Netherlands – The Wknd Travel

A Dream Come True: 19 DAYS Around NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK for Less Than ₱120,000 – Airfare, Accommodation & 12-Hour Singapore Stopover Included

Last October to November 2019, I flew to Europe all by myself for 19 days & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. I never thought this trip that took 7 years to plan would finally happen & that I would do everything alone & DIY – no help from any travel agency, consultant or whatsoever. If you’ve been following me the last few months, I’ve shared every single detail of this Euro trip from city itineraries, flight reports, to hostels & even local food. You can find all posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Going to Europe for a long trip like this is not a cheap trip to do. Some people spend hundreds of thousands on airfare & accommodation & add probably another hundred for food, pocket money & tours. I didn’t have that much savings for this kind of expensive trip so I did a lot of research to make it happen in a relatively affordable budget. AND I DID IT! I flew to Europe for 19 days around 4 countries including airfare, accommodation & a 12-hour Singapore stopover for less than ₱120,000 all in. Let me share with you how I made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Disclaimer: There are ways to make this trip even cheaper than what I spent – staying in cheaper hostels, taking low-cost carriers / buses with cutting trips, etc. – but I wanted to make it special (as a first time) & splurged a bit on some parts like food (& beers), high-rated hostels & better transportation options. Also, I only chose to visit 4 countries instead of hopping on from one country to the other after a day or two to have a better appreciation of every country / city. I am not a fan of rushed trips; I enjoy staying longer in one place or country.

In case you missed it last week, I posted an article on 11 Europe thrift hacks that I did on this trip. These thrift hacks helped me save on some expenses like food & tours. Check out that article here.

Air Tickets

I took the risk & booked a return ticket to Europe with Singapore Airlines during their January promotion with BPI Credit Cards. I got the economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore & Copenhagen to Manila via Singapore for only 719.23 USD. The ticket includes 30-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, in-flight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens & their 5-star Singaporean hospitality. My BPI credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including foreign transaction fees. Not bad for a ticket to Europe considering it’s with Singapore Airlines, right?

Months before the trip, I figured out the route I’ll take & the countries I’ll visit. Then, I booked air tickets for my inter-European transfers. Train tickets were more expensive & would take a few changes while bus trips, even if cheap, will take ages & a few transfers before you reach the next city / country. I paid €67,40 for a plane ticket from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic on Brussels Airlines. I booked another ticket from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark on Czech Airlines for 1,588 Kč. Both tickets include 23-kilogram check in baggage. I got charged ₱4,000.85 & ₱3,658.88, respectively for these 2 tickets.

I booked these 3 tickets without a Schengen tourist visa. Some people don’t recommend this, but I took the risk & did it. I was confident that time that I will be granted visa for this trip & luckily, I got one.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Europe is not cheap. A dormitory bed in a hostel costs about €30 to €40 a night, depending on the room configuration & location. Hotels & private rooms are more expensive. I can’t afford them. I booked my hostels 4 months into the trip. All these hostel bookings had free cancellation options if I don’t push through. I became picky with the hostels I’ll stay with since it was my first time in Europe. I stayed in popular & high-rated hostels found in central & well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam (₱8,885.82 for 4 nights – paid in Philippine Peso), Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels (€122 for 4 nights – paid during check-in), DREAM Hostel in Prague (1,790 Kč for 4 nights – paid via credit card on check-in) & Steel House in Copenhagen (US$ 116.24 for 4 nights – paid via Agoda). I paid ₱26,117.54 for 16 nights in these 4 countries – roughly ₱1,632.25 per night in Philippine Peso or €28,49 per night in Euros. I think I still got a good deal from these hostels! It would’ve been cheaper if booked my stay at least 8-10 months before.

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip. I got my travel insurance coverage online from Standard Insurance; I got their Travel Protect Policy which covers up to €37,500 medical coverage for 19 days. I paid ₱1,918 for the 19-day coverage.

Tourist Visa

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. The visa fee cost €60 (₱3,420) + ₱901 VFS handling fee. I opted for the passport delivery service instead of picking up my passport in the VFS office. I paid a small fee for the courier service. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Traveling around Europe alone isn’t easy. I made sure I was connected to the internet for the whole duration of the trip. I bought an internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. The sim card was operated by Three UK & it included 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK for 30 days. The sim card cost ₱1,600 with free shipping. The data, call & text services worked well during my stay in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark.

Travel Tax

All Philippine passport holders are required to pay a travel tax of ₱1,620 before going out the country for holiday. I paid the travel tax right before I checked in for my flight from Manila to Singapore.

