A budget of 40,000 baht per person, including airfare, for an 8-day independent trip to Europe covering Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. This itinerary offers stunning scenery across all three countries, but finding reviews online can be challenging.
Don't forget to share and save this post, and bring your friends along! We, the two of us (Nun), planned, traveled, and paid for everything ourselves. Seeing the budget, you might think we were starving ourselves, but that's not the case. We're here to spill the beans and provide a detailed breakdown of every expense. Our goal is to show you that traveling to Europe isn't as difficult as it seems and that anyone can do it.

Travel Plan

Free downloadable Excel template for European travel itinerary for visa application Click here!

Our tentative itinerary for this trip is as follows:

Day 01: Vienna, Austria

  • St. Stephen's Cathedral
  • Hundertwasserhaus
  • KunstHausWien
  • Vienna City Hall
  • Wiener Staatsopera

Day 2: Hallstatt, Austria

Embark on a day trip from Vienna to the picturesque village of Hallstatt.

Day 03: Ljubljana, Slovenia

  • Ljubljana Castle: A medieval castle perched atop Castle Hill, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.
  • Dragon Bridge: A iconic landmark adorned with four statues of dragons, symbolizing the city's strength and resilience.
  • Tromostovje: A picturesque triple bridge, considered one of the most recognizable landmarks in Ljubljana.

Day 4: Bled, Slovenia
– Lake Bled
– Church of the Assumption
– Ostarija Babji Zob

Day 5: Zagreb, Croatia

  • Zagreb Cathedral: This magnificent neo-Gothic cathedral is the tallest building in Croatia and offers stunning views of the city.
  • Ban Jelačić Square: The central square of Zagreb, bustling with activity and surrounded by historical buildings.
  • Zrinjevac Park: A beautiful green oasis in the heart of the city, perfect for a relaxing stroll or a picnic.

Day 6: Dubrovnik, Croatia

  • Accommodation: Apartments Dilberovic
  • Beach Club: Banje Beach Club

Day 7: Dubrovnik, Croatia
– Dubrovnik Cable Car
– Dubrovnik Viewpoint
– Panorama Restaurant
– Dubrovnik Old Town

Day 8: Zagreb, Croatia

  • Dolac Market: Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this bustling open-air market, where you can find fresh produce, local delicacies, and handcrafted souvenirs.
  • St. Mark's Church: Marvel at the intricate roof tiles depicting the coats of arms of Zagreb and Croatia, a testament to the city's rich history and cultural heritage.

Image

A photo of a woman standing in front of a large, colorful mural with her arms outstretched.

What is included in the 40,000 baht per person budget?

1. Round-trip flight tickets with Qatar Airways cost 12,580 baht per person.
The price includes round-trip airfare and 30 kg of checked baggage per person.
– Departing from Bangkok to Doha to Vienna (Austria)
– Returning from Zagreb (Croatia) to Doha to Bangkok
The flight time is approximately 15 hours, with one stopover in Doha, Qatar each way.

For those who have never used Qatar Airways, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't regret it (just like us!). Qatar Airways frequently offers enticing promotions, such as round-trip tickets to Europe for just over ten thousand baht. This is a rare deal that you won't find with other airlines. Keep an eye out for these promotions, as they tend to sell out quickly. Typically, Qatar Airways tickets to Europe cost around thirty thousand baht.

Despite its affordable price, this airline offers a full range of services, including in-flight entertainment. Even in economy class, passengers have access to personal TV screens where they can watch movies, listen to music, and play games throughout their journey. Additionally, Wi-Fi is now available on board. Passengers are also provided with pillows, blankets, and headphones. Meals are served at every stage of the flight, and a wide selection of beverages, including tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices, beer, and wine, are available for consumption until arrival at the destination.

Hotel Costs

The total cost of accommodation was 4,795 baht per person, divided as follows:

  • Vienna: 2 nights (staying with a friend)
  • Ljubljana: 2 nights at an Airbnb (THB 4,465.87)
  • Zagreb: 1 night at an Airbnb (THB 1,909.10)
  • Dubrovnik: 1 night (THB 3,216.88)

If you haven't booked your accommodation with Airbnb yet, we have a special discount for you! Get an instant discount of 1,200 baht! Simply book through this link and you'll receive the discount automatically. >>> ww.airbnb.com/c/pnoiarun (For first-time bookings only)

Transportation Costs in the Country: Approximately 12,625 Baht per Person

Breakdown of Transportation Costs:

