Great ways to save money on travel to Europe
Europe can either be one of the most expensive destinations in
the world, or one of the least costly, depending on what you do,
where you eat, where you stay and how you get around. Europe is
a hit with budget travelers and the well heeled alike, but this
article focuses on helping the former get the very most from
their travel dollar.
The goal of budget travel is not merely to spend as little as
possible. The true goal of the budget traveler is to get the
most value out of his or her travel budget, and to focus those
limited funds on the things that mean the most to them. Often
this means finding cheap lodging in order to enjoy a four star
dinner at the finest restaurant in Paris. For others, it could
mean buying food at the local grocery and cooking your own
dinner, so that you can splurge on a night at the opera or the
ballet.
Listed below are some of our all time favorite tips for saving
money on a vacation in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter):
Eat where the locals eat. Eating with the local people
instead of the tourists is a great way to save money and enjoy
some of the finest cuisine. The restaurants favored by local
residents tend to be those that provide the best meals at the
lowest prices.
For a quick and economical breakfast, pick up a roll,
some fresh cold cuts and a piece of fruit from the local market.
Then enjoy a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the local
park.
When eating out, choose the fixed price menu and the
house wine for the best value. Most restaurants offer two or
three choices on their fixed price menu, and these dishes are
often a great way to sample the local cuisine.
Sleep cheap on the train. Overnight trains are a great
way to both get from place to place and sleep cheaply. Be sure
to bring a meal, bottle of water and snack along with you. You
will save money by not visiting the dining car, and you will
enjoy some great food as well.
Take lots of pictures and enjoy the people you meet on
the road. Take pictures not only of local tourist attractions
but of the friends you meet along the way. If using a film
camera, it is best to bring the undeveloped rolls back with you
and have them developed once you get back home, since film
developing in tourist locations is usually quite costly. And of
course a digital camera offers a great and cost effective
alternative, and you can choose to print only the best shots.
Try emailing your postcards. Find a website that offers
some great photographs of local attractions, or upload your own
from your digital camera. Use these shots to send some great
personalized email postcards to family and friends back home.
Try to learn at least a little bit of the local
language. If you know the language, or at least the names of the
currency, it will be easier, and often cheaper, to buy the
things you need.
When making large purchases, it is always best to use a
credit card. Not only will your cash last longer, but credit
cards provide the best exchange rates.
Get cash through an ATM instead of at currency exchange
kiosks and hotels. Like credit cards, ATM cash transactions
provide the best exchange rates, and you will avoid the
sometimes costly fees charged by hotels and currency services.
Take advantage of all the discounts you are entitled
to. Many locations provide student discounts, senior discounts,
etc. If you are not sure about discounts, always be sure to ask.
Plan your vacation budget wisely. There are some
excellent, and very inexpensive mementos of your trip, such as
stickers, patches or postcards. For more expensive purchases,
remember that the further you venture from the tourist
attraction, the less expensive the souvenirs will become.
Tour the city with the locals. A bus pass or subway
token is a great way to meet the local people and see the
sights. The public transportation service of most European cites
is remarkably efficient, clean, safe and easy to navigate. It is
not necessary to speak the local language to navigate on the
subway or the bus system of most cities.