EUROPE TRIP
PORTUGAL
We flew in to Lisbon, Portugal and stayed at Home Hostel which we HIGHLY recommend. Every night the owner hosts a dinner with a home cooked Portuguese meal where you can socialize with people from all over the world. It's centrally located where you can easily walk all over the city with easy access to the train/metro stations.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Pasteis de Belem
- Taberna dod Ferreiros
- Gelataria Portuguesa
- Time Out Market
- São Jorge Castle
- Belém Tower
- Rossio Square
- LX Factory
PARIS
After Lisbon we found tickets to Paris for $ 79 each and stayed at The Three Ducks Hostel which was in a great location within walking distance to the Eiffel Tower.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Cafe Du Rendez-Vous
- Le Pain Au Naturel
- Salle Au Sous-Sol Creperie
- Creperie La Place
- Carette Paris
- La Creme de Paris
- Eiffel Tower
- Palace of Versace
- Thrifting
- Notre Dame
- The Louve
ITALY
We flew into Milan for $97 a person and rented a van from Noleggiare Car Rentalto to go through Switzerland. The customer service was incredible. Our flights got delayed so we arrived at the rental car place late but when we called at the airport they were willing to stay later to help us out. We ended up returning the rental car at a different airport in Milan but they were so helpful in the process. If you end up doing this keep in mind that there are added fees for extra drivers, insurance, premium country fee (for visiting Switzerland) and for returning the van at Belgamo instead of Malpensa Airport. We also had to pay $42 Euros for a Swiss Travel Pass on the van.
We stayed the night at The Lake Como Youth Hostel La Primula, Menaggio which was amazing! We woke up and looked out our window to a view of the lake from up on a hill. The booking and check in/out process was easy and they offered free breakfast. Highly recommend! We had breakfast at Cafe del Pess and had a beautiful view of the lake. Then we spent the morning/early afternoon just walking around the town.
We stayed the night at The Lake Como Youth Hostel La Primula, Menaggio which was amazing! We woke up and looked out our window to a view of the lake from up on a hill. The booking and check in/out process was easy and they offered free breakfast. Highly recommend! We had breakfast at Cafe del Pess and had a beautiful view of the lake. Then we spent the morning/early afternoon just walking around the town.
Switzerland
SWITZERLAND
We stopped in Lugano at Lake Lugano, ate at the Spaghetti Store where we had incredible pizza and then drove from Lugano to Lauterbrunnen. We stayed at Valley Hostel which we highly recommend! It was such a fun hostel with a great common area where you can cook and socialize with people from all over. We took a gondola from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, walked around but it was mostly closed except for this nice little coffee shop named: Alti Metzg. Dorfladen und Bistro. Then we took a lift from Murren to Schilthorn but were able to get a discount because we stayed at the Valley Hostel. The first stop at Birg where we did the Skyline walk, then took the second lift all the way to the top of Schilthorn where we saw the James Bond Museum, views of Southern Switzerland and the Restaurant at Schilthorn. We took the gondolas back from Schilthorn to Lauterbrunnen, where we walked around town and saw the sights and the waterfall. We ate some Fondue at an Irish Pub in Interlaken named Bebbis then slept again at Valley Hostel.
The next day we had some breakfast and Coffee at Stefan von Allmen then drove to the city of Bern where we saw the bears at the Bear Pit, and walked around old Bern. Drove to Chamonix, visited a few nice shops, saw the tallest Mountain in Europe called Mont Blanc and got pastries at: Chalet 4810. We drove From Chamonix to Milan but had to rack up like $60 worth of Freeway tolls.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
FUN THINGS TO DO:
The next day we had some breakfast and Coffee at Stefan von Allmen then drove to the city of Bern where we saw the bears at the Bear Pit, and walked around old Bern. Drove to Chamonix, visited a few nice shops, saw the tallest Mountain in Europe called Mont Blanc and got pastries at: Chalet 4810. We drove From Chamonix to Milan but had to rack up like $60 worth of Freeway tolls.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
FUN THINGS TO DO:
- Schilthorn
- Staubbachfall Wasserfall Hike
- Murren
- Bern
CHAMONIX, FRANCE
GREECE
ATHENS
We woke up early to fly from Bergamo to Athens for a 12-hour layover. Left our baggage at the gate for about $80 for 5 people
We took the train from Athens International to the Syntagme station, then walked to the Acropolis, but got some tasty gyros from Souvlaki Kostas. Went to the Acropolis South Entrance, where the fee was about 10 euros per person since we went during the off season. You can buy tickets by waiting in line in person (it took us about 7 minutes in November on a Monday) or you can buy them online here. The acropolis was great, then we ate some fantastic Greek dinner here at Maiandros Restaurant and walked around the shops.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS: FUN THINGS TO DO:
We took the train from Athens International to the Syntagme station, then walked to the Acropolis, but got some tasty gyros from Souvlaki Kostas. Went to the Acropolis South Entrance, where the fee was about 10 euros per person since we went during the off season. You can buy tickets by waiting in line in person (it took us about 7 minutes in November on a Monday) or you can buy them online here. The acropolis was great, then we ate some fantastic Greek dinner here at Maiandros Restaurant and walked around the shops.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS: FUN THINGS TO DO:
- The Acropolis
- Walk around shops
SANTORINI
We took the train back to the Airport, flew to Santorini where we rented a car from Global Rent-a-Car and drove to our AirBnb in Oia.
