Posts Tagged ‘cheap european travel’
Cheap Travel to England
For the past year, travelling to England meant facing a terrible exchange rate with the pound. The rate has changed, and it is less expensive to travel to the UK with dollars today. Saving on hotels and travel will allow you to enjoy more of the fine dining England has to offer.
Budget Hotels
Seek hotel chains that are based in the U.S. if you are not opposed to “buying American” even though you are abroad. Booking rooms at a Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, or Premier Inn will put you right in the thick of a lot of tourist destinations without paying for the historic or local flavor of other accommodations. Booking early will save you money on all accounts as these hotels do tend to get full.
Apartment Exchange
Nearly every city in the UK has apartments available for rent. If you live in a desirable location, you can seek out a home exchange to save on any money spent at all. Otherwise, inexpensive apartments can still be a bargain. You will likely have the flexibility and space to cook meals at home and stay in on occasion, saving you money over hotel options.
Hostels
If you are not concerned over privacy of your accommodations, staying in a hostel may allow you to enjoy many benefits while keeping your expenses low. Foremost, you will have the opportunity to meet fellow travelers and engage in more community activities. Hostels are also often close to transportation and major attractions, making them very convenient.
Bus and Coach Travel
Taking the bus or National Express Coach will likely save you money over the railways. You can also seek out seasonal offers for discounted rates. These sell-out very quickly and are typically not offered year round. If you find a good rate, booking in advance is the best way to assure you will get the rate in the future. Travelling by bus means travelling light. Expect to have to walk a mile or more from the bus station to your ultimate destination. Skip out on toiletries and luxury items and opt for the essentials to make it easier on yourself.
Railways and Trains
Rail tickets are generally inexpensive if you book in advance. Like plane tickets, the prices can go up and down tremendously as the date approaches. By watching prices closely and booking when rates are low, you have a good chance at getting a ticket for as low as bus ticket prices. You will certainly save money over other forms of transit.
Money exchange tip: You may save from using an ATM in the UK over using a currency exchange service. The rates charged at currency kiosks in the airport tend to be higher than the foreign ATM fee, and ATMs are accessible throughout the UK. Bring travelers checks and some pounds for emergency, but plan on doing a lot of your exchanging once you get there.
Tags: cheap England travel, cheap european travel, Cheap travel
Ireland on a Budget
Ireland is extremely friendly to travelers and has a number of completely free day trips for you to take in. We will concentrate our conversation on a few locations, as Ireland is vast and spread between Northern and Southern Ireland.
Dublin
You can get a free walking tour of Dublin for your iPod from VisitDublin. The 12 guides also offer maps for you to print and take as you go. Much less expensive than paying for a tour, and you have the freedom to go at your own pace, lengthening time at the places you’d like to view longer.
A walking tour of Dublin is not complete without tours through famous garden grounds in Phoenix Park, which is the largest green space in Europe. The National Botanical Gardens are additionally free to visitors. Because Dublin weather is moderate year round, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the parks no matter when you travel. A whole day of family fun for zero dollars.
Speaking of zero dollars, all of Ireland’s National Museums are free to the public. The list includes the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art.
Belfast
A walking tour of Belfast will reveal the complexity of its residential quarters. Similar to townships or neighborhoods, the quarters each have their own theme. For example, Queen’s Quarter is famous for its student-friendly living complete with universities and museums.
St. Anne’s Cathedral is open to the public for sweeping views of the Roman architecture. The cathedral has a rich history to provide plenty of opportunities to dive into Irish culture. The new “Spire of Hope” is 100 meters tall and a feat of modern engineering placed marvelously with the antiquity of St. Anne’s.
Complete your Belfast tour with a trip to St. George’s Market. This location boasts year-round Friday farmer’s markets since 1604. The history of the landscape mixed with the jazz and music of the modern culture set in a picturesque Victorian neighborhood. Fridays and Saturdays are both great days to visit, and the market will not disappoint in terms of culture and fun.
Quick Tips
There are a few sites in Ireland which are not offered for free to the public. If you are looking for ways to save, try the Ireland Visitor Discount Pass, which reduces prices to historic scenes throughout Ireland. You can print a pass from the Culture and Heritage Ireland site and enjoy the discounts year round.
Dublin has a similar discount offer, called The Dublin Pass, which comes at a small fee of $20 each day. This pass then admits you to over 30 attractions. The pass is sold in blocks up to 6 days, and you will be required to have one for each person.
The Heritage Card will get you in free to any site maintained by the Office of Public Works. The price varies, but it is around $30, and you will make up those discounts likely in the first day of usage.
