Tag: Italy

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.

And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano, Lake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: VUELING VY 6333 – Milan Malpensa to Barcelona – Superb Flying Experience with a Spanish Low-Cost Airline [December 2022]

My time in Milan went by too fast! After spending days around the city and the nearby Lugano and Lake Como, I had to say goodbye to the beautiful Milan and my friend Leng who flew back to the Philippines ahead of me.

I flew to a new city and country – Barcelona, Spain – on a new airline (for me) – the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I took their VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona last 3 December 2022. This Vueling flight is today’s flight report feature. Join me as I share with you what happened on this superb flight to Barcelona.

Vueling

Vueling S.A. is a Spanish low-cost airline owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG). This low-cost airline commenced operations in 2004 and is currently headquartered in Viladecans, Greater Barcelona, Spain. The airline started out operations from Barcelona to Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Brussels and Paris. Over the years, it has expanded its footprint to other hubs like Madrid, Seville and other Spanish and international bases. In 2012, the International Airlines Group (IAG) announced a buy out of the shareholders and a takeover of the airline. The group completed the takeover a few months later in 2013.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Vueling is currently the largest Spanish Airline based on number of destinations and fleet size. It operates to over 140 destinations using over 120 all-Airbus aircraft. The airline’s main hub is Barcelona El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain. It also has hubs and stations in other Spanish cities like Madrid, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria and even other European cities like Paris, Rome and London.

Vueling’s frequent flyer program is called Vueling Club – part of the Avios loyalty program. The airline is not a member of any airline alliance. It has current codeshare agreements with British Airways and Iberia, both part of the International Airlines Group.

Vueling is a low-cost carrier. This means that the airline offers bare fares; any additional service or perk comes with a fee. The airline does not provide complimentary inflight snacks or meals, entertainment screens and complimentary baggage allowance. The airline has 4 fare bundles which guests can choose from. The Basic Fare only includes a complimentary underseat bag which measures 40cm x 20cm x 30cm. The Optima Fare has everything the Basic Fare has plus 1 x 25-kilogram checked luggage and free regular seat selection during booking.

The Family Fare has everything the Optima Fare offers plus dedicated check-in desks in main airports and priority boarding for those flying with kids under 2 years old. The TimeFlex Fare includes an underseat bag, a 10-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, flight cancellation to flight credit, unlimited flight date changes, complimentary flight time change on the same day, fast-track security in selected airports, priority check-in and boarding. All these add-ons are also available for individual purchase in case you only avail of a certain fare bundle. Also, all these fare bundles can earn Avios points.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

I booked my flight 1.5 months before the intended date and paid €57.99 for the Optima fare bundle. I was charged by my local bank ₱3,442.29 including foreign currency transaction charges. At the time of booking, the airline had different policies and inclusions on fare bundles. They changed these bundles and inclusions (as mentioned above) for tickets booked after 4 November 2022.

At the time of booking (October 2022), my Optima fare bundle included the following: an underseat bag measuring up to 40cm x 20cm x 30cm, 1 x 10-kilogram carry-on / cabin bag, 1 x 25-kilogram checked baggage allowance, complimentary regular seat selection during booking, complimentary flight changes and free cancellation, conversion to flight credit and even flight credit refund.

Looking at the bundle inclusions, I got the best possible add-ons for such an affordable fare. It may not include a meal or an entertainment screen, but it still had the necessary add-ons needed by someone traveling around Europe for weeks. It was sad seeing the airline change the bundle inclusions but it was also great taking advantage of the previous inclusions before it was changed.

Travel Requirements

Flights between Italy and Spain operate like domestic flights here in the Philippines. At the time of this flight, both countries no longer require a negative test result or vaccination documentation to board the aircraft. Passengers only need to present a government-issued ID – passports for non-EU residents. Spanish authorities, at the time of this flight, still required face masks on flights. I believe this requirement has already been removed nowadays.

Before The Flight

The airline did not send anything via e-mail before the flight. The first and last e-mail I received from them is the booking confirmation after I booked the ticket. Strange.

Nevertheless, I still checked-in online for the flight 24 hours before schedule. This made the airport check-in process faster and smoother.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Vueling VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona was operated by a 9.5-year-old Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The plane has 180 seats in all-economy class cabin – as expected from a low-cost carrier.

