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As a fellow brokie, one who unfortunately does not have wealthy family members or a job that pays above the average, I have real experience stretching a dime into a dollar. Here are five budget travel tips for travelers in Europe and beyond that actually work.
1. Flying Is Overrated. Take the Bus or Train
I know. Flying saves time and depending on where you are going, it might actually be less expensive than the train or bus. However, when I found myself yearning for somewhere far away in 2019, I downloaded the Flixbus App and started searching. I found a good deal from where I was living to Barcelona. It would take me a full day to get there and back, and my flight anxiety was another big reason to avoid flying altogether. I compared the Flixbus ticket at €80 round-trip to a flight for the same dates and, with carry-on, the flight would have cost me €120 more.
Back then as a student, €120 was nearly half my rent. Flixbus it was. If you do not have Flixbus in your country, long-distance buses are still a great option. If you are based in Germany, here is a little hack: do not search for Deutsche Bahn tickets on the German DB website. Check the Austrian ÖBB website instead, because some long-distance tickets are significantly cheaper there. The DB also launched a Last-Minute ticket program with discounted fares. Only took them two decades, but I digress.
2. Book a Room, Not an Entire Accommodation
Back when I was pinching pennies (still do), the only reasonably priced option was a shared room or an Airbnb where I stayed with others. While I tend to be a very anxious person, I still booked a room for just over €100 for a full week in Barcelona. I was not located directly in the city and shared the apartment with the host, but it saved me a lot of money. I can only recommend it.
The key is to look carefully at your potential host’s profile. Do they have reviews? If yes, what are the negatives and what are the positives? Focus on the negatives especially: is it something you can compromise on? If yes, go ahead and book. If not, move on. Budget tight, standards reasonable.
3. Bring Your Own Food
When I went to Zurich (check out the series, part 1, part 2 and part 3) I knew Switzerland would be unreasonably expensive. Check out the full story here. The second time around I was not going to be fooled. My budget was not going to break over a tiny wrap. I packed pasta, soy cream, and a bottle of wine and enjoyed a glass from the luxury of my hotel bed. Zero regrets.
Packing even a few meals, especially for arrivals and first nights, can save you €30 to €50 easily. That is a bus ticket somewhere else.
4. Look for Discounts or Book Through a Platform That Offers Them
This is one of the more obvious tips but look for discount codes online before booking anything. Some German employers participate in Corporate Benefits, where you can find discounted hotel and accommodation rates. I personally book through Booking.com as a registered Genius member and the discounts add up more than you would expect. I still think fondly about my trip to the Walchensee in Bavaria and happily applying for the €20 cashback through the Genius program. Small habits, real savings.
5. Visit Friends and Acquaintances
This might sound opportunistic but hear me out. Accommodation is almost always the biggest expense on any trip. If you can get around that by visiting a friend, you will not only have a personal tour guide but also someone to split food costs with and hopefully a place to stay at a lesser rate or completely for free. Visiting my sisters in high-priced cities like Munich and Basel has genuinely kept my travel budget intact more times than I can count.
Budget travel in Europe is absolutely possible. It just requires a little creativity and zero shame about being smart with money. From Flixbus rides to friends’ couches, every euro saved is another euro toward the next adventure.
Have a budget travel tip that saved you? Drop it in the comments.
For more Travel, Lifestyle and Thoughtful Essays, check out other posts at The Spot.
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