Daily Budget & Unexpected Expenses

I mentioned in my Europe thrift hacks post that I set a daily budget of €40 for food, transportation & entrance fees. I spent more in some days but I was traveling on a €30-€35 per day budget. There were days where I had to buy last-minute museum tickets (Heineken Experience & Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), join guided tours (Canal Tour in Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in Holland & Kutná Hora in Czech Republic) & go on side trips (Utrecht, Bruges, Ghent & Český Krumlov) which cost me more. I also bought last-minute train & bus tickets in Belgium & Czech Republic – the downsides of not following an itinerary.

I splurged on beers in all 4 countries; I paid more for food in Denmark (food there is expensive) but I’m happy I still had about €120 cash left at the end of the trip. I counted all my expenses from pocket money, to credit & debit card transactions & debit card withdrawals for 19 days. I spent ₱34,327.78 (around €600) for 17 full days (travel days not included) on food, transportation, walking tours, entry tickets, guided tours & beers – about €35 per day on average.

Singapore Stopover

My flight from Manila to Amsterdam had a 12-hour layover in Singapore. I took this time to meet 2 friends – one for lunch + milk tea & one for early dinner. I also used this time to walk around the beautiful city, check out a city library & walk around The Jewel at Changi Airport. I spent around S$50 (₱1,859.4 conversion that time) on this 12-hour stop – food, drinks & transportation included.

Summary of Expenses

After all the costs & numbers mentioned above, let’s see how much I actually spent for the trip.

Exchange rate at the time of trip: €1 = ₱57.3 Exchange rates of purchases & withdrawals vary. There you go! I spent ₱117,092.85 pesos for a 19-day trip around 4 European Countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark – with air tickets, accommodation costs & a 12-hour Singapore stopover included. If you’ll include the transportation expenses during the visa application process, to & from the airport when I left & arrived, it’ll be somewhere around ₱118,500 – still less than ₱120,000!

Don’t get me wrong, ₱117,092.85 is a very big amount but we’re talking about a 19-day trip to Europe here flying with one of the world’s premium airlines – Singapore Airlines & visiting first world & expensive countries like Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. I couldn’t believe this when I listed all my expenses after the trip. I wanted this trip to be fun, memorable & spontaneous & I’m happy it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. This solo trip to Europe is so far my longest, most expensive & most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Every single peso spent was worth it!

Blog List

In case you’re interested in the posts about this trip, check out the blog list below.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – 5-Star Economy Class Experience In A New Generation Boeing Dreamliner
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn’t Feel Like One
BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience
CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation
SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast
DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town
STEEL HOUSE COPENHAGEN – 4 Nights in Danish Capital’s New York-Inspired Industrial Style Luxury Accommodation

VISA APPLICATION & TIPS ✍️

Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS
11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know
10 THINGS TO KNOW Before Traveling To Europe

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City
UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City
NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands
6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?
BRUGES – Cobbled Alleys, Gingerbread Houses & Pretty Canals in Belgium’s Picture-Perfect City
GHENT – Belgium’s Underrated Port City
5 Must Try Belgian Treats

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿

PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City
KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town
4 Czech Eats To Savor

DENMARK 🇩🇰

COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City
7 Danish Delicacies Not To Miss
7 Interesting Observations About Denmark

Thank you for joining me in today’s Euro trip summary. I’ve made use of the pandemic to finish all the posts about this trip. It’s a shame that my next planned trip to Europe this October won’t push through, but it won’t stop me from planning my next trip to this beautiful continent. We may all be stuck in our own homes but we’ll surely go back to the time when travelling is safe & sound. It’s never too late to give up on your dream trips to Europe! Make use of this downtime to research about the cities & countries you want to visit & plan out the route you’ll take.

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I did it? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I’ll finish the post with this.. I DID IT – 19 DAYS AROUND NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK FOR LESS THAN ₱120,000 ALL IN & I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tips: 11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know

Travelling around Europe has always been a dream since I started exploring places in 2012. Every year, I will always plan to make this dream Europe trip for the following year. It took 7 years for this dream trip to happen. Last October 2019, I flew to Europe (via Singapore) alone & explored the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark for 19 days. It was not a cheap trip but not too expensive as well. Every Euro, Czech Koruna & Danish Krone I spent was worth it. You may check out my posts about this Europe trip of a lifetime under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Some of you know that no matter how trips, like this trip to Europe, sound expensive, I always find a way to make it affordable. I shared with you in my past posts how I went to Fukuoka, Japan for a weekend & spent less than ₱12,500 including plane tickets & accommodation, how I booked international return tickets from Manila for as low as ₱1,300+ & so on. I also posted under my Tuesday Tips section how I applied DIY visas for Schengen Territory (Europe), China, Australia & Japan.

