Friday, November 22, 2013

The "Slav" stretch - look east

Ok....this can also feature in the series of Offbeat destinations since desis are most likely to give it a miss. But for those who would want to take the road less travelled, they should look out for the eastern bloc which comprises of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Macednonia and members of erstwhile Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia)



Prague is perhaps the most famous name of this region however there are many other less explored gems as well. For budget travellers, this region is a boon as it is dirt cheap compared to other parts of Europe. To begin with, Prague is famous for its home-made beers and has some beautiful architecture. There are some restaurants that serve very exotic delicacies and at really attractive prices. One restaurant that i would recommend has a virtual railway network that connects each table to the kitchen and each order is served on a wagon that plies on this rail network. You can also check out the country side of Czech Republic which is spell-binding. For adventure-lovers, you can do paragliding, bungee jumping, sky-diving, etc at unbelievable costs.


Moving to south, there is this small country called Slovenia which borders the north-east of Italy. It has some lovely mountains and country-side. While its capital Ljubljana is just like any other European city, though a bit on sleepy side, hill-side towns like Bled are worth a visit. There are many adventure companies that can organize various activities like rafting in Soca river, canyoning, skiing (in winter and spring), etc. There is this ski resort which is partly in Slovenia and partly in Italy.

Another gem is Croatia which till recently was out of Schengen Area and its visa had to be applied separately. However, now it is covered under Schengen Agreement which has made travelling in this region very convenient. Mind you, unlike its neighbours, Slovenia has Euro as its currency and is therefore pricier than them. You can hear lot of war-time anecdotes from the tour-guides in this region which was under Communist rule for a very long time. Croatia, too, is a great place for adventurous activities with a diverse topography. This region is inhabited by predominantly "Slav" people and each country has a separate language. But if you are regular traveller then this should not be an impediment as India itself has a wide linguistic spectrum.

You can 'look east' for a change.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tips to save money and avoid inconvenience when in Europe

For the desis who will be travelling for the first time to Europe, here are some quick tips that may make things easier for you:

1. Since the climate remains relatively cold, you may not feel very thirsty, however you may have to use the washroom frequently. So always keep some change on you as there are paid urinals at public places including malls and restaurants. In some cities though, food joints like McDonald's, Burger King, etc may have free washrooms but don't take this for granted.

2. If you are a vegetarian, do carry ready-made stuff from India for munching and quick meals.

3. Keep liquid cosmetics to the minimum if you are carrying it in cabin baggage since the Security Check people are really strict on liquids. Make sure content in each bottle doesn't exceed 150 grams. If travelling by Ryan Air, keep a small transparent plastic bag with you while going through security check else you may be forced to buy it for 50 cents.

4. There is no common Sim card for entire Europe, so when you move from one country to another, it is considered to be 'roaming'. Therefore, you need not buy international sim cards from India as they will be country specific and will turn out to be expensive in the end. Better, buy a new sim card every time you land in a new country. Prefer to communicate via msg apps like Whatsapp, WeChat, etc as Wifi is available at most public places. Alternatively, with VoIP apps available make free calls via internet rather than spend money on sim cards. However, not all airports have free WiFi, so don't take it for granted.

5. In Greece, there is a very convenient thing called public telephone booths which are available in every nook and corner. So no need to buy a sim card. Just buy a calling card for about 5 euros which you can use at these telephone booths to make international calls with a talk-time of about 5 hours.

6. If travelling via cheap airlines like Ryanair/Wizzair, make sure you adhere to the dimensions of the cabin baggage as stipulated by the airline. If your bag doesn't fit into the rack kept near boarding counter, then you may be asked to check-in the same which will cost you considerable money. Check the website for all terms & conditions.

7. If you are travelling via economy, make sure you read the terms for baggage. Most airlines allow only one 'piece' free for check-in. This means that if you have two light-weight baggages to check-in then you may have to pay for one baggage. Airlines are very strict on this and therefore make sure you prepare your luggage accordingly else you will end up paying extra baggage fees which is quite sizeable.

8. Most places accept electronic payments so it is better to carry bulk of your money in the form of Travel Card which essentially a debit card in a particular currency. There are many banks that issue such currency specific cards. However, do carry some cash as well for taxis/buses and even some restaurants which may not have electronic payment facility.

9. If you are planning well in advance, check for great online deals on inter-city buses. You may get a ticket for as low as 8 euros which normally may cost about 30 euros. If you are buying the ticket on board, you will have to pay by cash except for Scandinavia. In all Scandinavian countries, no cash payment is accepted on board, only debit/credit cards are accepted. You may also buy tickets from some designated convenience stores or at the bus terminal.

