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Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
How to visit 3 countries for less than £500 – including France, Switzerland and Italy
Plus, best value holiday destinations for 2025 revealed and a European resort is number one GLOBE TROTTER How to visit 3 countries for less than £500 – including France, Switzerland and Italy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WATCHED Race Across the World and now feel the urge to embark on your own adventure? Across eight days keen travellers could head from London, UK, to six different destinations, across three countries including accommodation. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 The first city you would stop at would be Paris Credit: Getty 12 But it isn't just big cities you would get to go to, you would also explore lesser-known destinations such as Dijon Credit: Getty 12 And the cascading hills of Switzerland Credit: Getty On day one, travellers would start their adventure at London St Pancras, catching an early Eurostar to Paris, France. The journey to the French capital takes just over two hours, meaning you would likely arrive mid-morning. In Paris, you can wander the streets or stroll along the Seine - and save some pennies by having a picnic. For cheap accommodation, head to Generator Paris - which offers affordable luxury from £56 per night for a bed in a dorm of four. If you book directly, you will get an extra 10 per cent off. Top tip: head to its rooftop bar to enjoy a drink and soak in one of the best views in Paris. On day two, after getting up early and having breakfast in the hotel's Cafe Fabien, you would take a mid-morning SNCF train to Dijon, famously known for its mustard. Tickets start from £11 and the journey lasts around an hour-and-a-half. After a long day of exploring the charming old town, for just £31 per night, stay at Premiere Classe Dijon Nord in a private double room. For an added extra cultural experience, you can visit the famous La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot - the mustard factory known for its classic dijon mustard for just £10. New £18m Scots train station near Glasgow set to open next year On day three, hop on an early train which takes you through the Swiss hills to Chur - a beautiful alpine village in eastern Switzerland. The journey lasts four hours and 45 minutes and costs from £76 per person, when booked in advance. Once in Chur, head to the pretty Old Town and soak in the peaceful alpine atmosphere. Then for the night, stay at the VIVA Hostel for £35 per night in a dorm. Whilst Switzerland isn't known for its cheap food, local delicacies from the supermarket helps cut costs. You can then take your buffet to Fontanapark, a beautiful park in the heart of Chur. On day four, you would get on a FlixBus to Venice, lasting around eight-an-a-half hours, with an hour-and-a-half stop-off in Milan. 12 In many of the places, you can pick up food for cheap Credit: Getty 12 You would have two days in Naples, allowing you to explore it in more depth Credit: Getty Tickets start from £30 when booked in advance. Upon arrival in Venice, enjoy exploring the city's historic canals and grab a pizza or cicchetti (cheap Venetian tapas) for dinner. After a long day of travel, head to Generator Venice, an affordable yet stylish hostel right on the waterfront of Giudecca Island - with a bed in a shared dorm starting at £54 per night. Originally a warehouse, the Venice boutique hostel blends history and character with contemporary design including mosaic floors, a glass chandelier and an imposing stone fireplace. For day five, you can wake up and enjoy the beautiful views of Giudecca Island from the hotel. After this, take an early morning stroll around Piazza San Marco and St Mark's Basilica before it gets crowded and walk by the Doge's Palace (outside only, unless you want to splurge). Getting hungry? Head to Osteria Al Portego for a cheap lunch - a hidden gem loved by locals. 12 Many of the hotels are also cheap, with some offering breakfast Credit: Getty 12 By train hopping, you also get to see the countryside between cities Credit: Getty After lunch explore Dorsoduro, another peaceful, artistic district. And then walk to Punta della Dogana for panoramic views of the lagoon and San Marco, the perfect spot to enjoy beautiful sunset views. After dinner, at 10pm head to Venezia San Lucia to board the overnight train to Naples. The nearly-12-hour journey will drop you off in Naples centre the next morning at 10am. In real Race Across the World style, opt for a seat, starting at £45 for a seat - although couchettes and sleepers are available at higher prices. On day six and seven, you will be in Naples. Start by heading to Gran Caffè Gambrinus to grab a pastry like a sfogliatella or babà and a strong espresso. Then explore Naples' Historic Centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site), including a wander down Spaccanapoli - the narrow street that slices the old town. 12 Some of the journeys are as little as two hours Credit: Getty 12 After Venice, you would board an overnight train saving on the cost of a hotel Credit: Getty One free spot to explore is Naples Cathedral (Duomo di San Gennaro) and visitors can peek into small artisan workshops along the way. For lunch, head to Pizzeria Da Michele or Sorbillo to eat authentic Neapolitan pizza at one of the city's legendary spots. Expect queues but pizza here is fast and worth the wait, for example a Margherita or Marinara costs between £4 and £6. For accommodation, stay at Hostel of the Sun in a shared dorm for £32 per night. Enjoy another full day in Naples taking in the local culture, delicious Italian cuisine and rich history before heading to Port of Naples (Molo Immacolatella Vecchia) to catch an overnight ferry to Palmero, departing at 8pm. This is a scenic and comfortable journey across the Tyrrhenian Sea, allowing you to rest overnight and arrive refreshed in Palermo. Deck passage tickets start from £38. On day eight, you would arrive in Palermo at 7:30 in the morning. 12 After Naples, you would also save on accommodation with an overnight ferry Credit: Alamy 12 Some dishes cost less than £2 in the destinations Credit: Getty Grab a cappuccino and cornetto (Italian croissant) at a neighbourhood café - skip touristy spots to keep costs low. Then head to Palermo Cathedral, which has free entry, and take in the beautiful architecture. Explore the historic streets with a stroll along Via Vittorio Emanuele, one of Palermo's oldest streets and pass by the Quattro Canti, a spectacular Baroque square often called the "heart" of Palermo. For lunch, visit Mercato di Ballarò, Palermo's most authentic and lively street market and enjoy cheap street food staples like: arancina, pane con panelle (chickpea fritters in bread) and Sfincione (Sicilian-style pizza) with prices ranging from around £1.68 to £2.52 per dish. And if you're tired after your travelling, head towards the waterfront and relax in Villa Giulia. Treat yourself to a private room at Astoria Palace Hotel for just £49 per night, before heading back to the UK the next day. In total, the trip would set you back £485. There is also a European tourist destination where it's 24C right now, with package holidays for under £200 Plus, the best value holiday destinations for 2025 revealed and a European resort is number one.
