15 tips for Budget Travel in Europe. How I traveled to 12 countries in 2 months for under $3000. (ONE BONUS TIP)

Do you think that you have to have a lot of money to travel the world?   

Have you been reluctant about going to the amazing places you see online because you think it would be too hard to navigate?               

Have you heard yourself saying over and over that one day you’ll go once you budget and save up thousands of dollars?

Well I am here too tell you in order to travel you do not need all those things!

You DON’T need to have a lot of money.

You DON’T need to be able to speak multiple languages

You DON’T need to plan your every move.

Hello:

My name is Haley, and I am going to give you some tips and tricks for budget travel in Europe that you can follow to go on a HUGE AMAZING BEST TRIP OF YOUR LIFE .

How I traveled to 12 countries in two months for a budget of under $3000 in Europe

Here are my top 15 tips for budget travel in Europe.  These tips will teach you how to travel Europe for months on a budget while still having a great time.  There are many strategies to accomplish your traveling goal. I have a 16th bonus tip for those of you who have a certain type of personality and are safe and smart while traveling.  This last tip is one of my top 3 favorite things about traveling abroad.   Find out the last tip in my Youtube Video.

Contact me if you need a budget travel agent! 

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1)      Plan ahead

It is very important when you travel to Europe or anywhere that you at least have a general outline of where you will be going during your time traveling.  You should make a list and plan ahead to know where you are staying, what countries and cities you will be traveling to, and how you are getting to each place.  You don’t need to plan every second of every day, but if you have the basics down you will avoid paying extra last minute travel plan fees and be able to relax. This will not only save you time when you are abroad but will also help you budget beforehand. Take the time you would have wasted on planning during your trip to experiencing where you are in the moment and really traveling.  

2)   Don’t do everything

You don’t have to do every single thing a city has to offer…and quite frankly there is no way you can.  I am a very high energy go see everything, get up at 6am and go to bed at 2am, and do anything type of person…but I have learned that sometimes it is okay to relax and enjoy the sunset. Narrow down what you want to travel to in each city according to your interests and go to the places that interest you the most. Make a list of your top 3 activities you want to do in a city and it will grow from there. 

Example: If you are in Rome this could be your list.

1. Go to the Colosseum
2. Throw a coin into the Trevi fountain
3. Visit the Sistine Chapel
4. Explore the Roman Ruins
5. Get some pasta!
   This way you have an outline of your day(s) and can grow from there. Plans change all the time, but you cannot miss your top 5 activities.

3)   Exchange your money at your local bank before you leave

This is one of the most important things you need to remember if you want to budget your trip in Europe.  ATMs and money exchange tables at the airport that even say 0% commission do get commission and you will lose a lot of money exchanging this way.  In order to avoid these extra costs you can get cash at your local bank before you leave.  Just call or go into your local bank and ask for however many Euros or type of money you need and they will get it to you. This will result in no fees for money exchange, but it will take about 3 weeks to get your cash so plan ahead!

4)      Travel rewards credit cards

Credit cards can save you so much money no matter where you are! There are a variety of options of cards. You can get cashback cards and get 1-5% back on everything you buy. You can sign up for a card that gives you a $ bonus if you spend a certain amount in a few months. You can even get travel reward credit cards and get money back on every kind of travel purchase. I used the Capital One Venture credit card when I traveled, and I got to accumulate points to get free travel in the future.

Benefits of credit cards

• Get 1-5% cash back on certain purchases
  • Cash back can range from travel purchases, restaurants, groceries, and more. Check with your card to find the best option for you.
• Get a bonus of a few hundred dollars once you spend $1000+
  • Some cards will give you a bonus of ~$100 and up if you just spend ~$1000 in the first few months. My advice is to buy your plane ticket for ~$1000 and use the extra bonus you will get back towards your housing or food abroad.
• Travel rewards cards
  • This is similar to the 1-5% back option, but with these cards you will get a percentage back from all your purchases to be used directly towards travel. I used this option and got the Capital one Venture card. I have been using it for years, and it is great for travel benefits.

DISCLAIMER: Do not spend more money than you have! Credit cards are to reward responsible spending not a way to get money you don’t have. Do not go in debt it will end up hurting you in the long run!

5)      Use hostels

Hostels are a great way to budget travel in Europe.  Hostels are dorm like living arrangements in cities all over the world. You can get nice places for $10-$30 a night depending on the country you’re in.  It is also a great way to meet fellow travelers.  Hostels sometimes have discount dinners, drinks, tours and more.  I love staying in hostels and have met some of the greatest people and had the most fun times using them.  Hostels are also almost always in the prime locations in big cities so you won’t have to worry or waste even more money on taxis or trains to get to the heart of the city. This will help you budget even more!

