Europe '26

Sydney → Munich → Berlin → Mallorca → Switzerland → London → Croatia → Sydney · 27 Aug – 20 Sep 2026

Day by day

ESC Congress in Munich with parents (29–31 Aug), then Berlin and Mallorca with Kolja, then four nights in Switzerland built around the Lucerne Festival (Yunchan Lim, Tue 8 Sep) and two Bernese Oberland hiking days, then London with Bryce & Nadine, then Hvar with Anja's group — Chris turns 33 there on 15 Sep — finishing on Split's Bačvice waterfront before the long haul home via Zagreb and Doha. All ten flights are booked; four items remain open.

✓booked ○on-the-day ●OPEN

Thu 27 Aug — Sydney → Doha

Time	What	Ref	Status
14:50	QR8400 · Sydney T1 → Doha (22:40) Qatar Airways, 30 kg hold. Online check-in opens 48h before departure.	7BHBLY	✓
22:40	Arrive Doha — transit (~3h20 before QR59)	—	—

Sleeping: in-flight — Sydney → Doha → Munich

Fri 28 Aug — Doha → Munich Munich · parents

Time	What	Ref	Status
02:00	QR59 · Doha → Munich T1 (07:00) Seat 29D, 30kg hold.	7BHBLY	✓
07:00	Arrive Munich — transfer to parents' Parents arranging the stay; address not yet supplied.	—	○

Sleeping: Munich, parents (address TBD)

Sat 29 Aug — ESC Congress, day 1 Munich · parents

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	ESC Congress	—	—

Sleeping: Munich, parents (address TBD)

Sun 30 Aug — ESC Congress, day 2 Munich · parents

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	ESC Congress	—	—

Sleeping: Munich, parents (address TBD)

Mon 31 Aug — ESC Congress ends Munich · parents

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	ESC Congress — final day	—	—

Sleeping: Munich, parents (address TBD)

Tue 1 Sep — Munich → Berlin Berlin · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
21:30	LH1962 · Munich T2 → Berlin T1 (22:35) Airbus A321, Economy Comfort. 23kg hold + 8kg carry-on. Paid EUR133.30 = A$220.06. Not refundable; rebook max €80 + fare difference.	—	✓
22:35	Arrive Berlin — Kolja's place (address not yet logged)	—	○

Sleeping: Berlin, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Wed 2 Sep — Berlin Berlin · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day	—	—

Sleeping: Berlin, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Thu 3 Sep — Berlin → Palma Mallorca · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
18:00	Leave central Berlin — hard deadline Bag drop opens 18:15, closes 19:35 — BER is ~40min from Mitte, miss this and the bag can't travel.	—	—
20:15	EJU7334 · Berlin T1 → Palma (23:00) easyJet: seat 21F, 23kg hold + under-seat cabin bag 45×36×20 only, no large cabin bag. Paid EUR181.00 = A$298.81.	—	✓
23:00	Arrive Palma — Kolja's place (address not yet logged)	—	○

Sleeping: Mallorca, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Fri 4 Sep — Mallorca Mallorca · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day	—	—

Sleeping: Mallorca, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Sat 5 Sep — Mallorca Mallorca · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day	—	—

Sleeping: Mallorca, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Sun 6 Sep — Mallorca Mallorca · Kolja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day — leave for the airport early tomorrow (~05:45)	—	—

Sleeping: Mallorca, Kolja's place (address TBD)

