Travel Europe on a Budget: The Savvy Saver’s Guide

Use travel credit cards to collect airline miles and points. Many credit cards offer lucrative travel rewards—like bonus points when you sign up and use the card—that can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel discounts, and more. Plus, when you use a travel credit card in foreign countries, you’ll often get a better exchange rate than you would at a currency exchange kiosk. Compare cards, read the fine print, and choose wisely to make sure that the interest rate, payment terms, and any signup fees don’t cost you more than you’re saving.

Find a cheap flight. If you’re still deciding where to go, make a list of countries you want to visit and then compare airline ticket prices for each destination. There might be enough of a price difference to be an easy tiebreaker. Check different travel dates, too—midweek flights are often cheaper. Budget air travel in Europe can save you money, but be aware that you get what you pay for in terms of legroom, service, and hidden fees. There may be additional costs for luggage, in-flight beverages, so be sure to do your research before you book.

Prepare your own meals. When you get to a new location, find the market or grocery store first. Stock up on snacks and things that don’t require cooking like bread, cheese, and fruit. Prepare your own breakfast in your hotel room, hostel kitchen, or apartment rental. To enjoy the local cuisine, enjoy a big lunch at a restaurant, since that’s usually less expensive than dinner. Then snack or prepare your own food for dinner. You’ll get to sample the local delicacies while saving money overall.

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Consider buying all-access passes. Individual tickets for trains, busses, and tourist attractions can add up fast. Make a list of where you want to go and what you want to see, and then compare the price of individual tickets with the cost of a broader pass. Rail passes (like the JR Pass in Japan or the Eurail Pass in Europe), bus passes, and city tourist cards can save you money overall since you’re paying a discounted sum for multiple attractions or rides. Many cities offer free walking tours, too—or you can create your own walking itinerary. Email or visit the local tourism office for insider information on how to make the most of your time in each city, then organize what you’ve learned all in one place.

Make it a road trip abroad. Renting a car gives you greater flexibility and makes it easier to fly into the cheapest nearby destination city, since you can just drive to the area you intend to visit. It’s especially good for families. The cost of one rental car is usually much less than the cost of multiple plane tickets, luggage fees, and taxi fares.

As you plan your trip, start with your list of priorities and use a pre-made template create a vacation budget. Direct the majority of your funds toward doing and seeing those things. The more creative you get on saving money, the more you’ll be able to do when you’re there—and that’s priceless.