You can find hostels at hostelworld.com I highly recommend them.  I have stayed in hostels in almost every country I’ve ever traveled to, and I always have a great time.

If you are still uneasy about the dorm life, or if you are a little bit older and want a less backpacking experience, I would recommend Airbnb.  They are just a little more expensive than hostels, some are in the heart of the city, and you can get your own room and travel more privately. 

Coming soon: Hostels Pros, Cons and insider tips

6)   Overnight trains and buses

Do you like saving time and money? If you ever just want to get to your destination overnight instead of wasting the day on an 8 hour bus you can take overnight buses from city to city in Europe.  This can be cheaper than a hostel and you will also save time by traveling while you sleep. You can either just take an overnight bus or train and sleep in a normal chair or you can upgrade your seat and get a bed on board. The buses and trains I have used are equipped AC, reclining seats, storage space, and chargers. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to save time and money or is on a budget abroad.  

7)      Only buy one way tickets

Don’t buy round trip tickets if you are traveling on a budget! The bundles that are sold at train stations are a bad deal unless you are planning on just going to one or two countries and plan on being on the train a lot. (Ex – Eurail pass will give you unlimited travel between a few countries, but if you want to leave those countries you have to buy your own tickets)  If you are trying to go all over Europe buy one way tickets to the places you want to go and that’s it.  One-way tickets give you more freedom and I promise are cheaper than buying round trip.

* this goes for plane tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, boat tickets etc etc.

*When you buy turn off your cookies and browser history so they won’t up the price if you’ve been searching for days.

Coming soon: Cheapest and easiest ways to get around Europe

8)      Bring a friend to split costs

This also helped me save a lot of money and helped me stay true to my budget in Europe. Traveling with friends is a lot more fun, and you can split costs like food, some transportation, and even hold each other accountable etc while having someone to experience everything with.  Friends are the root of happiness, and even if you are traveling alone it is possible to meet friends while you travel.

5)      Bring student ID for free museum days / wait for free museum days if you aren’t a student

Your student ID can get you free or cheap into a lot of museums in Europe. This helps students traveling on a budget in Europe because sometimes students do not have to pay the same amount as a regular adult! Some museums even have free days for everyone. European students can get even more discounts if they have their student ID! Do your research and plan ahead and you could save a lot of money on your trip.

• I have gotten in cheap at the Parthenon in Greece, the Louvre in Paris and more.

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10)      Get food at the grocery store for picnics in the park

This is my favorite item on my list for budget friendly travel! This is what definitely saved me the most money while abroad.  Eating out is the highest cost for a lot of people traveling or even in regular life… but you can save so much money by not going out to fancy restaurants all the time.   Splurge once a week to experience the city, but there are so many smaller eateries that give off more local and friendlier vibes while not breaking the bank.

Go to your local grocery store and get some local food and eat on the grass and have a picnic.  I have done this many times while abroad and I HIGHLY recommend it for budget and even non budget travelers.  The food is just as good and sometimes more authentic, and you can meet many local people while having a picnic at the park.  I have met some of the coolest people this way, and I think it gives you more of the experience of a city rather than going to a restaurant with people who just want to talk to each other.

My favorite thing about traveling is meeting people, so why not have a picnic – save money – and meet locals who will show you something you would have never been able to do by reading tips online.  

11)      Use meetup apps / sleep on a coach (Couchsurfing)

My favorite app to use to meet friends abroad is couchsurfing.  Travelers all over the world will let you stay on their couch for a night or two in exchange to learning about your culture.  You can meet new people and stay for free. (always remember though what goes around comes around and be sure to return the favor and let people stay at your house). 

I DO NOT recommend this to just any traveler.  You need to have a certain type of personality and intuition for this to work.  I used it a few times and have always had great experiences, but I KNOW you can meet very creepy people on this app (as this is true with any online meetup app) … Especially if you are a female looking to stay somewhere for a night.  This is a sad reality, but you must be extremely smart and have a backup plan in case something goes south. 

Here are my top tips when using any online meetup app especially as a solo female traveler

• Look at the person’s ratings from their guests. (review their profile)

•  Analyse how they spoke to you when you inquired to stay with them.
  • Are they asking you to do something you aren’t comfortable with?  Are they asking for something you are not offering… etc (If they treat it like a dating app I’d stay away)  Trust your instincts.