Mon 7 Sep — Palma → Lucerne

Time	What	Ref	Status
08:30	DE1163 · Palma → Zurich (10:30) Leave Mallorca ~05:45. Economy Classic, 8kg hand + 20kg hold (tightest allowance on the trip). No cancellation; rebook for a fee; evening check-in US$12. Condor: +49 6171 698 8988.	17222236	✓
13:15	Rail: Zürich Flughafen → Luzern Deliberate walk-up, nothing bought in advance — Schengen-to-Schengen so no immigration queue, bags by ~11:00, direct ~70min train (13:15 → 14:25). Walk-up ~A$45 vs A$30.97 Supersaver; the extra A$14 buys immunity to a flight delay.	—	○
14:25	Check in — Young Backpackers Homestay Early arrival fine — main door, bags in the living room, WhatsApp Ray. Bed ready after 16:00 (look for a Ricola on it). Window 16:00–22:00, late check-in CHF15/hour after 22:00. Shoes off at the door, silence after 22:00, carry (don't roll) suitcases up the 10m of stairs. WhatsApp Ray your name, surname and check-in date before arriving, and request the free bus ticket / Guest Card in the same message — this is how check-in works, not optional. Obere Dattenbergstrasse 12, 6005 Luzern — map · WhatsApp Ray ⚠️ Bus routing — construction has changed routes; use SBB Mobile, not Google Maps, which is explicitly out of date here. Before 20:00: Kante A, Bus 1 at :16/:46 → "Eichhof" → change to Bus 11 → "Dattenberg" (last stop). After 20:00: Kante W, Bus 10 at :05/:35 → "Dattenberg" direct — don't get off at Obergütsch, it stops there first.	304978-579222625	✓
14:30	Pay balance — CHF 156.40 Due at property, self-service card terminal in the kitchen. A$323.36 total, A$51.66 already paid as deposit.	—	○
18:20	Old town, Chapel Bridge — optional free concert Kapellbrücke (14th c.), the Musegg wall, KKL on the waterfront. Free 18:20 concert, or the Mallwitz/Henze programme at 19:30 from CHF30 if starting the festival properly tonight.	—	—

Sleeping: Young Backpackers Homestay, Kriens/Luzern · ref 304978-579222625 · CHF 156.40 balance due at check-in

Tue 8 Sep — Lucerne — Yunchan Lim night

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Rosengart Collection / lake / bridges (or Rigi/Pilatus half-day)	—	—
18:38	Bus 10 → Luzern Bahnhof (18:57) From "Kriens, Dattenberg" (not "Luzern Dattenberg"), direct 19min. Earlier options 18:18 / 18:28. Confirm on SBB Mobile before leaving.	—	○
19:30	Czech Philharmonic · Bychkov · Yunchan Lim — KKL Konzertsaal, KKL Luzern, Europaplatz 1 — beside the Bahnhof. Seat: 4. Galerie links, Row 1, Seat 5, Category IV — house left, the side you see the keyboard and the pianist's hands from. Paid CHF100 = A$177.10. Customer ID 443332. Programme: 18:30 intro talk (German — skip) · 19:30 Smetana Vltava (~12min) · Ravel Piano Concerto in G (~22min — II. Adagio assai is the one to know) · ~20:20 intermission · Dvořák Symphony No.7 in D minor (~37min) · ends ~21:25. Performers: Yunchan Lim — 2022 Van Cliburn winner at 18, youngest ever, this is his Lucerne Festival debut. Semyon Bychkov — Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic since 2018. Reference recording: Dvořák Sym. 7, hr-Sinfonieorchester / Andrés Orozco-Estrada — youtube.com/watch?v=bkJxMs5104Q — liked from 16:45 (≈6min into the Poco adagio). Ticket: barcode entry, PDF in trip folder (tickets/2026-09-08_LucerneFestival_CzechPhil_YunchanLim.pdf) or Apple Wallet. Programme details: lucernefestival.ch. Ticket ID 10010056847. 💰 Printed on the ticket: "Your concert tickets entitle you to a discount of 40% (1st or 2nd class) for a round trip to Lucerne." Worth asking at the counter when buying the walk-up Zürich Flughafen → Luzern leg on the 7th. Ticket — show barcode full PDF	File 225709	✓
22:05	Bus 10 → home (Kante W → Kriens Dattenberg 22:22) Line 10 from Kante W, direct 17min. Tight alternative 21:35 if quick out of the hall. Last bus up 00:35 regardless.	—	○