10. Do carry International Driving permit if  you plan to rent a car. It can be availed from your local RTO. Vehicle fuel is not subsidised in Europe and the parking charges are also quite high so it may not be a great idea to rent a car if you are on a budget.

11. Even though these are cold countries, they do get a little hot in summer i.e. in months of June-Aug. The temperature may go as high as over 35 degrees. Therefore, you need not carry an Eskimo jacket if you go during this time. I was sweating at 6 in the morning in Germany. A normal windcheater is good enough for evenings

12. Most hostels/hotels do not have fans. So if you are going in summer, then prefer private rooms in hostels instead of dorms. The dorms can get very stuffy during this season.

13. Do not assume that everyone speaks English. In most countries except Scandinavia, most people speak the native language and may not speak English. So if you are asking for directions or some information to some random person on the street, make sure the person is young since it is high probability that old people may not understand English.

14. European cities are well-planned and have great information systems, so you can navigate easily by map-reading. Maps are available for free in most public places like Hotels/hostels, airports, bus terminals, convenience stores, etc. Just grab one and find your way through. Even bus schedules, metro train schedules are easily availble. Alternatively, you may download some city-specific apps on your phone which may help you with such information.

15. Beware of ATM scams in countries like Italy, Spain, etc. Avoid using ATMs in these countries if your credit/debit card is not a chip-based one. Most people use cards with magnetic tape which are susceptible to cloning. Gangs operate in some countries that clone your card once you have used it at ATM and then withdraw money from your account. So use an ATM only in case of emergency or use chip-based card only.

I hope these tips help make your trip convenient.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Norway's Fjords

Scandinavia or the northern part of Europe is very scenic but is not very touristy as it is known more for its technology and business prowess. Very few desis would venture out to this beautiful region out of sheer ignorance. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland - the four most coldest countries. We shall focus on Norway in this piece which is perhaps next to only Switzerland in its beauty.




If you are a budget traveller then you might be caught off guard with the prices in Norway and entire Scandinavia for that matter. Oslo is one of the most expensive cities of the world. Even by European standards, Norway is quite steep. Therefore, i would suggest that you get down to business straight away and set out to visit the Fjords, a landform which is peculiar to Norway. This country is more known for its "midnight sun" by desis but its  main attraction is fjords.



You can choose to have any of the tailor-made packages offered by Fjord Tours, which are essentially a combination of train, bus and cruise tours bundled into one. Depending on the time you want to spend you can choose one-day, three-day or week long tours. Bergen railway line is the most scenic one in the entire Scandinavia. One would be completely spell-bound by its beauty and the 8 hour train ride from Oslo to Bergen can turn out to be the best one ever. Brief stop-overs at Myrdal, Flam, Voss are worth every second.

Norway is a very sparsely populated country and has a very high quality of life which is true for entire Scandinavia. Oslo is also well-known for its pubs. Stockholm in Sweden is also a very popular destination with its old buildings and monuments.


Friday, November 15, 2013

Shopping in Europe

Something on every woman's mind while travelling is "retail therapy". Picking up souvenirs and local specialities is not uncommon. However, if you are on a budget you need to be very judicious about how you prioritize shopping.

There is no doubt that Europe is home to some exquisite designs in women's wear. If you simply want to check out the malls then cheapest brands like H&M are your best bet. However, if  you wish to go for branded and premium designer stuff then you may better watch your wallet.

On the street-side shops you will get lot of souvenirs and "I love" t-shirts which are mostly "Made in Bangladesh". Milan can be heaven for those having taste for good designs but you should have weight in your pocket as well. However, if you go for some unbranded stuff in some of the local shops in Italy you may land up with some good bargain. One such place is in the northern part of the Rome just outside the Vatican City. There are some shops on the approach road to Vatican City which carry some beautiful designs in coats, dresses, etc and that too for as low as 30 euros. Even Prague can be good place to pick up some stuff from the street-side artists.

Thumb rule: Haggle hard wherever  you go!!

Offbeat destinations - Greek Islands

Well, for a desi traveller, the itinerary to Europe is mostly very templated. It's mostly Western Europe that attracts most desis but there are some true gems in other parts as well which don't get covered by package tours and travel mags. One such region is the pack of Greek Islands.

Greece is known for all the wrong reasons of late but tourism at Greek Islands has always been a top draw especially for the Western travellers. It has a lot to do with the Mediterranean climate and the vibe of these islands which appeals to the party animals.


