Budget Travel Tips
Mar 23rd, 2007, 07:08 AM
#21
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Shouldn't someone who is giving a workshop on budget travel be sharing tips with us? Each time I see this come up I wonder what the OP is charging for his "expertise".
!!! what do you think piptech?
!!! what do you think piptech?
Mar 23rd, 2007, 08:37 AM
#23
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Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
Figure out how much you are spending each day to be in Europe. Then make sure you get your money's worth out of each day. I'll never forget the fellow I met at a hostel in Visp, Switzerland. He stayed around the hostel all day rather than spend the few extra bucks to go to Zermatt.
Figure out how much you are spending each day to be in Europe. Then make sure you get your money's worth out of each day. I'll never forget the fellow I met at a hostel in Visp, Switzerland. He stayed around the hostel all day rather than spend the few extra bucks to go to Zermatt.
Mar 23rd, 2007, 09:01 AM
#24
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One thing to remember about traveling off-season is to weigh the savings against the number of daylight hours you will have at the time of year that is off-season -- also the weather! These items make a huge difference in how much enjoyment you may get from your trip. JMHO
Mar 29th, 2007, 08:52 AM
#25
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I just spent half of January and February in Europe and as this was the rare winter trip for me very surprised that the weather was fairly nice - in 50s most days and hardly any rain.
Was in Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Paris and London. Days are short, however but it was nice to breeze thru museums, etc.
I would rather go in summer but situation dictated winter and i also paid a lot less for hotels than i would have in summer.
Was in Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Paris and London. Days are short, however but it was nice to breeze thru museums, etc.
I would rather go in summer but situation dictated winter and i also paid a lot less for hotels than i would have in summer.
Mar 29th, 2007, 08:58 AM
#26
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Here is another (older) thread that deals with tips to budget travel.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34758216
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34758216
Apr 3rd, 2007, 06:53 AM
#29
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Discretionary expenses can make a big dent in your budget. And while i'm not saying to forego pleasures like nice restaurants and cafe sitting prices for these pleasures in Europe are perhaps twice as much as in the U.S. across the board - more in places like Switzerland perhaps.
So instead of restauranting it every day go to a supermarket and get a picnic and find a nice perch for a dinner with a view. Supermarkets not only have the proverbial picnic fixings - bread, cheese and wine but many now have delis for take-out salads and prepared food so you really also sample the real local foods.
Coffee in cafes can easily cost $5 a cup or so - nice once in a while but if get in the habit can end up costing the price of a full meal.
Anyway you can economize if you have to.
So instead of restauranting it every day go to a supermarket and get a picnic and find a nice perch for a dinner with a view. Supermarkets not only have the proverbial picnic fixings - bread, cheese and wine but many now have delis for take-out salads and prepared food so you really also sample the real local foods.
Coffee in cafes can easily cost $5 a cup or so - nice once in a while but if get in the habit can end up costing the price of a full meal.
Anyway you can economize if you have to.
Apr 12th, 2007, 06:10 AM
#35
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And what countries you go to make a difference - Switzerland and Scandinavia top the most outrageously expensive list to me and large cities like London are much more expensive than smaller cities.
Greece, Portugal and Eastern Europe are still rather bargain basement areas.
Greece, Portugal and Eastern Europe are still rather bargain basement areas.
Apr 12th, 2007, 07:16 AM
#36
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In the French countryside we found B&Bs to be a better deal than equivalent hotels in nearby towns. We used Gites de France: http://www.gites-de-france.fr/eng/index.htm
Apr 12th, 2007, 08:43 AM
#37
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Professional associations and their connections abroad can often provide home stay arrangements and insights into the local culture that no 'tourist' will ever experience. There are many USA companies with branches abroad; do you work for one? American Universities have foreign campuses to visit. Get outside the 'box'.
Apr 25th, 2007, 11:22 AM
#38
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Even in cities like Florence, Rome, etc B&Bs are proliferating and as well as like living with the locals they can be much cheaper than hotels. I just loved the one i had in Florence - really great room and huge breakfast at half the price of a hotel and quite close to the train station to boot.
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