  • Train from Vienna Airport to City Center (EUR27): 1,010 Baht per person
  • Roundtrip Train from Vienna to Hallstatt: 3,375 Baht per person
  • Train from Vienna to Ljubljana (EUR45): 1,768 Baht per person
  • Roundtrip Bus from Ljubljana to Bled (EUR18): 673.30 Baht per person
  • FlexiBus from Ljubljana to Zagreb (EUR9.20): 361.45 Baht per person
  • Croatia Airlines Flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik (EUR95): 3,730 Baht per person
  • Bus from Dubrovnik Airport to Old Town (40 Kuna): 200 Baht per person
  • Uber in Dubrovnik (2 trips, 475 Baht): 237.50 Baht per person
  • Overnight Bus from Dubrovnik to Zagreb (EUR25): 982 Baht per person
  • Uber from Zagreb City Center to Airport (2 trips, 1,150 Baht): 575 Baht per person

The high cost of domestic travel in Thailand may surprise some, as it can be comparable to the price of a plane ticket from Thailand to Vienna. This was due to our last-minute booking of domestic flights, trains, and buses, which we did less than a week before our trip. In some cases, we didn't even book in advance and instead purchased tickets at the station. As a result, the prices were significantly higher. (We're a little disappointed in ourselves for not booking sooner.) "Those who book further in advance can save almost half on these expenses!" Plan carefully and good luck!

4. Pocket Money 10,000 Baht
In addition to accommodation and travel expenses, we each brought around 10,000 Baht for food, entrance fees to tourist attractions, bus and train fares, and small souvenirs. (We didn't do much shopping, so 10,000 Baht was just right - not too much, not too little. We ate well and enjoyed ourselves at every meal. However, if you plan to buy a lot of souvenirs or brand-name items, be sure to increase your budget accordingly.)

  • For those who do not have a Schengen Visa, the total visa fee is 3,050 baht per person. (If you have a Multiple Schengen Visa, you can use it to enter Croatia. However, if you only have a Single Schengen Visa, you must apply for a separate Croatian visa.)

Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 1: Vienna, Austria

Day 01: The first day of our European adventure, a trip born from a spontaneous (and intentional) click on a ridiculously cheap flight deal with Qatar Airways.

We were having dinner together when we stumbled upon a Facebook page sharing a promotion for multi-city round-trip flights to Europe for just over ten thousand baht. Curious to see if the price was real, we checked the airline's website. We casually selected cities with the promotion... and just 10 minutes later, a confirmation email popped into our inbox! And that's how this trip came to be.

On September 27, 2018, at 8:55 PM, Qatar Airways flight QR833 took us from Thailand to Qatar. We had a layover in Doha before continuing on to our first destination: Vienna, Austria.

August 28, 2018, 7:30 AM. We arrived safely in Vienna after a total travel time, including transfers, of approximately 16 hours. The first image we saw after closing the airplane window was of a beautiful day with clear skies and a touch of sunshine. We couldn't help but feel excited to explore this city on our own.

We passed through immigration easily. It was incredibly simple! Easier than our trips to the Maldives, Japan, and other countries. We each walked up to separate counters (there was no queue, probably because it was still early). The officers simply scanned our passports, had us scan our fingerprints, and stamped our passports. That was it! We didn't even exchange a word. We passed through so easily that we didn't even need to show the proof of accommodation/car booking that we had prepared as evidence for entering the country. 5555

After successfully clearing immigration, we, the two of us, decided to find our way into the city. We opted for the CAT (City Airport Train), a direct train service to the city center. It was incredibly convenient and cost EU 7 per trip. We only purchased a one-way ticket as we weren't returning from Vienna.

After settling into our accommodation, we decided to take a leisurely stroll around the city. The weather in late September was pleasant, with temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius in the morning and 15-20 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. We wandered aimlessly, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

We also had a secret place we wanted to visit, which is the colorful building in this picture. This building is called "Hundertwasserhaus" (to be honest, I can't read it either, haha). We saw a picture of this building on Instagram and thought it looked unique and beautiful, so we searched for it on Google Maps and took a tram ride there, not really knowing where we were going. But we didn't get lost, yay! (We arrived in the afternoon when there were already a lot of people. We had to wait for the right moment to take this picture without too many tourists in it.)


Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 2: Hallstatt, Austria

Day 2: From a dream to reality, Hallstatt, a small lakeside town nestled amidst towering mountains, has finally come to life. We have long admired its beauty in pictures, and now we stand here, embracing its magic firsthand.

The weather in Hallstatt at the end of September was pleasant, with cool temperatures, light fog, and no excessive cold. The scenery was "as beautiful as it appears in pictures."