Sleeping: Young Backpackers Homestay, Kriens/Luzern · ref 304978-579222625

Wed 9 Sep — into the Jungfrau, hiking day 1

Time	What	Ref	Status
07:08	Bus 10 → Luzern Bahnhof (07:27) From Kriens Dattenberg direct, 39min before the train (07:28 is next — too late). Confirm on SBB Mobile the night before.	—	○
08:06	Luzern–Interlaken Express → Interlaken Ost (09:54) The Brünig Pass line, reputedly the best rail journey of the trip. CHF34 point-to-point fixed fare, buy on the day. Optional CHF16 seat reservation, panorama side (seats 123/125/131/133, Wagon 3). Chosen over the 07:06 for an extra hour's sleep after the concert. sbb.ch	—	○
10:04	BOB train → Lauterbrunnen (10:26) ~22min. Flexible ticket ≈A$14.38, valid any train.	—	○
10:30	Drop bag — Schutzenbach Backpackers 0.75km from the station, flat, or yellow PTT bus toward Stechelberg — tell the driver "Schützenbach". Map. Phone +41 33 855 12 68, schutzenbach@yahoo.com. ⚠️ 0-day cancellation policy (non-refundable), age limit 18–34.	59680-579222869	✓
10:35	Pay balance — CHF 143.11 Due at property, includes CHF37.71 local tax — true total ≈A$288 (Hostelworld's pre-tax figure is misleading).	—	○
11:03	Grütschalp funicular + train → Mürren (11:24) CHF11.80 — cheaper and better than the Stechelberg cable car (CHF16.40).	—	○
11:30	Hike: Sefinental / Tanzbödeli, from Mürren ~10km, 700m ascent, 6.5hrs, hard, free. A deep glacial side-valley under the Tschingelhorn, then a balcony viewpoint back down the whole Lauterbrunnen trough — frequently rated the best day hike in the Bernese Oberland. Sunset ~19:45. Slept in instead? Mürren–Gimmelwald balcony trail + North Face Trail, 2.5–3hrs, easy, also free — Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau face-on the whole way.	—	—

Sleeping: Schutzenbach Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen · ref 59680-579222869 · CHF 143.11 balance due, incl. tax

Thu 10 Sep — hiking day 2, the splurge

Time	What	Ref	Status
08:01	R62 · Lauterbrunnen → Wilderswil (15min, CHF6.40)	—	○
08:45	Schynige Platte-Bahn → top (09:37) CHF34, buy on the day — keeps Wed/Thu swappable if weather turns. jungfrau.ch	—	○
09:37	Hike: Schynige Platte → Faulhorn → Bachalpsee → First 15–20km, 1,000m+ ascent, 6–7.5hrs. Probably the most photographed ridge walk in Switzerland — Bachalpsee mirrors the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.	—	—
17:00	First → Grindelwald gondola CHF41. ⚠️ Check the last descent time before setting out — the connection quoted was ~17:09, and a 09:37 start on a 7.5hr day puts arrival at First around 17:15. Cutting it fine either way.	—	○
—	R61 · Grindelwald → Lauterbrunnen (39min, CHF9.40)	—	○

Sleeping: Schutzenbach Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen · ref 59680-579222869

Fri 11 Sep — Zurich → London

Time	What	Ref	Status
07:30	Leave Schutzenbach — bags packed, balance settled	—	—
07:50	Rail: Lauterbrunnen → Interlaken Ost ~23min, flexible ticket A$14.38, valid any train — just needs to land before 08:29.	—	○
08:29	IC612/IC711 · Interlaken Ost → Zürich HB (10:28) 2nd class Supersaver, non-refundable, valid only on IC612 and IC711. Interlaken Ost 08:29 → Bern 09:25, change at Bern (6 minutes — same station) → depart 09:31 → Zürich HB 10:28. If SBB itself cancels a train the ticket is valid on the next service — only being late yourself voids it. Carry photo ID. Paid CHF40.40 = A$71.55. PDF in trip folder: tickets/2026-09-11_SBB_Interlaken-Ost_to_Zurich-HB.pdf. Ticket — show barcode full PDF	702831175718	✓
10:30	Bags in HB locker · ~1hr Zurich Lindenhof, Fraumünster (Chagall windows), Bahnhofstrasse, Sprüngli Paradeplatz — or a PubliBike ride along the lake.	—	—
11:50	Buy ZVV 3-zone ticket, Zürich HB → Flughafen (CHF7.20, 1hr, any train)	—	○
12:02	Train → Zürich Flughafen (~10min)	—	○
14:05	BA8766 · Zurich → London City (14:40) BA CityFlyer, Embraer 190, Economy. Cabin + hold bag included (23kg standard). Paid CHF220.55 = A$390.59. London City beats Heathrow here — faster into town and a departure a full hour later than the next LCY flight (LX464, 16:50, would miss the deadline).	X54QTH	✓
14:40	DLR → Elizabeth line → Paddington → Lancaster Gate Bags, DLR to Custom House, Elizabeth line to Paddington, 10min walk. Home ~15:40. 18 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LH — Bryce & Nadine.	—	—

