Europe itinerary and expenses (France, Switzerland and Italy) ¦ Jen Barangan

We made it to Europe! Day 1 in Paris, France. And we've arrived yesterday, guys, around 4 PM. And we took Qatar Airways. So from Manila to Doha, it's around 9 hours and 30 minutes. And from Doha to Paris, around 6 hours. So approximately 15 hours of flying. It's so long. So that's why yesterday when we arrived, we just strolled within Paris. And then we took our dinner. And then we head back to our hotel and that's it. And this Europe travel of ours, arranged to be an SMB travel. So we took the itinerary in France, Switzerland, and Italy. And that's it, the tour started at around 8 AM. We just roamed around Paris and our tour guide explained what we'll see. And this is our first stop. And that's the dome. And the top of it, it's made out of real gold. Impressive. So earlier while we were roaming around, while we were on the bus, the old buildings here in Paris are really beautiful. They are made out of like stones and all. And our tour guide is like a historian because he really discussed everything. So far, what can you say about Paris? The buildings are beautiful. The weather is nice because it's cold. And we thought that it's summer during this time, so we just light-packed. That's our outfit, it's really cold. Especially when there's wind, it's really cold. And now we're walking to get a good photo spot for the Eiffel Tower. We're going to see it now. Here's the Eiffel Tower. We ordered food and this is good actually. So we are now here in Montmartre. And we will take a cable car to get on top. So this place is famous because it's considered as an artist village. And you can also see the Basilica of Sacred Heart. There are so many people. And there's a line to enter the Basilica. It's so long. There are a lot of artworks here, guys. There are a lot of paintings. This is called the artist village. I feel like I'm gonna buy a painting here. So far, this is what I like. We found another painting. We found another painting, we better buy this. We got the goods, that's the painting. We're just sharing, guys. Because yesterday, we didn't finish our food. Give me one. Share it, share it. Share it first. And it's expensive here. By the way, for the tour, guys, lunch and dinner is not included. For the breakfast, there's no problem. Because you can have breakfast at the hotel. Because there are accommodations with breakfast. Now we are heading down. Instead of riding the cable car, we will just take the stairs. Because Keanu Reeves fell here. Imagine, he was rolling here, weak, while he had a cramp. So that's the Versailles Palace. That's the palace for the French kings. It's so big in person. Unfortunately, we weren't able to secure tickets for that. It's not included for this tour. You have to personally purchase the tickets. So we won't be able to enter. That's the palace. It's so big. You'll let me enter the palace. You'll let me enter. That's what's inside. There are so many tourists. So we decided not to go inside the garden. Because it's expensive, around 600 pesos. And it's kind of empty. And we also searched online what the garden looks like. It's not that impressive. So we won't be able to enter. Look at this. When it's on top. When it's an aerial view. This is your view. Wait, wait. There. If it's like that. Yes. But if it's here on the ground, no. If it's an aerial view, it's nice. But if it's just a human view. Human eye view. It's not that nice. So, we're just going to walk around. The palace is so big. You know, their palace, the way it was built. You'll really appreciate the craftsmanship of the French. Another day here in Paris. Today is day 3. And for today, guys, I'll show you where we're going to stay. Or where is our accommodation here in Paris. We're staying here in Novotel Paris EST. And this is the room. It's really decent. And very spacious as well. And here's Bards. We're wearing chromatic today. It's all white. Well, I'm all black. And this is our CR. Sorry if it's messy, guys. Okay. So, we will stay here up until tomorrow. And here's the view outside of our hotel. There. For today's itinerary, we're going to go up to the Eiffel Tower. And I will show you how long the line is, guys. It's crazy. So far, we've been lining up for 45 minutes now. The line is really long. For the entrance, the Eiffel Tower is included in the package. And guys, fun fact. There are names engraved on the Eiffel Tower. So, they are famous French scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. So, that's in recognition for all their contributions and work. You know what, guys? Seeing the Eiffel Tower this close, I realized that its color is like bronze or brownish. And also, even if it's just like a towering metal, it still gives me like a sense of happiness. I don't know why. Maybe because all my life, this has been like advertised as a dream destination. It's a beautiful city to go to. And now, I'm actually here, standing in front of it, watching it very close. With bonds. It's