One of the biggest misconceptions that many people have when it comes to traveling is that a vacation in Europe is unreasonably expensive. It’s easy to see the magic of Paris, London, Rome, and Berlin as being faraway lands that are mostly unreachable by those constricted by tight travel budgets. Yet with a little forethought, diligent planning, and an adherence to a budget, exploring Europe doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, many people find that a week in Europe is no more expensive than any other vacation.

Without question, one of the biggest expenses of any vacation is the cost of travel. There is no getting around the fact that airfare can be extremely costly, but there are a handful of ways for you to mitigate this upfront cost. For starters, flexibility is a key. By being willing to travel during the week or during times of the year that aren’t considered peak travel times, you can see flight costs become far less than you might expect. What’s more, booking months in advance is always a good choice. This tends to get you the lowest flight cost, ensures you the flight you want, and also gives you something to look forward to throughout the year, which can be a lot of fun.

Another thing to keep in mind with European travel is the ubiquity of public transit. If you are staying in a major metropolitan area, the odds are good that you’ll be able to get everywhere you want without needing to rent a car. So rather than needing to spend a few hundred dollars on a rental to get you to all of the tourist sites you want to see, you only need to budget a few dollars a day for the train. Similarly, if you intend on seeing several places on the continent, country-to-country rail passes are an affordable alternative to car rentals or additional flights.

The cost of lodging is also an area where you can potentially save money. Sure, if you book a five-star hotel on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, you’re going to rack up quite the bill. Yet, many people find that they spend so little time in their hotel rooms on vacation that they don’t need anything too fancy. By reading online reviews, you can usually find a completely adequate, clean hotel near the part of town you wish to stay that won’t break the bank. Hostels are also a popular choice for budget travelers because they offer a warm bed and shower without costing much.

Above all else, make a budget and stick to it. Once you’re in Europe, your everyday expenses don’t need to be any more than you would need to spend in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. You may want to treat yourself to a great meal in Italy, an awesome bottle of wine in France, or a few pints in Scotland, but you certainly don’t need to do this every single day of your trip. Plus, many of the marquee tourist places that you will want to see don’t cost anything. A picturesque photo of the Eiffel Tower, Roman Coliseum, or Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is free for the taking.

Vacations are always an expense and something that needs to be planned for carefully, but traveling to Europe doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With a little forward thinking and some flexibility you can explore the continent almost as easily as you can the United States.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to travel tips.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to travel tips. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34678-d217441-r94756810-DoubleTree_Suites_by_Hilton_Tampa_Bay-Tampa_Florida.html

Author Bio: Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to travel tips.

Category: Travel
Keywords: travel tips, hotels, restaurants, flights, things to do