Elizabeth

I spent 3 months travelling through Europe last year alone. The most expensive place I stayed was Vienna. I am one of those people who just "show up" in a city and figure out where I'll stay when I get there. I only had one place where this was a problem - Rome. I went to Europe from September - November inclusive. I had purchased a Eurailpass before leaving the US and used public transportation (plus my own feet) everywhere. I also purchased multi-day passes for each city e.g., Paris which reduced the costs as well. I also would go and use the Internet cafes that were located somewhere in every city (including Budapest and Prague as well as even SanGimiagno) and would then "book" my next place for the next city. I'd receive a confirmation. There were some places where I only paid $30 per night. In Paris I stayed in a place one block away from the Eiffel Tower that was very clean and had the bathroom in the room, but it's only 2 stars I believe. The location was ideal and the charge was only $50 per night I believe. <BR> <BR>Airfare - I used frequent flyer miles for this trip (had decided to go one week before leaving and they had open seats!). However, this week I'm leaving for Paris again and I found a fare via the Internet for only $518 round trip vs. the $1350 that I was quoted from the airlines (again, it was a last minute decision to go - yes, I agree, planning is fun, but sometimes it's even more fun to allow serendipity to take over and see what happens!). <BR> <BR>Finally, I would suggest, that for great meals you stop at a bakery, sandwich shop, or a place like that - no reason to skimp on eating in what are some of the most incredible eating places in the world! ;-) You can have a very decent meal reasonably priced. I would usually take a lunch then and sit in a park, some gardens, whatever and strike up a conversation with people which also allows me to practice my language skills (find someone who speaks a bit of the English language - they seem to want to practice their English as much as I wanted to practice my French!). Hotels I stayed at that were reasonably priced: <BR> <BR>Paris: Hotel Kensington <BR>Prague: Pensione Unitas and Hotel Betlem <BR>Budapest: Cultural Center <BR>Florence: Hotel Cimbube <BR>London: Vicarage House <BR>Vienna: (small hotel that was only one block away from transportation and was in a residential neighborhood)

Mary Ann

We did Europe for 3 weeks last year for about $4,000, excluding air which was frequent flyers. We charge everything and pay it off (college tuition, etc really adds up). We stayed at 3* and B&Bs. Average room rate for a double with a bath was $80 (13 of 20 nights included breakfast)and we stayed at wonderful locations some with views. <BR>Where we saved was: <BR>1. planning -itinerary and getting the locations we wanted with amenities and booking early. <BR>2. Shared a car getting it through a broker before we left for Europe. <BR>3. Using ATMs - the one we use lets you have 32 or so random locations without fee. <BR>4. A Visa that did not charge a transaction fee over and above the exchange rate (which is becoming more dificult) <BR>5. Metro passes and walking alot (helps with walking off the meals we were eating/wine drinking). <BR>6. Periodic picnics in Paris, etc. <BR>7. Locations are also a determinant. For example, food is extremely inexpensive in Prague where we spent 3 nights. On the other hand Vienna is very expensive. <BR>8. Shared accomodations (i.e. 2 bedroom unit) Our hotel on the Riviera with a view of the Harbour at Ville Franche sur Mer was $150 US but with 2 bedrooms split was not bad, especially with your own Terrace. We did this in a couple locations. <BR>9. Self Guided Walking Tours - again great exercise and usually only the cost of the book. We used Rick Steves alot, expecially in Paris, Prague, Vienna. Sometimes they are supplemented by Trolley rides. <BR>10. Use of Tourist boards before we went. Again part of planning, helps with Maps and economical strategies to see what you want, learn about passes, etc. <BR> <BR>One aside, Europe is alot cheaper to do than Australia and New Zealand. Besides the air cost to get there, everything there is spread out requiring flying between locations and the sights usually require more higher cost purchases of tours. Europe looks like a bargain after that.

Kristin

To Frank: In Amboise (Loire Valley) we stayed at a nice B&B which was about $45 per night including breakfast -- a nice family -- the wife speaks English and is lovely. Karia Frain (02-47-30-46-51). It was a walk of about a mile from the train station. A little long, but we could have taken a taxi. In Avignon we stayed at a small hotel. Not fantastic, but was OK and just a little more than the one on Amboise. Hotel Splendid (04-90-86-14-46). It think it was about 1/2 mile from train station. In Nice we stayed at a small hotel, quite nice, Hotel Star for about $60 per night. (04-93-85-19-03). Might have been 3/4 to one mile from station. We walked all of these with one carryon each. At both hotels, breakfast was not included but could be purchased. Hope this helps.

anna

5 of us went to England and Denmark in 1998 for $85 per person per day (23 days), which included everything except souveniers. We rented an apartment in London, stayed in hostels in Denmark, ate a lot of sandwiches, researched discount passes (the London White card is an excellent pass if you have kids, except they changed the name of it and I can never remember the new name), used public transportation in the cities and rented a car outside the city in Denmark. It was a lot of money at the time but really not much more than we would spend at, say, WDW in the states (not that I would ever go THERE for 23 days).

rand

I never really thought of it this way before. Our trip this year included 12 days with car, 5 days in London no car, 2 days no car no London (I'm thinking prices here). All told including airfare and rental was $5500cdn or $3500us. That works out to $103us per person per day. Most days we had 'en-suite', just a matter of availability. I think most guide books are sugesting $100us per day plus transportation. For us it was $60 per day. We obviously were aware of our budget, but certainly did not hold back from admission prices or go hungry (or thirsty).