Allow me to share with you how I managed to save money & spend lesser than the usual. Here are 11 thrift hacks I found useful in my Euro trip last year.

Take Advantage of Airline & Credit Card Deals

Right before the Covid-19 pandemic, major airlines & banks offered credit card exclusive airfares & deals to the airlines’ network. These promotions happen throughout the year but the best ones are offered in the 1^st quarter (January to March) of every year. Some people recommend to book plane tickets after getting your visa. Tickets at these times are already expensive. If you have an extensive travel record & good trip intention, I tell you to risk it.

I booked my plane ticket to Europe from Singapore Airlines & BPI’s Online Travel Fair. I paid US$ 719.23 for a return trip with Singapore Airlines on this route – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Amsterdam, Copenhagen to Singapore & Singapore to Manila. I paid ₱37,669.40 in peso, including foreign currency transaction charges for a full-service experience on a 5-star premium airline. It was worth the risk.

Book Accommodations Early

Booking accommodations early give you access to the nicer & cheaper options. Booking platforms also offer early bird discounts which you shouldn’t let go of. One thing to note here –always go for the option with flexible booking terms such as free cancellation, no pre-payment or pay at the hotel / hostel. I booked my hostels a bit late for my trip & the cost has almost doubled. If only I booked my hostels earlier, I could’ve saved more. I tried booking for an ~~upcoming~~ / cancelled trip to Europe 9 months away & imagine, I’ll only pay around ₱11,000 for 12 nights around Germany, Austria & Hungary. Yes, it can be that cheap!

I previously wrote a set of Tuesday Tips about the pattern in getting the best accommodation deals – check out the post here. Hope you find it helpful.

Apply For Your Own Visa

It may take some research & a physical appointment with VFS but applying for your own Schengen tourist visa will save you the handling fees charged by travel agencies. Read blogs & posts on how to apply for a Schengen tourist visa. Next thing you’ll know, it’s already your appointment day. Don’t worry about getting the visa on its release. You can arrange delivery by courier for a few hundreds.

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa & I wrote how I did it. Check out my Tuesday Tip on this DIY Schengen visa application process.

Invest In An Internet Sim Card

Our generation is very dependent on internet connection. I think it’s a good & bad thing – but more of a good thing when you’re travelling around Europe. It’s easier to find places through maps, to book online tickets last-minute, to get online recommendations & to keep contact with loved ones back home at any time of the day. It’ll save you cost because you won’t take unnecessary taxi trips & you won’t get lost. Make sure to always check the sim card features & its coverage. Also, it’s always better to buy a sim card here in the Philippines than in the airport of your arrival. Internet sim cards in Europe area freaking expensive.

I bought my internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. I paid ₱1,600 for a plug & play 30-day UK-Europe-World data sim card which had 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK. The data sim card worked well throughout the trip – in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. The sim card automatically connected to the network partner in every country. It was a good product with an extensive coverage.

Check For Online Ticket & Tour Discounts

It pays to check the museum or online tour websites for discounted tickets. Most companies offer discounted early bird tickets or last-minute promotions to those who want to join on the spot. Believe it or not, I got my Heineken Experience ticket for €18, from the usual €20 ticket bought on site. I also got a discounted guided day tour trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken from Get Your Guide. The tour was originally priced at €35 to but I only got it for only €28. I booked the tour last-minute, the night before the tour itself.

Here’s the Heineken Experience ticket I bought online for €18, instead of the usual €20.

Got this Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken guided tour for €28 at Get Your Guide website.

My friends told me that some tour companies & museums even have more discounted tickets if you book your tickets earlier. Ultimately, weigh in the cost of doing it by yourself through public transportation or by private guide versus the cost of joining a guided tour. Go for the guided group tour as long as you get a good deal out of it.

Enjoy Hostel Buffet Breakfasts

Food in Europe, in general, is expensive. An affordable meal can cost you around €10 without drinks. One thing I did on this trip is to enjoy hostel buffet breakfasts. Some hostels in Europe offer their buffet spread for affordable rates. These buffet spreads include bread, cereals, cold cuts, cheese, & drinks such as coffee, tea or juice. Generator Amsterdam offered their buffet breakfast for €7,5 while Dream Hostel Prague has them for €4,5. Sleep Well Youth Hostel Brussels guests have access to free buffet breakfast (which was really nice) while Steel House Copenhagen sold breakfast bags (with bun, juice & energy bar) for around €6,5.

Avail of any breakfast promotion or offering your hostel has – it’s way cheaper (unless you have time to cook your own food) than what’s outside. It’ll also help you kick start your day right.