However, something we didn't anticipate was the overwhelming number of tourists. There were tour groups from all over, including Westerners, Chinese, and Koreans, making the once peaceful town anything but. The viewing and photo spots in the pictures were packed with people, making it difficult to get a good shot without waiting for a long time and using clever camera angles to avoid the crowds. If we had driven ourselves or stayed overnight, we might have experienced the true tranquility of the morning. However, since we took the train and didn't stay the night, we missed out on the peaceful atmosphere. The constant noise and commotion throughout the town were a bit disappointing, and we couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret for the lost ambiance. You can get a glimpse of the crowded atmosphere by watching the video below.

The journey from Vienna to Hallstatt proved more challenging than anticipated. We departed Vienna via ÖBB train from Wien Westbahnhof station. Despite extensive research prior to our trip, we encountered significant confusion regarding the travel arrangements. Information readily available online primarily catered to those driving, and we were unable to locate direct train routes to Hallstatt. Consequently, we opted to forgo pre-booking train tickets due to the uncertainty surrounding the travel logistics. Notably, Hallstatt is more commonly accessed from Salzburg, a city we excluded from our itinerary due to time constraints.

Before arriving, we searched Google in English again. We found that there is no direct train to Hallstatt. We found that we had to take a train from Wien Westbahnhof station to Attnang-Puchheim station, then another train to Hallstatt station, and then a bus to Hallstatt village. The round-trip train fare from Vienna to Hallstatt is 3,375 baht per person.

The total travel time is approximately 4 hours each way. Yes, that's right! The round trip from Vienna to Hallstatt takes about 8 hours. It is recommended to choose the earliest train in the morning for the outbound journey and allow some extra time for the return journey. Try not to leave Hallstatt after 4 pm, as you will need to take several connections to return to Vienna. If you miss the last train, it will be a big problem.

Book your train tickets in advance and check the latest train schedules at www.oebb.at/en. ***When purchasing train tickets from Vienna to Attnang-Puchheim, choose your train carefully. There are both direct and connecting trains available. We were a bit confused and lost when we had to change trains, which wasted an hour of our time.


Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 3: Ljubljana, Slovenia

On the third day of our journey, we will be heading to the beautiful and serene country of Slovenia. Often overlooked compared to other European destinations, Slovenia offers a tranquil escape. We will be traveling from Vienna to the capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana. The name may seem challenging to pronounce, but give it a try!

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a charming city with a population of only 300,000. It is a small and walkable city, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains. While the city is peaceful and quiet, with minimal high-rise buildings, the lack of street lighting at night can be a concern for some.

We stayed in this city for 2 nights, choosing to stay at an Airbnb for a total of 4,465.87 for 2 nights. The room was very clean, the bed was soft, there was air conditioning, a refrigerator, hot water, and kitchen equipment with a stove. You can easily boil instant noodles here. 555555 Try clicking on the accommodation link. https://th.airbnb.com/rooms/24028662

The primary reason for our decision to stay in an apartment was the high cost of hotels in the city. Hotels were priced at 4-5 thousand baht per night, while cheaper options were limited to shared hostel rooms or rooms without air conditioning. We opted for an apartment for its convenience, cleanliness, and significant cost savings.


Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 4: Bled, Slovenia

Day 4 at Lake Bled: From an overlooked destination to the most memorable city of the trip.

The ease and convenience of the journey were highly impressive. A single bus ride from Ljubljana, with a round-trip fare of only 18 euros per person, made the experience exceptional.

Deeply impressed by the tranquil atmosphere, I strolled along the lakeshore, breathing in the fresh air amidst towering, majestic trees. My decision to visit this place has proven to be an excellent one.

Impressed with the delicious meal. The tender steak with truffle sauce was the most perfectly balanced I've ever had! Even better with a glass of excellent wine for less than a hundred baht... Topped off with the restaurant's signature cake... The bill came out to just over a thousand baht, but the taste was oh so good!

If you're visiting Slovenia and enjoy nature and a peaceful atmosphere, don't miss this place. You won't be disappointed.


Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 5: Zagreb, Croatia

Day 5: Zagreb, Croatia

Crossing Borders: A Budget-Friendly Journey from Ljubljana to Zagreb

Our journey took an exciting turn as we crossed borders, leaving Ljubljana, Slovenia, behind and venturing into Zagreb, Croatia. The date was November 5th, and our mode of transportation was a FlexiBus, booked for the incredibly affordable price of EUR 9.20 per person.

This cross-border bus journey, complete with air conditioning and complimentary Wi-Fi, left us wondering: how is such a low price even possible?

