Top 25 Ways to Save on Europe Travel

Good article Frank! I especially like the tip about finding your "travel focus" rather than "bouncing around from place to place."

Researching which countries and regions are less expensive and staying away from big expensive cities,like London for example, will save money as well. Better values can be found in some areas of countries like Spain, Portugal, and Croatia.

I will be economizing this year by not buying new clothes for travel, going without the $3 daily Herald-Tribune, spending less for internet connections, and traveling in Europe four weeks instead of six. I will probably spend a few nights in a hostel to save money. I chose flight times to eliminate the need to spend a night before or after at a hotel near the airport at home. I take advantage of freebies when I can (museums, concerts, street entertainers, etc.) I have pre-paid for a tour, train tix for London-Paris, and inexpensive flights between cities. I carefully shopped for my hotels several months in advance of travel and made reservations. I even plan to carry "snacks" off the plane for later use.

Hi Eli,
Eurostar.com is the official web site to buy chunnel tickets. There are 2 categories of discount youth tickets, one under 11 and one 12-25 and the discount is significant. The thing with eurostar tickets is that if you get the standard nonflexible tickets, it's a good value but the price goes up quickly from there. Also, if you are going to buy and are sure of your dates, buy right away and have them sent to you (it does cost $18 dollars to have them mailed to the US and I couldn't find any way around paying that). The price goes up quickly and quite a bit as you get closer to the date of travel. Have fun.

The travel slow option has always been my option not only has it allowed me to see much on a budget but I also feel I get a chance to see more of the "real" country and not just the sites. Also renting for a week+ at a time is much cheaper than hotels.

Finding free days and reduced rates. There is this myth that free Louvre day lines are a nightmare. I have never been in summer but in spring and fall the line moves fast. Paris is full of free stuff, and other European cities are as well.

I diet(budget) before I go. It doesn't make sense to give up the little things I do for luxary and experience in Europe, it is why I travel. I would rather give up a month of dbl 16oz soy lattes in my boring old hometown and be able to live the luxary of coffee and the Tribune in Europe every morning. Eat lots of beans and rice at home, and parma ham and strawberries in some Italian market. I don't buy new clothes for travel. I would rather splurge on something special abroad where the shopping can be part of the adventure.

Take a Rick Steves tour. Current tour prices are locked in at lower Euro....much more bang for your dollar. For those of you who prefer to go it alone...try one of these tours anyway...you will be shocked at how much fun you will have.

I eat at local Mom & Pops type restaurants when abroad... Unlike certain spoiled Crew members who MUST be served by Servers in bowties in the Tourist zones! I eat well and better than. I also hit the grocery store and buy six pack of water and portable snacks. I make my own breakfast in my hotel apartment and make my own coffee to start my day. My biggest meal of the day is at lunch.

That way I can save almost half of my expense account and still have money left over to go shoe shopping and hit Zara's!!

I'm not cheap, I'm smart.