The misconception of traveling in Europe is that it is an expensive place to travel in, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. With different regions to explore, here are some tips on traveling Europe for less.
Cheaper Countries
Europe is divided into regions and with more than 47 countries to see, there are countries for every type of budget.
Instead of heading to Switzerland, France or Monaco, opt for the cheaper countries instead.
The Baltics are made up of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and these countries are not only interesting to visit but your Euro will go further here with hostels from only $9.30 (€8) a night, plus there’s a good nightlife scene in Estonia too.
The Balkans are also economical with hostel beds from $9.30 (€8) a night. Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Montenegro are great for those on a budget but avoid Croatia which attracts more tourists and has higher prices.
Accommodation
Europe has an amazing hostel scene and you can find hostels everywhere. In some countries, hostels increase their prices on weekends so search for a hostel outside the city center on weekends and in the city during the week.
Make sure that you aren’t there during one of Europe’s many festivals where the prices of accommodation are higher (unless you’re going to the festival of course).
If you do happen to be traveling there when an event or festival is on, book well ahead to get a lower price or consider Airbnb – renting a room with a local which can be lower than the price of a hotel room (or even a hostel bed if you’re planning on being in Munich during Oktoberfest).
Couchsurfing is even cheaper. Not only will you get free accommodation but you’ll also have the added benefit of insider tips on where to go.
Getting Around
Getting around Europe is so easy especially with the bus or train.
A Eurorail pass covers up to 28 countries and you can buy different passes depending on which areas of Europe you want to explore.
Eurolines is Europe’s fleet of buses which run between 53 cities and offer passes such as 15 days from $227 (€195) – good value if you are planning a lot of travel.
Europe is popular with cyclists so if you’re feeling fit, then hire a bike and cycle through some of the countries instead.
There aren’t many border crossings in Western Europe so you can find yourself cycling through Monaco, France, and Italy all in one day.
Eating for Less
Opt for eating in restaurants at lunchtime instead of dinner. You’ll often find lunchtime specials which can save you a few Euros.
If you’re staying in a hostel, make the most of the kitchen and get together with others to shop in your local supermarket and split the cost of a big meal, or find street vendors for snacks.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
