Across the big blue pond lies a land full of beautiful architecture, an array of different cultures and cuisine to fall in love with. Europe, a unique collective of 50 countries, is a favorite for many travelers around the world and is listed as a “place to explore” on the bucket list of thousands.
One thing that may deter people from venturing into Europe is the cost of getting there, staying there and getting around there. What many don’t know, however, is that there are proven ways to land your feet on European soil without completely breaking the bank.
Here are some tips that may be helpful for those wanting to travel to Europe on a budget.
Tip #1 Plan ahead. Way ahead.
This is an important one. Planning ahead not only gives you time to cover all of your corners, expense wise, but it also gives you a much better chance at finding an affordable flight.
Some travellers recommend purchasing tickets 4-6 months in advance, while some say the prime time is to buy around 60 days before departure.
Tip #2 - Plan to travel during the off season, if possible.
If your travel dates are flexible and you don’t mind the cold, tickets to Europe are much cheaper during the winter months than spring and summer months.
For example, a round-trip flight from Detroit to Barcelona, Spain, is currently running at $1,300 for dates in August, while the same flight is going for $497 in early October.
Tip #3 - Choose an affordable departure and entry point and go from there.
Another secret many travellers have learned when planning their trip from the States to Europe is that sometimes other entry points can cost as much has half of what the original destination would cost to fly into.
For example, flying into Paris may cost you around $1,500 per ticket round trip while a flight to Dublin might cost you around $450 round trip. After arriving in Dublin, you would be able to either explore the city or buy a ticket to Paris for around $50-100 on average on the budget airlines that fly within Europe.
That’s a savings of almost $900 right there!
The same rule goes for departure cities. Leaving from New York City, Atlanta, and Miami may save you big bucks, and you may be able to find an inexpensive round trip ticket to those cities from yours.
Tip #4 - Stay in a hostel or use online tools to find affordable hotels.
Many budget-minded travelers who go to Europe stay in hostels. What is a hostel? A hostel is like a hotel, but you share a room with other travelers. Sometimes, the rooms are equipped with bunk beds with a shared bathroom.
Those who stay in hostel choose to do so knowing that they will be spending most of their time exploring and would rather spend their money on food and sightseeing. Most hostels are safe, and almost all offer lockers for you to store your stuff. An average night in a hostel runs anywhere from $15-$45 a night depending on the area and amenities.
If lodging in a hostel isn’t an attractive option for you or you’re traveling with children, there are still a few ways you can find an affordable private room.
Many hotel booking websites offer price bidding and surprise bookings. By going with the surprise booking, you’re able to choose the amenities, stars, and location of the hotel you’re looking for but you aren’t able to see which hotel it is until the booking is complete. If you are OK with the surprise, you may end up with a 3 star hotel at the fraction of the price of others in the same area.
Some travellers take advantage of home sharing websites which have become exceedingly popular over the last few years. AirBnB and Homeaway allow travelers to book private rooms, apartments and homes that are owned by locals.
These options are safe and sites such as AirBnb promise to take care of travelers if by any chance the homeowner cannot be contacted.
Tip #5 - Try to avoid exchanging currency at the airport.
The currency exchange rates at airports are much higher than exchange rates at other locations and American banks. If you can, get a credit card with a low exchange rate with your current bank.
Regardless of what you do, always notify your bank that you’re travelling out of the country to avoid cutoffs.
Tip #6 - Enjoy your trip.
If there’s anything most travelers can agree on, it’s that exploring new lands can be one of the most rewarding things to ever experience in life. Money may come and go, but the memories and the chance to experience another culture is, to many, priceless.