Europe is a fantastic destination perfect for all sorts of traveling. May it be a journey inspired by one’s passion for art or architecture or history or culture – you can always trust Europe to deliver its best. However, exploring Europe can get too expensive for some people. But this does not mean that you should deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting this iconic destination. So, if you are looking for ways to save money on Europe travel and while traveling in Europe, we have some of the best, time-tested tips to guide you.
1. Plan Well in Advance
Although it holds for all destinations that you should plan your trips well in advance, it is specifically important for the case of European cities. As it is apparent, Europe is extremely popular with visitors from across the world. This means that the closer to your departure date you make your reservations, the tougher it will be to land good bargains. Therefore, it is advisable that you book your hotel rooms at least two months before and your flights at least a month before your intended trip time. Not only will it let you save money on Europe travel, but it will also allow you greater control over what facilities you get to use during your journey.
2. Get Stopover Flights
If you are traveling on a budget but still want to explore the maximum possible European destinations during your trip, you should book flights with stopovers or layovers. They provide the excellent opportunity to explore European cities without having to pay anything substantial. Plus, they are often cheaper than direct flights. And the best thing is that stopovers do not have to be rushed at all, for you can book flights that have as many as seven-day stops! So, although tickets to Rome and accommodation, for example, might be too expensive for you, you can still comfortably bask in the glory of the city without paying a single cent if you buy connecting flights that stay in the city.
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- 7 of the Best European Cities for Layovers and Stopovers
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- How to Book Multi-City Flights and Three Multi-City Trip Itineraries
3. Look into Economical Accommodations
There is no doubt that the luxurious feeling characteristic of lavish hotels is unmatchable and is something everyone wants to enjoy at least once. However, such things can be controlled if you are traveling on a budget and looking to save money. You should consider exploring accommodation options like rentals and backpacker hostels. The former actually offers excellent value for your money, for it is not only cheaper than your average hotel but also often features larger spaces, kitchens, etc., along with other commodities. You might also want to look into housing options that are somewhat distant from the main city and its attractions, for they tend to be much cheaper.
Related Posts:
- Where to Stay in Rome: 7 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in & Visit in Rome
- Where to Stay in Paris: 8 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in & Visit in Paris
4. Be on a Lookout for Free Offers
You have no idea how many things you can do for free on your European holiday, especially during the high seasons. For example, it is very common for popular museums and art galleries, like the Louvre, to have free-of-charge entries on certain days of the week/month/year. You can also attend free concerts, guided tours, culture shows and even visit certain iconic monuments without reaching out for your wallet. Undoubtedly, it requires some groundwork before you head to your intended destination, but it is an excellent way to save money while traveling in Europe.
5. Eat Cheap
Fine dining is a pleasure no one can deny, and the European culinary culture is one of the most superior globally. Therefore, it is no surprise that you would want to check-in some of the most expensive restaurants around you. However, you should also know that excellent food is not necessarily found in high-end eateries. Local street food in Europe has its unique experience and carries the flavors of authentic European culture while being cheap. It may also surprise you that certain Michelin-star restaurants are very easy on the pocket. Therefore, you should always research to see if there are any such dining spots present in the cities you will be visiting. Another excellent tip that always works is to find restaurants popular with college students, for they tend to be on the lower end of the price spectrum.
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6. Walk as Much as You Can
It is an undeniable fact that Europe is very walkable. Its roads are generally aesthetic, safe, and clean, offering excellent reasons to be covered by foot. Plus, most cities, like Prague, Turkey, etc., have attractions in each other’s proximity, so it is convenient to hop from one site to another. Walking not only lets you connect with the local culture in the best possible way, but it also is a great way to save money while traveling in Europe.
7. Stay Focused on What You Want
There are multiple reasons why people travel. It may be for food, for pleasure, for art, or history and culture. Whatever your reason might be to travel, try to remain focused on that. European cities, with their immense potential and great offerings, have the potential to attract people indefinitely. So, although a city might not have the elements you are looking to explore on your trip, there is a high chance you still end up there. This is both exhausting and fund draining, and therefore something you must avoid. The advice is to stay focused on what you want. For example, if you are traveling to explore art, you might want to base your trip in Florence and make meaningful day trips to close areas that also offer art exhibits.
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8. Carry Some Cash
Many sites in Europe do not accept card payments, Germany being an excellent example. So, if you are not carrying any local currency with you, you will be forced to exchange your money at higher rates, which will ultimately take a toll on your budget. Exchange your cash at the city centers, which are the best places to do so. Do not fall into the trap of doing the deed at airports, for they also have unnecessarily high rates that will deprive you of your funds even before you begin your trip!
9. Get a Local SIM Card
Who does not like staying in touch with friends and family back home? Everyone wants to keep their loved ones updated on their trips, excursions, and tales of adventure. However, using your SIM would mean ridiculously high charges. To avoid this, you should buy a local SIM in advance before your trip or when you get to your European destination to enjoy cheaper rates.
A SIM card such as this one is great for phone calls, texts, and comes with 10GB of internet data that can be used in over 30+ countries in Europe.
10. Take Advantage of Available Travel Resources
To make planning your trip easier and help you save money on Europe travel, we listed some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a budget-friendly trip to Europe?
Want to plan a trip and save money on Europe travel? Would love to visit multiple destinations but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a multigenerational trip to Europe are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations and help you save money on Europe travel.
Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.
To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
