Looking to travel across Europe on a shoestring budget? Here are a few handy tips that can help you save a ton of cash while you take in all the sights and sounds the continent has to offer.
However, there are ways to traverse across Europe without burning a massive hole in your pockets. Here are a few handy tips that can help you save a reasonable amount of cash and still give you bang for your buck while on holiday.
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Frugal Flying
Here’s a surefire way of saving some money. If you are certain about the dates and duration of your Europe trip make sure you book your flights well in advance. Ideally, by booking your flights at least three to six months ahead of your scheduled departure, there’s a good chance you could get great deals on airline tickets. Look for flights on as many online sites as possible and make sure you clear your cookies after every search so you can be fairly certain you’re getting the cheapest deals.
Alternatively, you could also schedule your trip during the offseason, which is typically towards the end of the year in Europe. If you don’t mind freezing temperatures and snow in your socks then heading to Europe during winter should be right up your alley. At least you won’t have to deal with hordes of pesky tourists on your travels.
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Supermarket snacking
If you aren’t too fussy about where and what you eat while travelling, a definite way to save money is by buying food at a supermarket. European supermarket chains like Aldi, Lidl, Sutterluty etc. are packed to the brim with great food for extremely affordable prices, so you could even fill up your backpack with a few days worth of eats every now and then.
Low priced local supermarkets are quite numerous and easy to find, so you can munch away to your heart’s content instead of slobbering all over the bay window of any of the fancy European restaurants you come across. In fact, local street food, especially towards eastern Europe is incredibly affordable as well, so you can fill your bowels while getting a taste of the local cuisine.
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Couch Surf
Staying in hotels in Europe can be quite expensive for the most part and even cheaper options like hostels can still set you back a pretty penny. Instead, get onto sites like Hospitality Club or Couch Surfing where you can get in touch with people from Europe and other parts of the world who are willing to put travellers up for a few nights if you happen to be in their neck of the woods.
The great thing about this is it’s completely free and it works purely on mutual understanding and trust. So if you’re really looking to save money while you’re there, this is a great option to consider since you’ll get to meet your hosts who may even show you around their town or city. However, don’t be a complete cheapskate. It’s generally a good practice to stock your host’s fridge with a few groceries before you leave.
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Bus it!
Travelling internally in Europe, especially by train, is generally costly, especially if you’re travelling long distances. However, with the rise of companies like Flix Bus, which offer bus services all over Europe at extremely affordable rates, travelling within Europe has never been cheaper.
Sure, bus travel usually takes a bit longer than journeys by train or car, but your wallet certainly won’t mind. Plus you get to see a lot more when you travel by bus since they often weave through smaller towns and hamlets that you would otherwise never see if you decided to take any other mode of transport.
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We hope these tips help you save a decent amount while on your travels. Who knows? Every penny you save may come in handy, especially if you come back and find yourself out of a job!
Bon voyage!