Sleeping: Bryce & Nadine, London

Sat 12 Sep — London

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day with Bryce & Nadine	—	—

Sleeping: Bryce & Nadine, London

Sun 13 Sep — London

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Free day	—	—

Sleeping: Bryce & Nadine, London

Mon 14 Sep — London → Split → Hvar Hvar · Anja

Time	What	Ref	Status
04:50	Wake — bag drop closes 06:35	—	—
05:25	Leave Lancaster Gate (~10min to Paddington)	—	—
05:40	Heathrow Express → T5 (~21min) First service ~05:10. Bag drop closes 06:35, no slack if this runs late.	—	○
07:20	BA946 · Heathrow T5 → Split (10:55) Euro Traveller / Economy Plus, hold bag included at £0.00 (23kg). ⚠️ If the gate is in T5B or T5C, add 10–15min for the transit train. Paid GBP197.05 = A$379.72.	ZOG9V2	✓
12:00	Shuttle — Split airport → town (~€10, ~30min)	—	○
13:00	Diocletian's Palace Landing at 10:55 with an afternoon boat leaves ~3 hours — the 11:15 catamaran is long gone by the time you clear the airport. Split's old town is a 4th-century Roman imperial palace, UNESCO-listed and still lived in: flats and bars built into the walls, the peristyle, a cathedral converted from the emperor's mausoleum, the cellars underneath. Best architecture of the Croatian leg, and otherwise missed.	—	—
15:10	Catamaran — Split → Hvar Town NEEDS BOOKING. Sailings around 15:10 / 16:00 / 17:00. €20–25 (≈A$33–41). Operators: Jadrolinija, Krilo/Kapetan Luka, TP Line. Hvar Town catamaran, not the Stari Grad car ferry (2h+ plus bus).	—	●
—	Arrive Hvar — villa (group organised by Anja: Anja, Nina, Julia, Julia's partner, two cousins; address TBC)	—	○

Sleeping: Hvar villa, Anja's group (address TBD)

Tue 15 Sep — Hvar Hvar · Anja 🎂 turns 33

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Hvar — group day (Anja's plan)	—	—
—	Pay Hvar villa balance — Julia ≈A$245–295. First instalment A$204.50 paid 4 Aug; "450–500 per person" was most likely quoted in AUD, not EUR. Confirm exact figure/currency with Anja before paying. Julia — Beem @juliageoros.	—	●

Sleeping: Hvar villa, Anja's group (address TBD)

Wed 16 Sep — Hvar Hvar · Anja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Group day	—	—

Sleeping: Hvar villa, Anja's group (address TBD)

Thu 17 Sep — Hvar Hvar · Anja

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Last full day on Hvar	—	—

Sleeping: Hvar villa, Anja's group (address TBD)

Fri 18 Sep — Hvar → Split

Time	What	Ref	Status
—	Catamaran — Hvar → Split NEEDS BOOKING. Still open who within the group books it — settle early in the Hvar days, not on the 18th itself.	—	●
—	Check in — Apartment Zane Bacvice Booked by the group, cleared with Nina and Julia. Sofa bed, sleeps 6, 9.0 on Booking.com (161 reviews). 6 Ulica Theodorea Roosevelta, Split (Bačvice)	—	✓
18:00	TONIGHT — book 04:00 taxi with host €35–50. No public transport at that hour — no airport bus, no city bus, taxi rank unstaffed until 06:00. The highest-risk moment of the trip — everything else here costs money if it fails, this one costs the flight home. Confirm late check-in tonight and the early-departure arrangement with the host in the same conversation.	—	●

Sleeping: Apartment Zane Bacvice, Split

Sat 19 Sep — Split → Zagreb → Doha

Time	What	Ref	Status
03:45	Wake	—	—
04:00	Taxi → Split Airport (SPU) Booked the evening before. Bačvice to SPU ~24km, ~25min at that hour. Arrives SPU ~04:30. Ask at check-in for the bag to be tagged through to Sydney — if the domestic desk can't, the Zagreb connection is 2h50, plenty of time to reclaim and re-check.	—	○
06:15	OU651 · Split → Zagreb (07:00) Croatia Airlines, 35kg hold.	7BHBLY	✓
09:50	QR216 · Zagreb → Doha (16:15) Seat 08A, 35kg hold.	7BHBLY	✓
20:05	QR908 · Doha → Sydney Seat 23K, 35kg hold. Lands Sydney T1 17:10 Sun 20 Sep local time. Ticket is NON END with change penalties — this whole day is a hard anchor.	7BHBLY	✓

