10 Thrifty Travel Tips for Exploring Europe on a Budget

1. Book in advance

There are a few advantages to this one… Booking all accommodation, travel, and excursion tickets in advance allows you to take advantage of early bird discounts and secure better prices. It also gives you more time to research and compare options – leading on to my next tip!

2. Shop around 

The first deal you find will most likely not be the cheapest, so use budget travel websites and compare prices to find the best offer.

3. Stay flexible 

Having little flexibility with travel dates means that you will probably pay a bit more. So if possible, try to stay flexible. 📅

*Top Tip* You can use skyscanner.com to find the cheapest flight times within the month, and most budget travel sites allow you to filter hotels etc in the same way!

4. Opt for budget accommodations 

Hotels can be expensive, so a few alternatives are hostels, guesthouses, airbnb, or even couchsurfing.

5. Off-peak season travel 

The “school holidays” tend to be the most expensive time to travel so perhaps try to avoid this and instead travel out of the peak season.

6. Student Discounts

Calling all students - Many attractions, museums, and even transportation abroad offer student discounts or special rates. 

7. Cook your own meals 

Restaurant bills usually take up a proportion of your budget when travelling, so try to cook your own meals, or eat at local street food stalls to save on dining expenses. 

8. Public transportation 

Use public transport or walk instead of taking taxis or renting a car 🚌. Many European countries have very good and affordable public transport systems so take advantage of this.

9. Pack light 

Most flights nowadays do not include any luggage (except a small carry on if you’re lucky), and the cost of adding on a bag is usually more expensive than the actual flight!

10. Daily Budgets

Avoid unnecessary expenses by setting a daily budget and tracking your spending. 👍