Surviving on $20 in world's most EXPENSIVE country!
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Surviving on $20 in world's most EXPENSIVE country!
In this Switzerland travel vlog, we spend 24 hours in the city of Bern to see whether it is possible to survive off just $20 in the world's most expensive country. Alex challenges himself to enjoy a full day of enjoying sightseeing, food and drink without going over the $20 limit. Emma, on the other hand, spends as she would do normally, so we are able to compare and see why exactly Switzerland is known as the most expensive country in the world.
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A great thing about Switzerland is that you can pick the absolute cheapest accommodation and still feel confident that it will be clean and comfortable. After travelling through some other parts of Europe, going to Switzerland is like coming home to Mother.
Nice to see my home town. The Ässbar (the name is a word play and could be translated either as “eating bar” or “edible”) seen at 6:09 serves leftover baked goods from other bakeries and supermarkets that couldn’t be sold the day before. Therefore it’s not only cheap, but also helps reduce foodwaste.
The hotel you stayed at has a rooftop bar with a great view of the city. Although I’m not sure they’re open at this time of year.
Why is Switzerland so expensive!? I would love to know! I met a Swiss guy in Malaga several years ago and even he was complaining about it!
@@jonathanjones906 there’s a few factors. The main one is probably high cost of labour. The wages are rather high compared to neighbouring countries, which will obviously drive up the prices to a similar level. And then there’s the exchange rate: the Swiss franc has become more expensive in terms of EUR, GBP or USD in recent years (it went from some 0.75 EUR/CHF to now about 1.00 EUR/CHF), which exacerbated the issue especially for tourists. This is mostly because CHF is in high demand in times of instability or crises that we’ve unfortunately lived in recently.
@@jonathanjones906 If you earn a Swiss salary, the prices are more or less affordable. It's the exchange rate for the CHF that is completely off. Blame it on all those rich people who trust the Swiss Franc more than any other currency.
And then, food is especially expensive, because local agriculture is difficult due to all the mountains, and the state puts an extra tax on imported food so that local produce can still compete with the imported stuff. When it comes to restaurants, you have to add the Swiss salary costs to the already high prices of the food itself, and you get the prices down in the video. Especially in a very touristy city centre, where real estate costs can't be neglected either.
@@baumgrt many thanks for this. Much appreciated.
@@alexj9603 many thanks for taking time out to cover the points. Much appreciated.
I love videos that put a cap on the expenses for the day and show us how you spent it. Even if the cap is $100pp. It is just helpful and enjoyable to see.
I travelled in Switzerland 50 years ago as a student on a $5 (cdn) a day budget. I only ever ate in one restaurant because of the expense; however, the portions were so big, I had enough left over for another meal. What I did do was buy apples, bread and chocolate ( of course!) and ate in public parks. When I had arrived in Geneva, I asked at the tourist centre for the cheapest hotel and once there asked for the cheapest room. When I heard the price, I told them it was still too expensive and they relented by giving me a garret room which was still more expensive than others I had stayed in but it did include breakfast. There is no harm in bargaining, even in Switzerland. I did love the country though, so beautiful.
Just wanted to mention how delightful you both are and what a pleasure it is to watch your videos 🤗💛
That view from the bridge of the city at dusk looked like a literal Holiday Village setup. Unbelievably picturesque and you shot it so well! Great video and showcase of frugality when appropriate.
Wow that view from the top of the cathedral was breathtaking with the snow and the chimneys! I had to rewatch it twice!
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
The $150 for the hotel room isn't so bad when it includes transportation. And Alex I'm sure that on a budget, beer is actually a food.
Why should there be a food on the budget beer? That would be very unusual in Europe.
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
@@English.4Beginners
I'd go further & say those who don't travel, don't read at all.
Leese.
150 x 7 = $1050
Now think about this, you're travelling around Europe, you have all other costs to pay for during your day's sightseeing, trips, food etc.
Travelling various countries is what you do, are YOU still thinking $150 for a room per night isn't too bad?
& why is beer a food & part of a travellers budget? Are you an alcoholic?
I don't drink alcohol & travel the world. It's never been part of my budget.
