I swear I booked this trip back in January, so this has felt like an eternity to finally arrive.
Now, I know these prices are going to look CRAZY to you, but I promise there is an explanation underneath to explain how I got here.
Below is a photo of the budget breakdown I keep on my Excel spreadsheet:
Let us start with the flight(s).
So January 25th, I am minding my chubby business and I see this INSANE deal pop into my inbox from either Secret Flying or Next Departure, or may have even been from both.
Holy banana bread Batman.
Would you look at that deal? And with Lufthansa? Like, a legitimate airline. Wow. So you knowwww I had to book that shit ASAP.
Total cost of my flight from Toronto to Lisbon = $301.81 Canadian. All taxes in. Everything. Oh my God.
And on top of that, I can’t believe I was able to get this flight price for a trip during summertime to Portugal. High season.
Since January, I literally know dozens of people from Instagram and TikTok who also took advantage of this deal and I’m so happy they did.
Because I don’t know how to remain still, I thought to myself ‘what should I also get up to while I’m in Europe?‘ I had considered taking a train down to the Algarve or taking a plane over to Madeira, since I’m already in Portugal. But of course, I said let me book a flight to Nice, France – so I can go see Monaco finally.
The cost of that flight? $110.00 Canadian, roundtrip. I love European flight prices!
This flight will take me from Lisbon to Nice, France (with TAP Portugal) and I return with EasyJet. I am slightly worried about TAP, because I haven’t heard the best reviews about them, but I’m staying hopeful that since it’s such a short flight I will be OK. Will update on return.
So for a total of $411.81 I am able to visit Portugal, France and Monaco. I mean, this is a fucking gem right here OK? I don’t think I’ve ever gotten such a sweet deal on anything.
Now for the stays, there had to be some picking and choosing done. I know I want to walk around a lot and eat everything. So the stays had to be central, and affordable.
I’m very lucky I booked so so early for my stays in both Lisbon and Nice because later? Everything skyrocketed.
This hotel is called the Vila Nova Guesthouse. It is centrally located, has good reviews and looks clean. Furthermore, total price for a two night stay was only $142.00 Canadian. I think that is a great deal and when I looked recently, the cheapest room for my dates was like $700+ for the same time? Nope.
To be honest, a place to stay in Lisbon wasn’t too hard to find back in February when I began booking. At that time the prices were really good and they have an abundance of hotels and AirBnBs. So this was not the tough part.
It was the booking a 36-hr trip to Nice/Monaco that would prove to be a bit more difficult to find a deal.
Both Nice and Monte Carlo aren’t exactly the cheapest places to go visit. I didn’t want to pay much for a one-night stay because I just literally needed somewhere to put my bags and get a couple hours of sleep. I didn’t intend on spending much time there, but I needed it to also be clean, well located and safe.
Then I remembered what I did when I went to Singapore (another hella expensive city for stays). I checked the hostel option. Now, I will absolutely never ever do one of them dorm things. Let me make that very clear.
I am not sharing a space with random people I’ve never met and sleeping in a room with 10 other women – that is something I stopped doing in grade 8 camp OK? I know other people love the hostel experience, but that is just not for me. However, MOST hostels also offer private rooms and typically, they are still cheaper than a hotel room.
I was right. On Hostelworld I ran across this hostel named Open House Hostel.
They have a private room with an ensuite bathroom, their location is superb in Nice and the reviews are great. Total cost for the one night stay = $90.00 Canadian. I have somewhere to leave my bag and go explore, and my own personal space to sleep for the night. Couldn’t really ask for more.
If you’re ever unable to find a good priced hotel or AirBnB, I always recommend checking the private room options available in the hostels. You can find deals like this all the time. Again, thankfully I booked this super early because that same room is like $200.00 for the night now. Yikes.
Finally, I return to Lisbon for ONE night before I fly home. But I get there at 10pm and fly home the next day at some super early hour. I needed something cheap and close to the airport. I was able to find an AirBnB that is a 15-minute walk from the terminal. Absolutely perfect location for what I need to use it for. Bathe. Sleep. Leave.
The total cost of the one night there was $58.36 Canadian. The link to the AirBnB can be found here, if any of you ever have a layover in Lisbon.
For this trip, hallelujah, NO TESTING IS REQUIRED. I think.
If you ever want to know testing requirements for whatever trip you have planned, make sure to check the Sherpa website. It is great because I can input that I am a Canadian citizen, fully vaccinated, traveling from where and to where + what my layover is. Then the website gives me a total breakdown of everything required for the trip. Fantastic. Such a big help.
But this time, I am hearing mixed information. The Sherpa site and the Government of Portugal Tourism site make it seem like if you have a non-EU vaccination proof you should get a test? But then when I speak to people who have been to Portugal in past few weeks, none of them needed a test. So basically, I am going to take my chances. Also, France doesn’t require a test for entry if you’re vaccinated as well.
Now the final thing is spending money.
Euros. Fucking Euros bro.
I hate having to buy USD but I especially hate buying Euros. I’m sticking to my typical amount so €500.00 spending money will be $675.00 Canadian. Frig.
This time I’m trying to not be too upset at the spending money exchange, but just know, I intend on spending more $$ on food than I did on the actual flights and stays. Yes. Seafood me.
The grand total for this trip to Portugal + France/Monaco (without the spending money) is $702.17 — I mean. Wow. That is for all my flights and stays for this trip. I literally couldn’t be any more happy with that total.
Now, with the spending money yes it’ll be more like $1400.00 total, or more. I intend on eating everything I want and I think I have about four restaurant reservations already between the three cities.
See you when I get back!
- Mirna
