The second stop in Europe

📍 Bratislava Main Mission: Renewal of Austrian Visa Side Mission: Due to some hiccups with the visa application process, I stumbled upon a vintage shop and ended up buying five pieces of clothing. Slovakia Public Transportation Guide: Thanks to the all-knowing I discovered the ÖBB Neighboring Countries Ticket. For just 18 euros, you can travel from any Vienna train station to Bratislava and back. The ticket is valid for four days and includes unlimited public transportation in Bratislava on the first day of ticket activation. To find this ticket, open the ÖBB app, go to "all products," and scroll down to "tickets for neighboring countries."😍😍😍 Important Notes: - You need to exchange the ticket for a paper version in Austria before traveling. The ticket machines make this process very convenient. - This ticket is only valid for ÖBB's Rex and S-Bahn trains. You cannot use it on Slovak national railways.😁😁😁 Regarding whether the 18-euro ticket is for a single round trip or multiple trips, I asked an ÖBB counter staff member at the station, and he said, "You can travel as many times as you want." However, I was still skeptical. The neighboring countries ticket also comes in a 42.5-euro weekly pass and a 143.8-euro monthly pass. If the 18-euro ticket allows unlimited travel within four days, wouldn't that make it cheaper than the weekly or monthly passes? The weekly and monthly passes clearly state they are valid for any number of trips, while the 18-euro ticket says it is for "a journey from V to B and back." So, I contacted ÖBB customer service. They confirmed that the 18-euro ticket is for one round trip only. I also asked if the ticket needs to be validated, and they said it does not. This puzzled me because if someone with an 18-euro ticket were to make multiple round trips within four days, who would know? Is it really just a matter of trust?😻😻😻 Bratislava Public Transportation: If you're only staying for one day, the public transportation included with the ÖBB neighboring countries ticket on the first day is sufficient. You don't have to worry about forgetting to validate a paper ticket and getting fined for fare evasion. If you need to buy additional tickets, you can download the IDS BK app to purchase electronic tickets. Slovak tickets are mainly categorized by duration. Electronic tickets are about 10% cheaper than paper tickets, and most importantly, I really dislike the ticket validation system in Europe. I prefer electronic tickets whenever possible. The IDS BK app also allows you to link an ISIC student card for a 50% discount. A 30-minute ticket for zones 100+101 costs only 0.49 euros, and a 24-hour ticket for zones 100&101 is just 2.2 euros.🤓🤓🤓 I've also seen some posts about people paying directly with a Visa card on the bus. The official website states that a single ride costs 1.2 euros, with free transfers within 45 minutes, and a daily cap of 4.8 euros. However, I'm not sure about potential pitfalls with ticket purchasing or inspections, so I personally prefer to buy half-price student tickets through the app. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Tesco in Slovakia—it felt like meeting an old friend in a foreign land. Next time I go to the embassy for a visa application, I'll bring my Clubcard to see if it's accepted. I hope Tesco hasn't canceled my membership. Moreover, I have to say that the Austrians working at the Austrian Embassy in Bratislava must be very happy. They can go home weekly or even daily without any stress. The one-way commute takes only an hour (and probably less by car), making the experience of "going abroad" almost non-existent. Back to the Main Mission of This Trip: The drama surrounding my Austrian visa application is still escalating. It deserves its own detailed post. #Bratislava #Slovakia