If spring has sprung then summer can’t be too far away. The hottest season means school and work vacations are on the horizon and Europe remains a perennial favourite with Indian travellers. The continent’s culinary, historical and cultural heritage combined with an interconnected transport network makes it a delight for visitors to travel to again and again.
Travelling to Europe can quickly rack up huge bills so here are our tips on booking a budget-friendly holiday.
Find the cheapest flights by trawling through Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia and Momondo. Not only do you save money by comparing prices across different airlines but you can be flexible with your dates and make informed decisions on the services provided by airlines. Keep in mind that booking too late or too early and demand for a particular route are factors which influence ticket prices.
Peak tourist season in Europe is May to August. With the 2024 Olympics in Paris this year France will be extra expensive to travel to. Off-season is usually November to March but if you don’t want to travel during the winter consider the shoulder seasons of autumn (September and October) and spring (March to May). Flight tickets and accommodation during this period will be higher than in the off-season but lower than in the peak season.
Get a Eurail Pass to travel to 33 countries within the continent. Keep in mind that most high-speed and night trains require a reservation at an additional cost, and you’ll need to activate your pass within 11 months of the issue date. You can be refunded for your pass if it is returned unused.
Hop onto a bus to get from one place to another. Lots of companies offer discounts and early bird deals. Two big players in this space are Busabout, whose network spans 38 destinations in 14 countries, and Flixbus which operates in France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Croatia, as well as regular cross-border services to Norway, Spain and England. In total Flixbus covers over 30 European countries.
Gone are the days when a hostel conjured up images of messy bathrooms and parasitic bedrooms. Use Booking.com, Hostelworld and Hostelgeeks to find clean and comfortable accommodation that is family-friendly, women-friendly or queer-friendly. Airbnb is another way to find budget-friendly stays including local homestays.
Couchsurfing is the practise of renting out a room or space in a person's house to backpackers for a fee. The space can be a literal couch (hence the name) or even the floor. There are websites where you can find hosts accepting couchsurfers but always check the reviews and ask questions about the place (and host) before accepting to be on the safer side. The benefit of couchsurfing is that it’s a good way to meet locals who may be willing to show you around their city.
Use websites like Trustpilot and Tripadvisor to check the credibility of these websites and locations.
Instead of cramming a bunch of destinations and experiences onto your itinerary opt for a more meaningful way of discovering a new culture by staying longer. Staying in one place for three to four days allows you to get a flavour of the place, its neighbourhoods, heritage, cuisine and people. There are plenty of day trips you can take or cultural workshops you can attend if you seek them out.
On a similar note, check out a smaller town in the periphery of the big city and savour an out-of-the-way tourist experience.
Remember the ‘When in Rome…’ proverb? Visiting Europe means sampling its diverse gastronomy but if you’re hoping to not break the bank on food and drinks, here’s what you should do.
First, cook your own food as much as possible. Shop at the local supermarkets to purchase fresh produce and seek out unique food items native to that place.
Second, eat like a local. Give a wide berth to the overpriced restaurants catering to tourists and check out authentic restaurants serving traditional dishes. They will typically be located far from crowded tourist attractions so it’s best to ask the local residents about their favourite restaurants.
Third, drink the local wine and beer at the taverns and bars frequented by locals, or buy alcohol at the liquor store.
Europe has plenty of free walking tours which you can join and it’s worth typing ‘Free things to do in…’ into a search bar to find free events such as concerts, movies and festivals. Many museums also have free admission days during the month so keep an eye out for their social media accounts.