The flight took off from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at 12:58pm and landed at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) at 2:15pm. The journey in between 2 airports only took 1 hour and 17 minutes. The plane pushed back from the gate 2 minutes ahead of schedule but took some time going to the runway. Nonetheless, the flight still arrived ahead of schedule. Thanks, Vueling!

Ground & Airport Experience

Vueling operates its flights out of Milan Malpensa Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN

Check-in counters for flights within the Schengen zone normally open 2 hours before the flight and 40 minutes before the departure. I do not remember the exact reason but I read from the website that time that check-in counters during this season (December 2022) opened 30 minutes earlier at 2.5 hours before the flight schedule.

I arrived the airport exactly 2.5 hours before the flight and immediately lined up for bag drop at 10:20am. I finished check-in at 10:38am. The check-in process went by quickly considering I was 10th-ish in the line. The whole process took only 18 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went up to the 2nd floor and had my early lunch. The boarding gate information was not available up until an hour before flight. Thankfully, the gate details became available at 11:33pm.

I immediately walked to Gate A04 and waited for the boarding announcement.

BOARDING

Boarding by groups commenced at 12:04pm. Priority passengers including those travelling with infants boarded the plane first. Passengers seated in the rear section of the plane went in next followed by those seated in the middle cabin. I was among the last passengers to board the plane because I was seated in the front section of the plane.

At the time of the flight, the Spanish Authorities still required masks in all modes of public transportation. Passengers were requested to wear their face masks during boarding. The airline provided masks for those who do not have one.

The whole boarding process finished at 12:39pm. The plane pushed back from the gate 9 minutes after.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The Airbus A320-200 aircraft used for this flight to Barcelona, Spain has 180 seats in a 3 x 3 all-economy class configuration. According to Seatmaps.com, all 180 non-reclining seats have a pitch of 29-30 inches and a width of 17.5 inches.

Each seat is equipped with a tray table, a coat hook and a seat pocket with a magazine, an air sickness bag and the aircraft safety card. The seats also have dedicated reading lights and air nozzles. Each row has 1 crew call button. Unfortunately, the seats do not feature USB or standard power outlets, headrests, pillows and blankets.

I prebooked seat 6F for this flight to Barcelona; I got this complimentary seat included in my Optima fare bundle. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the Italian and Spanish coasts during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Vueling does not provide complimentary meals and snacks onboard. The airline offers snacks and drinks for purchase during the flight. After take-off and after the seatbelt sign was turned off, the crew went around to distribute pre-orders snacks and drinks. They also went around and offered some eats to the rest of the cabin.

The list of available snacks and drinks are found in the airline’s online catalogue available when connecting to the onboard flight portal.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Being a low-cost airline, Vueling does not offer in-flight entertainment options to its passengers. Like Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia, the airline’s seats are not equipped with personal entertainment screens. The only available entertainment option for passengers is the inflight magazine found in seat pockets in front of every passenger.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Inflight connectivity of wi-fi connection was not available on this flight. The passengers can only access the airline’s flight portal for the snack and drinks menu, the airline’s destination activity offerings and a simple flight status section.

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this short flight to Spain. I did not want to bother my seatmates who were both asleep throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was just alright; it was not remarkable but it was also not terrible. The crew did their job and assisted the passengers when needed. Somehow, it lacked the level of hospitality that is offered by crew on Southeast Asian low-cost airlines.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The cabin crew announced an organized disembarkation process – they called 5 rows at a time to disembark. Gladly, all passengers followed. Those not yet called remained seated and waited for their turn.

I got off the plane at 2:23pm and reached baggage claim section after 10 minutes. The bags eventually came out and I was out of the airport in no time.

Flight Experience

I had a superb first flight with the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I went on the flight with close to no expectations and I only wanted to arrive in Spain safe and sound; but I was blown away by the experience I had on this short hop from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona. It was my first ever flight with a European low-cost carrier and it did not disappoint!

On this flight to Barcelona, I believe Vueling excelled on the following areas or points. First, fares were low and competitive considering the ticket was booked only 1.5 months before schedule. The Optima fare (that time) only cost €57.99 one-way and already included complimentary regular seats, 10 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, 20 kilograms check-in baggage allowance and flight credit options. It is a shame that the airline had to change these inclusions 2 weeks after I booked my ticket; but it was still great because the previous ticket inclusions at the time of my booking were honored on the flight.