amazing how a piece of metal can give you happiness. Also, when you're in Paris, be very careful with pickpocketers. And also, if someone gives you papers, don't sign them. And if someone gives you flowers, don't take them. Because those are scams, guys. If you accept or sign them, they will harass you and give you money. We're finally here! I'm under the Eiffel Tower. I can't believe it. Bartz bought an eclair. Because we've been lining up for like how many hours now? Thank you, Bartz! We finally got our ticket. We are now here at the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. It's so cold! Our next itinerary for today, we will be cruising! By the way, for this cruise, it's already included in the package. At my back is the Notre-Dame. Unfortunately, it's under construction because it was flooded. So, the cruise was the last activity that S&B Travel prepared for today. So, that's why we didn't go home to the hotel first. We explored... There's a flounder behind you. Oh, there's a flounder. Anyway, don't be distracted. We didn't go straight home to the hotel. We explored first here in Paris City. And we stopped here at Arc de Triomphe. Because during the city tour, we just took a bus. So, we just passed it. We didn't stop. So, we stopped here to take some photos. Heart Evangelista moment. Would you believe me when I say it's 6.30pm right now? And the sun is still shining. Do you know that their sunset is around 8pm? No. What is it? 9.48pm. Their sunset is here. Wow. And now, we're just waiting for the light show of the Eiffel Tower. And time check, guys. It's 9.19pm. It's still bright. The sunset is here for a long time. So, probably, the Eiffel Tower will have lights around 10pm. And that's the Eiffel Tower. Bards and I are here waiting. We're here. Somewhere in the Pierre area. So, the Eiffel Tower lights up starting 10pm during summer time. Then, it sparkles every 5 minutes of the hour. So, say for example, 10 to 10.05, 11 to 11.05, then 12 to 12.05, and 1 to 1.05, and so on and so forth. As far as I know, 1 is the last one. It's said that 1 is the best. Ah, 1 is the best. But we will not wait for it because our call time is still early tomorrow. So, we're just glad that we were able to get the 10 to 10.05 sparkles. After that, it's just steady light. Good morning. So, today, we're going to check out here in Novotel. We are fast because we're going to other parts of France. Here's the breakfast area. There's a plate. Barge's plate. It's so boring. It's going to be a round 2. I just woke up. While I was packing, I saw something, guys, and I just would like to share it to you. So, if you book a tour with SMB Travel, they will give you travel kits. So, this is included in the travel kits. So, this is like a gadget organizer. And then, this is for your toiletries. This is also included in their travel kits. They also have a bag tag. They also have an adapter on the travel kit. Also, on the travel kits, it also comes with a backpack. It's not just us who brought it. And they will also include a printed itinerary of your trip. So, it's very organized. They also offer travel Wi-Fi. This is not included on the package, but I highly recommend this. It has a very nice connection. And you know what's the best part? The battery lasts for a long time. It really lasted for the whole day. And also, days before your trip, they will set up a Zoom meeting so that they can walk through you with your itinerary. And before I forget, they also offer visa assistance. So, they are the ones who assisted us in terms of processing our Shenzhen visa. Though, it's not included on the package, but I highly recommend them in assisting your visa. As a matter of fact, they are the ones who assisted us on our Korean visa, Japan visa, and New Zealand visa. Like, they are proven and tested. And for the requirements of the Shenzhen or Shenzhen visa, I'm going to list it here. After four hours of bus ride, we are now in Bonn. So, this is the wine capital in the Burgundy region. Just to give you an idea, guys, this is how many people we are on the tour. There. And the first person there, that's Sofia. That's the leader or the tour guide. You know what, guys? This town, its vibes are like Rapunzel when she's not in the castle and she's already in the town. Then, she's drawing on the streets. These are the vibes of the town. Then, look at that. There's a garden outside. There's a flower. There's a flower there. You know what this town reminds me of? If you've been to Ilocos, it reminds me of Calle Crisolo. Like, it really has an old town vibes. And now, we will just take our lunch with my French date. Bonjour. I'm French. Merci. Oui. Oui. Do you want French fries or French kiss? Both. Since Bonn is famous for their wine, of course, I shouldn't miss it. Cheers, guys. Cheers, Bonn. It's delicious. This is our lunch. So, this is steak and the famous escargot here in Bonn. So, basically, they're snails, guys. Now, I'm trying the escargot. So, it has a clipper. Here. I can really taste the