15 Tips to Traveling Europe on a Budget
Social networks are full of pictures and videos of happy people posing under Big Ben, enjoying a cup of espresso in Milano or swimming in crystal clear Adriatic sea. Most of them didn’t inherit a fortune and don’t earn a fortune. They just have one thing in common - they know how to travel on a budget.
These days, there are so many ways to make travel work, on all different budget levels. Through this article, I’ll share some helpful tips and tricks. But shhhhhh, don’t let the secret out!
Just kidding, tell everyone, and go for an unforgettable European trip with your friends, or solo!!
Make sure to check out my article on How to Travel Europe’s Most Expensive Cities on a Budget
Transportation
Book the plane ticket early - 7 to 10 weeks early
You already reserved your annual leave? Great. That gives you an advantage and more than enough time to prepare. Skyscanner.net is your new friend, and you will visit the page a lot, along with downloading their mobile app. The interface is simple and user friendly. Pick your location, desired location, date of departure, and the date of return, as well as the cabin class you prefer. You will immediately get a list of available flights with all the little details included. The insider information: it’s best to book your ticket 7 to 10 weeks before departure, as the prices are most favorable then. Also, avoid booking the tickets on weekends and try working days, especially Tuesday. You will be amazed at the price difference. You can save a little fortune that way.
Book the plane ticket on the last minute
This option is for the adrenaline junkies and people who need 5 minutes to pack. The airline companies have a moto: The empty seat is the most expensive seat. That little detail means they are willing to offer an enormous discount just to fill up all the seats. Along with the Skyscanner, get an email subscription from airports nearby, follow the travel blogs and Facebook travel groups. You will be amazed at the low-cost offers. The trick is to act quickly because last-minute tickets usually get sold in no time.
Use low - cost airlines
Remember, you are traveling on a budget. Search for low-cost airline companies like RyanAir, EasyJet, Wizzair, or similar companies. Be ready for some restrictions, though. They usually don’t serve any meal during the flight, the weight of the luggage is very limited, and you will have less commotion, but hey, that’s a small price to pay when your plane ticket costs less than a Mojito in a beach bar.
Trains, buses, and cars
European trains are also a great way to travel and enjoy the landscapes. Companies like Interrail offer cheap train tickets for younger passengers (under 28) and you can enjoy sightseeing while your comfortable train drives you from one capital city to another. The main train stations are usually located in the center of the big cities, so you will save a pretty penny on taxies. Avoid trains in the less developed countries because their passenger cars can be quite old and questionable commotion.
Most people avoid buses as they can get pretty crowded and uncomfortable, but you must admit they are great budget-travel helper, especially if you choose FlixBus, Getbybus, or some similar carrier company. For instance, there is a 14-day bus tour through the east European countries, which includes visiting 10 capital cities (Prague, Budapest, Belgrade, Skopje, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Wien).
When you add up the average prices of bed and breakfast, daily expenses (25 Euros), a 14-day bus trip will cost you around 500 Euros.
Traveling in your own car is probably not the best idea. Tolls, parking space, international driving license, gas, the costs go sky-high. Get yourself a BlaBlaCar app. This mobile app connects you with the people who have a free space in their car and are willing to give you a ride for a few Euros of gas money. The app is popular, easy to use, and based on user reviews. Something like an Uber, but quite cheaper.
Picking the Right Time to Travel
Preseason and postseason
While there is nothing like visiting the Alps in December or The Cote d'Azur in August. But we are on the budget here, and season prices can be more than doubled. When the season ends, or before it even started, the accommodation is more than affordable, as well as the plane tickets. Pick a preseason or a postseason and enjoy your relaxing trip without annoying tourist crowds, for the most budget-friendly prices. Streets of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or Venice are beautiful every day of the year, not just in the season.
Where to Sleep
Couchsurfing
It’s the most popular option for young and open-minded people. With a community of more than 14 million people in more than 200 000 cities, your options are limitless. Log in to the platform and start exploring the offers. People in this community are more than willing to welcome you in their homes, without charging anything. Of course, you must be willing to accept the cultural difference and at least participate in common costs. This experience can really change your life and give you an inside view of different country lifestyles. All that without spending a penny for the hotel room. Of course, be ready to return the favor someday, and accommodate a foreign guest in your own house.
Booking and Airbnb
The two most popular sites for finding great, budget-friendly accommodation. Clean, simple interface that’s easy to use, along with the quick registration. There are a plethora of choices, from renting a simple room to reserving a Royal Suite in a 5-star hotel. You can check user reviews, pictures, Google maps, and also set your own criteria search. Also, you can choose the option of canceling your reservation without fees, you can pay when you arrive instead of charging your card immediately and you can make friends with other travelers.
