How I Financed and Planned My Eurotrip as a 21-Year-Old Filipina

MAKING & SAVING MONEY

1. I took advantage of freelance/online work.

I started working when I was 12 years old. I wrote for different clients abroad via oDesk (which is now called “UpWork”). I earned enough to start another business involving buying and selling, and the rest of my business venture is history. Check out other freelancing websites such as Freelancer, Elance, and the likes as they have job offerings for almost all types of work – even copy + pasting! It’s a good way to earn money without being haggard. Plus, you have control of your own time.

2. Have an entrepreneurial mind.

If you want to travel, you have to have money and to have money, you have to work. Working does not stop the minute you stepp out of your office. Make a business out of everything! Saw a cute dress while passing by Divisoria? Buy one for you, then three to sell! A Php50 profit per dress is still better than nothing.

3. Needs vs. wants.

No, you don’t need that Starbucks coffee every morning. Instead of buying a cup everyday, how about saving those 180 pesos and adding it to your travel funds?

4. Open a savings account.

The reason you can’t save is because you don’t know where to put your money. If you have a savings account, you will be obliged to deposit money every once in a while. My trick is to open a savings account with the same bank as your payroll account. Download the mobile application of that bank and enroll both your savings and payroll account. Every payday, immediately transfer 80% of your salary to your savings account. Trust me: it changed my life.

5. Learn to sacrifice convenience.

Hailing a cab everyday is convenient, yes. Every once in a while, though, learn how to give up convenience and save a bit of money. Being sweaty and smelling other people’s sweat might seem icky, but will you die, though?

Kach of When In Manila also wrote about preparation tips for backpackers, which includes cutting down expenses on your trips.

SCHENGEN VISA PROCESSING

What stops most Filipinos from traveling is the visa processing. Applying and paying a non-refundable visa fee that costs thousand of pesos and then being denied is the absolute worst. I will be honest with you: yes, it’s not a walk in the park gathering documents to prove that you won’t stay in that country as an illegal immigrant.

The Schengen Visa is a pass that you need in order to visit 26 European countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Because of the number of countries you can visit with this visa, it will be hard, but it’s not impossible to obtain one. AgainL I’m just a 21-year old female with less than a year of working in my current company yet I’ve been granted a multiple entry visa by the German Embassy. I only requested for 50 days, but they gave me 75 days!

To know more about the process on obtaining a Schengen visa, I wrote a blog post that might help. My blog also has posts about my Schengen interview experience, how to save money for travels, and how to travel without quitting your job.

I am really hoping to help my fellow Filipinos in achieving their travel goals! 🙂

BOOKING FLIGHTS & ITINERARY

The moment I received my visa, I immediately booked my flight. I trusted SkyScanner.com and CheapFlights.com for this. Now to the fun part: how did I decide where to go, when to go, and how much to spend? 

Thing is: I didn’t. I booked the whole trip through TourRadar.com. The whole trip called “Europe Jewel” involves 14 days, 10 countries, inclusive of accommodation, transportation, and a few meals. It was amazing and the best decision I’ve ever done for the Eurotrip! It saved me a lot of money rather than just doing it myself. Meeting new people from around the world also happens to be the highlight of my trip. Check out my teaser below! 🙂

I saved more than Php6,000 by entering the code “TRIPCOMETRUE” on my purchase. It has been two months since I last met the people from the tour, but I can still remember how we enjoyed each other’s company. This tour is great for those who do not have time or knowledge in planning. It’s also perfect for people who prefer being with other people than backpacking solo! 🙂

Valerie Tan of When In Manila also wrote about her itinerary for her 18-day Eurotrip – check it out, too!

Tips for your Eurotrip? Continue reading on the next page!