Our airbnb and host were both incredible. She stayed up late to meet us in Oia where she helped us with our luggage and got us settled in our space while giving a history of the island as well as recommendations on where to go. Check them out here. We got some drinks at the only bar open: Hassapiko and had a slow morning at the AirBnb the next day.
We caught the Sunrise and drove first to Kamari Beach. No one was out and about so we looked for cool ocean rocks. We drove to the South Side and ate at Corner Food and Drinks. A highlight of the trip was Cliff Jumping and catching the Sunset at the St. Nicholas Holy Chapel Island near Oia.
Went into Thera and ate at the Pelican, which had great ambiance and stuff
Drove to Akrotiri Lighthouse on the Southern End of the Island
Saw the Akrotiri Ruins and then chilled at Akrotiri Beach for a minute
Walked around Downtown Thera and ate at Caccio e Pepe. Then we walked around Oia downtown.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS: FUN THINGS TO DO:
Our airbnb and host were both incredible. She stayed up late to meet us in Oia where she helped us with our luggage and got us settled in our space while giving a history of the island as well as recommendations on where to go. Check them out here. We got some drinks at the only bar open: Hassapiko and had a slow morning at the AirBnb the next day.
We caught the Sunrise and drove first to Kamari Beach. No one was out and about so we looked for cool ocean rocks. We drove to the South Side and ate at Corner Food and Drinks. A highlight of the trip was Cliff Jumping and catching the Sunset at the St. Nicholas Holy Chapel Island near Oia.
Went into Thera and ate at the Pelican, which had great ambiance and stuff
Drove to Akrotiri Lighthouse on the Southern End of the Island
Saw the Akrotiri Ruins and then chilled at Akrotiri Beach for a minute
Walked around Downtown Thera and ate at Caccio e Pepe. Then we walked around Oia downtown.
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS: FUN THINGS TO DO:
- Akrotiri Lighthouse
- Akrotiri Ruins
- Kamari Beach
- Akrotiri Beach
- Cliff jumping near St. Nicholas Holy Chapel Island
ENGLAND
We flew in to London, England on the way to and from Europe just as layovers but they happened to be 24 hours long so we got to explore the city a little bit. We stayed at the Grand Airport Ensuites which we do not recommend. It was basically an airbnb but the instructions on checking in were a bit fuzzy and the neighbors said everyone who stays there has issues so we didn't feel as bad. Not the best experience but it was kinda cool to stay in a local neighborhood.
The trains were down so we took the Underground Tube to Westminster Station and walked 1 block to the Red Lion. 10/10 RECOMMEND. It was such a cool experience right on Parliament Street.
We walked around and saw the sights like Big Ben, the London Ferris Wheel
Stopped at Buckingham Palace at Night and had an incredible view of London Bridge from Southwark Bridge. We also went to The George Tavern which was neat!
The trains were down so we took the Underground Tube to Westminster Station and walked 1 block to the Red Lion. 10/10 RECOMMEND. It was such a cool experience right on Parliament Street.
We walked around and saw the sights like Big Ben, the London Ferris Wheel
Stopped at Buckingham Palace at Night and had an incredible view of London Bridge from Southwark Bridge. We also went to The George Tavern which was neat!
