European Destinations On A Budget
When is the best time to travel to Europe on a budget?
I think the best time to travel to Europe on a budget, actually, is in the winter. You're going to get more for your money when you go there. Your airfare is going to be considerably less. Your hotels probably will be considerably less. So winter is really a terrific time. And if you can abide the weather, you can do really well.
How can I get around Europe on a budget?
It used to be that getting around Europe was a matter of getting a EU rail Pass, and there are actually lots of opportunities still to do that. Recently there has been an upsurge in budget airlines and you can get terrific deals on those budget airlines for flying say, from London to Paris, Paris to Prague and the Czech Republic. The fares are amazingly low. The trick is that sometimes they fly into off airports. For example, you are not necessarily flying into London's Heathrow. You may be flying into Stansted, for example, which isn't exactly in the heart of the city. If you are flying into what you think is Barcelona, it may not actually be Barcelona. It may be 50 miles outside of Barcelona, so that's something to take into consideration. These budget airlines have made a tremendous difference in travel within Europe.
What are popular budget destinations in Europe?
There are a number of popular budget destinations in Europe, and they tend to be more in Eastern Europe. We've seen in the last few years, the rise of places like Budapest and Prague, but there are terrific budget destinations in places like Romania, that have yet to be explored and are not necessarily on the top of anybody's list, and yet they should be. There are beautiful river deltas and there are some terrific eco-tourism and urban-tourism that you should consider. So consider the former Eastern Block countries when you're thinking about traveling in a country where you need to spend a little bit less. Portugal also tends to be a little bit less expensive than its neighbor, Spain. So all of those represent opportunities for saving big and having a terrific vacation.
What are popular European budget destinations for families?
are popular European budget destinations for singles?
Singles can find terrific budget destinations just about anywhere in Europe, but I would say particularly the former Eastern block countries represent an opportunity to experience the European culture but not pay the prices that one associates with London, Paris and Rome. Many of those places have amazing cultural attractions, terrific nightlife and they are at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay in some of the other European capitals. So, those represent opportunities for singles to connect and have a great time on a budget.
What are popular European budget destinations for couples?
Couples can find really great vacation opportunities in some of the former Eastern Bloc countries - Poland, Romania, and Hungary. All of them have the flavor of Europe, but they don't have the same high prices that you're going to find in Rome, Paris, and London. It can be a tremendously satisfying European vacation. There are great cultural attractions, there's some good nightlife, and there's a great culinary aspect to these places. They really are places worth checking out if you want to save money and yet go to Europe. they provide a good opportunity for couples to save money.
What are popular European budget beach destinations?
You can find some really great budget beach destinations in Europe, especially in Spain and along the Riviera. You don't want to be paying central pay prices, so choose places that are a little bit lesser known. Any of the Mediterranean beach destinations can be terrific, but you might want to choose something that's a little bit smaller, a little bit off the beaten path, so that you don't end up paying Riviera prices.
Where can I eat while in Europe on a budget?
In Europe, you have an opportunity to eat very well and to eat inexpensively. For one thing, almost every cafe will post its menu with its prices outside the door, so you know going in what you're going to be paying. The other thing is that you can eat very inexpensively at sandwich shops, grabbing a bite here and there; patisseries, bakeries, offer opportunities. The other way to save money is to go on a picnic. It's actually a really lovely experience to go buy a loaf of bread, buy some cheese, maybe a little wine, and go sit in a park and watch the world pass you by and enjoy the products of the area you're in.
Where can I stay while in Europe on a budget?
Europe actually offers a lot of opportunities for saving money. One trend that we're seeing a lot of is the very tiny hotel room. The man who invented Easy Jet has now a group of hotels, Easy Hotels, that are very small but they're very comfortable and they're relatively inexpensive. So, imagine staying in London for about half the price of what you would expect to pay. You'll be staying in a very small room, but it's also an opportunity to save money that you can spend on seeing other things, seeing other destinations, eating out at a place that you've always wanted to eat, or even getting a theatre ticket. You also don't necessarily have to stay in the best hotel. You can stay in a two-star or a three-star accommodation because you're not going to be spending that much time in your room. Yes, your surroundings do make a difference, but they only make a difference for as long as you're in the room and as long as it's safe and comfortable. Therefore it doesn't really make sense to spend a huge amount of money on a hotel room if you're on a budget.
Is it cheaper to stay in a hostel or a hotel while traveling?
It's often cheaper to stay in a hostel, but that's partly because you have a lot of shared accommodations. Hostels generally cater to younger travelers, but they're not exclusive to younger travelers. You can often be an older person and stay in a hostel. You need to check and make sure that there are not age restrictions, but a hostel is going to be less expensive. You're going to give up a certain amount of privacy, more than likely, but the trade off may be worth it.
What European cites should I avoid if I am on a budget?
There are some European cities that are particularly notorious for being expensive. Should you avoid them? Perhaps. But perhaps you need to look for more economical ways to see them. One of the most expensive is London, and it's primarily because the dollar has sagged very badly against the pound. But there are other European cities where the dollar is not doing as well against the Euro, so the cost of those is expensive as well. Paris is terribly expensive and can be especially expensive in summer. Rome can be expensive, surprisingly, but that's partly fuelled by airfare, because there's not a great deal of competition an airline now. The cost of tickets getting there can be quite high. The major European capitals tend to be more expensive, especially London, Paris and Rome.
