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Posts Tagged ‘Europe’

Europe can either be one of the most expensive destinations in the world, or one of the least costly, depending on what you do, where you eat, where you stay and how you get around.

Europe is a hit with budget travelers and the well heeled alike, but this article focuses on helping the former get the very most from their travel dollar.

The goal of budget travel is not merely to spend as little as possible. The true goal of the budget traveler is to get the most value out of his or her travel budget, and to focus those limited funds on the things that mean the most to them.

Often this means finding cheap lodging in order to enjoy a four star dinner at the finest restaurant in Paris. For others, it could mean buying food at the local grocery and cooking your own dinner, so that you can splurge on a night at the opera or the ballet.

Listed below are some of our all time favorite tips for saving money on a vacation in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter):

- Eat where the locals eat. Eating with the local people instead of the tourists is a great way to save money and enjoy some of the finest cuisine. The restaurants favored by local residents tend to be those that provide the best meals at the lowest prices.

- For a quick and economical breakfast, pick up a roll, some fresh cold cuts and a piece of fruit from the local market. Then enjoy a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the local park.

- When eating out, choose the fixed price menu and the house wine for the best value. Most restaurants offer two or three choices on their fixed price menu, and these dishes are often a great way to sample the local cuisine.

- Sleep cheap on the train. Overnight trains are a great way to both get from place to place and sleep cheaply.

- Be sure to bring a meal, bottle of water and snack along with you. You will save money by not visiting the dining car, and you will enjoy some great food as well.  Read more...

If you plan to cross the Atlantic Ocean, there are a few tips that can help you before starting your first Europe vacation.

First of all, you need to understand and be fully aware during your trip that Europe is very different from the United States in every possible way. Even in the UK.

In consequence traveling through Europe is also completely different than traveling to any American city.

Transport

Even if you can afford it, you should never rent a car to move around any city. There is completely lack of space, there is no place to park and driving directions in most European cities are not as straightforward as we are used to know.

Public transportation in most major cities is very affordable and easy to use. It is the most used method of transportation for everybody either tourists or locals. If you do not like public transportation, you can always hire a cab.

The countryside is very nice all over Europe, and driving conditions differ from what I described above. Traveling from one city to another with a rented car, will allow you to stop in incredible and nice towns where you will discover very nice things almost in anyone, if you can afford the time.

I rented a car once in the French Riviera to travel from Nice to Monaco, very nice, but I did it for a couple of days, returned it and continued my trip.

However, roads are very narrow and dangerous, so be extremely careful. Trains are the most used transport all over Europe to go from one city to another. They are cheap, safe and reliable.

Safety

Most European cities are safe, at least in the tourist areas. However, pick pockets are all around Europe looking for tourists. Take extremely care about them. Split your money, hide it very well and be careful when taking money out because they will notice where do you hide it.

Do not leave bags or purses unattended or hanging from restaurant chairs. If you use a back pack, do not carry money or passports within it. I personally saw once, how they cut the bottom of a back pack with a knife to steal a passport.

I always use a special pocket which hangs from my neck and goes under the underwear shirt. This shirt has to be inside your pants to avoid any falling in case the string is cut.  Read more...

You need to plan your trip well in advance and also book in a good hotel in Europe ensuring your pleasant stay there. Here are a few tips for you to have a memorable holiday in Europe.

One of the most popular sites to look for a good hotel in Europe is Leonardo hotels which have hotels all over the continent. The Leonardo group is opening hotels in Europe in all attractive locations like Munich, Berlin and Tel Aviv very soon. The Leonardo is the European Division of Fattal Hotels founded in 1998 by David Fattal.  You will be able to find a Leonardo hotel in Europe, in most of the places. 

HOTEL IN BELGIUM: For example, if you plan to visit Brussels, you don’t have to look for a hotel in Europe which will serve your purpose. Rather you will find a Leonardo Hotel in Antwerp. The Hotel Florida, which is managed by Leonardo Group, offers transportation from the airport to the hotel. You will be able to book in TGV Travels which travels from Amsterdam to Paris which stops in front of the hotel and visit many of the famous places in Antwerp which are quite close-by to the hotel. You will be assured of a high level of care irrespective of the duration of your holidaying and you will surely enjoy your stay here, one of the best hotels in Europe.