pesto sauce. The pesto sauce is the star here. After 1 hour and 30 minutes bus ride from Bonn, we are now here in Lyon. This is a famous town down for silks. Then, we'll go up to the mountain by a cable car so that we can see the whole town or view of the whole town. The symbol of this town, the Lyon, Lyon. The tram ride goes here. It's also included in the tour package. We don't have to pay extra for it. And this is the view. Wow. That's Lyon. If you will look closely on the buildings, they're really old infrastructures. This is the inside. This is the Notre Dame, guys. The intricacies of the details are amazing. So, we said our prayers inside the Notre Dame and also we light some candles. The details inside are amazing. The designs. I'm really impressed. It's really beautiful, guys. The more beautiful it looks on the outside, the more beautiful it looks on the inside. It doesn't do justice to the camera, I swear. After almost 1 hour of travel from Lyon, we are here in a specific town. I don't know what town this is, guys. But originally, we will stay in Lyon. Unfortunately, they fully booked us. So, they can't accommodate us. So, that's why they transferred us to another hotel which is town after Lyon. And to apologize for the inconvenience and all, they gave us free dinner. Which is so kind of them. Or I think as they should. Because I think they said at the last minute that they can't accommodate us. But in all fairness, the hotel that they replaced has a huge room. Let me give you a room tour, guys. So, as you walk inside the room, this is what it looks like. It's so big. Then, this has a CR. There. Then, that's me. Hi! And then, on this side, we have bathroom. Look at that. In fairness, it's really big. And then, over here is the bedroom. Hello! It's so big, right? Then, it has a living room. That's the bed. And then, it has a working table here. Then, you know what? It also has a kitchen area. Look at that. And then, we also have balcony. In all fairness, In fairness, it's so nice that they replaced it. I feel like they overbooked it because Taylor Swift had a concert two days ago. And I think some of the concert goers extended their stay. So, that's why they overbooked it now. Oh my! Mother Taylor, it's your fault. I'm just kidding. Assuming. Well, this hotel replacement is not bad. Like, it's beautiful. It's super spacious. It's a waste if we stay here overnight. After two hours of bus ride, we're finally here in Switzerland! Oh my! So, our first stop in Switzerland is in Geneva. And we have like three hours to explore the town. I'm kind of excited. We found a potable water fountain. And of course, we have to try it. Since we have a lot of time exploring Geneva, we decided to take this sightseeing tour. And we paid 10 Swiss Francs each. So, a total of 20. And just like that, our sightseeing tour is over. And you know what? It was such an efficient way of exploring Geneva knowing that we only have three hours here. That's why it's worth it. And now, we're here at Neuchatel, Switzerland. And the aura here is different. Especially, like the buildings. Because it's really old, like Swiss buildings. We are in Zurich, Switzerland! So, this is gonna be our home for the next three days. And our accommodation, or our hotel, is very modern, cozy. And finally, guys! There's rice! I missed the rice! Actually, it's already rice. So, our hotel here is close to a grocery store. So, that's why we went to the grocery store. On the second floor of the hotel, there's a service area where you can microwave, you can also wash, and all. On our sixth day here in Europe, we will be exploring Zurich, Switzerland through train. We won't take a bus anymore. And currently, we are here at the Central Station. After a couple minutes of walking, we reached this part of Zurich. It's an overlooking view of the town, or the city. And now, we are cruising, guys, on the lake of Zurich. It's included in the package. Our final here in Rapperswil, after two hours of cruising or boat ride. And now, we will refill our water in this water fountain. Drink like a local. Welcome to Rapperswil. And this town is actually known for its medieval style of houses and buildings. And I don't know if you can see it at our back, but those are the buildings. And their roof is so nice, very uniform. It makes everything breathtaking. And we went uphill to see the view of the lake, the mountains, and the town. It's super relaxing here. It's a perfect place to slow down, you know, from the hustle and bustle of the city. So guys, we are here at Rain Falls. I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm so close to the waterfalls. Wow! It's scary when you fall here. Look at the current. I think I can reach the water. 