11 tips how not to break the bank when you are in Europe

They say, if you can travel within Europe, you can travel the world. That's pretty true.

With the massive travel options here in Europe, it's a challenge to find the most cost

effective way to travel from one place to another. So, by flight, bus or by train? Here are 10

tips to sum up my travel findings!

1. Fly budget airlines

Ryanair, WizzAir and EasyJet are the main European budget airlines, with Ryanair being the

cheapest. WizzAir is more common if you are flying to or around Eastern Europe, while

EasyJet depends on where you plan to go. The prices fluctuate throughout the month, but

the rule of the thumb is to plan early and buy early! If you keep your options open and check

the tickets as often as you check your Instagram feed, you should be able to snag some

good prices!

2. Buy on promotion days

Everyone loves a good deal! As of this year, Ryanair runs their special promotions on

Mondays and Thursdays, so look out for price dips on these days. Flying from Sweden to

London can be as low as SGD 15 for a one-way trip! Yes, it is as legit as it can be. So keep

a closer look on these websites for promotions. Cheap tickets sell out fast, fastest fingers

first!

3. Be adventurous

I usually use Skyscanner to look for the cheapest flights. It’s a great website to filter search

results based on your needs. If you are feeling adventurous, choose the "Flexible:

everywhere" for your destination and "Cheapest month", and you'd get some ridiculously

cheapest flight offers. Be open to different flight routes and flight timings, be flexible and be

adventurous to explore.

4. City passes may be cheaper (sometimes)

In most of Europe, you can get to a neighbouring country by train. It might be cheaper than

flying. In countries like Switzerland, getting the Swiss Pass is definitely much cheaper than

taking trains per trip. Some tourist passes such as the Copenhagen Card may include

unlimited transport via bus and trains, often coupled with free admission to many attractions,

remember to check them out so you don't end up with overlapping transport passes!

5. Consider buses

If flying gets too expensive, consider buses. There are so many long distance bus services

in Europe, which makes it easy to get from one city to another. You can travel from London

to Edinburgh with National Express at only SGD 35! Overnight buses can help you to save

time and even some money on accommodations.

For Sweden, there is Swebus and Bus4you, a new competitor with wider and more

comfortable seats! Also, there is Flixbus and Megabus that offers as low as SGD 6 per ticket

from Florence to Rome if you buy at least a month before. I observed that it’s more

expensive to travel between Thursdays to Saturdays, so try to buy for other days.

6. Buy last minute tickets

I have never tried this before because I am someone who prefers to plan ahead but if you

are feeling adventurous, you can buy last minute tickets (24 hours till travel) which my travel

mates said "it’s the time when tickets gets dirt cheap."

7. Stay in hostels, Airbnbs or couch surf

This, I believe is an open secret. Hostels and Airbnbs can save your pockets from a big hole.

So, if you have only been looking at hotel offers, it’s time to consider a switch. You can

compare hostel prices at Hostelworld, Hostels.com or Hostelbookers.com, which may differ

even for the same hostel. On a side note, look out for hidden admin fees and reviews by

previous guests to prevent a horrible experience. If you are more daring, try couch surfing,

it’s a whole new experience and you get to meet new people for free. But always be vigilant

and stay safe.

8. Travel in groups

Some places offer tourist group tickets at pretty decent prices! A 24-hour unlimited transport

ticket in Budapest Hungary costs SGD 18 for 5 people, and that's SGD 3.50 per person! And

if you are travelling in groups, splitting the bill for car rentals and accommodation can save a

huge sum for you. A rental car offers absolute freedom when travelling around, and if budget

is tight, you guys can even sleep in the car. However, do drive safe! It is often a wiser option

to purchase full insurance coverage, as it may cost you a bomb for a small scratch on the

car. Most importantly, travelling in groups offer companionship and safety.

9. Don't (try not to) withdraw money from ATM

I know this might sound strange but drawing money from the ATM means losing money

through admin fee and the bank currency exchange rate. After three months of exchanging

currencies like my life depends on it, I found out that Euros is the most valuable currency

because the rates have a lower risk of fluctuating. So stock up on your Euros and exchange

within your destination country to secure the best rates!

10. Free walking tours

Often than not, most cities offer walking tours catered to different audiences. In Warsaw,

they have local guides to bring you on food tours, attraction tours and even haunted tours,

which are great for people like me, who prefer walking around than navigating on and off

buses. Best of all, it’s free! Do book early and secure a placing as these tours get filled up

real quick.

11. Be open-minded

It’s good to save but sometimes, it’s nice to splurge a bit on yourself and travel more

comfortably, so don't let those numbers tie you down. The most important thing about

travelling is not about how many places you’ve been to, but how much you have enjoyed

yourself at each destination. Be open minded and adapt to your situation. Not everything will

go according to plan, but isn’t that the joy of exploring?

Have a great trip in Europe. Bon voyage!

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