Around the world with Society Tours
Luke Evans – German Society – Berlin
As far as student trips to Berlin go, the German Society’s was relatively tame; no one ended up in Berghain or KitKat, no-one had a run-in with the German police, and there were no (massively) embarrassing language mishaps. I did, however, create a bingo card in the Flying Standard before we set off for the airport. I’d like to run through some of my favourites from that list.
Starting strong, we have “someone loses their passport”. Unfortunately, we did tick that one off – between landing back at Luton and making it through the brutal queue for border control, one of the first years managed to lose her’s. I don’t think the president’s blood pressure had ever been higher.
One of my fondest memories of the tour will always be our makeshift, hostel-based circle on the Wednesday night. That has its place in my bingo as “circle goes wrong”. Another one crossed off. The less said about that game of ‘Never Have I Ever’, the better.
Finally, somewhat predictably, we have the “someone gets scammed” box. I’m counting the €20 burger and chips someone got in that category, not for that outrageous price alone, but because a squirt of ketchup on the side cost him an extra €1. Shocking, if you ask me.
The trip was the perfect blend between activities that came with our relatively cheap ticket, and running off exploring the city in our own groups.
I couldn’t have asked for a better tour – we saw almost everything Berlin has to offer, from bars with swings and floating sofas (and €2.50 beers) and the following late-night off-licenses, to the stunning architecture the Brandenburg Gate and the Humboldt University.
Amidst the sights, it is important to make time to visit the memorials that dot the city in their dozens. The Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) in particular hit the hardest for me. These little brass plates commemorate the previous living, work, and study places of victims of Nazism, and serve as an unavoidable reminder of the atrocities they committed against everyday people.
Honourable sight-seeing mentions included chocolate-making at Ritter Sport, riding Europe’s fastest lift at the Panorama Punkt, and visiting the Computer Games Museum (and smashing Dance Dance Revolution). The trip was the perfect blend between activities that came with our relatively cheap ticket, and running off exploring the city in our own groups. I certainly won’t forget it in a hurry – or those 30 cent pastries from the supermarket.
Abigail Mableson – Cocktail Society – Budapest
As part of Warwick Cocktail Society, this Easter saw me travel to the renowned stag do hotspot, and home of goulash, Budapest. Having heard all the rumours of crazy nights out, and shockingly cheap pints, I was excited to travel and experience Hungary’s best landmarks alongside my friends, all on a student budget. This trip was truly amazing, from seeing the Parliament in the sunset, to travelling to Heroes Square, and discovering a newfound love of the traditional dish Lángos (a deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and grated cheese), there is so much to recommend in Budapest.
For those who like sightseeing, I have to recommend the Unlimited Prosecco Boat Cruise. Over the course of an hour, you get to see the sights along the Danube, capturing all its beautiful architecture with a sunset glow while drinking unlimited prosecco (and trust me, the prosecco was non-stop.) If you are looking for that perfect Instagram photo, this is absolutely for you.
I was excited to travel and experience Hungary’s best landmarks alongside my friends, all on a student budget.
Something truly unique in Budapest is the beautiful Széchenyi Thermal Baths, sporting 15 indoor baths and three outdoor baths, offering glimpses of historical architecture and ornate statues. Excitingly, as opposed to the classic day-time swim, my friends and I chose to go to the outdoor Sparty in the evening, where the baths are turned into a club and you can enjoy music, all whilst swimming and keeping warm. As someone who is a dedicated lover of POP, I can proudly say this was the best night out of my life, and I wish every night out included a relaxing swim in one of Eastern Europe’s most renowned landmarks.
Budapest is one of the best venues for a Society Tour. From boat tours, to cocktails, to outdoor Spa parties, I highly recommend indulging in all the perks of the Hungarian capital.
Nikita Bavisha – History Society – Berlin
On 15 March, I embarked on the History Society’s trip to Berlin. There were around 41 of us going on this trip, and we all made it to the airport on time for our flight departing at 16:30, arriving in Berlin Brandenburg at around 19:00 (local time). After a quick power nap on the coach journey to our Hostel ‘Generator Alexanderplatz,’ we set out to salvage an evening in Berlin. Our trip was planned through the company ‘UniLife,’ so we had some group activities, but also plenty of freedom to explore the city ourselves!
Me and my friends visited the Brandenburg Gate in the evening, an amazing introduction to Berlin’s history. Walking around Berlin at night felt fairly safe, with the city being fairly quiet. However, this was probably because we traveled during an off-peak holiday season. The city itself was very walkable, but public transport was equally accessible, with students being able to purchase 24-hour passes for all modes of transport for €10.60.
This was worth every penny, with this trip enriching my historical knowledge and giving me many memorable experiences.
The next couple of days were full of lots of walking and sightseeing. With Ampelmann helping the confused English tourists navigate a city where cars drive on the opposite side on the road, we experienced the vibrant history and culture of Berlin. Some highlights include the Berlin Cathedral, the East Side Gallery and the Stasi Museum. As students, we enjoyed discounted prices for museums across the city. We had a tour of the Reichstag Building and Dome, and an enriching two and a half hour walking tour, planned by our Tour Secretary, took us all around Berlin, featuring prominent attractions such as the spot of Hitler’s Bunker, Checkpoint Charlie and the poignant Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
On 18 March, we had a 22:00 flight departure for Stansted, arriving at around 23:00 (English time). The considerably quieter journey from the Hostel to London was a testament to how enjoyable the trip was (including the fact we had spent St Patrick’s Day in Kilkenny Irish Pub the previous evening). The total cost of the trip came to just under £350, with a few additional expenses on food and drinks. This was worth every penny, with this trip enriching my historical knowledge and giving me many memorable experiences. The History Society trip was amazingly planned by our Tour Secretary, and I would recommend a trip to Berlin to anyone who is interested!
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