how I can travel around europe on a budget?

Question

I am back packing through London, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. I will be there approx. 18 days, and I am really worried about my budget.

What is the cheapest way to travel around to those places? Should I fly or take a train?
And does anybody have any budgeting tips for me? I think I am functioning solely off a credit card.. is that a mistake? And what are other money saving tips on food, alcohol, museums etc.?
I need advice from an experienced traveler! This is my first trip!

Answer 1

Hello. I am not an experienced traveler but I still would like to give you my advice. I wish I could travel where you're going!

I think the cheapest means of travel is a train. It may take longer than a plane, but you won't need to worry about as many things. From my experience though (not overseas), a train is a lot cheaper than a plane.

As for budgeting tips...I would say focus on things you "need" more than "want". You need food of course...buy food in bulk (it'll save you some money--trust me), museums are usually cheap too. Also find some places that are outdoors, like famous parks...or landmarks or something that do not cost to enjoy.

A lot of people travel with their credit card. As a matter of fact, it seems like everybody does so nowadays. As long as you feel confident that you'll be able to pay back your debt on your credit card, then I would say that it isn't a mistake. If you are worried about your budget, think in your head "what are things I need? what are things I want?". It may sound silly but I have done this when I have been to different places or had limited money and I always ended up on an alright budget.

As for the money saving tips again...food (buy in bulk -- might seem a little more expensive, but it really isn't in the long run), alcohol--I would assume that alcohol is cheaper in Europe...but maybe not. That may be one of those things you need to think about in your head whether you "want" or "need" it. Like I said before, museums are cheap. Also outdoor activities are cheap.

You are also saving a lot of money by "back packing" through all of these places. At least you won't be spending 18 days in one of those $1000 a night hotels!

Have a fun and safe trip!

Answer 2

Your most expensive costs will be accommodation, travel and food.....its actually surpising how much accommodation is! Stay in backpackers and share a room....you can get beds for as little as 7 or 8 euros a nights that way....try hostel webistes like some of those below....generally they have similar prices, but there are some deals with different companies in different cities...so spend some time looking at options.....some cities will be more expensive than others eg I found Florence and Venice quite pricey....I ended up staying in a campground ( that had cabins) that was a 50min bus ride from Florence...for me alone it was less than 30euros a night which was cheap compared to other places in town.
THe thing with getting accommodation further out of the city is the time and cost ( usually its not TOO bad money wise) getting to and from your accommodation to whereever you want to go.

Trains are good and getting you around, but there may be some cheap flights....try the skyscanner one below for some options which has pretty much all the cheapest airlines around...for buses I think eurolines is the main one and has some good deals now and then (AND if you go on a night bus you save on accommodation!!!!!!) . In England your money will not go far...I worked there and was earning the pound...it cost me around 12pounds to go into London by train ( return and tube) for day trip...I lived a 40min train ride away. In Prague this would get you a weeks metro!!

Some places are more expensive than others...generally the further east and south the cheaper it is...and in fact I found places like Croatia, Czech Republic much more interesting than other places...and these were NOT on my oringial places to visit....your money goes further in these places compared to England.

My comments on Amsterdam is its not worth it!! It was the ONLY city I went to that I was disapoointed with...its not all its cracked up to be....I loved Prague...stunningly beautiful and cheaper than any of the cities you are travelling to.
Apparently you can possibly work for some of your board costs in some hostels...or so I have heard...not sure if it works in reality, but maybe an option.
Food in the UK and Amsterdam is getting up there....if you go to places that serve breakfast that will help you out if you eat big there, have a small and cheap lunch and don't spend big on evening meals. You can find some places for a meal under 10pounds...otherwise takeways are cheap.
There are some free museums eg National Art gallery in London which is great.....and just seeing the outside of places rather than going in is free!!! Some places are worth going into eg Westminster Abbey was actually really good.
Walking walking walking where you can will save you on transport costs........so take good walking shoes!

Answer 3

Spend a little on a good guidebook, try to get the Europe version of the Lonely Planet series, even if you get an older version you can safe a lot of money. (Charity shops, second hand bookshops, or buy a full price version in any good bookshop in England or the Netherlands.)
A guidebook written for budget travelers will tell you where the cheapest option are for sleeping, eating and museums and so on.

Get money out of the wall (ATM) and use cash while shopping. Only use your card if you have to pay more than £20 or €30, try to avoid spending so much the best you can. That way you are more aware when you spend money and how much.
Keep track of each use of your card, write it down in a booklet so you know how much you spend in total.
This is to avoid getting in problems near the end of your trip.

Staying in hostels is mostly the cheapest option, but also look into traveling overnight and saving on lodgings that way.
In the UK bus travel is by far the cheapest:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm (in the UK,)
http://www.nationalexpress.com/eurolines/home/hp.cfm (From England to the continent)
http://eurolines.com/ (international across Europe.)

If you know which date you want to travel long distance (Like Manchester-Amsterdam, and Amsterdam-Spain) you can try to get a cheap air ticket:
http://www.flycheapo.com/
http://promos.opodo.co.uk/travel/flights/?CMP=uk-gg-fl-287408
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/
http://www.tickets-to-europe.com/
http://www.lastminute.com/site/travel/flights/
or google on cheap tickets and the towns you want to travel between. (I have no experience with these sites!)
Also check the price for a bus ticket and check travel times.
You might be lucky and get a ride with a truck on a ferry, (ask around if you are willing to take a little risk) or google on hitch hiking contacts (use words like it till you find what you are looking for.)

Train travel is more expensive in the UK, inside the Netherlands it is the more likely option, internationally is it more likely rather expensive. But last minute air tickets are not always cheap, but they might be.

Sight seeing can be completely free of charge, walk and use your eyes.
If you use a good guidebook you might be able to find all free museums and galleries, if there are non, go to the cheaper ones.

Go shopping in the local supermarkets, buy the bargains and do your own cooking in the hostel kitchen. If you can, join up with fellow guests and cook a meal for a group, hardly more expensive than cooking for one.
If you can not cook (because you are traveling or stay in a place without a kitchen,) get yourself a hot lunch and buy a loaf of bread and a jar of topping to make your own sandwiches for dinner.
(Lunches are often cheaper in each place and there are more cheap places open at lunch time.)
Cerials or sandies for breakfast.

Avoid alcohol if you are on a tight budget, if you think you have to drink something (it does make a difference) give yourself some money for the evening, but do not allow yourself more than a few drinks.
If you stay at a hostel where you can bring your own (there are some in Amsterdam) get your beer or wine at a supermarket.
Drinking in pubs is expensive, clubs are worse.

Lastly, the £20 or £30 you spend on a guidebook will be invested money that bring you a bigger profit, as the first time you find a cheap hostel instead of a hotel you might save even more in one night.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

If you are really low on budget or want to experience something different, think about coach surfing:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/
http://www.hospitalityclub.org/

Added:
Two more sites for cheap air travel, found them in an other post here:
http://www.whichbudget.com/
http://www.skyscanner.net/eur/?redirecturl=1

Added-2:
Go to the tourist information office for the free leaflets and magazines on what to do, you can also ask about the cheaper options in town, sometimes you have to ask on when they say there are not cheap places, but mostly they are just willing to help, and they know, if you like the city now you will come back when you have more money to spend.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

You should try to use less money as you can...instead to sleep in expensive hotel you can use a normal hotel or cheep hotel.... instead of taxi you can use bus.... My teacher he was travel around the world by that way....