Second, Vueling offers great schedules between Milan Malpensa and Barcelona. Low-cost airlines normally get only early morning and late-night flight schedules; but not Vueling on this route. They have multiple flights mostly leaving Milan in the morning or in the afternoon. Third, the flight left the gate in Milan ahead of schedule and arrived at Barcelona ahead of schedule on a busy Saturday.

Fourth, given masks were required during this flight (back in December 2022), the airline staff proactively handed out masks to passengers who do not have one. It is a simple but nice gesture that made the experience better. Lastly, the crew implemented an orderly disembarkation process. All passengers complied and everyone had a smooth disembarkation process.

I honestly cannot think of anything bad that happened on this flight. There is one part where I believe the airline can improve on for a better flying experience. It would be nice to see the airline ramp up their inflight portal – not just showing the snack menu and flight schedule. I hope they can add games or other services like who Scoot is doing on their ScootHub. This will surely change the game in European low-cost flying experience.

Will I recommend Vueling to my readers? Yes, for sure! As laid out above, I had a superb first flight with them. Everything on the flight fell into place; I was a happy customer. I will not hesitate booking them again next time I fly within Europe.

For those who want to know more details about this flight, here you go:

Airline: Vueling
Flight Date: 3 December 2022
Flight Number: VY 6333
Route: Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Barcelona (BCN)
Duration: 1 hour & 17 minutes
Seat Numebr: 6C (window seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Aircraft Registration: EC-LVS
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Age (at the time of the flight): 9.5 years old
Delivered: May 2013

Have you been on a Vueling flight in the past? How was your flying experience? Did you like it? Let us engage into a conversation by sharing your flight experiences below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital

After going around Paris, Rome and Florence for almost 2 weeks, we headed to the capital of Italy’s Lombardy Region – Milan! We took Flixbus from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station to Milan San Donato Station and only paid €8.99 per person. We found the travel experience to be comfortable, quick and affordable. We stayed in Milan for 4 full days, enjoyed the city and even took a day trip out to the nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Know more about our adventures in today’s post about the beautiful city of Milan.

Before exploring Milan, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany Region!

Milan

Milan (Italian: Milano) is the capital of the Lombardy Region in the northern part of the country. It is the country’s financial, business and fashion capital. It is the home of the country’s stock exchange – Borsa Italiana. The city is also the home of many headquarters and offices of both national and international companies. The city is one of the world’s fashion capitals with many luxurious brands headquartered in the Italian metropolis; it also hosts the world-famous semi-annual Milan Fashion Week.

Milan is an important Italian city – it is the center of business, trade, finance, fashion and all other aspects.

Accommodation

Milan, like Florence and Rome, is a popular tourist destination to local and international visitors. The city’s profile and popularity led to surging accommodation costs anywhere in the city. The city’s accommodation options are far more expensive than Rome and Florence’s options.

My friend and I were travelling on a budget. We decided to go for a hostel and booked 4 nights at YellowSquare Milan. We stayed in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory and paid €109.24 each (charged ₱6,644.92 by our local credit card) – the most we paid in an accommodation during our trip to Italy. We had a great stay with YellowSquare.

I recently wrote about YellowSquare Milan and our hostel experience for 4 nights; I hope you can check out YellowSquare Milan’s Hostel of the Day feature here.

Going Around Milan

Going around Milan is easy. The main and important parts of the city are connected by an extensive metro and bus network. The city’s main train stations are Milano Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The city’s main bus stations for intercity travel are Milan Lampugnano Bus Station in the north and Milan San Donato Bus Station in the south. 

My friend and I purchased 10 single-journey tickets (carnet) each and used these tickets during our 4-day in Milan. These tickets are sold from €18 to €20 per 10 tickets, depending on the price the tabaccheria has.

Citywalkers Milan Free Tour

You might have noticed that I am a fan of free (tip-based) city walking tours. I consider this as the best way to learn about a city while not spending too much on private guides and tours. During our visit to Milan, my friend and I joined the 10:00am Citywalkers Milan Free Tour in English.