@@tman5634 In Europe, beer is comparatively/considerably cheaper, arguably the cheapest beverage option.
That view across the bridge and the snow covered buildings at night is stunning. Worth paying that much to visit the city
The supermarket is so lovely. I can imagine the smell of bread. I came across your channel the other day and loving it so much. How both you engage with each others. The detail of the clock tower makes it so worth while in walking around. There are even moving parts. Enjoying catching up on your other video’s.
This was so much fun! Reminded me of backpacking through Switzerland in 1976 on a $9/day budget! Stayed in a hostel in Berne and it certainly was not $100! I kept a tally of everything I spent because some places cost less, and others more, so savings on one day could be splurged on another day. I was travelling on a Euro-railpass so travel costs were not part of my budget. I remember I managed to have fun and see the sights - it was winter as well.
My partner & I are long-term travelers who prioritize seeing and doing over eating & drinking, so staying in AirBNB’s allows us to make inexpensive meals on the regular and, often, we can even do laundry! Sure, we’ll grab lunch while we’re out exploring (food stalls & grocery stores like you) and occasionally splurge on a pub or restaurant… especially during World Cup! This vid was a great fun lesson for vacation planners!
Hi Mart, have you seen the prices of Airbnbs in Switerland, because most of the times a hotel is the cheapest option. I think that plan works almost anywhere except here
@@Switzerleando Thank you. No, haven't made it to Switzerland yet. Thanks for the tip!
I like to do this too, but then trying the local food is one of the best parts of travelling
We used hotel points in Zurich, they had lounge access, complementary breakfast, drinks and snacks. We had lunch at the supermarket and went out for dinner. (Family of five).
We stayed at a bed and breakfast in the mountains, brought groceries for lunch and ate dinner out. Lasagna with Swiss cheese was better than the lasagna I had in Italy. It had a cheese fondue edge. Omg! 🤤
A hotel with breakfast included is always a great idea because you can really full up and only need a light lunch or nothing til the afternoon. And I usually steal a muffin or two for a later snack haha
There you are my two favorite beans. Wishing you two a very Happy New Year!
Loved this challenge/video...well done Alex on surviving on 20. I have a thing where I like to go to McDonalds in every country that I go to at least once, I guess it's just a bit of a novelty, but I also like to experience the cuisine in nicer places too. I think as a traveler you can do both cheap and not so cheap and still have a fabulous time 🙂
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
I also check out Starbucks in other countries too. I look for the items that are special to the location.
I thought the Wife and I were the only strange people that did this.
I use to do that too.
I have tried McDonald's in many places, more because we travel on motorbike and sometimes you just want to get out of the cold/rain and sit on something other than a motorbike seat. I usually stick to the coffee though. McD's does decent coffee and a low price, and you can warm up for as long as you need to/like! Other chain self-service fast-food places don't always do coffee, and my wife and I hate colas.
Love your videos. We did Switzerland and stayed just outside, Interlaken. Turned out to be our cheapest week on a 3 month tour.
7 nights at a Hobby 3 campsite and paid for 5 nights. Free travel passes including the dog. Did our research before and did a massive food shop in France before we entered. It can be very expensive but such a beautiful country. Can't wait to go back. Enjoy every minute making wonderful memories.
Love that you did a "cheap" day and a spendy day here - love to see this wherever you go. Very informative!!
HAPPY NEW YEARS 2023 love the video..................
Very interesting thank you both so much for sharing a very beautiful city enjoying it very much
Wow, those meals do seem excessively expensive. But the whole world is much more expensive these days as well. Still fun to watch the challenge, so thanks for bringing us along :).
Switzerland has been like this for ages. It's notoriously expensive
@@Skittl1321 Crazy!
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
@@English.4Beginners I know the feeling! I have lived in & travelled to different countries since I was a child - it definitely broadens your horizons!
Switzerland Inflation 2022: 2.8%
Emma looks more beautiful every day. Great video!
Great video. Our daughter lived in Basel for 4 years, so we have been over many times. Yes it is expensive but they do have Swiss Pass and Swiss half pass to save money. If you ride a motorcycle the Alps are a must do. We rode the Swiss Alps twice, my daughter is now in Texas but we may return to Switzerland again just to ride the Alps for a third time.
