Getting There the Most Economical Way

The least expensive time to travel to Europe would be on the off-season. This is generally from October until April (with the exception of Christmas and New Year's). The streets will not be clogged with as many tourists, so you'll get to experience some of how the locals live. Just make sure to dress accordingly. It can be really cold in some areas, but relatively mild and quite pleasant in others. Check websites such as for information on the average temperatures at your destination(s).

Okay, so now you've arrived in Europe. How do you get around? Depending on how far you plan to travel and how many cities you would like to hit, there are a wide range of options.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Which is the Least Expensive?

A lot of tourists like to rent cars upon their arrival in Europe, which can get rather expensive. Not only do you have to pay for the rental, but you're usually required to get the insurance on top of it. And gas? Wow! It's extremely expensive. Also, driving in Europe might be quite a bit different from driving in your home country, and driving in major cities can be downright terrifying. And there's always the chance that you'll get a traffic ticket, which is rather costly. So if you're trying to save your money and your sanity, do not rent a car.

A lot of major European cities have a reliable transit system, usually subways, trams, busses, or a combination of them. If you're staying for at least a few days, you can usually get a discount on your travel for the time that you're there. In Paris, for example, you can buy a 10-pack of tickets for the Metro for less than what you would pay for 10 individual tickets. Don't be afraid to ask at the ticket counter to find a discount that works for you. Public transit in Europe is usually pretty efficient, runs from early in the morning until late at night, and has good maps at the stations to help you figure your way around. Many of these public transit systems will get you from the airport into the center of town. No need to pay an expensive cab fare!

What about transportation between cities? Don't forget that Europe has an amazing rail system. There are plenty of discounts to be had if you time things right. You can definitely look into a Eurail pass, if you plan to travel a lot by train during your trip. Visit

If you're only traveling within a single country by train, check at the train station upon your arrival for any discounts to get to your next destination. For example, if you're spending 3 days in Cologne and then moving on to Berlin, go to the train station your first day and ask about Sparpreis tickets. If you book at least 3 days in advance, you can get a 25% discount, even more if you book up to a week in advance. Some restrictions apply. If yo're traveling within a region on a weekend (say, from Aachen to Dusseldorf), you and up to four other people can purchase a "Happy Weekend" ticket, which allows all five of you to travel for one very low price, all weekend long. Of course, these are just the deals in Germany, but many other rail systems have discounts too. All you have to do is ask as early into your trip as possible. Also, you want to be in second class, as the fares are cheaper.

Another note about the trains: if you're traveling on the high speed train between cities, you may be charged an additional fee for the speed. It's not much, generally a euro or two. Also, it's definitely worth getting reserved seats on the high speed trains. Reserving seats cost a few euros extra, but it's so much more comfortable than sitting on the floor, waiting for a reserved seat to come available. And bring snacks. The restaurants on these trains are way overpriced.

Let's say you want to travel between England and somewhere on the Continent. The first thing that probably pops into your mind is the Channel Tunnel. And while that is an effective means of getting across the English Channel, it's not the most cost effective. You might be surprised to discover that Europe has many very low-cost airlines that fly you pretty much anywhere in Europe that you want to go. Here are some of the most popular:

• Ryanair: (a British-based airline, most flights originate in the UK or Ireland)
• EasyJet
• GermanWings (Obviously, a German based airline. Most flights originate from Germany)
• BMI Baby
• VolaGratis: (an Italian website – also available in English – that gives you a comprehensive list of low-cost fares between the destinations that you specify)

As with most airlines, the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare. But generally, you can fly between major European cities for less than 100 euros round trip. If you happen to catch a fare sale, it can be far far less than that (I've seen fares for one British pound each way, excluding taxes). It's also worth noting that most of these airlines are no frills. They don't serve snacks or drinks for free, so bring your own. Seating is generally first come-first serve.

Resting Your Head While Saving Some Change

If you're not too picky about where you stay and basically just need a clean place to rest your head at night, you have some really inexpensive options. The Internet is a good resource to find inexpensive hotels. Just do an Internet search for hotels at your destination, and it will bring up a lot of sites that will allow you to compare prices and amenities. If you want a private bathroom, these sites will let you know if one is available in the room. Many of the sites also have pictures of the rooms and hotel amenities. You may have to give up some comforts, such as air conditioning—most hotels don't have it. But most do serve a substantial free breakfast. A typical European breakfast consists of assorted cold meats, cheeses, and breads, condiments, yogurt, perhaps some hard boiled eggs, coffee, tea, and juice.

If you don't mind staying in some soulless chain hotel, there are some inexpensive options there too. Etap and Ibis hotels are both part of the Accor Hotels family: —and are reasonably priced. A room at Etap can also sleep three comfortably (a double bed and a bunk). There are usually several to choose from within most major cities, so you can pick one according to the area of town in which you wish to stay (a map on their website pinpoints the location of the hotel). These hotels typically have air conditioning and private baths, but you have to pay for their breakfast and it's not very good. But it might be worth it to you to only have to pay around 50-60 euros per night (at Etap, Ibis is a little bit more) to stay in Paris or Amsterdam. You can always stop at a bakery for croissants and coffee.

