Hello everyone!
I'm back from my Europe trip. This is actually my second trip to Europe. The first one was in year 2015 where I travelled to 8 cities: Berlin--Dresden--Munich--Vienna--Venice--Florence--Rome--Vatican City.
This time, I went to 4 cities: Paris--Brussels--Amsterdam--Milan. I took a flight by Oman Air from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle) airport. After spending 3 nights in Paris, I took a bus (Flixbus) to Brussels and from there, I took another bus from Brussels to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam, I took a budget flight (Vueling Airlines) to Milan and lastly, from Milan, I took Thai Airways back to Kuala Lumpur.
In total, I spent 10 days for this trip, from June 11th to 20th, and if you're interested to know how much I've spent, look no further as I will break it down for you below.
Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Paris: RM 1,562
Bus from Paris to Brussels: RM 64.25
Bus from Brussels to Amsterdam: RM 54.47
Flight from Amsterdam to Milan: RM 225.08
Flight from Milan to Kuala Lumpur: RM 1,691.48
*Please note that prices varies according to the time you book the flight/bus tickets and the amount depends on the currency exchange rate.
Now comes the accommodation part......
Paris, France
Le Montclair Montmartre by Hiphoshostels
Address: 62, Rue Ramey, 18th arr., Paris, 75018, France
Contact no: +33146064607
Price: RM 357.89 (€74.43) €67.66 1 bed in 6-bed Mixed Dormitory + 10% VAT €6.77
*PAY €0.88 City Tax per night is excluded (€2.64 for 3 nights)
Website: Booking.com
Total for 3 nights: RM 370.50
Brussels, Belgium
ES Hostel
Address: Square de l’Aviation 22, Brussels 1070
Contact no: +3225270130
Price: €36 (RM 167) 1 bed in 3 twin bed bunk male only dormitory
*PAY AT THE HOTEL City tax: €8.48 for 2 nights
Website: Hotels.com
Total for 2 nights: RM 211.95 (€44.48)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hostel Centraal
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 19, Amsterdam-Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1018 S2
Price: 1st night: €65, 2nd night: €25.50, City Tax €5.43 = €95.93 (€65 paid by credit card = RM 306.50) remaining €30.93 paid by cash at the hostel 1 bed in 30-bed dormitory
Website: Agoda
Total for 2 nights: RM 453.88 (€95.93)
Milan, Italy
Babila Hostel
Address: via Conservatorio 2a, City Center, Milan, Italy 20122
Price: RM 285.90 (RM 130 per night) City Tax: €4 (RM 19.06)
Breakfast included
Website: Agoda
Total for 2 nights: RM 304.96
EXPENSES
Total for 3 flights: RM 3,478.56
Total of 2 Flixbus: RM 118.72
Total of 4 accommodations: RM 1,341.29
Food/Public Transport: €198.62 (RM 946.42)
GRAND TOTAL: RM 5,885
Most of my friends thought I would have spent at least 10k for this trip. Let's face it, when you talk about travelling around Europe countries, one would have expected to at least spend 10k but like I always tell my friends and relatives, that's one of the reasons why I prefer to plan and travel on my own.
Who would have thought you could visit 4 cities under 6k? Well, for one, I don't eat at those tourist areas, I don't go for fine dining restaurants. I eat cheap and don't splurge on shopping. I'm not those shopping type of traveller. I'm more into seeing how the life of the local people there, visit old historical architecture such as palaces, castles, cathedrals, churches, and some museums.
Now let's talk about what I think of each of the hostels I stayed. Let's start with Le Montclair Montmartre in Paris.
Room size: Small
Number of beds: 3 bunk-beds which can accommodate 6 people.
Level of noise: Quite noisy whenever people walking fast or running upstairs, you could hear it and when they talk, you could hear it too, so it's not a quiet place to sleep if you're a light sleeper. But for the cheap price, that's what you get. Every room in Paris is small for budget stay.
Reception: The staff was helpful and polite and speaks English well. They will try to help you in every possible way to make sure you're comfortable with everything.