Shameless bargaining and people skills
This is for travelers with pitching skills. When you arrive at your desired location, simply ask a waiter or a taxi driver for a nice, cheap place to stay. The other option is to walk directly to the boarding house and ask if they have some rooms they are willing to rent for a lower price. Ask for a discount for groups, offer to advertise their business on your blog or social network account. You won’t believe how often this works! Although, this is not recommended to try with luxury hotels.
Where to Eat
Eat where the locals eat
Every city that attracts tourists is filled with tourist traps. The term is usually related to restaurants and bars located near the main attractions. There are always good exceptions, but most of these places will serve you with overpriced food and drinks, sometimes with questionable quality. Walk half of the mile from the main crowd and you will find decent little restaurants and pubs everywhere, with a great offer of reasonably priced food and drinks. Example: in the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the average price of a pint of draft beer is 7-10 Euros. But if you walk literary 3 minutes in one of the side streets, you will find the same beer for 2 Euros. The same goes for food. If you are staying in private accommodation, the best thing to do is to ask the owners if you can eat with them, and offer to pay. You can get great homemade food for a few pennies and learn the local cuisine, too.
Visit the supermarket
European supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi, or Penny have a great offer of groceries for reasonable prices. Go grocery shopping and prepare the meal in your suite, from pasta Carbonara to frozen pizza, or a full 3-course meal, the choice is yours. Also, supermarkets have a great choice of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables for a quick meal and a vitamin push. If you are staying longer in one location, wait for the weekend sales and fill your fridge up!
Local seller stands
This is also a great way to try the local cuisine, and also very affordable. If you are in London, you can get their traditional fish and chips for an average of 4 euros on the local seller stand. But when you enter any restaurant, the price triples magically, and that’s the same in almost every country. By eating from the local seller stands, you help the small business grow, and more importantly, get great, tasteful, fresh food for a really small amount of money.
General Advice
Don’t use ATM’s
Bank fees can get quite high when you are traveling abroad, especially if your bank doesn’t have a branch office in the desired country. Get yourself a travel credit card and use it for paying everywhere. Of course, some places will accept cash only (budget travel, remember!) so you have to be ready for that option, too. If you plan ahead, you can get money changed at your bank at home for a lower rate generally. Avoid money exchange offices placed in high traffic locations, like airports or main streets. They tend to have higher fees and terrible exchange rates.
Group up!
Most of the tourist attractions, museums, or ferry rides offer a group discount. Use that information wisely and make friends with other tourists. You can even get the group discount at hotels, restaurants or bars, and save a decent amount of money that way.
Be flexible
Be ready to share a cab with complete strangers. Don’t be shy and ask a bartender or a bus driver where you can eat good and plenty. Don’t carry too much luggage so you don’t pay extra for your plane or bus ticket. If you have interesting talents, use them. Teach yoga at a hostel, wash dishes in a restaurant, etc. You will be amazed at how far you can go with just a friendly smile. I know a guy who traveled the whole European continent just by working spare jobs in the kitchen. He would just come to a restaurant and offer his services for a meal and a place to sleep, and that worked! Most people are friendly and more than willing to help you travel and make beautiful memories alongside.
Visit cheaper countries
Europe doesn’t have only multimillion cities with skyscrapers, crowds, and paying 15 Euros for a hamburger. Europe isn’t just France, Italy, England, Spain or Switzerland. Countries like Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina...are a tourist jewel waiting to be fully discovered. Rich history heritage, places with untouched nature, great hospitality, and low prices along with the great quality can really make your travel great, without spending an absurd amount of money. Don’t trust me? Here is a list of normal prices in those countries (excluding the tourist traps and season overpricing):
espresso - 1 Euro
medium-sized pizza - 5 to 6 Euro
Coca Cola in the cafe bar - 1 to 2 Euro
Coca Cola in a grocery shop - 2 Euro
Taxi - 1 Euro
Long Island Ice Tea - 5 to 7 Euro
Public Transportation - 1 Euro
Dinner for two in a decent restaurant including two glasses of wine - 20+ Euro
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. If you just put aside a small amount of money every month, you can treat yourself with a great adventure every year.
With a little bit of homework, flexibility, and desire to meet new friends, you can travel this beautiful continent and make memories that will last you for a lifetime. Just smile and enjoy life to the fullest!
If you found these tips useful, please consider sharing with your friends & followers!! :)