The Supermarket Is Your Best Friend

One of the things I always do when I am in a new place is to go to supermarkets. I mentioned these in my blogs about the things I miss doing in Japan, tips in saving money in Melbourne & going around Singapore on a budget. These groceries sell everything for a better price – cheaper than what you pay in specialty shops, food stalls & restaurants. It is also the best place to buy bottled water & beer.

This bottle of juice + 4 croissants cost me only €2.90-ish in Albert Heijn. Awesome breakfast deal!!

I didn’t avail of the hostel’s breakfast one morning because I left early for a group tour. I dropped by an Albert Heijn supermarket & got myself 4 croissants & 1 big bottle of juice for less than €3. Great deal, right?

Set A Daily Budget

It helps to set a daily budget for long trips like this. It helps you control your day-to-day expenses & stretch your pocket money. Daily budgets vary from one country to the other, depending on how expensive the country is.

I set a daily budget of €40 per day for my 2019 Europe trip. That daily budget doesn’t include the accommodation costs which I already paid days before the trip. Believe it or not, it worked! I usually avail the hostel’s breakfast in the morning, then have late lunch somewhere (mostly local food) and have street food & beers for dinner. The daily budget also included transportation costs & if possible, museum entrance fees. I spent more than €40 on some days, but I was at €30-€35 in most days.

Join Walking Tours

Free, or should I say, tip-based walking tours are popular in Europe. Various companies run daily walking tours around the city through independent & professional tour guides. At the end of every walking tour, the joiner can give any amount (no specific amount required by the guides) on what he / she thinks is the value of the tour. Typical tip is €5 to €10 per tour. Joining these walking tours will save you from joining overpriced private or city group tours priced at €20 to €25 per person.

I joined a number of walking tours on this trip – Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Prague, Český Krumlov & Copenhagen. All the guides are friendly & they speak good English. They also give recommendations on where to go & what to do in the city.

Take Buses Instead of Intercity Trains

European cities & countries are well-connected by intercity (IC) trains. One can literally hop on a train in Amsterdam & arrive in Paris after a few hours. One can also board a train in Paris & wake up in Vienna the following day. However, fares on these trains are expensive. A 2-hour IC train trip from Amsterdam to Brussels can cost up to €60 if you buy it last-minute.

Good thing Europe has a wider network of buses that run in between cities. Bus companies such as FlixBus, BlaBlaBus, Eurolines, RegioJet & National Express run trips between cities at affordable cost. The same 2-hour Amsterdam to Brussels trip on FlixBus only cost me €12. It can even be cheaper if you book tickets earlier & not last-minute. These buses guarantee each passenger a seat & even has 20-kilogram allowance for luggage.

Walk & Enjoy The Feeling of Getting Lost

The best way to explore every city in Europe is by walking. Most cities have local tram networks & subways but nothing will beat the feeling of walking around & getting lost in an unknown place. You’ll see many beautiful historic buildings, walk through preserved parks & see the daily lives of locals. You’ll learn to appreciate each place more when you walk around it at your own pace. There’s no need to spend extra euros for these tram, subway & bus rides.

I never walked as much as I did in this trip to Europe. I would usually skip taking the tram, bus & subway rides & instead walk 2-3 kilometres per way at my pace, while enjoying the local scene. The cold weather helped me not get exhausted easily. I got lost a lot of times but I enjoyed it & I let my foot take me to wherever it’ll take me. I ended up seeing hidden beautiful streets, peaceful & preserved reserves & picturesque landmarks.

These hacks helped me a lot throughout my 19 days trip around Europe. It saved me euros, spared me from expensive tour deals & prevented me from spending too much on one thing. At the end of the day, it all falls to extensive research & careful trip planning. Having been to Europe & spending less compared to what a usual tourist still proves my point that no matter how expensive one place is, there will always be ways to make it affordable.

What personal travel hacks can you share to me? Do you also book your tickets & accommodations way in advance? How do you go about planning your itinerary & your modes of transportation? Share some of your travel hacks in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about those mentioned above? You may also post them in the comments below or you can also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll answer them as soon as I can.

Thank you for joining me in today’s set of Tuesday Tips. I hope you also find time to check my posts about the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark under the Going Solo in Europe category. Keep up-to-date with thrift hacks like this & promotional fares by following me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Until the next set of Tuesday Tips!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

P’s List: 6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

Hello & welcome to another installment of P’s List! In the past lists, I shared with you my favorite things to do in Japan & the 5 must try Belgian treats. Today, I will share with you 6 Dutch delicacies I enjoyed during my stay in the Netherlands last October. I was looking back at the photos I took around Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland & I realized I took advantage everything Dutch I had when I was there. Maybe I was still high (pun intended) knowing that I finally made it to Europe? Anyway, check out the Going Solo in Europe series if you want to know details of this Euro trip of a lifetime.