Our tour guide, Marco, shared the history of the city, its landmarks and the stories behind them for almost 3 hours. He literally walked us through the University of Milan, the Duomo Cathedral, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, the Theatre and Square Alla Scala, the Merchant’s Square and the Business Square.

Lugano & Lake Como Day Tour

My friend and I took advantage of our stay in Milan and decided to go on a day tour to Lugano and Lake Como. We joined Citywonders’ 10.5-hour day tour that explored Lugano (in Switzerland), Bellagio and Como (in Italy) and traversed Lake Como by ferry and local boat. We paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each for the guided tour and all modes of transportation – lunch and snacks not included.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts; I hope you can check out our Lugano and Lake Como Day Tour Photoblog here.

Places Visited in Milan

Like any other city, Milan has a long list of places to visit and check out while in the city. However, my friend and I decided to relax during this leg of the trip and just went to the usual ones. We spent a considerable amount of time shopping and looking for stuff to bring home since Milan was the last stop of my friend’s trip. We still visited a few notable places within the city.

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) – Duomo di Milano is a cathedral in the center of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The cathedral took 6 centuries to finish and has witnessed different rulers and leaders throughout the period.

Today, this Duomo is the most famous landmark in Milan. Millions of people visit the cathedral every year. The cathedral can be accessed for a fee from its interiors to the rooftop. My friend and I decided not to go inside the Duomo but basically went to the place everyday during our stay in the city.

Cathedral Square (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The cathedral square is the largest public square in Milan bounded by the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also the famous meeting spot / area in Milan.  

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping arcade and gallery in all of Italy. Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the galleria opened in 1877 and is shaped like a cross covered by glass dome and roofing. The shopping arcade also houses luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the likes.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – Dubbed as the Golden Rectangle of Fashion in Milan, Quadrilatero d’Oro is Milan’s main shopping district. Think of a worldwide fashion brand and you will certainly find it here. My friend and I walked around the shopping district for days and we still have not been to all shops. Milan is the place to go for shopping.

The Last Supper Museum (Italian: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano) – One of the most interesting places we went to in Milan is the Last Supper Museum. The museum houses the Last Supper Mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the last 15th century.

People go inside the museum and the mural area by groups. Each group is given around 30 minutes to look at the mural. Tickets to the museum cost €15 per person and are pre-booked online. Tickets usually sell out fast; it is best to book tickets months before your intended visit.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – Right beside the Last Supper Museum is the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Last Supper Mural is part of the heritage-listed church complex since the 1400s.

Merchant’s Square (Italian: Piazza Meranti) – The Merchant’s Square is an important hub of commerce and politics in Milan since the Middle Ages. It is the place for trade and business for most locals during that time.

Serravalle Designer Outlet Day Trip

While in Milan, my friend and I decided to check out one of the biggest designer outlets in the country – Serravalle Designer Outlet. Located a little over an hour away from Milan in the commune of Serravalle Scrivia, this village-type outlet has over 180 specialty stores offering designer-branded items at big discounts.

We took the timed Autostradale Viaggi shuttle bus from Milan to the outlet and back for €20 (November 2022 price) per person. We only went to selected stores and did not have the chance to go around everything. We managed to find some good stuff for ourselves and our families back here in the Philippines. It was a successful day at the outlet village.

Missed Places

As mentioned in the start of this blog, we took our time going around the city and focused more on getting stuff to bring back to the Philippines. We had to miss some notable places to visit like Sforzesco Castle, Teatro alla Scala (from the inside), Pinacoteca Di Brera, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Navigli Lombardi. These places are already enough to lure us back to Milan in the future.

Milan may not be everyone’s favorite city but it surely has its own charm. Yes, it is the best shopping destination in Italy but it offers more beyond that image. The city has interesting museums and landmarks that are unique in the world.

Have you been to Milan? How did you find the city? Which places were your favorites and which places did you regret going to? Feel free to share your Milan adventures and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Milan or anything mentioned above? You may also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining me in today’s run-through of our time in Milan last year. Milan was my friend Leng’s final European city on this trip. We spent most of our time just enjoying the city’s vibe and the cold weather, going around supermarkets for food finds and shopping for our friends and loved ones back home. We will surely go back to Milan to explore more.

In case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano and Lake Como on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to my last destination on this trip – Barcelona, Spain!

