Let’s face it. The US dollar is quickly losing ground to the Euro. This unfortunate situation is causing many Americans to head for their local beaches and amusement parks rather than European hotspots. Some are choosing not to take vacations at all, and such a hasty decision makes for a very dull summer. It doesn’t have to be this way! With a little research and proper planning you can have an enjoyable overseas vacation at an affordable price. Take advantage of the following tips to make your next vacation more affordable.
Go self-catering
If your goal is to save money, never stay in a hotel! There are thousands of self-catering apartments, attached homes and cottages available for rent online. A good place to start your search is www.homelidays.com You can search by location and price. In addition to saving money by simply choosing a self-catering accommodation, you will save even more by taking advantage of the greatest feature that choice provides. A kitchen! By cooking a meal or two a day at “home” you can shave hundreds of dollars on your vacation expenses. No costly room service or trips to the hotel restaurant will save you more than you’d expect.
Location, location, location
Another great way to save money is to stay away from the big cities; naturally most things are more expensive in the city, accommodation, food, even shopping. If you would like to go into the larger cities plan day trips. Take advantage of Europe’s large and reliable systems of mass transit. Even in the smallest of villages there are usually bus routes. It may take a little bit of effort to learn the fees and schedules, but it will effort well spent. Also, do the majority of your souvenir shopping in your village where quaint and unique shops abound. Not only will you be spending less money and bringing home truly unique items that don’t come off an assembly line but you will be giving back to the community that so kindly welcomed you.
Bring a friend or a group
Traveling with friends or extended family will offset your costs tremendously. Splitting the cost of a two-bedroom apartment rental could mean a several hundred dollar savings or more for you. And the savings don’t have to stop there, you could also split the cost of food, car rental, fuel and activities. Many tourist attractions offer a discounted group rate. But you don’t have to take a large group to save money. Having a group of only two can save you money because many travel groups charge an extra fee for single travelers, known as a single supplement fee.
Buying the plane ticket
This is the area in which you have the greatest potential to save. Lately, rising fuel costs have sent airline ticket prices soaring. However there are still many websites where you can find a great deal. My personal favorite is www.skyauction.com As the name implies, this is a website where tickets, vacation packages and more are auctioned off to the highest bidder-just make sure you read the fine print so you are aware of any extra fees or taxes. Then there are websites such as www.orbitz.com or www.expedia.com who sell tickets at discounted rates in an effort to help an airline fill a flight.
Plan early or go last minute
My final piece of advice is to plan one of two ways, either very early or very late. This is how you’ll find the best deals for things such as airline tickets. To plan early I suggest you plan at least a year ahead. Twelve months seems to be the magic number for getting a larger discount on your tickets. If, due to work or other circumstances, you are unable to plan a year or more ahead consider traveling last minute. The aforementioned websites are rife with last minute deals. If you are traveling alone or with a small group you may even want to pack your bag and head to the airport without a ticket. Airline sales have suffered greatly over the past year and your chances of getting on a flight with a reduced stand-by ticket are greater now than they’ve ever been.
More resources
- General tips for traveling economically
- Italy travel tips for a budget traveler
- Affordable places to eat in Paris, France
Happy traveling!