Cheap European Travel: Part II – Enjoying Your Stay
Going on a group tour of Europe is one of the cheapest ways to see major destinations in a condensed amount of time. Many of these tours are frequented by Spring Breakers and college students, so if you intend on taking a family, choose wisely. For younger crowds, Contiki Tours cannot be beat. However, families should consider Intrepid Travel, winner of the Best Tour Operator Award in the Responsible Tourism Awards in 2006.
Family Friendly
Intrepid Tours hosts much smaller groups, which means you will feel like you are travelling with friends and family by the end. The tours allow for more independent excursions than many tour lines to accommodate the desire of most families to set off on their own. In fact, one of their small group tours is geared toward young families. The best part about travelling Europe is there is as much for adults to do as there is for children. Without the stress of deciding where to go, figuring out how to get there, and wondering which destinations are safe for families, parents can fully relax and leave the stress to the tour guides. Safety is a primary concern for all families. Tour guides have scouted the areas prior to sending you. In large cities in Europe, one wrong turn can put you in the wrong area, and the provision of your tour guides allows this concern to be lifted.
Intrepid Tour Options
Swiss Family Adventure
§ Length: 8 days
§ Route: Geneva to Morgins
§ Attractions: While enjoying breathtaking views of the Alps, visit small villages of chalets and dairy farms, stop at a goat farm and enjoy a challenging Alpine ropes and ladders course. When you head to Montreaux, you can tour the Chateau de Chillon for a history of knights and princesses sure to enchant and young child. Paddle boating through Lake Geneva is family fun among one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine cities. Educational activities include learning how Swiss cheese is made and visiting a local chocolate factory. Finally, there is a day trip to see glaciers.
Swiss Family Adventure
§ Length: 8 days
§ Route: Prague, Czech Republic to Budapest, Hungary
§ Attractions: In this culturally rich area of eastern Europe, you will enjoy architecture like no other place on Earth. A highlight for most guests is a walk across Praque’s famous Karlsbruck, Charles Bridge, which includes statures of the Saints from nearly 400 years ago. The Prague castle is a magnificent site for the entire family; even children who do not understand the historical significance will be in awe of its beauty and detail. A puppet show with Czech marionettes is a family favorite. You will have the opportunity to go for a bike ride through a rural town of Cesky Krumlov, founded in the 13th century. River rafting near Vienna offers more breathtaking landscapes and family fun. The Prater Amusement Park in Vienna is more commercial, but a visit to the palace of the Hapsburgs brings the whole family right back to the rich culture of Hungary and Austria.
Tags: All-inclusive, cheap european travel, cheap family travel, european travel tours
Cheap European Travel: Part I – Getting There
Many people are looking to cut travel expenses to Europe because of the weak dollar against the euro. While the exchange rate does not lead itself to inexpensive travel, the cost of travel has dropped dramatically. Everything from plane tickets to local subway fares may be lower because of the global recession and the decrease in travelers heading to Europe. Here are some quick tips on how you can save in your travel and accommodations on a European trip before too late.
Cheap Plane Tickets
The cheapest plane tickets to Europe are available if you are willing to have multiple layovers. Depending on where you are flying from in the US, this most likely means a stop over on the east coast. The longer the layover, the better chance your ticket price will drop. The same goes for getting to Europe; if you can stop in London, Madrid or Paris before heading to your ultimate destination, you will save money over tickets directly to smaller cities. Travelling midweek will also drop your plane ticket drastically. Summer months tend to be heavy for European travel, but the end of the summer sees a slightly lower volume of travelers, meaning better deals for you. Try signing up for alerts from airlines to watch ticket priced if your travel dates are flexible.
Cheap Hotels
If you are renting a car, you will find many hotels outside of major cities that have great deals. Driving in Europe is not easy. You will have a very compact car with a number of differences, the least of which is you are on the wrong side of the car. Roads are extremely narrow, very crowded and most cities are not planned. However, thousands of travelers navigate these conditions each year. Renting a car should be reserved for the experienced traveler. If you can stay outside of the city, you will find budget hotels all over. For example, The Hotel Formule 1 has about 300 hotels in France. While there is a sink in each room, there is a shared toilet and shower. Sacrificing a private toilet can save you tremendously with rates starting at under $40 a night. For a step up, try Premiere Classe which has a private toilet and shower in each room. Be prepared to spend closer to $60 a night in Première Class hotels.
Cheap Rail Tickets
One of the best ways to get around Europe once you are there is by rail. In fact, you may consider flying into a large city and taking a train to your ultimate destination to save money. EuroCheapo has a full list of rail schedules and prices to assist you in planning your trip. Anytime you are planning to travel a significant amount by train, remember to pack light. You will be carrying your luggage on foot to most of your destinations from the train; some times, you may be walking multiple miles. Packing light is key to all European travel, but do not pack too casually. Jeans and t-shirts are a dead giveaway for American tourists.
Tags: cheap european travel, cheap tickets to europe, cheap trains in europe, Cheap travel
