EUROPE ENTRIES

By

For brevity, I will use EU I for my 2011 trip, EU II for my 2013 trip, and EU III for my 2016 trip. EU IV is for our family trip in 2017.

Europe is my ultimate dream destination.  A wish that finally came true after years of just being a dream.

This is how I did it.


Europe I - Europe 2011 : Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France
Planning


Preparations
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Amsterdam Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

Germany
Cologne

Italy
Venice
Hostel Review: L' Imbarcadero, Venice
Venice Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

Florence

Rome
Rome Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

France
Paris

Post-Europe
Europe II - Europe 2013 : Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Portugal
Applying for a Schengen Visa in Spain Embassy Philippines 
Europe Part II: The Origins, The Planning
Picturesque Prague: Food 
Hostel Review: Miss Sophie's Hostel
Prague Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

Greece
Athens
Flew To Athens. Got Bored. 
Around Athens: Scorched Goddesses   
More Ancient Athens Ruins 
More Than Just Feta: My Take On Greek Food 
Athens Backpackers: Saved by the Location 
Athen Again: Athens Museum

Santorini
Scenes In Satorini
More Feta In Santorini
Santorini Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

Barcelona
Picturesque Barcelona With Picasso and Gaudi
Barcelona Takeaway Thoughts and Tips

Madrid
Around Madrid, then Alone in Madrid
One Day In Toledo
Madrid Food Adventure: More Tapas, More Sangria
Hostel Review: U Hostel in Madrid, Spain
Madrid Takeaway Thoughts and Tips 

Granada
Sunbathing in the Streets of Granada 
Alhambra at Day, Alhambra at Night 
Food in Granada: I Tried To Find Tapas and Failed 
Hostel Review: Granada Backpackers
Granada Takeaway Thoughts and Tips

Seville
Seville Architecture: Streets + Plaza + Cathedral = Sunburn
A Dance and a Palace: Flamenco and Alcazar
Food in Seville
Hostel Review: Hostel Trotamundos, Seville, Spain
Seville Takeaway Thoughts & Tips

Lisbon
Leisurely Walk Around Lisbon
Food in Lisbon: The Appetizers Ain't Free
Hostel Review: Good Morning Hostel Lisbon

Europe III - Europe 2016 : Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Germany

Applying for a Schengen Visa in German Embassy Philippines 
Europe Part III, Itinerary and Budget Breakdown 

Europe IV - Europe 2017 : Italy, France, UK

Schengen Visa Application via French Embassy in the Philippines
UK Visa Application in the Philippines

Comments

  1. rei_liedMarch 24, 2012 at 12:22 AM

    I just found your Europe Series a few days ago. It inspired me to also pursue my dream of going to Europe someday (from my current job I think it will take me 2-3 years of saving up hehehe). I might also do it solo like what you did. I really enjoy reading all your entries. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adventure AccountantMarch 25, 2012 at 11:01 PM

    It also took me a while to save, but it was all worth it! :) Hope you'll find something useful here when you do your Europe planning someday...or soon.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JohannaMarch 31, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    I've been stalking your blog for a while now, and I must say... it keeps my Europa2015 dream alive. :) I'm halfway done with the budget (if I'm following the US$ 3500 plan), and it still feels surreal.

    Thanks for such an informative blog. :D (It's actually bookmarked on my browser)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Adventure AccountantApril 2, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    Hey Johanna! It is an expensive trip, but it was worth every centavo. And the memory/experience does not fade - unlike if you spend the money on material possessions. Just stay committed to your dream. Thanks for reading. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 7, 2012 at 7:15 AM

    Hi. This is an awesome blog you got here. :-) Very helpful and easy to relate to. I love the details in your writing, it's funny! I'm also planning to go on Sept 2013 but I'm hesitant about going alone. Well, I still have time to look for a mate. Either way, still going :-)

    Thank you very much! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Adventure AccountantApril 12, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    @Andeng: Thank you! I understand being hesitant - felt like that at first when I was planning the trip. But the dream is bursting to come true. So I ended up going alone - which is a blessing in disguise. I had the time of my life. Hope to read your own EU adventure someday. Good luck! :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. GalateaMay 11, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    I like your blog so much, it makes me want to go back to Europe even more! Very inspiring to all would-be travelers as well as aspiring bloggers like me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. grumpyurbanslackerSeptember 7, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    Nice blog! Very informative and full of practical tips! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Adventure AccountantSeptember 9, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    @Galatea: I want to go back to Europe too! Soon I hope. :)
    @Grumpyurbanslack: Thank you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. GeeFebruary 20, 2013 at 10:18 PM

    Hello... We made your experience as a baseline that we can travelling Europe can be achieved. If I may ask, roughly how much is the "show money" for the consul to consider giving me a Schengen Visa? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Adventure AccountantFebruary 21, 2013 at 9:50 PM

    Hi Gee! I presented everything that I owned. I have my own savings and investments aside from my travel budget, I believe that helped.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ClarisseApril 21, 2014 at 4:36 AM