Sleeping: in-flight — Split → Zagreb → Doha → Sydney

Sun 20 Sep — Home

Time	What	Ref	Status
17:10	Land Sydney T1 — trip ends	—	✓

Sleeping: home

Flights

Flight	Date	Times	Terminals	Seat	Bags	Ref	Status
QR8400 Sydney → Doha	Thu 27 Aug	14:50→22:40	SYD T1 → —	—	30 kg	7BHBLY	✓
QR59 Doha → Munich	Fri 28 Aug	02:00→07:00	— → MUC T1	29D	30 kg	7BHBLY	✓
LH1962 Munich → Berlin	Tue 1 Sep	21:30→22:35	MUC T2 → BER T1	at check-in	23 kg	—	✓
EJU7334 Berlin → Palma	Thu 3 Sep	20:15→23:00	BER T1 → —	21F	23 kg	—	✓
DE1163 Palma → Zurich	Mon 7 Sep	08:30→10:30	— → —	—	20 kg ⚠️	17222236	✓
BA8766 Zurich → London City	Fri 11 Sep	14:05→14:40	— → LCY	—	23 kg	X54QTH	✓
BA946 London → Split	Mon 14 Sep	07:20→10:55	LHR T5 → —	—	23 kg	ZOG9V2	✓
OU651 Split → Zagreb	Sat 19 Sep	06:15→07:00	— → —	—	35 kg	7BHBLY	✓
QR216 Zagreb → Doha	Sat 19 Sep	09:50→16:15	— → —	08A	35 kg	7BHBLY	✓
QR908 Doha → Sydney	Sat 19 Sep	20:05→17:10 +1	— → SYD T1	23K	35 kg	7BHBLY	✓

Flight notes

Qatar covers 5 of the 10 legs under one PNR — 7BHBLY (also 1A/OU/QR/7BHBLY, Virgin Australia record IEWCVO, ticket 157 2138741216–17). NON END, change penalties apply — the 19 Sep departure is the hard anchor of the whole trip.

Condor PMI→ZRH's 20 kg hold is the binding baggage number for the whole trip — pack to it, not to Qatar's 30/35 kg.

Qantas Frequent Flyer number is not yet added to either BA booking (X54QTH, ZOG9V2) — free to fix, currently earning nothing.

Online check-in for Qatar sectors opens 48h before; Qatar advise 3h at the airport. Condor: +49 6171 698 8988.

Accommodation

Where	Dates	Ref	Contact	Balance due	Address
Munich — parents	28–31 Aug	—	parents (arranging)	n/a	not logged
Berlin — Kolja	1–3 Sep	—	Kolja	n/a	not logged
Mallorca — Kolja	3–7 Sep	—	Kolja	n/a	not logged
Lucerne — Young Backpackers Homestay	7–9 Sep	304978-579222625	Ray, WhatsApp +41 79 965 41 79	CHF 156.40 ○	Obere Dattenbergstrasse 12, 6005 Luzern
Lauterbrunnen — Schutzenbach 18–34	9–11 Sep	59680-579222869	+41 33 855 12 68 · email	CHF 143.11 ○	Schützenbach, Lauterbrunnen
London — Bryce & Nadine	11–14 Sep	—	—	n/a	18 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LH
Hvar — group villa	14–18 Sep	—	Julia, Beem @juliageoros	≈A$245–295 ●	not logged — ask Anja
Split — Apartment Zane Bacvice	18–19 Sep	—	booked by group	n/a	6 Ulica Theodorea Roosevelta, Split

Both Swiss beds are ✓ booked (deposits paid); balances shown are ○ on-the-day, paid at the property. Lucerne: A$323.36 total, A$51.66 deposit paid. Lauterbrunnen: A$108.96×2 nights + tax, A$34.83 deposit paid — ⚠️ 0-day cancellation (non-refundable), 18–34 age limit.

