29 Travel Hacks to Save Money on Your Europe Trip

As enchanting as it is, Europe can prove to be quite steep on the pocket, especially for an Indian traveller. But that’s hardly a reason to curb your wanderlust. With a few smart moves, you can save bucket loads of money on your Europe trip – here are some travel hacks that most seasoned travellers resort to in order to max out their vacation budget.

Your Cheat-Sheet for Cheap Flights to Europe

1. Compare ticket prices across various airlines and travel dates. You will find that tickets are considerably cheaper for weekdays.
2. If you can afford the luxury of time and don’t mind a bit of inconvenience, book flights with one or two stops. You can save a huge deal of money by avoiding direct flights to your destination.
3. If you’ve been looking at flight fares over a few days, clear the cache and cookies on your laptop just before making the final booking. Your search history often results in websites quoting higher prices for the flights of your choice!
4. If you’re travelling all the way to Europe, you will most likely explore more than one country. A round-trip ticket, therefore, may work out to be more expensive. It makes more sense to book a return ticket from the last destination of your itinerary so that you save the cost of getting back to your original destination. (Side note: You can even travel to another destination if the return flight from there is cheaper).
5. This one’s a no-brainer, but visiting Europe during off season will not only fetch you huge discounts on flights and hotels, you will also successfully evade the maddening tourist crowd and have a more authentic European experience.
6. Some countries in Europe are more expensive than others. Carry out your research and plan an itinerary accordingly. You can do a mix of expensive and not-so-expensive destinations to experience the best of both.

Read More: The Best of Europe in 5 Days

Tips to Get the Best Hotel Deals in Europe

7. You might find lower hotel tariffs in the suburbs but consider the money you’ll spend commuting to and fro. Staying in a centrally located place turns out far more affordable because you can easily walk around to most places of interest.
8. Booking a packaged tour can get you star-rated hotels that might be too expensive if you book them individually.
9. Travelling in a group is always a good idea, as most hotels are happy to give you group discounts.
10. Single occupancy in hotel rooms can be an expensive affair – travelling with a friend or partner can help level out the costs.
11. Make sure your hotel stay includes a complimentary breakfast. That’s one major meal of the day taken care of.

Food and Drinks Don’t Have to Burn Your Budget

12. Eating out can be ridiculously expensive in Europe but you can bypass these expenses by hitting a supermarket and stocking up on basic stuff. Fix your own mini-meals and carry a sandwich or two before you head out.
13. Skip the restaurants and look out for pastry shops and bakeries. You can often find yourself a filling snack at a reasonable price.
14. One rule to bear in mind is that having a sit-down meal anywhere costs more money than placing a takeaway order.
15. Cocktails and refreshments can make your food budget spiral out of control. Pick up your poison from the supermarkets instead.
16. Keep an eye out for all-you-can-eat buffets that are offered at heavily discounted rates during certain days of the week.
17. Small, family-run restaurants, cafes and bars are far more economical and accommodating when compared to the popular, mainstream restaurants.

Read More: 10 Secret Places in Europe​

Don’t Fall for Common Shopping Traps

18. As tempting as it may be, avoid shopping from touristy places and head to the local markets instead. The price difference is tremendous.
19. Souvenirs like magnets, keychains, décor items and other knick-knacks can be bought for much cheaper at supermarkets.
20. Unless you are going to be at remote places, you can easily get by without a phone/data card and cut down on the exorbitant roaming charges. You’ll easily find free WiFi everywhere and make calls through Skype, WhatsApp and Viber.
21. ATM transactions can add up over time and it’s easy to lose track of expenditures with credit cards. Instead, get a travel card of a fixed denomination from your bank so you are more in control of your budget.

 Itinerary and Sightseeing: Cut the Costs, Not the Fun

22. Consider planning your vacation around countries that are NOT on the Euro. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can do within your budget. Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria are all off the beaten track and equally beautiful, if not more.
23. Tourist passes are your answer to monuments and museums tickets. For example, the Roma Pass gives you access to most places of interest in Rome without paying anything extra each time. Similar passes are available across many European cities.
24. Some museums offer free or discounted entry on certain days of the week or month. Take some time to find out about these at the Tourism Information Centre as soon as you land.
25. All the fun things to do in Europe don’t necessarily come at a price. There are many delights, monuments, museums, parks, festivals and art galleries that are absolutely free for visitors. Make a comprehensive list of the ones that coincide with your itinerary.

Read More: Top 10 European Cities to See in Your Lifetime​

Look For the Cheapest Ways to Travel Within Europe

26. Most cities in Europe are extremely pedestrian-friendly, so carry along a comfortable pair of shoes and walk your way around as much as possible.
27. Metros, buses and trams are the cheapest and most convenient modes of transport in Europe. A single pass can give you access to all three, and can be bought off most stores, bus stops and metro stations. Stay clear of cabs!
28. A Eurail Train Pass or a Europe Select Pass will let you travel through most European countries. Overnight train travel is often cheaper, and can save you a lot of Euros. However, sometimes flights may be more economical, so do compare prices before booking.
29. Most European cities are well connected by low-cost, no-frills airlines. Even among these, it helps to compare prices using a travel search tool to get the lowest possible fare.

Book Your Europe Holiday Now!