[STYRIA] Budget and Itinerary

THURSDAY: 6 April 2023

Flixbus (Ljubljana - Graz) - 24.99

32/40 (1-hr Ticket) - 2.70

IBIS Budget (2 Nights) - 102.00

EUR129.69

[GRAZ] A Castle Hill and a Steel Island

Graz was more of an accidental addition. I really can’t remember what happened when I was booking. It is close to impossible for there not to be either buses or trains from Ljubljana to Maribor. Or maybe this is because I was trying to be loyal to Flixbus? But the Flixbus I rode for this leg actually passed by Maribor. So, WTF? I don’t know. All I know is that I actually enjoyed walking around Graz. If I were to rank the Austrian cities I’ve seen so far, I would put it in 3rd place after Vienna and Salzburg, right above Villach and Feldkirch. And so, what is there to see in Graz?

[CARINTHIA] Budget and Itinerary

SUNDAY: 2 April 2023

EC117 (Salzburg - Villach) - 9.90

Stadthotel Kramer (2 Nights) - 143.00

EUR152.90

[VILLACH] En Route to Slovenia

How I ended up in Villach is anybody’s guess. I almost always end up in the main city of the region which, in this case, is supposed to be Klagenfurt. I blame bus and train tickets. This was probably the only available route when I booked last year? Anyway, Villach is small, seemingly eventless, but quite a looker too, especially that part at the bridge with the jester statue and those snow capped mountains and a church’s double towers in the background. Before we continue, here are some trivia for Villach.

[SALZBURG] Budget and Itinerary

 

FRIDAY: 31 March 2023

RJX261 (Munich - Salzburg) - 21.90

Madlhof (2 Nights) - 130.00

Eurospar (Groceries) - 7.27

Augustiner Bräu (Lemonade + Cake) - 5.00

EUR164.17

[SALZBURG] Where Are the Singing Nuns?

Our sightseeing in Salzburg began the night we arrived, when the Czechoslovakians took me to Augustiner Bräu which was a totally new experience for me. The venue once served some religious purpose if you ask me, with a smattering of religious statues here and there as well as some quotes on the walls seemingly lifted from the bible. Nowadays, it serves as a place to be merry with friends, with tables all around, food stalls, and, of course, an endless stream of beer on tap. What more can you ask for? I can ask for more, because I don’t drink beer. Good thing, they had lemonade and cake.

[OBERÖSTERREICH] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 1 April 2023

Gas (Stroh-Tankstellen) - 23.00

Parking (Hallstatt) - 7.00

EUR30.00

[HALLSTATT] The Asian Invasion of Hallstatt

Hallstatt has always been on the itinerary, perhaps. We were supposed to brave the weather and go to Dachstein with a side trip to Hallstatt on the way back. Apparently, Dachstein has some sort of online viewing deck where you actually see what it looks like from up there LIVE. That’s the thing, nothing was seen but fog. And so the trip was canceled and we rerouted to Burg Hohenwerfen. Since Hallstatt was just an hour drive away, we still went afterwards, despite the rain. Surprisingly, we ended up enjoying it despite it being a really short side trip.

[WERFEN] The Hills Are Alive

Dachstein getting canceled meant having to find a replacement fast. This is probably the good thing about traveling with friends who are there for vacation. They will really find a destination that is worth it. Otherwise, I would’ve just stayed next to the train tracks of the HBF. Anyway, they decided that we were going to a castle in Werfen instead which is still within the region of Salzburg about half an hour drive away from the city. And so we went. I’m glad I did, because the imagery is now living in my mind rent free.

[VORARLBERG] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 16 September 2017

Flixbus (Zurich - Feldkirch) - 9.90
Bakery (Nuss Schneke) - 2.00
Manga (Crispy Duck Rice w/Coke) - 8.00
Konditorei Mangold (Hot Choco w/Cake Roll) - 4.90
EC 164 (Feldkirch - Buchs SG) - 4.40

EUR29.20

[FELDKIRCH] That Medieval Town Next to Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein was supposed to be the highlight of this itinerary but I think I liked Feldkirch more. And so Feldkirch became the highlight; Liechtenstein, the side trip. In any case, visiting both cities in one weekend is doable. Liechtenstein Bus 11 connects the two. The journey is around 45 minutes and costs CHF 4.30 (~PHP 235). You can pay the driver directly in either Euros or Swiss Francs. The stop in Feldkirch is at the main train station. In Vaduz, you get off or get on at Schaan or Vaduz Post.

[VIENNA] Budget and Itinerary

ESTIMATES
University of Vienna (German Summer Intensive Course) - 440.00
Albert Schweitzer Haus (Single Room/27 Nights) - 510.00
OSD (B2 Mittelstufe Exam) - 125.00

Ryanair (Barcelona - Bratislava) - 78.95
Slovak Bus (Bratislava - Vienna) - 8.25
Food (15 Euros x 21 Days) - 315.00
Laundry (4 Euros x 3 Weeks) - 12.00
Emirates (Vienna - Seoul) - 641.81

EUR2,131.01