Open items

Item	When	Est. cost	Status
Split → Hvar catamaran Jadrolinija / Krilo–Kapetan Luka / TP Line, 8–10 sailings/day. Book a few days ahead — it gates arrival at the villa. Hvar Town catamaran, not the Stari Grad car ferry (2h+ plus bus). jadrolinija.hr · krilo.hr	Mon 14 Sep pm	≈A$33–41	●
Hvar → Split catamaran Same operators. Still open who in the group books it — settle early in the Hvar days.	Fri 18 Sep	≈A$33–41	●
Hvar villa balance Pay Julia, Beem @juliageoros. First instalment A$204.50 already paid 4 Aug; "450–500 per person" was most likely quoted in AUD not EUR (A$204.50 ≈ half of A$450) — confirm exact figure/currency with Anja.	before travel	≈A$245–295	●
Split airport taxi, 04:00 pickup Pre-book the evening before through the apartment host. No public transport at that hour — no bus, taxi rank unstaffed until 06:00. Highest-risk moment of the trip: the one item that costs the flight home if it fails.	night of 18 Sep	≈A$58–83	●

Pre-departure blockers

Item	Cost	Note
UK ETA	£16	Australians need one since Jan 2025 — UK ETA app, usually approved minutes-to-days, valid 2 years. Needed before 11 Sep. Apply now.
eSIM covering CH + UK	varies	Many cheap "Europe" eSIMs are EU-only and exclude both CH and UK — check the coverage list before buying (e.g. Airalo Eurolink covers CH+UK).

Also free and outstanding: add the Qantas Frequent Flyer number to both BA bookings (X54QTH, ZOG9V2).

Key contacts

Who	Contact
Ray — Young Backpackers Homestay, Lucerne	WhatsApp +41 79 965 41 79 (WhatsApp only)
Schutzenbach Backpackers, Lauterbrunnen	+41 33 855 12 68 · schutzenbach@yahoo.com
1Cover emergency assistance	+61 2 8776 3010 · UK 0808-178-5380 · help@1cover.com.au
Anja Samardzic — Hvar organiser	no number on file
Julia — Hvar villa balance	Beem @juliageoros
Kolja Czudnochowski — Berlin / Mallorca	no number on file
Bryce & Nadine — London	no number on file
Condor Flugdienst (airline)	+49 6171 698 8988
Christian (traveller)	+61 433 500 583 · chris.abh@gmail.com
Qatar Privilege Club	4893654
Emergency — Europe-wide	112
Emergency — UK	999
Emergency — Australia	000

Insurance

1Cover Comprehensive, single trip — 1C-AU-CPN5189900. Dates 27/08–20/09/2026, countries Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Croatia, UK. Premium A$176.62, excess $200, cancellation & disruption limit $2,000 (deliberately low tier, under the ~A$5k prepaid exposure).

No add-ons — no downhill e-MTB, no tandem paragliding. Buy the Adventure & Sports Pack first if tempted in Interlaken.
Hiking to 3,500 m is auto-included (Faulhorn 2,680 m is well inside that).
Cycling covered only with a helmet — PubliBike doesn't supply one.
PDF: 2026_1Cover_insurance_certificate.pdf (in trip folder) · claims at 1cover.com.au/claims

Money

Currency	Verified rate
1 EUR	≈ A$1.65 (1.6459–1.6509)
1 GBP	≈ A$1.93 (1.9270)
1 CHF	≈ A$1.77 (1.7710)

Card: Up Bank Mastercard, wholesale rate, 0% markup, free international ATM withdrawals. Always pay in local currency — decline DCC whenever a terminal offers to charge in AUD.

Cash plan: CHF 150–300 for the mountains (huts/kiosks cash-only, ATMs sparse at altitude); EUR 50–100 buffer for Croatia (avoid Euronet ATMs — use PBZ/Erste/OTP). No GBP needed — London is entirely card.