I was in Switzerland, including Bern, in October 2022 and loved the memories this brought back. Congrats on finding some solid deals!
I'm a budget traveller at heart, but as I'm getting older I'm adjusting what this means to me, implementing some basic standards and assessing where it is reasonable to spend that extra money. Spoiler, it's usually related to comfort - I don't want to stay in a 20 person dorm with triple bunks and a 6.5 rating, or take multiple overnight bus trips in one week, it sounds really unpleasant haha.
Alex and Emma you are my favourite You tubers. always make me smile keep it up xx
All Swiss hotels offer free public transport tickets to people, which I think is a great way to encourage sustainability. It makes so much sense, I wish they did that everywhere. And Läderach: best chocolate ever!!!
Wow. Was thinking about a weekend in Bern. Not anymore. Thanks, Beans!
I have been living in Germany for the past ten years. Switzerland is my favorite country to travel to in Europe. Since it’s so expensive I do it over long weekends. My hotel stays include breakfast. It’s my favorite meal of the day, so I fill up then and usually get a light snack during the day and eat dinner out, or vice versa-lunch out is often cheaper and then finish the day with a snack. Everywhere I’ve traveled to in Switzerland I have enjoyed. Probably my two most favorite places are Lauterbrunnen and Mûrren.
Happy New Year to the Travel Beans!
I love these. Your both soo positive most of the time. It's the best way to be in most situations :)
We drove through Switzerland last summer and it was the most beautiful country we drove through. Your video inspired me to go back and camp next time in our VW camper. Thanks for all the tips!
Brilliant idea, running the two tabs, interesting. Great video :)
Very good, and useful video! Thanks to both
I am swiss and I was in Bern a few days ago. Even for us Swiss citizens it is expensive, unless you have a huge salary like many do ( but I don't). For ordinary earners, you really have to count every centime !
Emma looks so pretty in that last shot, I guess it's true what they say, glowing pregnant. And Alex its really nice to see how caring you are of her. Awesome couple
I always loved our trips to Switzerland when we lived in Germany and especially Bern! Enjoy...Emma is glowing!!
Em pregnancy suits you as you are glowing and heck Al seems to be glowing with you and he seems to protective of you which is lovely to watch :)
Switzerland is a beautiful country and I would love to visit that country one day.
I grew up in Switzerland and recommend everyone to travel to Switzerland in summer time (except if you love snow and want to go skying). In spring, fall and winter time it can be foggy often. That’s why I highly recommend spending time in Switzerland in summer time.
Aw I wanted to know what that drink tasted like! Yep bakeries and supermarkets are always your best bet. I often do that when travelling, you can grab some cheap items and have a nice picnic somewhere!
This was a fun vlog! Can't wait to visit Switzerland in Spring :)
You are right near where I met my hubby in Uster and played at a Christian metal festival called E.O.R! Lol! So awesome! Miss that place! 🥲
Happy New Year Beans. Love your vids so much.
So beautiful there, even in the rain…. I would never do that $20 budget test on holiday as I’d prefer to enjoy the day haha. Good for you and I hope you secretly shared some of the mushrooms and potato dish. Happy travels!! 💜
The Äss-Bar you got the cheap food from actually gathers bread, sandwiches and sweets from local bakeries at the end of the day (which otherwise they would chuck out) and sells it the next day!
So it's not very fresh, but definitely still edible and very affordable! I found you video very nice to watch and you're doing a good job exploring my home town. Cheers!
When we travel we are probably more frugal than anyone would expect and we often hit up the grocery stores which is also fun to see how they differ from ours. We do splurge on food but usually only dinner and keep other meals simple (thankfully ham and cheese baguettes are so good in Europe!). We liked Switzerland but did not enjoy the high costs and there are so many amazing and affordable places to visit elsewhere that we won’t be heading back anytime soon. We’d rather see the alps in Austria or Germany next time and not stress so much bout how expensive it is! Love that you guys are still traveling even with a little one on the way!
You two bring me so much joy. What a beautiful country! I laugh EVERY time I watch ya. Thanks for that. Still giggling at little spoon. Lol
Thanks I really enjoyed that one well done
Happy, Healthy New Year to You Beans!!! What a fun video! I'm so glad Alex stayed in the room! I hope you also took a few bites of Emma's food...