If you think of Netherlands, the first few things that comes into your mind are beautiful canals, cannabis & red-light district. I surely enjoyed the beautiful canal views & I swear I didn’t try the other two. Apart from these 3 icons, the Dutch also have interesting delicacies worth-trying. Let me share with you these 6 delicacies you shouldn’t miss when in the Netherlands.

Oliebollen

Oliebollen, literally means “oil balls,” is the Dutch version of doughnuts. This treat is made of deep-fried dough filled with raisins & dusted with powdered sugar. This pastry is found everywhere in the Netherlands & it is worth-trying.

Bitterballen

Bitterballen is a favorite Dutch bar snack. This deep-fried, bite-size meat balls are made of crispy breading & soft meat center. These are best served with beers. I tried this snack when I was in a bar with my friend in Utrecht. The bar served the bitterballen with cheese sticks & battered shrimp.

Kibbeling

Kibbeling is a Dutch street food consisting of battered fish & seafood portions served with mayonnaise-based tartar or garlic sauce. This is usually found in fish markets & local food stalls. I had this snack in Volendam during our North Holland day tour.

Stroopwafel

Stroopwafel, known as syrup waffle or treacle waffle in English, is a traditional Dutch snack made of 2 thin baked batters with caramel-like syrup filling in between. This snack originated in the town of Gouda – the same town where Gouda cheese started. This snack is available in all supermarkets & convenience stores. This is my favorite Dutch snack to date; I even brought home more than 5 packs of it.

Heineken Beer

Many people, even the Dutch ones I know, don’t like Heineken. You might not like it as a lager beer; but the fact that Heineken started in the Netherlands in 1873 & it has helped the country in so many ways then it deserves at least a bottle when in the country. I took the Heineken Experience interactive tour about the company’s history in its original brewery & I enjoyed it a lot. Take it too! Don’t worry, it comes with 2 glasses of Heineken beer.

Cheese

One must try all kinds of cheese they can when visiting the Netherlands. Our North Holland day tour dropped by Simonehoeve, a clog shoe factory & cheese farm in Katwoude. The owners of the cheese farm showed us how they make cheese & even offered unlimited free taste of all their cheese products. I left the cheese farm with a bag filled with Edam & Gouda cheese.

Bonus – Dutch McDonalds Burger!

My hostel friend & I went out for dinner on our last night in Generator Hostel Amsterdam & ended up in McDonalds somewhere near Oosterpark. I ordered the usual burger meal & voilà – it comes with a big bowl of greens (alternative for fries) & a small bottle of watermelon juice. I rarely try McDonalds when travelling because I prefer street food over fast-food but I guess it was worth the try that night. Anyway, there were no other restaurants or cafes open so we had no choice.

The Netherlands still have a long list of delicacies (including fries but I reserved it for Belgium) to try but my time with the country was only limited. As mentioned to my friends, I will go back to Amsterdam & the Netherlands in the future for more cheese & stroopwafels, also to try other Dutch snacks.

Which deli mentioned above you fancy most? Are you like me who loved stroopwafels & Dutch cheese? I am so sorry for making you hungry at this time. Thanks for joining me in today’s P’s List. For questions, you may post them in the comments section below or you may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t miss the upcoming posts about my Going Solo in Europe trip plus more budget-saving tips & drooling P’s lists by following me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Much love! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation

Another weekend, another hostel of the today feature! From last time’s post about Nekokura Hostel in Fukuoka, Japan, we’ll travel around 9,000 kilometers to the other side of the world – Amsterdam, Netherlands. Yes, today’s feature is Generator Amsterdam!

In the last few weeks, I started sharing with you details about my 2.5 weeks in Europe last October to November 2019. I took you with me on my Singapore Airlines flights from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam; I also took you around the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, to Utrecht & to the North Holland Countryside. We are only in the early part of this long trip & I still have a lot of fun stuff to share. Now let’s get down to business & know more about this award-winning Dutch hostel.

generator amsterdam

Generator Amsterdam is a large economy accommodation located in the eastern part of the city & is part of Generator Hostels group. Generator Hostels is a hostel group that offers modern, stylish & affordable accommodation in central locations within the city. The group already has over 10 properties around Europe & has recently expanded in the US. Generator Amsterdam is the group’s sole property in the Netherlands. It opened in 2016 & is now one of the city’s best choice of affordable hostel. The property used to be a former zoological university building & was transformed into a boutique accommodation. In 2017, Generator Amsterdam won as the world’s best economy hotel in the Hospitality Design Awards. It was also a runner-up in the best economy guest rooms & suites category.

