Guide to Europe on a Budget

My whole life is one big budget, or should I say, pretending to have a budget to work with. But....I love to travel. While the United States has some of the most magnificent places to see and experience, sometimes you just want, or need, the ambiance and the old/newness of Europe. There is nothing more wonderful than touching a building that has withstood not hundreds, but sometimes a thousand years of life. Or to sip a drink in a tavern that has sloshed ales and served food to the widest variety of characters for hundreds of years, ever changing yet always vibrating with the times of old. To look out over scenery so beautiful and serene you feel like you have jumped into a fantasy book.

Summer is coming and once again you find yourself dreaming of a trip to Europe. So...how do you get there? If you live as many do, from paycheck to paycheck, the dream of a vacation to Europe often seems so unattainable. The first step towards fulfilling that dream is to realize NOTHING is unattainable if you truly set your heart and your mind to it. The second step is to realize, no matter what your budget...there is a way. It may take more time, and careful planning, and perseverance, but the dream can be achieved. Don't let anyone step on your dream or convince you it is impossible. Just smile and send them a postcard!

Traveling to Europe can sometimes be more economical than a vacation to another state. Timing is always important, especially when purchasing your flights. Many airlines give "deals" on flights from New York, Chicago, and Newark. I have actually paid more to get to one of these American locations than I have for the flight to Europe. Start shopping months in advance for the tickets you want, and think in terms of purchasing months ahead of time. Although flights are no longer refundable, it is worth the risk for the money you will save. Your first step is to find the best price on a flight to one of the locations mentioned above, then look for flights from these locations to the country in Europe you have chosen (be careful to look at times and dates for connection purposes). If flying to Ireland, Spain or even France, you can usually find a flight anywhere between $212.00 to $984.00, depending on the time of year you wish to travel, the airline, and the time you purchase your tickets. But, we all know a flight is only one part of your trip. Where to stay, what to see and do, transportation, food...all these need to be considered and that is when your budget really starts screaming at you "NO! I can't afford this!"

One of the tricks I have learned is to put my trip into little budget "segments". Simply put, pay for each part of your trip at different times. Coming up with one large lump sum is sometimes intimidating and impossible, but breaking it into smaller amounts makes it easier to do. Most of us spend money we don't even realize throughout the year. Pulling this money back into a plan is the trick. The first step is to save enough out of a couple paychecks to get your passport if you do not already have one. Even though you can get an expedited passport right before planned travel, the cost is higher, $60.00 more, money better saved for another part of your vacation. Do not opt for one of the new passport cards ...they may NOT be used for international air travel. They can only be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda from land or sea ports of entry (travel.state.gov).

After your passport has been applied for, start saving money out of each paycheck to pay for your flights. Without your flight you are going no where. As soon as you have money set aside, flight shop, shop, shop...and you need to be open to alternative routes. Sometimes you may have to be willing to choose flights that take you a bit out of your way (but why not take a detour to Frankfurt with a 9 hr layover? More sights to see!).

Once you have purchased your tickets, it is time to start putting aside the funds for your housing. Mixing up the quality of housing not only helps your budget, but it also gives you a better "feel" for the place you are visiting. For those traveling without children, a hostel in Europe can often be just as comfortable as a hotel, and may even be part of a hotel. Bed and Breakfasts are not for everyone, but they are a wonderful way to meet people and to get a feel for a way of life. I have had good experiences in them, and some strange ones, like one in a remote part of Ireland where every time we walked through a door the home owners would lock the door behind us. Another budget saving method I have used is to pick a central location and rent a cottage or a townhome by the week, and take day trips for sightseeing. This gives you a place to leave your luggage, and a kitchen to cook your meals in, which helps save on food costs, and gives you the added flavor of shopping in a European grocery store. When breaking down the cost you will generally find nights costs less than per night stays in a hotel. When choosing a hotel, look for those that serve a free breakfast. Breakfast in Europe will keep you going for the majority of your day. Treat yourself to at least one special accommodation during your trip. If you want to stay in a beautiful castle hotel, plan enough for at least one night. You will remember it forever. Castle hotels though require reservations way in advance as they have fewer rooms and are in demand enough to be booked sometimes for six months or more.

Your next paychecks you will be taking out money for your transportation costs. Renting a car is my favorite method of travel because it gives me freedom to stop and go when I choose, and to get lost whenever I want. Some of my best "finds" have been while wandering around narrow byways, completely lost from my original direction. But driving in a foreign country can be intimidating to some people. If you choose the car, place a deposit with a reliable rental agency, and go for the one that offers rentals with unlimited mileage.

Another alternative for traveling in Europe is the Eurail or Eurorail. Eurail offers passes for traveling by train throughout Europe, and are available online at Eurail.com. A Euro pass gives you freedom to travel one country up to 21 countries by train. From $45 to $449.00 you can take as many trains as you want each day. The cost is relatively inexpensive when you figure in the cost of petrol in European countries. While you can't get to some of the more remote locations by rail, you can travel to larger areas and see many of the best sights. In cities, utilize the same public transports the people who live there use. Nothing will give you a better feel for a city and you will meet some interesting, real people on your journey.

Now that the three most expensive parts of the trip are paid for, it is time to start saving money for shopping, food, sightseeing, and all other extra's. Taking even $50 out of each payday and immediately purchasing travelers checks or loading onto a prepaid credit card, keeps your money out of sight and hopefully out of mind. Keep doing this until the day you are ready to leave. Before you even realize you have a nice sum saved up. To budget food costs, as mentioned before, choose hotels that serve breakfast, then purchase foods easy to make and eat while traveling, like fruits and sandwiches. Load your itinerary up with a combination of sights that are free and those that are not. Research each location on the internet and know ahead of time what the cost will be, dates and hours visits are available. Not all sights are open all year and there is nothing worse than peering over a locked gate at a place you have dreamed of seeing (or getting kicked out of a one after "miraculously" falling over the gate... not that I would know....).

To help keep your costs lower, be well prepared when packing. Toiletries, vitamins, medicine, etc. can be very costly in other countries, not to mention sometimes hard to find what you are used to having. I like to pick up sample sizes of these items whenever I am in the grocery store and these are what go in my suitcase whenever I travel. Packing appropriate clothing is also a must. You don't want to get caught in a rain storm and end up purchasing an expensive jacket because you did not bring one with you. Good rule of thumb, one light weight sweater/jacket, one warmer one, one pair of comfortable shoes for walking and one dress pair. If you are traveling with children, make sure they have one carryon bag with items to keep them entertained. If you pack any special doll or other toy to give them a sense of normalcy, always make sure it is in a carryon...you don't want to hear the cries if this gets lost! There is no doubt your children will still be begging you to buy them things while on your trip, but having items with you helps your budget.

There is no better feeling than to take a vacation - and have it all paid for before you leave. To take a vacation all on credit, almost defeats the entire purpose of a "vacation" by giving you added stress when you come home and still have to pay for it. I decided long ago, if I can't pay for it, I can't afford it. Realizing you don't have to pay for the entire vacation all at one time, yet can have it paid for before you go, makes the idea of a vacation a little bit easier to turn into a reality. If you only have one vacation time each year, this means you have an entire year to be planning. If you are visiting Europe this summer, on a budget or without a budget....get busy! Now is the time to purchase your plane tickets if possible.

Hey! What are you doing? Put that candy bar back....you don't need it. That is money for your vacation! Sometimes....we just need to sacrifice little things to make big dreams come true. Happy travels! Maybe we will meet...on the Eurorail.