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
I'm the youngest man in the world to visit EVERY country on Earth – here are my surprising favourite destinations
Scroll down to find out more about Luca's adventures GLOBE TROTTER I'm the youngest man in the world to visit EVERY country on Earth – here are my surprising favourite destinations Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GLOBETROTTER has become the youngest man in the world to visit every single country on Earth. Luca Pferdmenges, 23, completed the impressive feat on Thursday after landing on Palau, an island nation in the Western Pacific Ocean. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Luca Pferdmenges become the youngest man in the world to visit every single country on Earth after landing in Palau on Thursday Credit: SWNS 10 Luca in Palau after completing the impressive feat Credit: SWNS 10 Luca has travelled to all 195 countries - making incredible memories along the way Credit: SWNS 10 Luca shared his favourite and most underrated destinations Credit: SWNS 10 Luca now lives in Dubai (pictured) but often returns to Germany Credit: SWNS Luca took on the monumental challenge in 2017 while working as a juggler with a travelling circus. Fast forward eight years and he has become the youngest man to visit all 195 countries in the world. The content creator from Mönchengladbach, Germany, shared his favourite destinations from his adventures. Luca said: 'I like to rate countries in categories such as safety and affordability, but I would say Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are my favourites.' But Mexico came out on top thanks to its incredible people, atmosphere and, of course, food. Luca also shared his favourite cities, saying: 'City-wise, I did really like Tel Aviv in Israel. "Bhutan is a really fun because it's like a little town in the Himalayas. I want to travel to places that no one has ever been to." He added that the best food he tried was in Ethiopia, while his most underrated destinations were Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Myanmar. Luca left fellow travellers with some wise words: 'You have to give every country a chance, you have to be open-minded. "You have to give every country a chance.' Incredible 7,600MPH hypersonic plane 'The Hyperliner' could fly passengers anywhere on earth in 90 minutes Luca has made so many memories while on his adventures including a memorable visit to North Korea, getting spotted in Tuvalu, and having a tribal shower with a cow in South Sudan. He said the Palau was the perfect place to finish his world tour and hinted at some exciting plans for the future. Luca reflected on his travels, saying: 'One of my biggest takeaways from these trips is that people are kinder than you think. 'I walked through the streets of Haiti, I went to the Barrios of Venezuela, and I've visited some of the most dangerous countries in the world, and I was greeted with smiles and open hearts. 'I couldn't care less about the world record because I have other Guinness world records from my juggling. "For me, it's all about the experiences and the lessons, and the learning.' Luca's top travel destinations By Lydia Doye LUCA said his favourite destinations were Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia - with Mexico just coming out on top thanks to its incredible people, atmosphere and, of course, food. His favourite cities included Tel Aviv and Bhutan. Luca's most underrated destinations were Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Myanmar. And his top destination for food was Ethiopia. Luca took his first ever flight in August 2017 - racking up a whopping 70 countries before he quit the circus in 2020. He said: 'At the end of 2017, I took my first solo trip with a friend to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and other Balkan countries. 'The first trips were mainly to Europe's Balkans, and I went to countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland - some of the easier countries to visit. 'Just after Covid, it was pretty difficult as I had to do Covid tests and some countries were closed. "In recent times, North Korea has opened up to tourists.' Some of Luca's trips lasted just a few days allowing him to travel with one backpack and a small bag for food and drink. He stayed in other places for a few months, but said these trips were much harder as he needed more luggage. Luca funded his travels mostly through brand partnerships spending around £85,000. 10 Luca took his first ever flight in August 2017 before deciding to take on the challenge Credit: SWNS 10 When he started travelling he was a part of a circus Credit: SWNS 10 Luca sometimes spends a few days at a destination, or sometimes a few months Credit: SWNS The 23-year-old can speak an impressive six languages - including French, Spanish and Hebrew. These have all come in handy on his travels with Spanish being particularly helpful in South America and French in some African countries. Luca now lives in Dubai but occasionally returns to Germany for short stays to visit family and friends. Luca stole the globetrotter crown from Brit James Asquith who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2013. The current youngest person to travel to every country is Lexie Alford, an American, who achieved the record aged 21 in 2019. 10 Luca said that everyone he met was kinder than he thought Credit: SWNS
