Budget Travel Tips for Europe

The Dollarwise Grand Tour

By Volker Poelzl

Out of the way destinations are often cheaper than major tourist attractions, but they often harbor great cultural treasures: Steyr, Austria, is home to one of Central Europe's finest example of a Gothic residence. © Volker Poelzl. All Rights Reserved.

As the dollar continues its plummet against the Euro, Europe has become extremely expensive for most travelers from the U.S. But with smart planning and a little bit of research it is still possible to travel in Europe without going broke.

Where to Go

Plan your itinerary wisely. Airfares and train tickets make up a significant part of your travel expenses. By choosing a few select destinations, as opposed to traveling all over Europe, you will save money and time. Consider the logistics of your trip. It takes a lot of time to travel and settle down at your destination. The more places you visit, the more time you will spend on getting there, finding accommodation and getting your bearings. If you have two weeks, I suggest only visiting one country, or even just one region within a country. This allows you to gain greater insights into the history, culture, and customs of a country and explore the similarities and differences of neighboring countries. The British Isles and Ireland are one such cultural region, and so are Scandinavia, Central Europe, or the Iberian Peninsula. France has its own distinct culture very different from other European countries, but you could include the border regions of Belgium, Germany, and Spain. Part of Belgium is French-speaking, and the French provinces of Alsace and Burgundy share a lot of their culture and history with neighboring regions in Germany. The Basque regions in Southwestern France and Northeastern Spain have a lot in common with each other. The same is the case in parts of northern Italy, which shares a lot of its history and cultural heritage with Austria.

Sterzing (Vipiteno) in northern Italy shares most of its culture and history with Austria. Exploring bordering countries is a great way to learn about European history and cultures, while spending less on transportation © Volker Poelzl. All Rights Reserved.

As the dollar continues to be weak against the Euro and the British pound, destinations in Eastern Europe are a great budget alternative to Western Europe. These new members of the European Union have not yet adopted the Euro, and travel in the Baltic states, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary continues to be cheaper than in Western Europe. All of these countries have a great historic and cultural heritage that is worth exploring.

Prague, and Eastern Europe in general, are still cheaper destinations than Western Europe. © Volker Poelzl. All Rights Reserved.

When to Go

Find out when your planned destination receives most of its visitors. If you travel in mid or low season, you can not only save money, but you will also have a more authentic experience of the local culture and way of life, since there will be few other foreign tourists. July through September is high season in Europe, no matter where you go. Easter is another popular time to travel, and so is the holiday season around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. While I found Paris to be packed with tourists during Easter week, the French Mediterranean Island of Corsica was virtually empty, since the weather is still cool and rainy in April. On another occasion I visited Paris in February. It was cold and got dark early, but I vastly preferred it to my first visit during the month of August, when the city was choked with tourists. Similarly, the Portuguese beach resorts on the Algarve coast are crammed with tourists in the summer, but I went there in October and also in February to find a beautiful coastline and pleasant towns without tourists and with low prices.

Provence, France is still beautiful in October, and rentals of great apartments are a fraction of the high-season cost, making budget travel relatively possible. Photo by Gregory Hubbs.

Getting Around

Transportation costs takes up the largest part of your travel budget in Europe. Airfares to Europe during the summer are never cheap, no matter what airlines and websites advertise. By visiting fewer countries or by only visiting one country you can significantly reduce your travel expenses. Eurail passes are available for a single country or multiple countries, allowing you to explore a single destination or several neighboring countries. These passes are cheaper than a Eurail pass that includes all participating countries.

When planning your trip consider several forms of transportation. Traveling in Europe by bus is a low-cost alternative to taking the train. There are several bus companies that connect major European cities. Ride shares are another affordable way to travel long distances for the price of sharing fuel.

If you travel with one or two other people, renting a car becomes a very affordable way of getting around. This gives you greater flexibility in regard to where to stay and where to go. Cheap accommodation is often available on the outskirts of a city or town. By renting a car,you can stay at a bed and breakfast in the countryside, or at a campground outside the city limits, and drive back into town the next day.

Subways offer discounts on weekly passes or multiple rides. © Volker Poelzl. All Rights Reserved.

Where to Stay

Besides transportation, accommodation takes up the largest portion of your travel budget. Avoid traveling alone if you can. Single rooms are always more expensive per person than a double room. While many travelers prefer to book hotels ahead of time, I usually prefer to select a hotel on arrival. This has advantages and disadvantages. Without an advance reservation you can explore several options for budget accommodation locally, but if you arrive at a major tourist destination in the high season, you might find most affordable rooms booked. I traveled to Venice over New Year’s, and my girlfriend and I were surprised to find only one room in the entire city that was close to our budget. But if you travel to a large city or visit Europe during the low season, you should not have a problem finding budget accommodation once you arrive. Airports as well as railway stations have tourist information offices that can help you find a room, or you can just call a hotel that is listed in your travel guide.