What an interesting exercise, thank you for doing this - very helpful for planning our future Europe trip! I’m not a 20 euro a day kinda gal so perhaps Switzerland won’t be on our itinerary 😂Emma you’re looking lovely, pregnancy looks good on you. Wishing you both a beautiful 2023! ❤
It's amazing what you can do even on a tight budget! Have a wonderful future trip!
In Switzerland the currency is CHF and not EUR! The CHF is smaller than the EUR. I realized that they made the mistake and always said EUR.
We're kinda like Emma, no fixed budget while on holiday! We're sensible and look at the prices obviously, but we don't think "that meal's as much as a week's groceries" every time we eat out. We can't do too many meals eating out though, so we always prefer an AirBnB where we can cook a few breakfasts/dinners ourselves. Especially breakfast - unless it's a place with cuisine completely different from what we're used to. We try to look up local recipes and ingredients when cooking in our AirBNB so it still has that holiday vibe - more for health reasons that the cost. I wouldn't pay for water at a restaurant though. My wife probably would (even if she grumbled about it)!
When I was younger I backpacked around Europe, staying in hostel accommodation. Im not that Budget conscious on holidays anymore, but my younger self would have really appreciated this video!
I am usually not that budget conscious anymore either, but I will make an exception for Switzerland ;-)
Another great video. I could never afford going to any of the place you have been but thanks for letting me see the world through your eye / lens.
I love this challenge I am the kind of person to watch what I spend.
I've always been fascinated with Switzerland. Loved the views and tour. Thanks for sharing.
Fair to say I think this vlog has earned my subscription ❤️👋🇳🇿 New Zealand
The supermarket at 6.30 is again one of the "fancy variations of" supermarkets that have popped up recently and more expensive than if you go into the bigger one 500m away to streets over... (coop marktgasse vs coop ryfflihof)
Sometimes Migros and coop have those takeaway lounges built into their entrances too, it is more often than not cheaper to go down into the store and find the exact same bottled drinks cheaper on the actual supermarket shelves than in the "to go" sections of the store
hello campers! i just found you and i am glad you are in Switzerland, nobody seems to go there!!! what a lovely place
Nice vlog and good luck with the pregnancy and the baby
Well done, Alex! I need to contact Paddy, Thys, and Lina...and lobby for you to join the Budgeteers! LOL....
I 100% agree that the food is a huge part of the experience! This was a great challenge, though, because it does show that if you are creative, you can still eat and enjoy some local dishes even if you're on a very tight budget - certain places don't need to be off limits to a budget traveler. I think it was great that you pointed out that aside from the food, you can explore places very affordably in Europe. Even in Switzerland. We live close to San Francisco, so honestly, some of the prices at the restaurants didn't seem completely outrageous.
We definitely save up some for our travels so we can spend what we would like at restaurants, etc. But we also like to have fun at local grocery stores and we've made our own food, too. We recently took our kids to Europe for the first time and they had so much fun at the grocery stores checking everything out.
Hi you lovely people. Happy new year.
We travel in our Motorhome and can't afford to eat out unless in Turkey lol . We have a very small budget.
Yes it is far to experience. So was the hotel. Love going in churches and Cathedrals but would not pay to go in. And wouldn't fancy the stairs well done Emma take it easy. We love to walk around seeing the fantastic building. And would go for coffee/ tea but never would we paid that much. You definitely get about last time you were in Japan. We are still traveling in Romania we want to see everything .and it so nice
WhenI was young, I hitchhiked around the North Eastern US with practically no money, and stopped at restaurants and asked if I could do some work for a meal. They almost all said sit over there and we'll see what we can find, and they brought me delicious meals for nothing in exchange. And the Big Hotels did the same about 30% of the time for a room if the weather was bad. I was backpacking with tent and sleeping bag, but I hitchhiked all through NY, Vt, Mass, and NH & RI. Only cape cod gave me "Chores" to do in exchange for food. It was a great year !
Awsome content, loved this one
ADORABLE couple!🤗xx
Love it. Great video and great premise.