I stayed in Generator Amsterdam for 4 nights. I was out of the hostel most of the time but I’ll will still share with you some bits about this award-winning hostel.

location & access

Generator Amsterdam is found in a quiet neighborhood east of Amsterdam city center. The hostel is located beside Oosterpark, one of the city’s largest public park. It is about 30 minutes by foot from Dam Square or Amsterdam Centraal. The nearest tram stop is Alexanderplein, about 400 meters from the hostel doors. The nearest metro station is Weesperplein Station, about 900 meters from the hostel doorstep.

The hostel may be a bit outside the city but is still located in a great neighborhood. The nearest Albert Heijn supermarket is 9 minutes away (700 m from the hostel) by foot while the nearest McDonalds & KFC fast food restaurants are 12-15 minutes away (1 km from the hostel) by foot. There are also restaurants & bars located within 500 m from the hostel. The hostel’s location is perfect – quiet, accessible & not too far from the city center.

In case you missed it, I shared in this website how I applied for my Schengen tourist visa. Check out this DIY Schengen Visa application post to know more.

private & dormitory rooms

Generator Amsterdam caters both to guests who want room privacy & those who want to meet & mingle with co-travelers. According to their website, Generator Amsterdam can accommodate up to 564 guests in 168 twin & quadruple rooms. The quadruple rooms are configured to work either as a private room for 4 or a dormitory-type of room for 4 different guests. The hostel also has a luxury apartment / suite that can accommodate up to 6 people. All these rooms have windows & have private toilet & shower areas. Room or dormitory bed rates depend where & when you book your stay. It can go as low as €19 per night for dormitory rooms & €75 per night for private rooms.

I stayed in a 4-bed male dormitory room for 4 nights. Each dormitory bed has a soft billow & a comfortable blanket. It also has a private reading light, a power outlet & a separate USB plug. Guest lockers are found under the beds. The beds don’t have curtains for privacy which I didn’t mind. I booked my stay with Agoda & paid ₱8,390.18 for 4 nights, breakfast & other add-ons not included. That’s ₱2,097.55 per night stay – expensive I know. I was there during a peak season weekend, thus higher nightly rates. There were relatively cheaper hostels in Amsterdam but I opted to pay more for better amenities & lower dormitory room configurations. To be honest, I think the rate I got is still cheap – hostels in Amsterdam & in Europe in general are expensive.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Generator Amsterdam has amenities & perks guests can enjoy or can pay for. Check out the list below:

Free Wi-fi – All guests have access to free & high-speed wi-fi connection. The password is given to all guests upon check-in.

Buffet Breakfast – Buffet breakfast is available for purchase in reception at €8,5 per day. Buffet breakfast rates are cheaper when you buy them upon check-in. If I remember it correctly, it was offered to me at €7,5. Buffet breakfast is available every day from 7:00 am to 10:00 am during weekdays & 11:00 am during weekends. The buffet breakfast area is in the canteen located in the basement level.

Clean Private Shower & Toilet – All rooms have private shower & toilet areas. Some rooms have separate toilet & shower rooms while others have just one. The staff clean these areas every day.

Amenities Store & Rental – The hostel has an in-house store & rentals facility. Towels are available for rent while other essentials such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner are available for sale. Check with Genstore for the updated rates.

Ground Floor Café – Nescio Café is an à la carte breakfast place & café found in the ground floor, near the reception. This café also offers affordable breakfast deals for those who don’t want to eat in the buffet. It is open every day from 7:30 am to 12 midnight or 1 am.

Auditorium Bar / Chill-Out Area – The hostel converted this former lecture theater into a bar & chill-out area. The bar is open every day from 8:00 am to 12 midnight or 1 am. They also show movies here from time to time. The venue is also available for hire for private events.

Relaxation & Private Events Place – The building’s library was converted into a relaxation & private events place. Guests can go here to sit down, relax, read & play ping-pong. The venue is also available for hire.

Secret Late-Night Bar – The hostel converted the buildings boiler room into a secret late-night bar called Oosterbar. The bar is open every Friday & Saturday from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am & sometimes on special days.

Communal Lounge Areas – Aside from the chill-out area & library, Generator Amsterdam has other communal lounge areas in the basement, beside the canteen & outside the library. There is also an outdoor seating area where guests can rest while waiting for their ride.

24 Hour Reception – The hostel’s reception is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Welcoming & Helpful Staff – Generator Amsterdam’s staffs are very welcoming, friendly & helpful. They already make you feel at home during check-in. They also give tips on where to eat, what to do & what’s the best way to do this & that.

Late Check-Out Option – The hostel offers late check-out option for a fee. Guests who want to sleep more can stay in their rooms until 1:00 pm for €7 for dormitory rooms & €20 for private rooms.