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: LUGANO & LAKE COMO DAY TRIP FROM MILAN Photoblog – Exploring 3 Places in 2 Countries in 1 Day

After spending 4 beautiful days around Florence, my friend and I moved to our last destination in Italy for this trip – Milan. To be honest, we did not find a lot of things to do around the city so we decided to visit the countryside. We wanted to spend a day each in Lugano, Switzerland and Lake Como but we also had to allot a day to check out Serravalle Designer Outlet for some good finds.

To make use of the limited time we have in Milan and to satisfy our wants in visiting the countryside, we decided to join a guided day tour to Lugano and around Lake Como. We booked with our day tour with City Wonders. Join me as I share with you where we went and what happened on this guided day tour to 3 places in 2 countries – Italy and Switzerland.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these beautiful places – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany.

Tour Cost & Inclusions

My friend and I booked this 10.5-hour day tour with City Wonders on their website and paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each. We were charged by our bank ₱6,393.94 each including foreign currency conversion fees.

This tour fee included a comfortable air-conditioned bus ride to Lugano, Lake Como and back to Milan. It also included all non-coach (ferry and boat) transfers to Bellagio and Como, an English-speaking guide and individual tour headsets. The fee did not include meals. Tour guests were responsible for paying their own food expenses during the tour.

The day tour fee was a little bit expensive but reasonable considering the guests only had to worry about their lunch and snacks. Everything else was provided including information about the places visited during the day.

Check-In & Departure

We arrived at Milan Porta Garibaldi Station before 8:00am and went to the meeting place outside the station. Our tour guide arrived a few minutes after, confirmed our bookings and distributed our individual headsets to be used during the day.

At exactly 8:30am, we walked to where our tour bus was parked, boarded the bus and left Milan for Lugano.

Lugano

Lugano is an Italian-speaking city in the southern part of Switzerland. It lies along the beautiful Lake Lugano and is a famous day-trip destination of people coming to Milan, Italy. The lakeside city provides visitors a glimpse of Switzerland during these day trips and gives tourists a chance to take home Swiss Chocolates back to Milan. It is also a famous shopping destination for both Swiss and Italians. The city accepts both Euro and Swiss Franc as monetary payments.

We first went to Lugano from Milan. We were given an hour to explore the small city, to check out the shops and to spend some time by the lake.

Bellagio

Bellagio is a picturesque town located along Lake Como. Known as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” this town is famous for its cobblestone alleys, photogenic streets, artisan shops and local restaurants offering a spectacular view of Lake Como. This town is at its full charm every summer. It is also a good place to visit during cold season but expect it to be quiet with most shops and restaurants closed.

We stopped by Bellagio for lunch. After lunch, we took the boat ride to Como and saw the villas where Star Wars and James Bond movies were filmed. We also saw George Clooney’s private villa.

Como

Como is a city in the Italian-Swiss border. It is in the southern tip of Lake Como and is famous for its Gothic Cathedral. It also offers beautiful views of the lake with the green and untouched hills on the sides. It was our last stop on this trip.

We were given 30-ish minutes to walk around the city, to visit their beautiful cathedral and to check out their Christmas market.

Drop Off

From Como, we all hopped on the bus and took an hour trip back to Milan. We were dropped just outside Milan Porta Garibaldi Station at the same place where we rode the bus in the morning.

This wraps up our day tour around Lugano, Bellagio and Como. It was great experience visiting these lakeside cities and towns offering stunning views of Lake Lugano and Lake Como. We would love to go back and spend more time in all these places and perhaps visit them during the warm months.

Have you been to Lugano, Bellagio or Como in the past? How was your visit? Feel free to share your experiences and visit details in the comments section below. Do you have any question about the day tour above? You may also send those via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for checking this day trip post. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Florence and Tuscany before we visited Milan. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one!

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE MILAN – Hidden Hostel Gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District

After spending 4 full days in the beautiful city of Florence, my friend and I moved to another famous Italian city in the north – Milan. We stayed and explored the city for another 4 days and decided to stay with YellowSquare Milan.

This hostel is a sister of YellowSquare Florence – the hostel we stayed with in Florence. This hostel will be featured in today’s hostel of the day. Join me as I share with you details of this hidden hostel gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District.