    Finally! Europe from a Pinay perspective! I'm planning my Europe trip this September, and I noticed that I'll be doing your Europe 1&2 in 5 weeks. Plus London pa! Yeah, ambisyosa lang ang peg. Although I know kanya-kanyang style ang travelling, but being the kuripot that I am, gusto ko kasi sulitin ang airfare. But somehow, your posts got me thinking that I might be overstretching myself a bit. I made sure that I'll be staying in one place for at least 2 days. If you factor in just your travel times within Europe, train, plane, going from one country to another, mga ilang days na kaya yun? Mga 5? I think I have to rethink some of the places I plan to visit.. Or just go on a yearly European vacay.. kaso kawawa nmn c savings..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adventure AccountantApril 22, 2014 at 7:55 PM

      Hi Clarisse! If you travel from one country/city to another, I allot +3-4 hours dun sa plane ride (if plane). 2 hours going to the airport, then 2 hours from the airport (baggage claim, finding the proper exit, getting maps, asking questions sa tourist information). If via train naman, it would be easier kasi wala nang baggage check-in and inspection unlike sa airport - but sometimes the trains are more expensive eh. Say 5 siguro yung na cumulative - 120 hours. Cramming too many places in one trip is possible, but very exhausting. Enjoyable, but tiring.

      I understand the excitement, especially the first trip because you want to hit everything in one go. But looking back, I'm glad I limited the countries I visited nung EU1 ko. Rome and Athens both have ruins, Barcelona and Florence both have art. So even if each city is different, their attractions may be similar.

      Wala pa sa plans ko ang London. But with PAL offering that route, maybe soon!
      Good luck!


      Delete
  13. AnonymousAugust 22, 2014 at 6:46 AM

    This is very comprehensive. Thanks for this. I'm planning my next Eurotrip for 2015! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. ina mendozaJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:55 AM

    your blog is very informative, planning for my first euro trip

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJune 14, 2016 at 2:50 PM

    where did you apply ur schengen visa ( first and second euro trip)

    ReplyDelete
  16. ina mendozaJuly 29, 2016 at 11:19 AM

    im on my way to my visa application with my husband, im very much inspired by ur adventure, like you im an accountant, good luck to me...

    ReplyDelete
  17. ina mendozaOctober 24, 2016 at 11:34 AM

    i applied in French embassy last sep 20 but was denied for reasons i dont know coz i have a US visa, it said it can be appealed within two months. is it possible to reconsider it, how to make sure it will be approved this time around, is there a fee for appeal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adventure AccountantOctober 26, 2016 at 1:57 PM

      Hi Neng. I am so sorry to hear that. :(
      I don't know the process how to appeal the decision. What I did was a reapplication - so I paid 60 euros again and I was granted a visa during my 2nd application to the same embassy (Italian). I provided additional documents (e.g. life insurance that I have been paying) that prove my rootedness in the Philippines.

      Delete
  18. Wandering PenClick ChickJanuary 3, 2017 at 6:53 AM

    Thanks for a very informative blog it is very helpful. Actually, I'm making it my guidelines for my first European trip in the near future. Looking forward for the completion of your Europe3 blog.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UK Visa Application in the Philippines

By
Image
The United Kingdom (UK) may be in Europe but it is not included in the Schengen zone. You need to apply for a separate visa in the UK. I’ve always wanted to see London (because of Mary Poppins) but I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of applying and paying for another visa aside from Schengen. Since this was a family trip, I finally had the opportunity of visiting London. We had to apply for a UK visa first before applying for a Schengen visa in the French Embassy. The process is a bit similar to the US Visa application wherein you fill-out a long form, pay the visa fee, then schedule your application to submit your documents. Here’s the basic process: 1.    Create an account and fill-out application forms  here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and- immigration 2.    Pay for the visa fee - via credit card – USD 110 3.    Schedule the visa appointment in VFS Global UK 4.    Print and gather documents...
Take me there!

Blaaaaah-ging

By
Image
I established this blog as a "shrine" for my adventures.  I've have travelled, since my last update - I took time to at least update my Adventure Accounts page. It's just...more difficult to really give trip details. Each blog post takes me approximately 4 hours to write, select and watermark photos, and recheck my excel file & trip notes. So two long and detailed blog posts equal to one working day. In the last couple of years, the rise of microblogging just made it easier to just skip a blogpost; because hey, there's your audience in FB or IG. I don't like to admit this, but there's a sense of "instant validation" when others do like your travel update post vs. waiting for someone to give a nice comment in your blog post (that took hours to write).  In between my March 2017 post and today, I've been busy being a postgraduate student in the UK (thru the Chevening scholarship), then I've travelled for 90 days to cover 11 count...
Take me there!

The Road Less Travelled: Malang-Ngadas-Cemoro Lawang. My Epic Adventure.

By
Image
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost” The usual route from Yogyakarta to Mount Bromo is via Probolinggo, a bus terminal filled with touts. I read lots of horror stories about the drama in Probolinggo (I have one as well but that’s for a separate blog post). The other option is to get a package tour from your hostel or any travel agency and then endure a 15-16 hour minivan ride with other tourists. Two lousy options. Both not fun. After some careful research, I stumbled across the Bromo backdoor route via the town of Ngadas. I read about the Malang-Ngadas-Cemoro Lawang route from these amazing bloggers. A good acquaintance, who also did this route, helped me out with the details. Kurtzy WalkFlyPinoy Ambot Ah So there are some adventurers who did this route. The thing is, they are all male. That made me a bit apprehensive about doing this route. Since you are reading my blog post...
Take me there!