Cheaper still are hostels, if you're a student backpacking through Europe or on a trip with friends. Generally, you have to give up some peace and quiet and a private bath, but you also have a better chance of meeting new people from all over the world. Just do a search for hostels online to find one that is right for you.

And just because you're traveling on a budget, that doesn't mean that you have to rule out a Bed & Breakfast or an apartment (for lengthier stays). The Internet is a great source for those too. Many B&B's in England are even cheaper than hotels, although you may not get as much privacy or your own bathroom. I found some pensions (short-term rental apartments) in Prague that had a living room and full kitchen for less than 100 euros a night! And with a full kitchen, you don't need to eat out for every meal.

Cheap Eats

Depending on where you stay in Europe, you may come across some very expensive food and drinks (a small Coke in Paris for 3 euros? Quelle horreur!), but if you know where to look, you can save some money here too without having to resort to eating at McDonald's every meal. Come on, you didn't come to Europe to eat McDonald's, did you?

In case your hotel doesn't offer breakfast, there are usually a lot of bakeries offering cheap breads and pastries. So hit up the bakery for breakfast, and then be on your way.

As far as lunch goes, there are a variety of places that offer snack menus. Menus are always posted outside of the restaurant or café so you can check out their prices and what they offer before you go in. Snacks, by the European definition, usually consist of pretty hearty sandwiches with a side of salad. They're generally inexpensive (less than 5 euros) and will sustain you until dinner. Snack stands are good for getting wursts or savory crepes, and bakeries are also a good source for sandwiches. Better yet, how about doing a little shopping for the lunch fixings yourself? Get some good bread, cheese and fresh fruit at the market and make yourself a nice little picnic. Food is generally much cheaper at the shops than they are in the restaurants and cafes, and it gives you the chance to chat it up with the local merchants. Another cheap (but not exactly healthy) option is to pick up some fries at a Friterie. You generally get a very large portion slathered with mayonnaise.

If you plan on being thirsty a lot, get a large bottle of water to carry around with you. Restaurants do not give you free refills on drinks, and you cannot order tap water. It's a good idea to stop at a small grocery or convenience store at the beginning of the day to get enough water to slake your thirst between meals. Restaurants overcharge for drinks and would probably frown on you bringing in your own. So just limit yourself to one at the restaurant (incidentally, beer is usually cheaper than soft drinks) and quench your thirst with the water you've been carrying around all day (which is cleverly hidden in your bag) after you leave the restaurant.

As for dinner, your best bet is probably to hit a pub or a bar. They generally serve reasonably tasty and hearty local fare at a good price. You can also find many cheap and good ethnic restaurants—Turkish/Greek, Indian, Chinese—and pizza/pasta joints. Always check the menus outside first for prices. Many restaurants also offer a fixed price menu for dinner. I've seen them for around 20 euros per person. It's generally a multi-course meal: an appetizer, a main dish with a side, and dessert, all for one price. Your choices are limited, but the meal is usually excellent. Drinks generally are not included in the price.

By the way, restaurants don't usually open for dinner until 6 pm or later. And as far as tipping goes, the general rule is, if the meal is inexpensive, round up to the nearest euro (if your meal comes to 5,50, for example, give them 6, but if it comes to 5,90, give them 7 instead of 6). If the meal is more expensive (which is more likely around dinner-time), give them a few extra euros for good service.

How to See the Sights without Breaking the Bank

If you like to explore old churches and cathedrals, you're in luck. Most of them are free to get into, although a small donation is nice. Some cathedrals, like Westminster Abbey, charge you a fee to get in. If it's Westminster Abbey, it's definitely worth it. Otherwise, if you balk at paying admission and you're not sure it's worth it, just skip it. Sometimes you have to pay for extras, like seeing the treasury or climbing the tower for excellent views of the city. If these things are worth it to you, then go for it. Places of worship are cheap art museums. Most of them are breathtaking on the inside, and some have very famous works of art that you get to see at little or no cost.

A lot of cities offer a discount ticket that allows you into a certain number of museums for one low price. In Bruges, Belgium, for example, I was able to buy a "5 Musea for 15 Euro" ticket, and I was given a choice of about 12 museums. So I chose my five and got in at a cost of 3 euros each, which is considerably cheaper than paying individual admission prices, sometimes half as much. You can buy these tickets at the Tourist Information Office or participating museums.

It's a good idea to check with your hotel and the Tourist Information Office to see if they have any discount coupons for things such as tours, attractions, or local shops. At my hotel in Bruges, I got a coupon for 10% off at one of Bruges' fine chocolate shops. That coupon not only led me to great chocolate, but also to a nice conversation with a charming local.

Another great thing to do that is absolutely free is to just stroll around. Explore any charming side streets that catch your eye. Admire the architectural integrity of the outside of a building, if you're content to just do that instead of paying 5 euros to see the inside. Visit gardens and parks; some of them are free. Many of them are beautiful, with artfully arranged gardens and gorgeous sculptures. They are great places to take a picnic, to sit and read, or to people watch. Browse around flea markets and antique shops. Enjoy the buskers and street performers who entertain in the market square or the subway station (and give them some spare change while you're at it). In other words, just take in the atmosphere. That's as much a part of your trip as the museums and the castles and everything else that costs money. And it's those kinds of things that will make your trip truly memorable.