Let's face it.
We all need a vacation once in awhile.
The major problem is that besides paying to get to the dream destination, there are other expenses that add up as well such as paying for accommodations, food, souvenirs, money to pay for tours and other activities which will make your trip memorable as well as other travel expenses in the country like taxis and trains and you must always have emergency money as you never know what may happen.
Wow! This looks like a lot! Well, it definitely adds up and especially when you are talking about Europe..
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But, what's the point of ruining your European getaway with worries about money? That defeats the purpose of taking a vacation.
So I will give you some tips on how to save major bucks and the rest is up to you to make it the trip of a lifetime.
When and Where to Go In planning for a trip, the first thing to decide on is where to go.
We already know you want to go to Europe hence you reading this but Europe is enormous so you have to narrow it down with your favorite locales.
Central and Eastern Europe is typically cheaper than the Western region.
Examples of Central and Eastern European countries are Austria, Hungary and Germany.
Countries like France, Italy and the UK (anywhere with famous shoe designers) are very expensive.
Also, it is best to travel after peak season as this is after the tourist season.
Peak season works out to be more expensive as this is when everyone gets a chance to make money and so they raise the prices on everything.
Good months to travel to Europe are April to June and September to early October as you still get good weather and you will avoid the high prices.
Where to Stay This is dependent on where you have decided to go and the kind of vacation you want to have.
The common factor in your options is to stay away from expensive hotels.
Europe has so many options for accommodations.
Bed and Breakfasts will offer a comfortable stay and will give you the experience you crave about local culture.
Hostels are very popular in Europe.
You can find hostels with private rooms and they aren't limited to youngsters.
If you insist on staying in a hotel then try budget hotels like Travelodge and EasyHotel.
They often offer deals and great prices.
Holiday apartments are usually available in the cities and rural regions.
They are better than a hotel because you get a bigger space and a cheaper to similar price.
It's a great option if you're traveling in a group.
Finally, you can get a tent or camper van.
There are campsites in Europe to stay.
But, as I said previously, this depends on the type of trip you want - you must be willing to forgo certain amenities and revel in the camp vibe instead.
What to do for Fun Research activities available in the country before you start shelling out money.
Lots of places will have offers such as museums, attractions and tours.
Europe is so culturally rich there is no way your trip should be boring.
You just have to know where to find what's happening.
For this I recommend searching local newspapers and/or magazines listing events and attractions.
You can also visit a local tourist office as they give good advice.
How to Get Around Research transportation costs.
Cars are usually expensive in a big city.
Public transportation is a reasonable alternative.
If you plan on traveling a lot, Eurailpasses will save you money.
However, if you are only going to make short trips then you may want to purchase tickets as you go along.
The local bus system will also keep some money in your pockets.
Where to Eat Eating out a lot can blow your travel budget.
Be careful to stay away from tourist spots and look for restaurants which offer lunch specials.
Listen to local advice to discover those eateries that aren't popular with the tourists.
You can save a lot of money by making your own food.
Stick to restaurants for maybe one or two meals.
Preparing food of course is accommodating in hostels, holiday apartments or camp sites.