benefit of posterity made these fountains into memorials to its heroes and historic events. The vivid colourings have been frequently renewed in their original colours. Several fountains stand in the middle of streets which bear a heavy traffic and trams and cars have to find their way as best they can around these obstacles.
Bern has well over 100 fountains. Eleven still feature the original statues with their allegorical figures.

http://www.bern.com/en/city-of-bern/attractions/fountains-city-bern

Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Justice fountain)

Berne City Tour by Day and at Night

Central Europe 2nd part; 2-days solo backpacking in Switzerland

October 14 to October 16, 2013

Geneva city tour by day and at night

I left Geneva also earlier than scheduled due to boredom. Bern is somewhat lively and more European appeal than Geneva in respect to their city center. Berne, the capital of Switzerland sits on a peninsula formed by the meandering turns of the river Aare. The remarkable design coherence of the Berne's old town has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It features 4 miles of arcaded walkways along streets decked out with fountains and clock-towers.

Berne (German: Bern), the capital of Switzerland, is a small to medium sized city. It sits on a peninsula formed by the meandering turns of the river Aare. The remarkable design coherence of the Berne's old town has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It features 4 miles of arcaded walkways along streets decked out with fountains and clock-towers.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Berne

Bern City tour by day and at night (the river)

Geneva City Tour by Day and at Night

Central Europe 2nd part; 2-days solo backpacking in Switzerland

October 14 to October 16, 2013

Afternoon train from Lyon, France to Geneva, Switzerland

After finishing the somehow traumatic treatment in Immigration security of Geneva train station, I strolled around for almost an hour within the nearby area for walk-in hostel inquiry. Then, headed to United Nation Headquarters at Palais de Nation using the tram where my hostel gave me a free unlimited public transpo access within Geneva. I spent the night walking around within the Geneva lakefront.

Geneva ’s world famous lakefront is the centerpiece of the city. The Jet d’Eau spouting 140 meters into the air is the world’s tallest and symbolizes Geneva’s heritage as a leader in the field of hydraulic power. The Promenades along the left and right banks of the lake are filled with cafes, parks, street markets and other diversions from lake cruises to amusement rides to water skiing. The Bains des Paquis on the western shore has been a crowd favorite since its opening in 1932 and continues to draw visitors and locals alike who flock to its saunas and unique bathing areas to see and be seen along this sunny concrete jetty. Dominating the eastern bank, the giant Flower Clock in the English Garden is a tribute to Geneva’s watch industry, harmonizing Swiss ingenuity with the floral bounties of nature. The dial is composed of some 6,500 flowers and is updated with new arrangements several times per year.

http://www.geneva.info/sights/

jet deau

Central Europe 2nd part; 2 Days Solo Backpacking in Switzerland

23-days Autumn Experience on my 1st Schengen Visa Escapade
October 14 to October 16, 2013 

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from." -  Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (Swiss Psychiatrist)

My 19th country to visit, 25th solo backpacking trip, 5th visa application for tourism on entire single page, and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world and has the highest wealth per adult (financial and non-financial assets) of any country in the world. Zürich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as the cities with the second and eighth highest quality of life in the world. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. Switzerland showcases three of Europe's most distinct cultures; the clean and correct, 8-to-5-working; the wine drinking and laissez-faire style known from the French; the sun warms cappuccino-sippers loitering in Italian-style piazzas; classic Swiss alphorns and mountain landscapes. Binding it all together is a distinct Swiss mentality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

green pastures of Switzerland

23 Days Solo Autumn Experience in Central Europe

France-Switzerland-Luxembourg-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany-Czech Republic-Austria-Italy
October 10 to November 02, 2013

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci

My 3rd continent to visit (1st was Asia then 2nd was Africa).

Schengen Area guarantees free movement within territory of 26 countries. As of 19th of December 2011, Schengen Area consist of 26 countries (of which 22 are EU states): Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Being part of the area without controls at internal borders means that these countries no longer carry-out border checks at their internal borders and have stepped-up controls which must meet clearly defined criteria, at the external borders.

From country of 1st world to continent of 1st worlds, budget backpacking beyond after accomplishing the Land of the Rising Sun during its summer season last June 2013.

9 sovereign states and 1 observer state visited in Central Europe

4th OFW vacation; Ultimate Solo Trip from Central Europe to Promised Land

an autumn to winter self-guided overwhelming solo backpacking escapade

October 10 to November 16, 2013
36-days longest vacation ever as an OFW

1st OFW vacation; Come back to my homeland
2nd OFW vacation; Pinoy backpacker China invasion
3rd OFW vacation; summer solo trip from Malaysia to Japan 

"A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking." - Earl Wilson

"A study published in the Applied Research in Quality of Life journal, showed that the highest spike in happiness came during the planning stage of a vacation as employees enjoyed the sense of anticipation.."

4th vacation as an Overseas Filipino worker for almost 21 months of stay in State of Kuwait. The image below shows the converted jpeg from pdf of calendar of events on my entire 36-days vacation journey. Most of this were in Central Europe and Israel with Philippines, my hometown, as my last airport to depart.

my 36-days vacation plan mostly in Central Europe

sightseeing the global wonders... 30 days...27 cities... 10 countries...