If you plan to stay longer at one destination and don’t mind spending time on the subway or train, you might find a good deal on lodging on the outskirts of town. At one time, I spent a whole week in Paris with several friends. This allowed us to get a discounted weekly subway pass and we didn’t mind that our cheap youth hostel was on the outskirts of Paris.

If you arrive at your destination by train or bus you might find locals approaching you who offer rooms at their home. I have followed such invitations in many places across Europe, and I have not had any problems. The rooms are usually simple, but clean. Don’t count on cable TV, telephone, or Internet access, but these homestays are usually a great bargain compared to hotels. Rooms for rent in private residences are available in most European countries. If you drive into any town, you might see signs offering rooms for rent. This is a much more affordable option than staying at a hotel. I was in a small town in northern Italy on my most recent Europe trip, and all hotels were full, except one very expensive place. I decided instead to take another drive through town and look for signs offering rooms for rent at private homes. I found a pleasant pensione at a fraction of the price that the hotel charged, and a delicious breakfast was also included.

In large cities I have had good experiences with small family-run hotels. They are often a bit outmoded, but they are a great low-cost alternative to modern, sterile chain hotels. Cheap accommodation is not easy to find at major tourist attractions in Europe, but youth hostels are an attractive low-cost option for lodging. Some hostels are part of the International Youth Hostel association and you need to be a member to stay there, but there are many independent hostels now where anyone is welcome to stay. In the summer it is a good idea to book in advance or arrive early in the day. A growing number of hostels not only offer dorms but also double rooms at good rates. You can also save money on lodging by teaming up with a group of two to four travelers. You can share a room and you might be able to afford a hotel that would otherwise be beyond your budget.

Camping in Europe is difficult without a car. Most campgrounds are on the outskirts of town, making a visit to the city center a lengthy endeavor. Years ago I stayed at a campground on the outskirts of London. It was not a pleasant area and it took me an hour by train to get to the city. Even in small towns, most campgrounds are beyond the town limit, which makes access difficult, unless you have a car. If you travel in rural areas and intend to travel slowly, you might want to consider staying at a farm for a few days or renting a house in the countryside. Farm stays and vacation rentals are an increasingly popular lodging option all across Europe, and they are usually cheaper than hotels.

Staying in inexpensive but beautiful and rustic places like the Agriturismo Olivello in Tuscany brings you closer to the locals and the land while being easier on the budget. Photo by Gregory Hubbs.

Exploring your Destination on a Budget

Exploring a city is not only limited to major sites and museums with high entrance fees. The best way to get to know a city is to walk around, sit in a park, enjoy a coffee at an outdoor café and observe the hustle and bustle.  Walking instead of taking the subway or bus is not only more enjoyable, it can also save you money, considering that single subway rides in Europe’s cities are quite expensive. If you prefer public transportation, get a multiple ride pass or a weekly pass, which are always cheaper than single rides. Also keep in mind that many museums offer discounts on certain days of the week or at night, or access may even be free. In some cities you can buy combined tickets for major sites and attractions at a large discount over individual admission charges. Many cities publish free entertainment guides where you can find out about free activities and local cultural events. If you are a student, teacher, or if you are under 26 years old, you can get a discount at many attractions and museums all across Europe. All you need is an International Student Identification Card (ISIC), Teacher Card (ITIC), or Youth Travel Card (IYTC), issued by the International Student Travel Confederation (www.istc.org), with offices all over the world.

Just above Trastevere in Rome, the Gianicolo park is a great place to take a walk and get away from tourists for an inexpensive picnic and relaxation, with panoramas of the city on every side. Photo by Gregory Hubbs.

Where to Eat

Planning your meals carefully is another great way to reduce your travel expenses. Instead of eating at an overpriced restaurant or sandwich shop near popular tourist sites, you might want to consider buying food at a grocery store. Eating out at lunchtime is also cheaper than going out to dinner, since you can take advantage of lunch specials intended for the locals. If you buy groceries and have a sandwich for dinner back at your room, you can save enough change to go out to a bar, café or movie theater later at night.

For lunch or dinner, pick up a sandwich, a quiche, and some pastries in Europe for less than the average lunch at a café/bistro and far less than the average dinner at a restaurant, and eat very, very well. Photo by Gregory Hubbs.

As you can see, budget travel in Europe is quite possible. The more you research budget travel options ahead of time, the more you will be able to plan a trip to Europe that fits your budget. Bon voyage!

Volker Poelzl is a regular contributor and columnist of Transitions Abroad. He has extensively traveled in Europe, mostly on a low budget. Contact him at volkerpoelzl@cox.net.