Paid to date — all 10 flights, both hostel deposits, concert ticket, Interlaken–Zürich rail, Hvar villa deposit	≈A$5,574
Swiss hostel balances due at property	≈A$530
Swiss on-the-day transport (rail + local buses + 2 lifts)	≈A$243
Switzerland food, ~5 days self-catering	≈A$266
Croatia catamarans ×2	≈A$66–82
Hvar villa balance	≈A$245–295
Split 04:00 airport taxi	≈A$58–83
Est. remaining to spend	≈A$1,400–1,500
Est. trip total	≈A$6,970–7,075

Don't buy the Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass — lift-light trip (~CHF 218 actual transport spend), either would cost more than it saves. Skip Jungfraujoch (CHF 130–262, viewing platform not a hike). Buy the two mountain lift tickets on the day, not in advance — keeps the two hiking days swappable if weather turns.

Packing list

24 days, three climates (Mallorca ~30°C → alpine ridge ~0–5°C → Croatian island ~26°C): congress + concert + hard hiking + beach. Three binding numbers: 20kg hold (Condor PMI→ZRH, tightest leg), 45×36×20cm under-seat cabin bag (easyJet BER→PMI — the daypack IS the cabin bag), case itself ~2.5–3kg (use the lightest case owned). Target ≤15kg packed. Wear the heavy stuff on flight days: XT-6s, jeans, jumper. Laundry: pack 8 days, wash twice — ~day 5–6 (Mallorca) and ~day 15–16 (London).

Do before departure (blockers)

UK ETA — £16, "UK ETA" app, needed before 11 Sep
eSIM covering Switzerland AND UK — check coverage list before buying
EES heads-up — EU biometric entry live in 2026; first Schengen entry (Munich, 28 Aug) includes fingerprint/photo registration, nothing to apply for
Confirm insurance covers alpine hiking below 3,000m (it does — Faulhorn is 2,680m)
Passport expiry ≥3 months past 20 Sep 2026
Pack a physical backup card separately from the wallet

Documents & money

Passport
Wallet + backup card (separate bags)
CHF 150–300 cash
EUR 50–100 cash
Congress registration/QR on phone
Booking refs saved offline

Cabin bag (45×36×20 daypack)

Passport + wallet
Phone/cables/battery pack (cabin only — banned from hold)
AirPods
Laptop (optional, congress)
Meds + script copy
Spare tee + underwear
Empty water bottle, sunglasses
Earplugs + eye mask

Clothes (8-day cycle)

Underwear ×8
Everyday socks ×5
Merino hiking socks ×3 (no cotton)
T-shirts ×5 (2 merino/hiking, 3 casual)
Collared shirts ×3 (one doubles for the concert)
Dark chinos/trousers
Jeans or 2nd chino (flight days)
Hiking trousers/tights
Shorts ×2
Merino jumper
Fleece/midlayer
Packable puffy (Faulhorn near 0°)
Rain shell — non-negotiable
Swimwear ×2
Sleepwear, belt, cap

Shoes (three pairs, no more)

Salomon XT-6 (hiking + city, worn every flight day)
Smart-casual pair (congress/concert/dinners)
Thongs/sandals

Hiking kit (in the daypack)

2L water capacity
Headtorch
Blister plasters/tape/ibuprofen
Sunscreen 50+ and lip balm
Warm hat + light gloves
Ziplock/dry bag for phone
Trail snacks (buy at Coop the night before)

Toiletries & medical

Full-size toiletries kit
Personal meds ×24 days + script copies
Antihistamine, loperamide, rehydration salts
Earplugs + eye mask (non-optional — 8-bed and 4-bed dorms)
Sunscreen (big) + insect repellent
Packable towel

Electronics

Phone + 20W charger + cables
Battery pack 10,000mAh (cabin!)
Adapters: Switzerland Type J (recessed, slim Europlug works), Germany/Spain/Croatia Type C/F, UK Type G
AirPods
Laptop (optional)

Deliberately not packed: umbrella (the shell is the rain plan), hiking poles (graded trails), big towel, hair dryer, books, more than 3 shirts.

Files

tickets/2026-09-08_LucerneFestival_CzechPhil_YunchanLim.pdf — Lucerne Festival ticket (in trip folder / Apple Wallet)
tickets/2026-09-11_SBB_Interlaken-Ost_to_Zurich-HB.pdf — SBB rail ticket (in trip folder)
tickets/2026_1Cover_insurance_certificate.pdf — travel insurance certificate (in trip folder)
archive/ — superseded source files (itinerary.md, bookings.md, lucerne-hostel.md, lucerne-concert.md, packing-list.md, scandinavia-shelved.md)
EUROPE26.md — the master reference this page is generated from