Amenities: There is no bathroom or toilet inside the room. The whole building must share a common shower room and toilet which there are only 2 very tiny shower stalls, 3 very small toilets, and 2 sinks. There is a kitchen for anyone to use. You can even cook meals there but you have to buy your own groceries from a supermarket. They provide electric kettle, tableware: plates, bowls, cups, glasses, cutlery (forks and spoons), and even pans, and pots for you to cook.
Would I stay there again or recommend you? Err... if you're just for 1 or 2 nights, I think it's fine but if you're spending more nights than that, I don't recommend because although it is very near to a metro subway station but it's not an ideal place for a long stay. For me, I don't mind going back if the price is cheaper than other hostels.
Let's move on to the hostel in Brussels, Belgium.
Room size: A normal standard hotel room
Number of beds: 4 single beds
Level of noise: Quiet. Very nice.
Reception: The staff doesn't look friendly or warmth because he doesn't smile and doesn't try to engage in a conversation with guests but he's not arrogant or what. Just doesn't seem easy to approach.
Amenities: There is a big bathroom inside the room but on the downside, the bathroom door has no lock, but that's fine because they will arrange all male guests to stay in the same room and female guests in another room. The bathroom is very clean. I am impressed. On the downside, there is no kitchen area for guests to use. So you cannot cook or even boil hot water to have a cup of tea/coffee. The lobby area is very classy, elegant, and you don't expect to see such design and furniture in a hostel. It definitely looks more like a hotel than a hostel.
Would I stay there again or recommend you? Yes. Although the room has not much space for you to walk around after putting 4 beds but it is quiet, clean, with a bathroom inside the room and the overall feel is nice. I would definitely stay there again if I ever go back there.
Next is the hostel in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Room size: Big
Number of beds: 15 bunk-beds which can accommodate 30 people. Yes! All 30 beds in one huge hall and you feel like you're an immigrant sleeping with other immigrants in a locked up area. Hahaha! The bed is very small and you may fall off if you're those who turn around a lot when you sleep.
Level of noise: Can be noisy if you have noisy guests who talk and laugh so loud with no consideration of other guests who sleep early. All males and females in the same room.
Reception: Quite friendly. I suspect they're originally from Arab country or Middle-East because they speak in Arabic among themselves. The young guy was very kind and helpful although they don't talk much to the guests.
Amenities: There are 2 shower stalls, 2 toilets, and 2 sinks in the same room but in another partition, away from all the 30 beds.
Would I stay there again or recommend you? Definitely NO! It is noisy, bed too small, too many people in one room, and it's not cheap!
Lastly, the hostel in Milan, Italy.
Room size: Normal queen size hotel room
Number of beds: 4 bunk-beds which can accommodate 8 people.
Level of noise: Quiet.
Reception: Very helpful and friendly. I couldn't connect to the free Wi-Fi so the girl used my phone to connect to their private internet line so that I can get online. It was so thoughtful and kind of her to do that.
Amenities: There is a nice middle size bathroom with 2 shower stalls, 1 toilet, and 2 sinks. Breakfast buffet was included in the price when I book. The breakfast spread were mini croissants, some very delicious jam type of pies, toasts, butter, cheese, cold cut meats, fresh tomato juice, orange juice, milk, cereal, granola, coffee and tea. This hostel has a chef which you can order dinner from their menu and dine in the dining area next to the lobby. There is bar and a kitchen on the 3rd floor for you to use. When you arrive for check-in, you're given a key to your own locker in the room and a coupon for you to get a free drink at the bar (wine or beer).
Would I stay there again or recommend you? Yes. It's nice although it's 10 mins walk from the nearest metro station but it's easy to locate if you use Google Maps for direction.
Overall, I like the hostels in Brussels and Milan. It's comfortable, clean, quiet, great vibes, friendly staff and good amenities for the guests.
In my next post, I will write about the prices of food and public transport (metro, subway, bus, train). So, stay tuned!