YellowSquare Milan

YellowSquare Milan is a sister hostel of YellowSquare Florence; it is one of the 3 YellowSquare properties in Italy. According to the property’s website, the hostel started in 1999 when the founders decided to buy a small apartment and rent out a few beds. 20 years later, the hostel now has 3 high-rated branches in Rome, Milan (this property) and the latest addition to the chain, Florence.

This branch is in the quiet Porta Romana neighborhood in Milan. It has 2 buildings – 6 storey front building and a rear 2 storey building with an open area piazza in the between. Both buildings stand above a common basement level. The hostel caters to hundreds of guests at the same time.

Location & Access

YellowSquare Milan is located at Via Serviliano Lattuada, 14, 20135 Milan MI, Italy. It is located near the old city gate of Milan – Porta Romana. The hostel is a little over 2 kilometers away from the famous Duomo di Milano. It is 350 meters away from Porta Romana Station of Milan Metro Line 3 (Red Line) – 3 stops away from Duomo Station on the same line.

As mentioned above, the hostel is nestled in a quiet neighborhood. It is near to numerous restaurants, shops and supermarkets. It is 10 minutes away by subway (Line 3) to Flixbus’ San Donato pick-up and drop-off points, also 10 minutes away by subway (Line 3) to Milan Central Station, around 15 to 18 minutes by subway (Lines 2 and 3) to Porta Garibaldi Station and about 40 minutes by subway (Lines 1 and 3) to Milan Lampugnano Bus Terminal.

YellowSquare Milan’s Communal Spaces

The hostel is 1 hour and 10 to 15 minutes away by train (Line 3 and Malpensa Express) to Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) and about the same time by subway (Line 3) and bus to Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) – also known as Milan Bergamo Airport.

Room Options

Like YellowSquare Florence, YellowSquare Milan also has dormitory rooms and private rooms.

The hostel’s dormitory room configurations are limited to as follows: 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed female dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room and 4-bed female dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature in-room shower and ensuite, air conditioning and heating systems, a table and chair (per room), lockers, daily housekeeping and free Wi-Fi connection. All dormitory beds have a pillow, blanket, individual lights and personal security locker. Towels are not included and are available for rent from reception.

The private rooms have the following configurations: single private room, double private room, quadruple private room with 2 bunk beds and sextuple private room with 3 bunk beds. These private rooms have the same features as that of the dormitory rooms except for towels which are already included in these rooms. Rates per nights of these rooms depend on where you are booking your stay. From experience, booking directly with YellowSquare provides the most affordable nightly rates.

My friend and I booked our stay directly with YellowSquare Milan and got 2 beds in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid €101.24 each for 4 nights. On top of this, we also paid €2 per person per night (rate back in November 2022) for the city tax. In total, we paid €109.24 each during check-in. We were charged by our bank ₱6,644.92 including foreign currency transaction conversion fee – roughly ₱1,661.23 per night. It is still not bad for an expensive city like Milan!

We were assigned the 2 lower bunk beds at Room A505 on the 5th floor of the main building. We got a smaller room compared to the room we got at the Florence property; we also got a room with a nice bathroom and toilet layout. We enjoyed the views of Milan from this upper room.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

YellowSquare Milan has a long list of facilities and amenities that hostel guests can enjoy.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All guests have an access to a stable and fast open Wi-Fi connection.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – The hostel has an in-house bar and restaurant called The Baretto. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Breakfast is available from 8:00am to 11:00am. Lunch is served from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm. Dinner options are available from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. The bar is open every day from 8:00am to 2:00am.

Free Beer Upon Check-In – Hostel guests get a beer voucher upon check-in. This free beer can be redeemed anytime during the guest’s stay.

Events Place – YellowSquare Milan has an in-house events place called Salone14. This events place hosts both internal and external events. It is also available for rent / outsider use. Please reach out to the hostel team to know more about the rates.

In-House Club – La Chapel, the hostel’s in-house club, is in the basement level of the hostel building.

Outdoor Courtyard – The hostel has an outdoor courtyard named The Piazzetta. This courtyard is found between the front and rear buildings. It is where some of the hostel activities are held.

Hair Salon – The hostel has a hair salon, named Contesta Rock Hair, in the basement level. Guests can come here for a haircut or a hair treatment at the guest’s expense.