Now, you need not cover all islands at one go but depending on your objective and budget you can choose a couple of islands. Islands like Mykonos and Rhodes attract lot of Scandinavians and are therefore relatively expensive. Same is the case with Santorini which is essentially a honeymoon destination. So single/stag travellers need not waste money on it. May to September is the ideal time for these islands. If you do not want too much tourist crowd then better go in May-June as the summer holidays are yet to start in Europe. July-Aug will be full of tourists from all parts of the world

Remember, Greek Islands are located at the South East corner of Europe and are therefore near to both Turkey and Italy. Thankfully, you have RyanAir flying to most of these islands, so check the connections before you plan your itinerary. If Greek Islands is your only destination then start off with Athens. You can spend a day for ancient Greek architecture in mainland Greece and subsequently move to Greek Islands each of which is an hour's flight away from Athens. There are also ferries that can take you to the islands but take about 7-8 hours. Bad idea if you suffer from sea-sickness.

Islands like Corfu, Kos, Naxos, etc are relatively cheaper and attract mostly British travellers. You will find lot of young crowd on these islands who normally come to just get wasted. You can come across some of the most wildest parties on these islands. The Pink Palace resort in Corfu is the most famous or infamous destination for party animals as it has the whole host of activities to offer for revellers. One should try Quad-bike safari, para-sailing, booze-cruise, etc.

Eating/drinking, etc is quite inexpensive in this region but make sure you drink only bottled water. Greek people are very warm and nice and if you can befriend a local then you can have a nice time chatting with them. 
So, if you are looking to stay off the beaten track then this is these islands are the place to be. But if you are one of those sober, 'play-safe' kind of travellers then better stick to the postcard destinations.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

What to eat?

One of the major motivations of westerners to travel is to try different foods. I am not sure if desis can fully relate to it since our taste buds are highly non-adaptable. It will not be an exaggeration if i say that most of us especially Gujjus or those coming from Hindi belt are staunch vegetarians. Besides, we are so used to flavor and spice in our food that it may be difficult for us to accept culinary philosophy of other cultures.

Europe is very different from U.S., U.K. or Australia when it comes to easy availability of desi food. If and where available, it is relatively expensive compared to the local stuff. Now, this is not a good news for a budget traveller. Therefore, you may have to survive on lot of continental stuff. Joints like McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, etc might be a premium delight in India but in Europe they are nothing more than glorified street stalls. The pricing of their stuff is the cheapest of all. You can get a cheeseburger for as low as 1 euro. Besides, there are lot of street-side shops selling Pizzas, Doner Kebabs, and other local delicacies.

If you are putting up at a Bed n Breakfast accommodation, make sure you stuff yourself during the breakfast so that you don't start feeling hungry after a couple of hours and travel without bothering about food. Bottled water is expensive but the climate will not make you feel thirsty. However, whenever you ask for bottled water, please mention explicitly that you want 'plain' water and not sparkling water. The water in the washrooms is drinkable but it is better to check. This is not the case in Greece, you are advised to have bottled water there. If you can't live without munching every couple of hours then better get some dry stuff from India itself - theplas, khakhras, namkeens, etc.

If you are fond of pizzas, better to have it from street-side stalls than look for some place like Pizza Hut or Domino's. There is no dearth of pizza outlets in entire Europe. For red meat and sea-food lovers Europe can offer you a wide variety of delicacies. Chicken-eaters may get disappointed as it may not be available at all restaurants. If you haven't had authentic chinese food in your life, then don't try it here as well. One thing should not miss is patisserie. There is no better place in the world for chocolates, pastries and muffins than Europe. Try the wide variety of cheese as well wherever you go.

If your taste-buds can adjust, Europe is a wholesome treat!!




Monday, November 11, 2013

Barcelona

Let's start with the tour now. I have chosen Spain for starters. Spain is pretty diverse country with a different type of topography to explore. It can consume your entire holiday time. So if you have to pick one place then it has to be Barcelona. On the cost of Mediterranean Sea, this is the most vibrant and colorful city in Espnyol. It lies in the Catalunya, which is the northern-most province of Spain.


With lovely beaches and colorful sites, you can have time of your life in this city. You can fly down directly from India or you can take a Ryan Air flight from Frankfurt. Remember, RyanAir flies to Barcelona Girona airport which is quite far from the city. Barcelona is famous for it street-side restaurants serving you the most delectable items from Mediterranean cuisine. If you like sea-food then this is the place to be.

