So the Euro is up this year and that vacation you planned is likely to cost you more. The trick is to have a great time without sacrificing anything important. Here are a dozen tips that just might save you money.
Tickets: Save Transportation Cost with Open Jaws
Want to see a lot of Europe? Plan you trip in one direction, say from London to Rome. Then buy an Open Jaw Ticket, say landing in London and returning from Rome.
Plan to Visit the Cheaper Countries
Cheapest countries in Western Europe: Portugal and Greece, although the Euro and European monetary policies are tending toward equalizing the price differential in these poorer countries.
Transportation: Where to find Cheap(er) Gasoline
Last year it was Spain, where gasoline was frequently found at less than 80 Euro cents per liter. Compare this with a cost over 1 Euro for many other destinations. (3.79 liters = 1 gallon, so .80 Euros per liter = 2.99 per gallon.) Gasoline in Europe is expensive, but the automobiles in Europe are generally more efficient, so a balance is achieved.
Interesting tidbit: "Compare the price of gasoline ($1.75/gal) with Coca Cola (~$2.50/gal). Gasoline first requires crude oil to be explored and found, than extracted from the ground, shipped to a refinery, refined, then distributed and ultimately pumped into your tank. Meanwhile, Coca Cola is essentially colored, sugared tap water."
Cheap Transportation: Train
Italy is still known for its extensive rail network and low ticket prices. If you are traveling around Italy, a rail pass may not net you much savings. Just buy your tickets as you need them at the ticket window or the ticketing kiosks.
Admissions: Card it!
Most large cities in Europe have discount cards that allow you to visit many museums at a discounted price. Check them out when you go to the local tourist information center--and remember that many have a time limit which may make them less useful to folks who don't want to see lots of museums in a couple days.
Trains: Trolling for Bargains
When you go up to the ticket window in a European train station, be ready to spout off your destination, whether you want a one-way or round trip, and the departure time of the train you've selected. If you're getting your tickets in advance, ask at the window if there are other trains that might be cheaper that day--you never know. I've saved up to 60% of the price of a ticket just by taking a slightly slower train an hour later than the one I'd originally chosen.
Renting Cars: Rent or lease a Diesel
Specify a Diesel car when you rent or lease. In many countries, diesel fuel is subsidized, and costs far less than gasoline. It is also widely available, no need to worry about finding it. Many turbo diesels get great gas mileage as well, sweetening the deal. Leasing, or buy-back deals, can also save you money if you're renting for more than 17 days.
Lodging: Rent a house or Apartment
Vacation rentals are becoming more popular. You'll get room to stretch out and a kitchen to cook in, saving tons of cash over eating out all the time.
Hotels: Share a bath.
No, I don't mean bathe with someone else, although that can save you money too. There are still some one and two star hotels in Europe with bathrooms down the hall. In many countries, especially expensive ones like Switzerland, sharing a bath can cut the price of a room almost in half. Look for small, locally owned, one and two star hotels or a family hostel. Most of them won't have an Internet presence, so you might have to hoof it a bit to find one, or ask at the tourist information point in or near a train station.
Eating: Picnic with the help of an Open Air Market
At least once a week most towns in Europe feature a traveling market. Even if you don't have cooking facilities, you can usually buy cured meats, olives, cheeses, roast chicken and pork, and bread, enough for a great picnic and a good way to try the local cuisine.
Eating: Have your "big" meal at mid day
In countries like Spain, restaurants offer full three course meals, often with wine or beer and coffee, for a set price at lunch time, often for less than 10 Euros. You'll see the notice on restaurant windows. And remember, that price is all inclusive; nobody's gonna add tax, and service is included.
Eating: Follow the Workers
Those guys in the paint-splattered overalls know where to get a bargain. Don't look just for a restaurant, look for these guys wolfing down huge amounts of food--they know where to get it cheap. Don't count on dainty and delectable gourmet tidbits--you're more likely to come away with great mounds of mama's pasta with tomato sauce and a slab o' roast beef.
Planning to Save
Need some help on how to visualize your travel budget? See: Travel Budgeting - Budget Your Travel to be Frugal, not Cheap. Page 2 offers Frugal - not Cheap - European Vacation Suggestions.