When you visit Brugus, you can book at Leonardo Hotel Brugus, Belgium which is only a few kilometers from the city. You will get all the comfort at a reasonable charge with good accommodation, internet access, and food and drinks which suit your palate. Name it, and you have all the luxury in this hotel at an affordable cost. The proximity of the hotel to the city is not common among the hotels in Europe and from here you will be able to enjoy the discovery tours to the city’s alleys, canals, architecture, and other natural treasures. You will really feel at home in this hotel than in any other hotel in Europe and you will vouchsafe for this! Similar is the case with other places in Belgium like Charleroi, Namur, or Wavre where you can book in a Leonardo Hotel and enjoy your visit to the fullest.  Read more...

Vacation. It’s a wonderful word and a wonderful thing to be able to do. Of course, like everything else in life, good comes with bad. If you’re looking for cheap Europe airline tickets or cheap flights to anywhere else, join the rest of the general population. Majority of travelers are travelers who are on budgets looking for affordable travel plans. In order to optimize your savings to go back into your bank account or towards your actual vacation, your best bet is to following these five helpful tips to find your best traveling options.

1. Buy Early

If you know you’re going to travel during peak seasons (during the summertime), making reservations late in the game can cost you an unnecessarily excess of money. Airline tickets typically go up 21 days, 14 days, 7 days, and 3 days before flying, so make sure you plan ahead. For international traveling, you’ll want to book even earlier, three to six months in advance, for the best deals.

2. Buy Late

If you’re unable to make plans in advance, sometimes buying late has its advantages too. Often you can buy tickets at the very last minute for a great price, if an airline has failed to fill their planes. If you’re a flexible traveler and don’t mind the last minute suspense, waiting until last minute can end up being a great alternative.

3. Shop Around

Never buy the first ticket you find just because the price sounds good, explore your other options first. A great travel agency can help you find great deals with other airlines. If you know of one, stick with them and shop around a little bit before purchasing your airline tickets.

4. Know When to Buy

The most difficult part of booking a flight is when to stop tracking fares and make that once and final purchase. A travel agency can help you with that decision if you start to feel lost in the sea of fares and airline companies. Also keep in mind that most airlines launch fare sales on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

5. Be Flexible

If you live close to one airport, don’t rely on that one airport location for departure, expand your departure location to your greater city or town to increase the number of airlines and airfares that show up in your search results. If you are traveling for pleasure and not a specific dated event, be flexible with your traveling dates, this will open up a plethora of more better and cheaper deals for you.  Read more...

Europe travel is a dream for some budget travelers. Even though the costs of Europe travel have increased these few years, European travel can still be affordable, for budget travelers, independent travelers, college students and families.

One of the most popular budget travel tip for your Europe travel is to get a rail pass that matches your budget and travel requirements. When choosing between rail passes, always consider your travel destinations even before you leave to go for your Europe travel.

Some rail passes are only valid for one country, while some other rail passes can be used for all European countries (for a specific period of time). If your budget travel only covers one country, then get the single country pass.

If you plan to spend a considerable amount of time in Europe, you will probably want to visit many different locations. So check out the rail pass that is valid for a longer period of time. It will be much cheaper for your Europe travel if you get those extended-length rail passes if you plan to stay in Europe for quite a while.

It is a good idea to get the European rail passes before leaving home. Most travel agents can help you buy European rail passes, as well as providing advice on which type of rail pass best suits your needs. AAA provides valuable information on European rail passes. You can get the passes from them and may even score some discounts. You’d never know!

European rail passes are also available on the Internet from a number of sources. You may opt to purchase a European rail pass directly from these sources. Double check to make sure that you get your rail passes before you leave for your budget travel to Europe. It may take longer than expected to reach you, so be sure to get this done promptly.

Another important point is that many trains in Europe require a reservation. Holding a rail pass does not mean that you have a reservation. You must make a reservation on the train you want as soon as possible after arriving in Europe, or ask about making one before you leave home.

It is also important to remember that many overnight trains will require an additional reservation, and extra money for sleeping compartments. This is very important especially if you are boarding a long distance train. Always ask about the sleeping facilities that are available when making your reservation.  Read more...