La Ramblas street is the place where you will spend the best time in Barcelona with so many street side painters, ice-cream stalls, human statues, etc. You can also shop around for souvenirs here. Make sure you bargain vigorously to land up a good deal. If you are looking for Football t-shirts then you will get only BARCELONA FC jerseys. Barcelona is very fanatical about its football team. You will find lot of Sindhi and Punjabi shopkeepers so you can bargain in Hindi and land up t-shirts and caps for as low as 4 euros. But these are "Made in Bangladesh" stuff and not branded one.


The symbol of Barcelona is a marvel called Sagrada da Familia a church which is constantly under renovation by the architects of Gaudi family. You may have to spare an entire day to visit this marvel as there are long queues of tourists to get inside. But it is worth the effort.


Mediterranean region is known for its fruits and vegetables. Don't miss the biggest fruit market of Barcelona which is near the La Ramblas street. Also worth a visit is the Gaudi Park which is built by the same family which looks after Sagrada da Familia.

Commuting is very easy in Barcelona as there is a robust network of Metro rail. Besides, there are frequent buses as well. So don't use a cab unless you are really tired and don't wish to walk. But if you are on budget then hiring a cab would be a bad idea. You can buy a 3-day ticket or 7-day ticket at any metro station depending on the number of days you want to spend.

At most of the tourist sites, you will find Bangladeshi hawkers selling toys and other such petty stuff. There are few Indian restaurants as well which are actually run by Pakistanis. Beware of  the pickpockets and some of the scams that are very infamous in Barcelona. Never get distracted by any 'cup' games that you might be asked to play, you may end up losing 50 euros. It is not a good idea to venture out alone at late night as there can be unsrupulous elements on the street who may rob you. Also, the metro rail doesn't operate after midnight.

All said and done, Barcelona will be an experience of lifetime.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Where to Stay?

When it comes to holiday, the first thing that comes into your mind is a plush luxurious resort with a swimming pool and bar. Well, if that is what you are looking for why spend so much to see Europe? You can have it in your country. When you are on a budget, keep your objective very simple - to explore Europe as much as you can. So just look for basics as far as accommodation is concerned as you should be using it just to retire after a day long city tour or travel.

Thankfully, Europe has a whole range of accommodations - from budget hotels, hostels, bed & breakfast, inns, luxury hotels, etc. I would recommend Hostels. There is a misconception that if you are travelling with spouse then it is not safe to stay at hostel. There are various categories of rooms available even in a hostel. You can get a private room with a private bathroom in most hostels. Also, most hostels provide you with complimentary breakfast which is quite filling - Milk, cereals, eggs, tea/coffee, ham, breads, fruits, etc.

The tariff varies from city to city. In east European countries, you can get a bed in dormitory for as low as 7 euros while in Scandinavia you can get it for as high as 30 euros. Private rooms will cost you on an average 35 euros per head per night. You can check out the rooms and book easily at sites like Hostelworld and Hostelbookers. You need to pay just 10% of the tariff upfront and the rest you need to pay at the time of checking in.
Alert: Read the terms & conditions of each hostel carefully including the check-in and check-out times.


Hostels are normally occupied by young tourists and therefore you will have vibrant company during your stay. Besides, most hostels have community kitchen so you can get your stuff from supermarket and cook on your own. The common area or lounge of the hostels is an area buzzing with activity. Most hostels have Free WIFI so you can catch up with your mails or facebook updates or post your pictures in realtime. Moreover, there is a lot of information in terms of maps, bus and flight schedules, city events, pub crawl packages, etc available at hostels.There are locker facilities available at most hostels so that you can store your luggage while you are out for an excursion.

For those who prefer to travel alone, there is another concept that is catching up fast which is called Couchsurfing. You need to register on this site and create your profile. Then you can look for someone who is ready to host you at his/her house at the location where you are travelling. All this for FREE!! It can be a great convenience and save you some bucks. If your host is kind enough then he/she can also show you around with his/her group of friends.

If you are ready to trade off a little luxury then Europe can be really budget-friendly place to travel.

Visa

Most countries of Europe are covered under Schengen Visa Agreement and therefore you need a single visa for about 15 countries that are covered by this Agreement. You can apply at the embassy of any of the countries that you are visiting. However, it is preferable to apply to the one where you intend to spend maximum number of days. If you are travelling for the first time, you may have to appear for a personal interview. For those, who have travelled to Schengen Area in last 3 years, application at VFS centers is sufficient.

