Backpacking Across Europe | Money Saving Tips
Does backpacking across Europe sound like heaven to you? You can backpack through Europe, see everything you want and not break the bank. It doesn’t matter if you’re backpacking through Eastern Europe or Western Europe lets face it we could all be doing with a few basic money saving tips. So here’s a few basic tips to get you on your way. A little money saved here will mean a little more doing the things you want when you’re backpacking around Europe.
One way you can save yourself some cash is to use the regional trains in each European country. For example, in Italy and Scotland you can get from destination to destination by using direct trains. You can also take the regional train which stops at every small town and is used by the locals to get to the big cities and shopping centers. This takes longer, but it will get you to your destination, and it could save you up to 50% on the cost of your ticket. You can always contact the local tourist information center to get an idea of how long the trains will take and how much it’s likely to cost you in total. You can they weigh up the difference you’ll save against the extra time it’ll take you to get from destination to destination. The local tourist office may also be able to advise you on certain routes to take as you may miss out on spectacular scenery otherwise!
To save money on a daily basis, stay at a hostel that is close to public transportation. This rules out having to use taxis which can be expensive as the public transport is so close you can visit the tourist attractions on offer. I haven’t really blogged too much about hostels and what to look for but I do plan to in a later post. Location is obviously one of the most important things to look out for. I’d go as far as to say it could make or make your trip to a certain location! Backpackers hostels is a whole different subject which I will get in to later.
A complimentary breakfast is a good way to save money so make sure you stay in a hostel which offers this. Buying meals in Europe can be very expensive and this will save you from buying one meal per day. Look up sites like tripadvisor before you go and look at the reviews that people have left for each hostel. You will get a good indication of what places are like from other backpackers who have stayed there. If you’re really lucky they might leave a review of what the breakfast was like!
An International Student Identity card (ISIC Card) can be used if you are a student or teacher or between the ages of 12 to 25. ISIC cards give you discounts at various attractions which will save you a ton of money. The ISIC card can be purchased in North America and can also give you discounts on buying train and bus passes in Europe.
If you have a flexible schedule, book a last minute flight to Europe. It can be a bit risky doing this as it doesn’t leave you much time to organize. From my experience you can end up with massive savings by leaving the flight booking as late as possible. Make sure you fly to your cheapest destination first as this can be a good place to start your travels from. If you’re from the U.S and plan to backpack around Europe it makes sense to fly to Britain or Ireland as it is closest and probably the cheapest flight available. Again make sure you start researching flight prices long before you plan to travel as you may spot a few bargains.
Always use the currency of the country you are in when in Europe. For most parts it will be the Euro. You can organize this before you leave as the last thing you want to be doing is exchanging money while you’re in Europe where the exchange rate could be unpredictable. You will often get a poor return for you cash using this method and that’s why I always recommend changing money before you travel. This can be in addition to credit cards or travelers checks as I also don’t recommend carrying lots of cash around with you!
Don’t forget to purchase your backpacker travel insurance!
