1. Stay in hostels
Even though it’s very obvious, there are still many who use guesthouses. Hostels are open and warm to everyone, and in Europe they are much cheaper than guesthouses and hotels. The hostel setting provides an opportunity to meet and mingle with other travelers. Hostels usually provide free breakfast, and have a shared kitchen where you can cook, saving you money for lunch or dinner as well.
2. Use a headphone splitter or smartphone audio guide
When you visit a museum or historical site, you will generally be offered to use an audio guide that describes in detail what you saw. However, these audio guides can be very expensive. Sometimes it can be 10 Euros or more, just for the rent for the day! Well, you can save money by downloading this information for free online, or bringing a headphone splitter and extra headphones/earphones to share 1 audio guide for 2 people.
3. Museum pass
Museums can be very expensive. But in most countries, there are sizable discounts, if you wait patiently for them. In the Netherlands there is such a thing as Museumkaart which gives you unlimited access to almost all museums in the Netherlands, all year round, at a very cheap price! In Paris, there are various passes that give you access to major museums such as the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and so on, at a much cheaper price than buying them individually. There are so many cities that offer such access, so do your homework!
4. Traveling when it’s not the holiday season
Travel off season! Traveling in Europe is very seasonal. Beach destinations will suddenly be full during school holidays, and prices will skyrocket. But outside the holiday season, these inns are very cheap. Similar to this, urban areas may even be empty during the local holiday season, so accommodations drop low prices. For example, in the summer, when the EU parliament which is based in Brussels is on holiday, hotels in Brussels drop their prices to be cheap.
5. Eat local specialties from local shops
Restaurants in Europe can be very expensive. But much of the food that is expensive in many places is actually available at very cheap prices at the grocery store. In France, you will find very high quality wine, cheese and bread in local shops, for only a few euros. Make a picnic of it!
6. Living outside the city center, but still connected to the train line
Lodging in the city center is often expensive. By living outside the city center, you can save a lot. Choose accommodation that is close to the train or subway line, so that it is cheap to transport into the city and other places. With this, you can also enjoy the more authentic atmosphere of the daily life of local Europeans, away from the crowds of tourists
7. Local cuisine? Take advantage of cheap lunch opportunities!
Of course we want to sample local cuisine to the best restaurants in our destination, but this should be done at lunch rather than dinner. Many restaurants offer cheap discounts for lunch, but the prices return to normal (read: expensive) in the evening. even in high end restaurants, they often offer lunch specials. The trick is, enjoy these restaurants during their lunch time, choose the lunch special. In the evening, prepare your own meal at the hostel.
8. Ask for water at the restaurant
When you eat at a restaurant, it’s likely that drinking water is available for free. Not expensive bottled water, but water from the tap, but it’s worth drinking here. Not necessarily immediately provided at the table, so you need to ask for it. Don’t be shy.
9. Take advantage of free days
Many museums have days where you can enter without paying. For example in the first or last week of each month. So check it out first, and plan your museum visit, who knows, it might match this free day.