Alice The Magyar

Wow I must be a cheap scape!!! I did Hungary for 3 weeks on $700.00 plus airfare of $435.80. I had a blast too. I found a room thru IBUSZ. I was 44 years old at the time. 1999. In late March and early April. I also wasted alot of money too I know now. I bought lots of souveniers, sent loads of postcards, ate out often too. I know if I did not find the room through Ibusz it would have cost much more money. The room cost only around $8.00 a night. Very Clean and nice. I Stayed with a family was given keys to come and go as I pleased! I relearned Hungarian at the same time. The family and are very close now, and I went back this year and stayed them. Cut out the middle man. I payed direct as I know the family needed the money than the agency. Oh how I wish I could go back to Hungary right now!! It is so Beautiful.

Art

Hi Mary, last year I visited Hungary and the Czech Republic. I stayed with a family in Budapest with a great view of the city below for $40/night including a great breakfast. Dinner per person approx $10 including a glass of wine. I find that staying in private homes is not only much less expensive, but you also get a much better flavor of the country and people. I also often visit grocery stores for lite evening meals but splurge occasionaly. I do spend more for air fares however so I can use my frequent flyer miles to upgrade. I'm 6'4" and 210 pounds and I find that arriving fresh is worth it. <BR>

R

I went to Scotland from Chicago 2 years ago, alone, for 10 days: <BR> <BR>$275 air roundtrip <BR>$120 lodging <BR> <BR>I flew during the cheapest time of the year (March) and stayed at student hostels ($12/night, no age limits) and didn't eat big expensive meals. I got a $100 unlimited train pass for those 10 days and managed to do the whole trip for under $600. Similar experience in Germany. It can b e done!

barbara

I don't want CHEAP travel to Europe. I want BETTER travel to Europe. I want to be healthy, well rested, comfortable and surrounded by beauty on my trips. If it means fewer trips, so be it. Cheap travel never. Better travel always.

Lesli

I've been to Italy twice and France twice in the past couple of years, spending $1200-2000/2-week trip, including airfare from west coast, accomodations with some charm, every sight I wanted to see (even orchestra seats for the ballet in Paris!), rental car on the higher end of that price range, and plenty of wonderful food and wine in moderately priced restaurants. (And three of four trips were solo, so I paid more than half the cost of double rooms....) <BR> <BR>I travel in shoulder season and research like crazy to find cheap airfare and well-located accomodations with a bit of atmosphere that are within my budget. I pack light enough to manage my own luggage, and take public transportation everywhere but the countryside. I do not take organized tours. And I do very little shopping while traveling, which has as much to do with my reluctance to lug more "stuff" around as it does the fact that I have a budget to adhere to. <BR> <BR>I must respectfully disagree with Barbara, who seems to think that better travel necessarily costs more. I believe that smaller, family-owned hotels and restaurants provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the authentic warmth and hospitality of the country you are visiting, yet they are invariably less expensive than larger, fancier, or chain establishments. I also prefer taking two trips each year as opposed to one, even if it means taking a few days off without pay. <BR> <BR>And just as I love being complimented on a beautiful new item of clothing I was able to buy at an amazing discount, I also love being able to experience a wonderful trip for much less than what someone else might have paid for essentially the same thing.

Ellen

I agree with others about saving on food costs. I almost always bring a travel coffee pot and hit the local market for some freshly baked items. Lunch is often a picnic and you can almost always find a wonderful, good value restaurant. In France, many restaurants offer a "menu" of two, three or four courses and it is normally a great savings vs. a la carte. <BR> <BR>Some museums may have a day where admission is free. <BR> <BR>If you are travelling lightly, it may be a cost savings to take the local transportation (bus, tourist bus, or rail) to town from the train station. <BR> <BR>Carry your own water bottle or get a beverage from a take out market when travelling. Beverages at a cafe are enormous in cost. <BR> <BR>Also, be sure to take time to count your change right after a cash transaction. I've been short changed so many times that if I missed each one, I'd be out a lot of money. <BR> <BR>Ellen <BR>

Randy

If you are traveling in France there are two hotel chains that are quite reasonable. Fast Hotel & Hotel Formule1. Last September I stayed at a Formule1 and only paid 120F for a double and that is under $20

Maira

How cheap? In Nov 1993, my husband and I went to Spain, RT airfare, one week apartment in Malaga (maid service and breakfast included), plus a half-day excursion to Ronda...how much? $589/pp. True story.