It is better to freeze your itinerary and make your reservations before applying for visa. You may keep the flight reservation pending and book just the accommodation and flights/trains within Europe to avoid cancellation charges in the eventuality of visa getting rejected. You don't need to have millions on your balance sheet to get a visa. But a healthy bank balance (2-3 lakhs should suffice) is recommended as an evidence that you will be able to meet all your travel expenses for the trip. Read the terms & conditions carefully on the website of the Embassy that you intend to apply to.

Don't forget to get travel insurance as it is mandatory to attach with the application. You can get it for as low as Rs 800/- for a basic plan. Make sure all countries that you are travelling to fall under Schengen Area. If the country is out of Schengen Area, then you need to apply for it separately.

If you have a friend/relative living in a Schengen country then you can also ask for an invitation letter from him/her and apply for Visitor visa instead of a Tourist visa. However, the country of your host should feature in your itinerary i.e. there should be a clear evidence that you are going to spend some time in the country of your host.

Start preparing well in advance and apply at least 20 days before your date of travel.

Flights

Okay let's get started. First thing in your mind is to get the cheapest flight out of India. Well, there is no one airline that can guarantee you that. But you are lucky to have a plethora of price comparison sites that can help get you the best deal. However, in the context of the entire itinerary, it is not as simple as it sounds. You need to take lot of variables into account before freezing on your flights. Let me first give you an insight into the dirt cheap airlines that fly within Europe.

Europe is blessed with a number of airlines which offer REALLY low air fares if booked well in advance. RYAN AIR is the most popular among these with connectivity to every major destination in Europe.You have other airlines also like WIZZ AIR and EASY JET that can land you some great deals. For e.g., a flight from Frankfurt to Barcelona can cost you as low as 17 euros. Now, where is the catch?

Well, these airlines are made for travellers who like to travel lite. The low fares are valid only if you are travelling with a light cabin baggage and have no bag to check-in. You are supposed to carry boarding pass from home. These airlines charge you for just about everything so read their stipulations carefully else your calculations can go horribly wrong. One more thing, these airlines do not fly from main airports of the city. There are smaller airports as far as 200 kms from the city from where these flights operate. However, there are bus connnections  to these airports from the city centre/main railway station which cost in the range of 13-20 euros.

These flights are a much cheaper option than the RAIL EUROPE and EURAIL routes. Remember, in Europe you will find both nationalized and private railways. Private railways are very expensive but are very comfortable. You also have good bus connectivity between major cities.

Now, coming back to deciding on the flight out of India. A to-and-fro flight will always be much cheaper than a one-way flight. Therefore, prefer to fly back to India from the same location where you flew in first. Plan your intra-Europe flights accordingly. Frankfurt has a large number of Ryan Air connections. Also, since it is a major hub in Europe, even the flights from India to Frankfurt are reasonably priced compared to other destinations. So you may choose to fly to Frankfurt first and then take Ryan Air connections to your final destinations

You will need to do lot of permutations and combinations. But it is worth spending every second on this exercise.





Where to go? - Europe is big

In terms of size, travelling in Europe can be compared to travelling in India as it comprises of very small countries. But you can't travel entire India at one go. So assuming that your trip is of maximum two weeks, you need to pick & choose where you want to go.

For convenience of planning, you can divide Europe in four zones:

1) Western Europe - (most popular with desis) France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy.
This is the most conventional bloc of any European package. Of course, it is very scenic and comprises of many world famous monuments and sites like Eifell tower, Swiss Alps, Venice, etc. Also made popular by many movies, desis can relate to these places easily.





2) Mediterranean or Southern Europe - Spain, Greece, southern Italy, Portugal.
This region is catching up with its western counter-part with growing awareness and is more popular among the younger crowd. This region lies in the Mediterranean sea and has a sunny and pleasant climate



3) Scandinavia - Nordic region - Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark
This region is the most under-rated in terms of tourism inspite of the most scenic landscapes. This bloc is known more for business and technology and is less vibrant than other regions. However, it has the best quality of life in the entire continent but a very cold weather. Also, it is the most expensive.

4) East Europe - Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Albania, Romania, etc
This part of the continent is known to few desi tourists and therefore is less frequented by family tourists. However, it is gaining popularity among young educated travellers as it is inexpensive and offers very colourful and vibrant experience. This area is economically lagging compared to the other three. Prague is the most famous city of this belt.

So, you can follow "one-bloc-at-a-time" policy when you plan your trips to Europe. This will save you travelling time and will also suit your budget. 

It doesn't cost a bomb!

All this while Desis thought that going to Europe was a once in a lifetime experience since it required a handsome amount to be spent. Well, think again. Some clinical planning and research can save you big bucks  and believe you me, you can take a trip to Europe every year. Just follow this space and you may be on a flight soon.