Although Croatia is located in Europe, it is not part of the Schengen Area. However, travelers with a multiple-entry Schengen visa can enter Croatia without a separate visa. Those with a single-entry Schengen visa must obtain a separate Croatian visa. Additionally, the euro is not accepted as currency in Croatia. Most businesses only accept the Croatian kuna (1 kuna = approximately 5 Thai baht). While exchanging currency in Thailand is recommended, the Super Rich exchange does not offer Croatian kunas. Therefore, travelers must exchange their remaining euros for kunas upon arrival in Croatia. Numerous currency exchange offices are available throughout the country.

We have one night to explore here, and the next day we will fly to Dubrovnik. We will then return to Zagreb for one last day before flying back to Thailand.

One of the things we loved most about this city was how easy it was to get around on foot. Alternatively, you could take a tram for a different experience. Additionally, the cost of living and accommodation were the cheapest we encountered on our entire trip. We stayed in an Airbnb with a huge room and a location near the main square, a popular tourist destination. The price was only 1,909.10 baht per night. If you're interested, you can check it out here: https://th.airbnb.com/rooms/5389697


Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 6: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Early Morning Departure from Zagreb

On the sixth day of our journey, Nune and I woke up early and groggily got dressed, leaving our Airbnb accommodation in Zagreb before dawn. The taxi driver, arranged by our Airbnb host, was already waiting for us in front of the apartment. He drove us to Zagreb Airport, where we boarded a plane to Dubrovnik.

We flew with Croatia Airlines. Before deciding to travel by plane, we tried to find other ways. Let me tell you, if you are short on time like us, a plane is the best option. If you take the bus, you will spend about 7-8 hours on the road. But a direct flight takes only about 1 hour. At this point, we are willing to pay a little extra to save time and energy for sightseeing. We booked about a week before our trip, and the price was EUR95, which is about 3,730 baht per person. (If you book well in advance, you can probably get it even cheaper.)

We decided to stay in Dubrovnik for 1 night to make the most of our flight. We chose to stay at Apartments Dilberovic for EUR86 per night, or about 3,216.88 baht. Let me tell you, the apartment has an amazing view! Book from Booking.com You can check it out >>> http://www.booking.com/Share-ke2MFe1

The first feeling upon arriving in Dubrovnik is... hot! It's hot, dear viewers... I barely had time to take off my coat. While it was still cold in Zagreb, the weather here has changed completely. It's probably similar to the weather in the southern part of our country, like when we come down from the north and encounter the seaside air in the south.

Apart from the weather, there are many other unexpected things about this city. For example, the cost of living is quite high, and there are many tourists from Japan, Korea, England, and even Thailand. I think they might be following in the footsteps of the Game of Thrones series.

Image of a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Day 7: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 7 of our journey. We are still in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

After exploring the outskirts of the city yesterday, today we will be spending the entire day exploring the city itself. We plan to take a cable car to a high vantage point and enjoy a light meal at Panorama Restaurant, one of the most scenic restaurants in Dubrovnik. Afterwards, we will stroll through the Old Town until the evening, before catching a bus back to Zagreb at 9 pm. Yes, we flew in, but we opted for an overnight bus ride on the way back, departing at 9 pm and arriving in Zagreb around 7 am. This allows us to save on both airfare and accommodation for the night (it's the final stretch of our trip, so we need to be a bit more frugal, haha).

Besides the stunning scenery and architecture, here are three things we learned after spending two full days exploring this city:
1. The cost of living is very high (but there are ways to save money).
2. There are a lot of tourists (but it's manageable).
3. Be prepared for a lot of uphill walking and stairs. If you're bringing elderly people or young children, be aware that it can be tiring.

https://i2.wp.com/bestiewanderer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/8.jpg?resize=735%2C735&ssl=1

Day 8: Zagreb, Croatia

On the 8th and final day of our journey, we returned to the city of Zagreb.

This evening, we will be flying back to Thailand from Zagreb Airport around 5 pm. Therefore, we haven't planned to go anywhere far. We will take a leisurely stroll, find a delicious restaurant for a farewell meal, and capture some photos of the scenery from various angles before calling an Uber to the airport around 1 pm.

Many people know Croatia from the World Cup, many want to come because of the series Game of Thrones, but we came here because of cheap air tickets, but I can't believe that we two will like and be impressed with Croatia more than we thought... The cost of living is not expensive, people are kind, the Kuna currency is not cruel, and there are many other cities worth visiting, but we don't have enough time to go.

If we have the opportunity, we will definitely return to this country again... See you later #Croatia

Stay tuned for full reviews of each city coming soon at bestiewanderer.com and on our Facebook Page Bestie Wanderer – Travel Buddies

#austria#croatia#slovenia
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