Backpacking Across Europe – Tips for Penny Pinchers

I was fortunate to have spent 7 months studying abroad in the well overlooked country of Wales. While legally a part of England, Wales has a clearly distinctive heartiage, language, cultural, and overall “vibe” than England, or any part of Great Britian. I fell in love with the land, language, history, cultural, and people immediately.

I also had a month spring break and took that advantage to travel Europe. Some tips: if traveling overseas, betweeen European counties – try the cheap airfare of Ryan Air ( www.ryanair.com ) or Easy Jet (www.easyjet.com). These are airlines that travel from European countries much cheaper than any other airline I could find. It’s open seating with no first class, but the flights are usually short and the extra savings are worth the slightly less comfort consideration.

Another cheap trick is staying at hostels. Although hostel could conjur up horrorable images of rat infested shacks, relax, most hostels are very clean and friendly places where you can meet people from all over the world. www.Hostels.com is a great website and they also have many nice places in America if you want to plan a cheaper stateside vacation.

Hostels are a great way to save the money – most money is spent on hotels on a vacation. And there are also camps and other types of accomadation if you’re more adventous. These campsites could also range from tents to trailers to anywhere inbetween but they do offer some of the same accomdies as hostels/hotels: bar, bathroom/showers, resteraunt/cafe, and bus or taxi services.

Also when traveling abroad, never underestimate the power of a good guidebook. This is a tool that could save you. They make great travel books per country, but if you’re planning to go to multicountry trip, I would suggest Let’s Go Europe. This travel guide is aimed at the budget traveler and has some great tips on saving money and free attractions and places for each country. A good map is also a valuable tool. If you get a map per city you visit is the most helpful – little pocket maps store easily and it’s worth buying and taking up the little room in your backpack.

Food and drink is also another exspensive aspect of the trip. Another tip I found: check out groccery stores. They are less exspensive than cafes or resteraunts and often are good for snack foods when your traveling and don’t have time to sit down and eat a meal. Also, another one of my personal tips, if you drink soda, (which is more expensive overseas than it is here) is to buy a 2 liter or liter and carrying with you. You get much more soda for you money. You can carry water bottles and share as well this way.

You can also check out train passes and bus passes. Trains are an easy and cheaper way to get to other countries as well. And the train services overseas offer a Eurorail pass http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm. There are many options with saving money with the train stations. Trains are a wonderful way to see the countryside as well and meet new people. I have had wonderful conversations with people on the train. They are overnight trains as well if you don’t want to eat up your valuable daytime.

If you are a student – highschool or college – you can get an International student card. Many places offer student discounts with this card. Don’t be afraid to ask if they have a special student rate as well. You would be surprised where these savings are and how much you can save.
Also, many train stations have a student travel pass if you’re in the country for a while and use the train frequently.

With the money you save, you may be able to afford at least one fancy dinner or a night out at a bar or club or pub. Or spend the money you save on an attraction that might be a little spendy -i.e. a wonderful gandola ride in Venice or a tour of the inside of the Collesium. Save the money for something special.

These are some tips I found useful. I also suggest to everyone to backpack across Europe if you have a chance. It is a wonderful and unique way to see the country and experience it.