• Meet in a public place.
  • My recommendation is to meet up at a coffee shop, park or any public place to meet the person first. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT TO THEIR HOME! This way you can meet them in a public setting and judge how they treat you.

• Look at the area where they live.
  • If this person is trying to get you to go way outside the city to stay with them don’t do it. Try to stay in the heart of the city so you are safe.

• Talk to them about things other than your travel to see what you have in common and if you click.
  • See what their interests are! Maybe you will find something in common and make a friend!

• Have a backup plan just in case things get weird when you get there.
  • Never rely on any meet up app to be your only option for a night. Always have a backup plan! This could be staying at a hostel or even the airport if it is close.

• Get Whatsapp to communicate with people abroad! It is a great app that uses WiFi so you can text people anywhere. 

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12)   Take free walking tours

Most big cities have free walking tours that will show you the highlights of the city you are in.  The tour guides are always very informative, and I have learned a lot taking these tours. It’s like a history/geography lesson, but you get to stand where everything happened. You can find them at the front desk at your hostels or wherever you are staying.  (don’t forget to tip your guide) 

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13)   Bring a reusable water bottle

Water in Europe is not free, and if you are an American like me who drinks an extreme amount of water that may come as a shock.  So instead of buying a new water bottle every few hours just bring a reusable one from home, (or buy one abroad) and refill it as you go. Water in fine in Europe to fill most anywhere and there are even drinking fountains around outside in big cities. This will save you a lot of money while also saving the environment!

My top reusable water bottles I have used are

1. Rubbermaid: <$7. It is well worth your money for a small trip. They are sturdy enough, easy to refill, big, and overall an amazing value.
2. Hydroflask: <$40. These water bottles are my favorite because they keep your water warm or hot, are very stable, and easy to carry around.
3. Camelbak <$15. I like these for a small trip. They are sturdy, easy to carry, and washable. They are also not as expensive so you won’t feel as bad if something happens to your bottle.
4. Nalgene: <$11: I have had my Nalgene water bottle for years now, and I can definitely say it is the best budget bottle. These bottles hold the most water, they are the easiest to clean, they are easily stored, and do not break easily.
5. Contigo” <$8: I have also had my Contigo water bottle for years. They are better if you don’t have a straw (easier cleaning). They are slim and do not break and are one of the cheapest options, so even if you use it 10x you will be saving money on your trip.

14)   Just bring a backpack to avoid extra travel fees

• I used the Everest 40L Backpacking Backpack. ~$40                                            This backpack has been to 32 countries with me and still has never even ripped.  I would highly recommend this backpack.  It is a great deal for how much it costs. The only downside to it is that it has little back support, but I could do it for thousands of miles so I would still highly recommend it!

• My friend used the Eye 45L Backpacking Backpack ~45.                                    This backpack also is a great budget option for your trip. It went with my friend to around 20 countries and counting and has had no problems. It is also a little bigger than the Everest backpack so it can store a little more inside.

• Another friend used the Osprey 50 L backpacking backpack ~$160.               This is one of the non budget friendly backpacking backpacks but overall one of the best values for more of an intense backpacker. This backpack is great for someone who is going to be doing more outdoor activities or wants a backpack more suitable for intense adventures. They are known to last a lot longer than the other backpacks and will not be as strenuous on your back.

It is recommended that you only take a backpack while traveling because it will be easier to transport and most airplanes will restrict you to about a 10kg backpack or you will have to pay extra fees. Avoid fees and keep your budget alive by packing light.

Coming soon: Europe Backpacking Checklist

15) Travel during the off season

Traveling in Europe is a little different depending on what season you travel in. I have traveled in every season and they all have a different charm. The on season (Summer) is a lot more crowded, a lot more is going on, and things are slightly more expensive. The off season (Winter) doesn’t have as many tourists, some things may not be open, and hostels/hotels etc are cheaper. If you want to meet a lot of people and do everything go during on season. If you want to have a more intimate, relaxed, and cheaper trip go during off season. I liked going during summer more because I like to meet people and do everything the countries have to offer, but the winter is a lot more chill.

16 BONUS TIP – Watch my video for my favorite thing about traveling abroad.

Disclaimer: You must have a certain type of personality and intuition for it to work. THIS IS NOT A TIP I RECOMMEND TO MOST PEOPLE!!

View the Youtube Video 

Traveling isn’t supposed to be expensive.  The biggest expense for me was the plane ticket there and back. Everything else, if budgeted and planned can be very cheap.

If I can travel all over Europe and have the best time ever for 2 months for $2000 and ~$1000 plane ticket there YOU CAN TOO! 

If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to me

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