Co-Working Space – Need to work while in Milan? No need to worry. YellowSquare Milan has a co-working space called SmartSquare Milan. A part of the co-working space, The Fixed Spot, is complimentary to hostel guests with prior request at reception. The other areas are open to the public subject to daily or monthly rates.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Each hostel room (private or dormitory) has an in-room shower and toilet.

Communal Areas – The hostel has communal areas where guests can just sit down, chill and meet with other travelers / guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests have access to a shared kitchen and dining area at the rear building. The kitchen has complete cooking materials which guests can use to cook food.

Daily Hostel Activities – Just like YellowSquare Florence, this Milan property also hosts daily activities for guests to join and enjoy. These activities can range from walking tours, cooking classes to karaoke sessions, art classes and comedy shows. Please look for the updated schedule near the reception.

Schedule of Hostel Activities back in November 2022

Games Room – The hostel has a dedicated games room where guests can play or have fun with other people. The games room is in the basement level.

Communal Toilets & Changing Rooms – The hostel has available communal toilets and changing rooms near the common areas. Guests do not need to go back to their respective rooms to just use the toilet.

Laundromat Service – Running out of clean clothes to wear? The hostel has a laundromat service which guests can avail for a fee.

Luggage Storage – The property offers luggage storage services for guests who arrived hours before check-in and for guests who are leaving the city in the afternoon or evening after check-out. Please reach out to reception if you want to leave your stuff before check-in or after check-out.

24-Hour Reception – Arriving past midnight or leaving before sunrise? No need to worry about getting in / out. Reception is manned every single time. It is open 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – YellowSquare Milan’s staff speak different languages. They are also friendly and hospitable.

Secured Room Access – Rooms can only be accessed using the key cards provided during check-in.

Lift Access – Travelling with a big luggage? No need to carry it up using the stairs. The hostel has a lift which can be used by all guests. Please note that the lift only works with a hostel key card.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel premises are equipped with 24/7 surveillance system. Also, entry to the room areas require an access / key card. It cannot not open to visitors and outsiders.

Hostel Experience

Our stay at YellowSquare Milan was almost the same as our stay at YellowSquare Florence. We may be out most of the day but we managed to stay longer in the hostel this time.

We liked the following about the hostel. First, YellowSquare Milan had the best rates for an expensive city like Milan. On top of these value rates, the hostel also offered a flexible cancellation policy where guests can cancel for free up to 24 hours before the intended stay. Second, the hostel was in a quiet Porta Romana neighborhood away from the busy streets of the city.

Third, the free beer coupon was an added perk. The hostel did not just provide a small beer glass but a big one. Fourth, the hostel had a long list of activities which guests can join. We did not have the time to join these activities but we hope we can in our next stay. Fifth, the YellowSquare Milan staff were nice, friendly and hospitable. They were more welcoming than those from the Florence property. Lastly, we noticed the consistency in the service and product provided by the YellowSquare hostel brand.

The hostel also had some drawbacks. First, I mentioned above that I liked the hostel being in a quiet neighborhood. At the same time, this quiet neighborhood meant that the hostel is located a bit far from the city center. Guests need to take the metro or tram to go and visit the Duomo area.

Second, we got a smaller 4-bed mixed dormitory room in Milan compared to the room we had in Florence. We think the room size was alright but we also cannot help but compare. Third and lastly, we hope the hostel can expand the free drink coupon options to include water, juices and sodas to cater to those who do not drink beer. My friend gave up her free beer and gave it to me simply because she does not drink beer.

These drawbacks did not really affect our stay at YellowSquare Milan. My friend and I enjoyed our time at the hostel. We will surely book our stay again with them in our next trip to Milan.

YellowSquare Milan’s Outdoor Courtyard – The Piazzetta

Do you have questions about YellowSquare Milan? If yes, you may reach out to them on the following platforms:

YellowSquare Milan
Address: Via Serviliano Lattuada,1420135 Milano MI, Italy
Phone Number: +39 028 239 6603
E-mail address: questions@yellowsquare.it / lattuada@bc-hospitality.com
Website: www.yellowsquare.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yellowsquaremilan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yellowsquarehostel

Have you stayed with YellowSquare Milan in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines.

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.