Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Krakow in 2 Days

Things to Book Before Hand:

-Auschwitz tickets 
-Wieliczka Salt mine tickets*
-Lajkonik bus tickets to Auschwitz**
-Bus tickets to Prague

*: For the tour ticket in the wieliczka salt mine, I recommend you choosing the tours, and there are 3 tours you can take: "Tourists", "Miners" and "Pilgrims". I suggest the Miners Route. Although I have only done the tourists' one, I have compared my experience with other peoples' experiences out there and they have convinced me to think that the miners' is the best. You get to work like a miner and it is really an unforgettable one-of-a-kind experience.

**: Takes an hour to go there, stops between. Only 15 zls
    Timetables and more info: https://www.lajkonikbus.pl/krakow---oswiecim.html

Hotel: Exclusive Aparthotel
A super modern apartment designed to be a hotel with features that make you feel like it is your home
Website: https://exclusiveworld.com 

Day 1:

-Arrive
-Check In
-Bus in Dworzec Glowny(Remember to check the time you book that matches to the Auschwitz tour)
-Auschwitz
-Back to Krakow
-Cloth Hall
-Walk in Old Town

Day 2:

-Uber to Wieliczka***
-Wieliczka Salt Mine
-Uber back
-Wawel Royal Castle
-Barbican

Remarks:
***: Uber is still legal in Poland and is not expensive. It would take about 30 zls to go there in Uber and it takes about half an hour. However, there are only two pickup points in Old Town Krakow, and the closest one would be next to Wawel Royal Castle.


Food in Krakow:

Breakfast: Gossip cafe, McDonald's
Lunch:
Dinner: Padre restaurant

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Berlin in 3 days

(This is just a suggestion plan, you can change the schedules around however you like)
This is a plan I used just 2 weeks ago when I went to Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Austria. I am sharing it with you because it worked out very well for me, and I hope this blog could help you if you are travelling to these places soon.


THINGS TO BOOK BEFORE HAND:

-Berlin Welcome Card All Inclusive with Public Transport
-Airline Tickets (Duh...)
-Hotel (Recommended: Steinberger Hotel)
-Night bus tickets to Krakow, Poland



Berlin Welcome Card All Inclusive

-What is it?
The berlin welcome card all inclusive is an awesome card that provides you with an turbopass entrance ticket of 34 museums, tours and attractions for free in Berlin and Potsdam. You could choose it for 2 days to 6 days long, but since we are only talking about 3 here, lets stick to the 3 days one. An adult ticket would cost 105 euros, or approximately 155 canadian dollars and a child (3-14 yrs) would cost 59 euros, or 87 canadian dollars. You may be thinking, why the HELL would someone buy this. It's so expensive!!! Well, but its worth it! Yes. You would change your mind like I did when I waited for only 10 minutes at the TV tower while other people waited for I don't know how long. Also, when you add up all the price of the admission fees (normal price turbopass) it would be worth more than the card. Also, you get free transport. It really helps when you are in a hurry because maybe at late night, when you can't find a way home, there is always a tram near you and just get on (they don't check, honesty system), and get off where you have to. It also gives you free access to express trains that goes to different parts of germany (but you won't be able to come back LOL). This makes it very convenient to go anywhere you want in a short amount of time.

-Website
https://www.berlin-welcomecard.de/en/berlin-welcomecard-all-inclusive

Steigenberger hotel:
Awesome hotel with clean carpets and a great and modern design! 5 Star/5
Hotel Webpage: www.steigenberger.com/en/hotels/all-hotels/germany/berlin/steigenberger-hotel-berlin
Trivago: www.trivago.com  (search for Berlin Steigenberger)


DAY 1:

-Arrive at airport
-Get WelcomeCard
-Ride bus to hotel
-Check-in
-Go to DB station to try Curry36
-Reichstag building
-Brandenburg Tor/Gate
-Free Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ride with card* (get off at Potsdamer Platz)
-Dinner at Potsdamer Platz
-Shop drinks at REWE city/ROSSMANN in station**

Remarks:
*: For the Hop-On Hop-Off, you have to first redeem the 24 hour ticket at the Brandenburg's office. The ticket can be used for 24 hours, so if you redeem at 14:00 of Monday, you can use it til 14:00 of Tuesday.

**:Drinks in Berlin and Munich are expensive on the streets, so I recommend you buying the drinks at REWE (because they are much cheaper than outside).



DAY 2:

-Berlin Wall
-Boat trip*** (Start point: In river near Berliner Dom)
-Berliner Dom - Go up to the top
-Museum Island**** (Altes Museum, Nationalgalerie...)
-Ice Cream at Waffel oder Becher (https://www.google.ca/maps?client=opera&q=Waffel+oder+Becher&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFtILKj5LkAhUzPn0KHdT_Bp0Q_AUIESgB)
-SeaLife Museum
-Little Big City
-TV Tower

***:The boat trip takes up to an hour. Enjoying a beer is a good option on the boat
****: There are 5 museums and they are quite time consuming. Going to 3 museums is enough because they are basically all about art

Day 3:

-Play with Deezer bike at Brandenburg Tor*****
-Topography of Terror
-Asisi - Panorama
-Checkpoint Charlie
-Spy Museum
-DDR Museum
-Kaufhaus Des Westens
-Night Bus to Krakow 

*****: You will have to insert PayPal or Credit card into app for deposit first. I recommend to do this before going there because paying in insecure networks could get you hacked.


Food in Berlin:

Breakfast: Curry36 (D1), Burger King (D2), McDonald's (D3) (Budget LOL)
Lunch: Flamingo Fresh Food Bar (D1), momos (D2), Charlotte 1 (D3)
Dinner: KiNoca (D1), Restaurant Sphere (D2)(Needs reservation, expensive food) , Cao Cao (D3)

Reichstag




Time Lapse from TV tower


Berliner Dom
Museum Island

Reichstag Building
Spy Museum
Asisi
Checkpoint charlie
Asisi