Depends where you live, but a quick trip to one of your neighboring countries or states refreshes your mind and makes you happy. In Europe, it’s relatively easy and affordable to visit your neighboring countries. So I decided after a dreadful 2 YEARS 4 MONTHS without a single trip abroad that I’m going to Tallinn, Estonia with a 100€ ($117) budget. I went alone because I don’t have many friends and the ones I have were working. 🤓 It was a quick one day trip, left my house at 8.30am in the morning and came back at 11pm.
I think not travelling for almost two and half years blurred my brain and I fell for all of the tourist traps in Tallinn. LOOOL. I was like a countryside person traveling for the first time.😂 Anyhow, here’s how I spent my budget and you can also watch my travel vlogs (links in the end):
- 14€ ferry with return. Day trips are cheaper from Helsinki to Tallinn. Book in advance.
- 12€ bus/ tram with return to go to the ferry from my apartment.
- 2,90€ Coke Zero in a cafe in the ferry. I quit drinking alcohol three months ago.
- 15,50€ lunch with tip. I had black truffle risotto with sparking water. I went to one of the most expensive tourist areas because I was a hungry tourist.🤣 Another tourist trap, because you can find much cheaper places if you search a little. Though I really loved the food, service and interior design of Rado restoran. Even the bathroom was like an art gallery! You can check my Instagram for pictures.
- 5,60€ coffee and cake in a cute little cafe, Saiakangi kohvik. Also in the Old Town tourist area, but very relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Nobody stares at you even as a brown woman!! 😂
- 5,50€ vegan wrap take away dinner. After my coffee and cake, I realised I don’t have much time to sit down for dinner before my ferry left, so I just decided on the quick and easy option and ate my vegan take away wrap in the ferry. I found a nice public sitting area with tables and a window view.
- 10€ bike taxi. It’s a tourist trap! The price depends where you go, but going to the Old Town can be up to 25€ for two people. Solo travelers don’t have boyfriends to pay for their travel costs, but we do have the advantage of negotiation skills.😃 By the way, you can walk to the Old Town from the harbour in 15-20min.
- 12€ KGB museum at Sokos Viru Hotel. It’s a tourist trap! Even though you get a guided tour for one hour, the museum itself is very small, only one room, lobby and two rooftop balconies that are worth the view though. You also get a soft drink for 1€ from the hotel lobby. If you’re tight with time and money, skip this one. The tour guide was very funny though, so if you feel lonely as a solo traveler, this is a good option to spend your time and possibly make new friends! 🙂
- 5€ KGB prison cells. Definitely worth it. It’s also a small museum, but very informative and you can read all the information from the info boards on the walls and listen to the info videos. If you have any questions, the museum person was a very friendly young Estonian guy. Bonus, a creepy prison toilet for tourists! 😄
- 8,80€ for candy!! The ferries are full of booze, cigarettes and candy. Very healthy haha.😅 Sometimes you can treat yourself though and candy was kind of my only option. Maybe my next trip will be to Bali beach with fresh fruit and smoothies. Though that won’t be budget traveling and for my current budget. Unless you buy my budgeting guides I can start saving. 😉
Here’s my short Youtube video (1min 52sec) of the trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDxc5LnJluc . If you don’t want to hear me speak, I made one with music (1min 34sec). 😃 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYAnZGXNSuA . 😂👍🏽