I am a Dutchman living in Bern. I find that in Switzerland you pay a fair price for high quality products and services. Included in the price is that people working in supermarkets and restaurants earn a fair salary, providing for a good health insurance and pension plan.
COOP is a gray supermarket. I was amazed at the markets in Switzerland.
Rivella was an interesting beverage.
Fun video Beans🤗
A good experience for both of you !Yes it is exaggerated price wise, specially in Bern ....
Very entertaining video adventurers. The food looked so good. Happy new year. Look forward to more exciting weekly videos in 2023.
How fun to try and do this Beans!
Hilarious video.....enjoyed very much.....
For me - travelling is "vacay vibes all the way". Being frugal takes away the joy of seeing the places and experiencing the local cuisine for me , personally.
The food is especially important to me, so I'd hate to have skimp a lot. I don't need luxury dining - but I would want to go where I could get the authentic feel for any place I visit.
This is people from a class divided developing country. You come from the more developed parts of this world, where the prices are just like in Switzerland.
But you are right, we dont go around with open mouth about how inexpensive everything is when we visit poor nations like UK, so this hang up on prices is a strange habit everybody have in UK. It is like they did not know it is more expensive in developed countries.
I was in Zurich for a weekend last summer during a 3-month trip in Europe. I paid 90 euros, cheapest I could find, per night for a very simple Airbnb room. Everything including groceries was significantly more expensive in Switzerland. I did not even bother checking out prices at restaurants cuz I knew dining out would've blown up my budget.
Zurich is clean and pretty, but the stress coming from constant shock of price of things took away some of the fun. I was glad that I visited Zurich but getting out of Switzerland felt a great relief in terms of expenses.
This was a fun vlog...thanks. ❤🙏
Proud of Alex!!!!
Hi nice trip to Switzerland thanks for grand tour wow Alex spent less and enjoy it I usually do that on my road trip not to over spent it ... but Alex got jokes lol looking to see your next adventure!!!
Great video - a small tip: the next time you ascend the stairs with your woman, make sure she goes ahead of you on the way up and you go ahead of her on the way down. This may appear to be "none of my business," but it is really part of the etiquette (you are there to assist her if something happens to her)...
Hello Travel Beans. Hope all is well. You asked the question ; would you do a low budget trip with fewer comforts. The answer is yes and no. If we were younger, yes. Generally, you have no money
So, there's no choice if you want to visit places. As we are older comfort matters. Alex, you managed to do it quite well in of all places Bern, Switzerland. Love you guys' ❤❤❤ Happy New Year! Harriet, Jim and Yuki P.S. We just upgraded our membership on Patreon. Thanks Again.
Easy - go to eat at canteen. When it is lunch time, look around malls - where other people go to eat. Go there, there will be relatively cheap.
E/A great fun vlog!! Yes, I have spent time in other expensive countries like Norway! I would still select " Alex budget style as I do on most travels throughout my lifetime. My reason is, if I save big on sleeping accommodations, no restaurants in the evening eating out, (I take away food at hotel breakfasts & buy a picnic making lunch at Market places), then I have enough cash left over to splurge on something worthwild & exciting!
Oh this brings back flood of memories while I lived outside Lugano CH (mountainside villages). I spent 3 weeks in Bern, where I had main office bank account in the day. I stayed at Pension Hostel right off the river. It was in off season, so I did not have to share the water closet/bath room with anyone else, as I had the whole floor to myself. My bed had views of the river & old town below. I loved viewing your walks around the city. Just love it!💙☃️💙
Loved this challenge! Taking notes….hoping to make it to Bern in the near future.
I'm born in switzerland and live here. Its not cheap here, but If you know how to save is go to eat in Coop or Migros Restaurant or to Ikea. Some Migros have a dely corner where you can microwave your (junk) food you bought in the supermarket. Thats the way you can save or do it like we swiss cook your rösti at home för CHF 2.60. As a camper I very rare eat in a restaurant if i stay in switzerland...or go to Coop or Migros Restaurant they are much cheaper then others or go in countryside for lunch its much cheaper then on evenings....ask for lunch menu (card).