ATM & Vending Machines – The hostel has an in-house ATM where you can take out cash when needed. There are also vending machines available in the basement level.

Paid Lockers – Luggage storage in Generator Amsterdam is not fee. Incoming & leaving guests can store bags & luggage in their paid lockers. Rates can go as low as €1, charged per hour & luggage size.

Laundry Facilities – Washing machines are available for use in the 1^st floor. Laundry rates are offered as low as €2. You can exchange coins in reception.

Travel & Tour Desk – Generator Amsterdam has a travel & tour desk where guests can avail day trips & buy tram passes. They also have a free (tip-based) walking tour that starts 10:10 am everyday near the reception area.

Bicycle, Scooter & Skateboard Rental – The hostel also offers bicycle (from €7,5), electronic scooter (from €15) & skateboard (from €7,5) rental. These can be availed from the reception.

Secured Room Entry – The elevator & rooms can also be accessed using the key card given during check in. These key cards only work on doors in your assigned floor & in your own room only.

experience

Generator Amsterdam was my first accommodation in Europe. I stayed there for 4 nights during my time in the Netherlands. The hostel didn’t disappoint. To be fair, it gave me an idea on what to expect on European hostels. It was different in some ways to the kind of hostels I’m used to here in the Philippines or in Asia in general; but it was all good.

It was not a cheap hostel to stay in – everything seems to come with a price tag. It may be cheap in Amsterdam standards but I still find it expensive for the basic amenities I got. The hostel’s location is a winner for me – it’s located in a very accessible quiet area outside the city center. Restaurants, bars & supermarkets are also near the hostel. I also like how it’s located beside Oosterpark. I already miss walking around that park every morning.

The hostel is generally clean & well-maintained. It has complete amenities – in-house café & restaurant, bar, communal areas, cash & vending machines & tour desk. The have everything you need as a visitor in Amsterdam. The breakfast buffet was lovely. I made a mistake of just buying 1 day of breakfast but it was all good. I enjoyed the kinds of bread available to choose from. They have egg, cheese, ham, yogurt & cereals in the spread. A variety of drinks were also included in the buffet. The €8,5 buffet rate was worth it.

The rooms are alright; it can get small when the guest pull-out lockers are out of the beds. The bathroom is clean & has enough space. Its lighting can be improved. The beds are comfortable to sleep in. The separate power outlet & USB port is something I liked & found very useful in the age of smartphones, tablets & laptops.

The hostel has very social vibe. I met a lot of new people from different parts of the world & had great times with them. The staff were all nice & helpful; they also gave tips on what’s best to see in the city. One thing I didn’t like is how busy the reception can be during peak hours. I waited in line for 20 minutes for check out; glad I was not in a hurry.

Overall, I had a nice stay in Generator Amsterdam. It’s definitely something you should check out when looking for a hostel in Amsterdam. Book early & choose the non-peak days to get lower rates. It’s not a cheap hostel but it’s all good in European standards.

Here’s Generator Amsterdam’s contact details just in case you want to get in touch with them:

Generator Amsterdam
Address: Mauritskade 57, 1092 AD Amsterdam, Netherlands
Number: +31 20 708 5600
E-mail Address: ask.amsterdam@staygenerator.com
Website: www.staygenerator.com/hostels/amsterdam
Facebook: www.facebook.com/staygenerator
Instagram: www.instagram.com/staygenerator
Twitter: www.twitter.com/askgenerator

Have you been to Generator Amsterdam? How about other Generator Hostels? How was your stay? Was it the same with my experience above? What did you like about the hostel you stayed in? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Do you know a hostel which is worth a feature here in my site? Shoot your suggestions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me in today’s hostel of the day feature. Join me as I move to another country in my Going Solo In Europe series. Watch out for that new post soon!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands

Windmills, cheese farms & wooden clogs – these are the things that people associate to the Netherlands. Unfortunately, these aren’t found in Amsterdam; they’re in the towns & villages found in the North Holland province.

Mandatory photo with the windmills at Zaanse Schans. The weather didn’t cooperate that day! 😢

After spending days walking around Amsterdam & a random afternoon in Utrecht, I decided to take a day trip to the north Dutch countryside to visit Zaanse Schans, Edam-Volendam & Marken. Today’s post will talk about the details of this day trip I took during my visit to the Netherlands in October 2019. In case you missed it, I already posted the details of my trips around the cities of Amsterdam & Utrecht.

day tour booking

If you read my previous posts about Amsterdam & Utrecht, you know that I opted to be spontaneous with my itinerary about this trip. I did some research when I prepared my dummy itinerary for the tourist visa application but ended up not following it. I read some blogs online & found out that the windmills are accessible by train or bus. The other towns are only accessible by bus; but best with the €10 Waterland day pass. I calculated the money I need to spend for the bus pass, back & forth ferry tickets (from Volendam to Marken & back) & I’ll end up spending heaps of money. I ended up taking a guided tour to these 4 places for €28.