7th day in Europe, 3rd day in Switzerland. And for today's itinerary, I'm super duper excited because we are heading to Grindelwald. And I'm so excited to see the Swiss Alps. We're finally here. So from Zurich to Grindelwald, it took us 2 hours and 30 minutes of bus ride. And the bus ride, guys, it was an experience already because the view is so beautiful. Look at the Swiss Alps. My camera can't do justice to the beauty. The first activity is we will climb the mountain by cable car. After 25 minutes of cable car ride, we're finally here on the top of the mountain. And look at the snow-capped mountain at my back. It's so beautiful. During the cable car ride, the view is so beautiful. You can really see everything. And there's a lot of activities here. They have the high flyer. They also have the eagle ride. The mountain cart. Paragliding, a lot of activities. Unfortunately, we have limited time. So we can't explore or try it. So if we have a choice, it would be perfect if we can stay here for 3 days. Unfortunately, we're staying here for a couple of hours only. But we will definitely make the most of our time here. The Swiss Alps is so beautiful. So beautiful. Look at that. And look at the people there. They're doing the cliff walk. And there's a waterfall. Wow. How was that? Did you hear that, guys? And now we will take lunch. The lunch is included in this tour which is amazing. But it's just a quick lunch so that we can take pictures and video, guys. Because we haven't explored the whole mountain yet. And it's a waste. So this is just a quick lunch. You know what? We should've had dessert for lunch. But we didn't make the dessert, guys. Because we always have ice cream. This view is just once in a while. So we already paid for it. So we went up here at 10.30. Then before 1.30 p.m. we should've gone down already. And the cable cars are at 25 minutes, right? And there's still a line. So the time is really limited. That's why we need to compromise our lunch to get the best photos and videos and to enjoy the view. You know what this reminds me of? It reminds me of the sound of music. It's like they're singing a tear, a female tear. We are heading down. Is this even real? Is this even real, Lord? Thank you. If only we have a choice to stay a little longer here. We will definitely do that. Unfortunately, Three days, guys. I can't do this for three days. It's so beautiful. It's so, so, so beautiful. It's really beautiful. One activity day. One relaxed day. You're done. Because I really want to try their activities here. Because the line is so long. There's one hour, there's one hour and thirty minutes. Sometimes, it takes up to two hours. Now it makes sense why so many people want to go to Switzerland. In the photos you can see online, it's exactly the same thing in person. Even more beautiful. It's better in person, friend. As in, it's better in person. I can't give justice to the picture. To the picture, to my camera. As in, I really can't give justice. And now we're finally here in Luzern. So this is the perfect place to buy Pasalubong Swiss knife watches also. But I'm not a watch person. So it doesn't spark joy for me. And a whole lot more. Like, you can buy a lot here. I think this is a shopping center here in Switzerland. So this is one hour and thirty minutes away from Grindelwald. And yeah, we will just explore the place and buy some Pasalubong and also Swiss chocolates. That's what I'm going to buy. Because there's a helicopter here. We're engraved here. Here are the Swiss knives. So for Mama. For Uncle Reggie. Mama of Bards. For me. For Bards. And for Daddy of Bards. Thank you for buying, Bards. So that bridge, guys. It's a wooden bridge. It's a famous bridge here in Luzern. Hello, guys. Day 8 here in Europe. Our last day in Switzerland. Currently, we are here in Lugano. So another city tour. So for Lugano, it's surrounded by mountains. So it has like a Mediterranean vibe. It's famous with the Lugano Lake. I think every city here in New Switzerland has lakes and all because of the glaciers and all. Lugano is still in Switzerland. But the people here are speaking in Italian because they have Italian influences. Because it's close to Italy. Which is our next location or destination for today. I almost forgot. It's a 3-hour bus ride from Zurich to Lugano. We bought ice cream. Because he bought me lunch, I bought him ice cream. This is good. After 45 minutes of bus ride, we are here in Italy. So fast. And first stop is Lake Como. Unfortunately, there's an ongoing construction on Lake Como. From Lake Como, we took another 1-hour bus ride. And now we are here in... Milan! If you've seen the Conden Barato and Teolo Pasqual film, The Milan. We will go to one of the shooting locations, which is the Domo Square. Where we can see the big cathedral. So this is now the Domo Square. And that cathedral is the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. So if you've seen the Milan movie, that's very familiar, that cathedral. And the square also. Right now, there are a lot of people. But if there are no people, sometimes there are a lot of stalls in the middle of the square. The cathedral is so massive. It's so big. The designs are also amazing. The sculpture. There are also a lot of people here. There are a lot of tourists. Bards. Do you love me because