To survive is right Alex, congratulations. Like Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Lithuania, Moldova, Greece, Slovakia and Sweden just a few countries where women have assumed leadership of governments, men need to learn how to adapt and survive. You should have stayed in the van overnight though
I am retired and live for 6 months of the year in my house in Spain. The rest of the time I am travelling on a budget which works out about 12 euros a day for food, drink and entertainment. So far it has worked out well, have spent 2 months this summer in the UK where I camped and spent little as mainly walked, went to free museums or used my National Trust membership. I am going to spend 5 weeks in Cyprus soon so will be interested to see if that works out. I have booked mainly self catering accommodation for around 20 euros a night. I will therefore be cooking for evening meals and buying food from supermarkets for lunches etc. I have previously travelled very cheaply in the more costly Scandinavian countries by using supermarkets and buying city cards that give you transport and museum entry for about £10 a day.
what a dream!
Wonderful tour of Switzerland. My husband has family there so it was great to see it.
This may sound strange but if your van hadn’t caught fire, I would never have discovered your channel. I’m so glad it/I did.
Hello Alex and Emma i love your video's😉 i wish you a Happy New Year kiss and greetings from the Netherlands Chiel
I lived in Switzerland for 5 1/2 years. Expensive, yes, but we were also earning Swiss wages so it all seemed to even out, at least then.
That makes sense. So this challenge is out of context or could be taken as such?
@@mannypacu6460Hmm I wasn’t thinking that way but perhaps.
@@mannypacu6460 The challenge is real for most foreign tourists who come to Switzerland. Most locals don't have this problem.
There used to be a food network person that would go to various cities and try to spend $40 per day for food only. We love to eat on vacay but we also look for smaller local places where we can get good food for reasonable price. We found that easy to do this summer in Portugal!
Yes Lisbon is a lovely place for food.
Awesome content! Entertaining, well produced and relaxing!
I'de like to see this $20 experiment again, in another city of course , it was cool !
Brilliant video as always, totally considering visiting Swiss but only with a motor home!!!
Visited over 10 years ago, have family there. Very expensive but a must to see certain things/area.
Good one thanks.
Your videos are always so entertaining. Thank you for mKing my evening a fun one. I loved how you showed two different lifestyles traveling.
Geneva and Zürich are the two most expensive cities in Switzerland; If you're on a tighter budget, going to smaller towns is probably easier to find less expensive accommodation and food; as you discovered, Coop and Migros both have inexpensive meal options, though for groceries, our monthly food budget (near Zürich) is, on average, about CHF 40 per day...
Drove there twice from Scotland lovely journey we were camping this was almost 40years ago it was so expensive we were camping so took almost all food and anything else we required had a brilliant time oh I forgot to mention the 2 crates of mc kewans tartan special beer could,nt leave home without it if you like mountains this is the place to go
I agree with you, for me too the food and beverages during the vacation are all part of the experience. I rather do some corner cutting at home before the vacation if I feel it is necessary prior to the vacation....eating more meals at home leading up to vacation, etc... The times I went to Hawaii, expenses were similar. In the US, skiing out west at a bigger ski mountain and eating at the ski village can be very expensive.
I often eat in supermarket cafeterias or the cafeterias in the department stores. A side benefit is that there will always be a toilet there too. Switzerland has always been relatively expensive to elsewhere in Europe. Also, if you are visiting during the heat of the summer, these places are usually air-conditioned.
Hi Beans, Happy New Year. When we travel, we usually mix and match more expensive things with more affordable things. We try to eat local cuisine and then leave ourselves a little wiggle room for unexpected splurges if and when. For example, in Costa Rica, we slept in a hostel and a few days later in a boutique hotel, we ate rice & beans for lunch in the local eateries, but then had a fancier dinner, activity wise: a few 'free' beach days and then a more expensive boat rental activity. Having a van or a rental with a kitchen is really great too - cos you can cut down on eating out. We did Buenos Aires with a rental apartment and only ate out in the evenings, which really helped to stretch the budget. Also things like a metro or a bus card, for big cities are a must. In China, the bus and eating local were super cheap and it meant more money for activities, which are not free there. so, it also depends on the location. Travel is extra expensive now though too. (petrol 😱). Enjoy your trip!