I booked my day tour on GetYourGuide & took this Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Tour. The day tour started at 8:15 & ran for 6.5 hours. Meeting place was near the front door of the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace near Amsterdam Centraal. Our guide for the day trip was a Raquel – a freelance tour guide born & raised in Mabella, Spain & living in Amsterdam. Raquel’s tour was fun & informative. She told us the history of every place we visited & even gave cool trivia in every place.

Now let’s go to the Dutch countryside. I immediately noticed the change of scenery minutes after leaving Amsterdam. The views changed from colorful houses to beautiful green fields. Netherlands is a flat country; it doesn’t have mountains unlike the Philippines. Let me share with you where we went that day.

Did you know that applied for my Schengen tourist visa on my own? Yes! It’s just an easy process. Check out this DIY Schengen Tourist Visa post I published a few weeks ago.

Zaanse Schans

Our first stop was Zaanse Schans. Located about 30 minutes from the main city, this famous industrial neighborhood is in Zaandam, north of Amsterdam. During the 17th century, this area had hundreds of windmills being used by the people in daily tasks such as grinding spices, sawing wood & making oil.

At present, there are only a handful of windmills left. Some are still operational while the others are now museums. The neighborhood also has traditional wooden houses, workshops & warehouses. We walked around the windmills for 45 minutes. Too bad we arrived too early; all of them were still closed. The weather was cloudy during our visit. Apologies, I don’t have that windmill with clear blue sky photo.

EDAM

Edam was the second stop of this day tour. If Amsterdam was named because of its proximity of Amstel River, Edam was founded around a dam crossing the river E or Ije. Edam focused on shipbuilding & fishing in the early times which helped the place become an important trade town. The fall of shipbuilding industry saw the rise of cheese-making. The town had weekly cheese markets where farmers from different areas go visit & trade. This town is the birthplace of the world-famous Edam Cheese.

Edam is a small town with a very small town square. The highest structure in the town is a 4-storey (3.5 storey imo) building. The town was quiet during our visit – almost no people & no open establishments.

Simonehoeve

Our next stop was Simonehoeve – a traditional cheese farm & clogs factory. The owners of the farm showed to us how the traditional clogs & Dutch cheese are made. At the end of the tour around the facility, we had an unlimited cheese tasting (plus fruit wine & stoopwafels) activity. I tried all kinds of cheese available & they were all good. The farm also has an on site shop where clogs & locally made cheese can be purchased.

In case you missed it, I flew with Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Amsterdam last October 2019. Check out my flight report here & know how is it flying 13 hours with one of the world’s best airlines.

Volendam

After stuffing our stomachs with lots of cheese, we headed to Volendam. This Dutch town located by the Markermeer Lake northeast of Amsterdam is an old fishing village known for its; colorful wooden houses & old fishing boats in its harbor. Volendam is the place where tourists have lunch during their respective day trips. The town’s harbor has a long line of shops offering souvenirs, restaurants offering decently-priced meals & food carts selling traditional Dutch food.

We had our lunch break here & stayed for an hour. I was still full from all the cheese I had in Simonehoeve so I only opted for kibbeling for snack. It’s a traditional snack which has battered cod chunks, shrimp & mussels served with mayonnaise & garlic sauce. The snack cost me freakin’ €10; I forgot I was in a busy touristic place. I spent the remaining time in Volendam walking along the beautiful harbor.

marken

Our last stop was Marken – small fishing village in the municipality of Waterland. Found in the middle of the waters, this village became famous because of its colorful wooden houses. Marken was as quiet as Edam with close to no people around. The village has a small & peaceful harbor with a few open shops.

After our short walk around Marken, we boarded the tour bus & took a 30-minute drive back to Amsterdam. The bus dropped us off somewhere near A’DAM Lookout. I walked to the ferry terminal & took the free ferry back to Amsterdam Centraal. This ends the day trip I took to the North Holland countryside.

One last look at the beautiful & not-so-busy but touristic Volendam. Look at those colorful houses!

Have you been to these places in the Netherlands? Which one is your favorite? It’s hard to choose but I love the peaceful vibe of Marken. It’s a village where you’d want to live during retirement. Are there other cities or towns in the Netherlands which are worth visiting? Share you suggestions & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the towns & villages mentioned above? Send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

More Edam cheese from Simonehoeve before ending this blog post about the Dutch countryside. 😋

Thanks for making it this far! I really appreciate it. My posts about the Netherlands are about to end. Watch out for the last post next week before we move to a new country!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.