you need me? Or do you need me because you love me? You're being dramatic. I need you because I love you, okay? Those are the stalls that I was talking about. If there are no people here, there are stalls in the middle of the square. We just arrived in our hotel here in Milan. We will be staying here overnight. And our room is super spacious. I really love the accommodation that they booked. And that's the bed. So cozy. And there's a vanity mirror here. Which I'm so happy. Their door in the shower area and the CR. And then this is what it looks like inside. Ta-da! Now we will sleep because we will be heading to Rome tomorrow. And our call time is early, 7.30am. Good night, guys! From Milan, we're now here in Pisa, guys. Where you can see the famous Leaning Tower. So it took us 3 hours and 30 minutes to get here. Via bus, as always. It's so cute because from the bus stop, we took a choo-choo train going here. To give you an idea of how many people there are. There, guys. There are still people there. Because it's actually Sunday. So that's why there are so many tourists today. From Pisa, we are now here in Rome! After 6 hours of bus ride, guys. Finally, we're here. And I'll just show you our room. Or our hotel room here in Rome. Here's our room here in Rome. Very modern. Look at that. Here's the CR. Just a quick room tour, guys. That's the bed. And there's a mirror here. I changed my outfit for tomorrow. And now, we will just take our dinner. Then, we will sleep. Because tomorrow is another day! We are officially starting our tour here in Rome. And you know what? Bards and I are very touristy. Let me show you what we have. So we have this. So it's like a silent tour, guys. So we have headphones. There. So that we can hear our tour, guys. She doesn't even need a speaker mic. But she looks like, what, Bards? She looks like a baby. Here's mine. And there. Our other companions. So earlier, while we were on the bus, we saw the Colosseum. And it was surreal. Because I can't believe that I'm seeing it in person. Because usually, I only see them in my photos. And also, the Vatican. Like, the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral. I saw it there. And now, we are inside the Forum. So this is where they hold their public meetings before. Also, law court. And gladiatorial combats. You know what, guys? I can't believe I'm walking in a thousand years old ruins. What did you do earlier? I held the rock for the first time. Me too, me too. I also held it. The Forum is just right beside the Colosseum. There. We are now inside the Vatican City. Which is the smallest city in the world. And also the home of the Pope. At 2pm, we will enter Sistine Chapel and the Cathedral. But before that, we will eat first. And because we are in Italy, we will eat pasta. And this is risotto. Every Sunday morning, the Pope appears. So the Pope is not here on Sundays? But for sure, there are a lot of people here on Sundays. Because today is Monday. So we won't be able to see the Pope. To get inside the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, the line is so long for the ticket, guys. I think it will take you like around 2 hours to get inside. So it will take a lot of your time. But upon checking, there are offices on the sides wherein they offer like skip-the-line tickets. And we checked, there are offices that will cost you around 75 euros. There are also others that are 99 euros. Their prices are different. So you just really have to check on it. Then Bartz and I bought it for 99 euros. Then we checked, it's only 75 euros. So you just have to canvass. Our tour inside the Vatican City has started. And we are now inside the Vatican. We are now inside the Vatican Museum. There are so many people. So there's a total of 1,600 plus sculptures inside. By the way, we're wearing this to be able to hear the guide. We just finished the tour. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to film and take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel. It's just small. It's really just a chapel. I really thought like it's a big chapel. Now, we're going inside the Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica up close. This is inside the Basilica. Wow. Guys. It's so big in person. Wow. It's majestic. To give you an idea guys, how big it is. This is how small it is. And there are so many people. This is the first time that I went inside a Basilica without a chair inside. It's so huge. And yes, you can film and take pictures here. But it's not allowed inside the Sistine Chapel. Today is our last day here in Europe guys. And later at 10pm, we have a flight. We want to make the most of this day. That's why we came back here to the Colosseum. Because we want to take pictures in this part. We didn't go here yesterday. Where the man is sitting. We took pictures there earlier. And also later, we will go to Trevi Fountain. So this specific spot is called the Via Nicola Salvi. For your reference guys. Just in case in the future, you wanted to visit here. This is the