How to make your budget go further in Europe
Longer. Further. Cheaper. DJ Yabis has the tools to help you get more from your dream trip to Europe
DJ Yabis comes from Manila but has carved out a niche for himself as the go-to guy for travelling to Europe on a budget. Without scrimping.
DJ’s philosophy is about travelling well – meeting locals and getting under the skin of a country. He speaks to Peter Moore about getting the most from your budget in Europe’s dream destinations.
Why did you create Dream Euro Trip?
I created Dream Euro Trip because I want to add value to people’s lives by helping them plan and budget their Euro trips. I want to be the go-to guru. I want to inspire people to travel in Europe and tell them that it’s not as expensive as they think. Travelling in Europe was also just a dream for me before, coming from a country where travelling (even domestically) is considered a luxury, but I did it and so can others.
The website is basically my love letter to Europe. I love the continent. There’s just so many things to see and do. I have visited almost 100 European cities and I plan to visit 100 more in the next three years. The blog is my platform to document my adventures and connect with other travellers.
It also opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I just recently had a one-hour live radio interview and last week, I hosted the launch of Travel Massive Manila all because of the website.
How does the calculator work?
The Eurotrip calculator determines the cost of your Euro trip based on the number of cities you will visit, length of your trip, how often you will party and which region(s) of Europe you will visit. These are the key variables that determine how much your trip will cost you.
Are the costs based on your experiences?
Yes, partly. It is mostly based on the current prices of food, drinks, accommodation and transportation in Europe. The Eurotrip calculator will be updated bi-annually to incorporate possible changes in prices and inflation.
Where are you based? How often do you go on a Euro trip?
I was based in Europe since 2009 but this year, I currently divide my time between Europe and South-East Asia. This winter I will be mostly in Asia, specifically in the Philippines, Indonesia and China.
I often go on trips in Europe, at least twice a month. My longest Euro trips are always during the summer. I just recently finished another three-month trip in September.