perfect spot for photos. After a 19 minute walk from the Colosseum, we're here in Trevi Fountain. There are so many people guys. Time check, it's 9.51am. Supposedly, our target here is 6am. But we can't wake up super early. But yeah, I'm finally here. We're finally here. It's really hard to take photos in the middle of the fountain. So I highly suggest you guys to stay on the sides. Because sometimes, there's no one there. So you have to be alone on the side. Since I'm at Trevi Fountain, I'm going home guys. So yesterday was officially the day our tour ended. So now, Bart and I are just doing DIY. So that's why it's a good thing. You have a very reliable travel wifi. And this is from SMB guys. Because now, Bart and I are just googling maps where we want to go. I'm no longer in Europe, but I know this is the most awaited part of the vlog. How much the trip cost. This is the package we chose for our Europe trip. So that's per person. And for this, we booked it through SMB Travel. So this package includes roundtrip, economy, airfare, accommodation, inclusive of breakfast, which is very important. Because you'll save a lot if it has breakfast included. Next, roundtrip airport transfers, transportation service via bus, and a tour guide. It also includes boat rides. And you saw that in the vlog. And of course, city tour, excursions, and entrance fees. There's also one activity where they'll give free lunch. But the rest of the trip, lunch and dinner, should be shouldered by Hugh. And as someone who always does DIY on trips, this is the first time that Bart and I will avail group booking. And so here are the advantages if you will take group bookings. Number one, convenient transfer. Bart and I really appreciated the transfers, guys. Because transferring from one country to another, like France to Switzerland, and then Switzerland to Italy, it was hassle-free, very convenient. It saves you a lot of energy. Because I've seen a lot of posts about DIYs in Europe. And the struggle is always when you transfer from one country to another. Because in their train stations, there are only escalators and elevators. So you really need to take your luggage on the stairs. Which is very frustrating. Because I've experienced that in Japan. It's really a hassle. So for group bookings, since they arrange everything, it's really, really convenient. Next, convenient transportation. So knowing that you will not take the train all the time, so it will definitely save you a lot of steps. It's not that tiring, because there's a bus waiting for you to transport you from one city to another. Third advantage is the planning is done for you. As someone who does DIY, it's really a headache to plan a trip. Especially the Europe, I think. If ever I make a planning or itineraries, it will take me like one month of doing so. Because it's not easy to plan a Europe trip. So during the entire time of the trip, the only thing that I have to think is how to take good photos and videos the entire trip. Because I don't have to think about the itinerary and all of the plannings. Because SMB Travel will take care of it. And the fourth advantage, you have a free time to spend on your own. Because there are days, like half day, you are free, so you have all the time to spend it the way you want to spend it. So their itineraries are not that overwhelming, which is great. Especially if you have plans to go shopping, or if you want to go somewhere else that is not included in the itinerary, you can definitely do that. Because there are hours of free time. Number five, and the best part, you have an experienced tour guide with you. And they will give you a lot of insights about the destination, at the same time tips, how to survive on a specific destination, because there are times in Europe, like especially Paris, there are pickpockets, there are scammers, so they can warn you about it. Especially when we were in Italy, they gave us a heads up that we will pay for the use of utensils in the restaurants. So that's really helpful for us. Because we didn't know that from Bard. So if ever we go to a restaurant and they have an additional charge, our bill, we might be embarrassed because it's normal for them to pay for the utensils that you used. Number six, your safety is secured. Because if ever something happens to you, and since you have an experienced tour guide with you, they already know what to do, and they already know who to contact. And for me, that's a plus. And the last but not the least, you'll get to meet amazing people. So all throughout our Europe trip with Bard, we met a lot of people. From the Philippines, they're in Isabela, from India, from Malaysia, from the US. It's really an incredible experience. Like sharing the trip with other people, we were so happy there. And that's it. If you want to know more about SMB Travel, I'm going to put the link in the description box below. So just feel free to check that out. Thank you so much guys for coming with us. And I hope to see you in the next one. Bye!