yourtravelonabudget-blog

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The photo above is from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/508766089131651534/

Save money and eat locally in Europe 

One if the biggest expenses of traveling is spending money on food. If you are staying in a hostel, they do provide you with a kitchen facility and I highly recommend you take advantage a few days out of the week and cook at home. Eating out all the time gets expensive anywhere you go. 

Try to stay away from the tourist food spots because those are the ones that tend to be the most pricy because they know who to go after. I think the best way to save money on food is by eating at local restaurants. Go to the small whole in the wall places and or food trucks to save a couple bucks. 

There are little random local restaurants on every corner, I highly recommend you either ask around, or go for a walk until you can find the best deals on food. You can grab a slice of pizza in rome from any local restaurant or food truck. The quality of the food is just about the same, if not it is better at local restaurants rather than tourist restaurants.  

By going to a local restaurant or food truck you will definitely save money and get the authentic food experience all in one. Go where the locals go, they always know best. You can find small shops that sell sandwiches, hotdogs, and sausages on every corner but they are mostly near the train stations, bus stations, and pedestrian areas. 

Food is much cheaper in the East than in the West. If you do want to eat out in Europe try going for lunch instead of dinner so you can enjoy their lunch specials. If you decide to cook at your hostel or hotel you should go grocery shopping in the cheaper grocery stores or fresh markets. 

If you go to a fresh market try to pay attention to what the locals are buying and focus on that, they always know best. Ask around because the locals know where the bargains are. If you want to enjoy a nice day in Western Europe you can grab a blanket and some cheap food and have a nice picnic at a park and observe the different lifestyles there are. 

Sources: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/europe-travel-tips/

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Photo from http://survivingeurope.com/how-to-survive-hostels-in-europe/

The great affair is to move between hostels

Finding a hotel is always my biggest issue when traveling because I am far from picky. As long as I save money and have a place to sleep I am happy. I recommend college students to stay at hostels when traveling to Europe. 

It is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are traveling alone. Hostels are also made for all types of travelers, not just college students. A hostel ranges from anywhere between $10 to $30 a night. 

Hostels provide you with pillows and blankets with a kitchen facility as well. I think it is a great way for people to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people who can eventually turn out to be a great travel buddy or friend. 

You get to share your experiences with the people you are sharing the hostel with and explore Europe with new friends and eventually maybe become Facebook friends. You get to meet people from all over the world and personally, I find that fascinating. 

When booking a hostel keep in mind the area and safety of the location. You have to pick somewhere where you and your valuable belongings will be safe. Just do your research and you will be just fine. 

Besides hostels there are plenty of other alternatives to save money. A few that I have used while traveling have been Airbnb, which allows you to rent apartments, condos, or houses from other people for a low price. The prices varies from each host. 

Sources: https://thesavvybackpacker.com/hostels-in-europe-guide/

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Photo from http://www.travelweek.ca/news/rail-europe-deals-include-high-speed-train-tickets-eurail-passes/

You can’t understand a city without using their public transportation system

I think the best way to save money when traveling anywhere is to take the subway, train, bus or any public transportation that will get you to your destination safely. In Europe the main transportation is the train, so it important to consider getting the rail pass. They have many different passes with different deals that allow you to ride the train anywhere in Europe. 

There are also a lot of cities in Europe that offer many tourist passes and they typically offer many public transportation, it is important to look into that and take advantage of the free rides. For example, the Berlin pass gives you free entry to the most popular attractions in Berlin and some hop on and off sightseeing tours. 

The Eurail allows you to travel to even the smallest towns in Europe. There are no luggage requirements or weight limits on this train, which is a huge benefit for the tourists. The Eurail offers discounts to people under twenty six if you purchase your ticket in advance. 

The most common transportation system in Europe is the Eurail but there are other alternatives that are just as good and low-priced, such as the metro. The only issue with the metro is that it doesn’t take you to every city, just a selected few. 

The Eurail is very comfortable, you are able to move around whenever you feel like it. The seats are set up facing each other so if you are in a big group and traveling far, you can have better conversations this way. The train isn’t too crowded so there is never a chance you might not get a seat. 

An alternative for the train will be there bus route. It is also common to see people hitchhiking in Europe, people actually stop and give others a ride. You will see people walking and riding their bicycles as a form of transportation. If you want to adapt to their lifestyle, get a bicycle if you aren't planning on going too far. 

Sources: https://thesavvybackpacker.com/complete-guide-to-train-travel-in-europe/

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Photo from http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/common/guidevoyageur/classeetconfort/A380_presentation_airfrance.htm

Finding the lowest airfare for your trip

I am sure we have all searched a plane ticket to Europe before, and were in  complete shock with just the price of the ticket. When searching for flights and airlines you need to keep in mind that their are alternatives, you don't necessarily have to travel with the most popular airline. As long as you get to your destination safely and affordably you should be fine. 

 Google Flights helps you compare and track airfares to find the greatest deals available. Personally, my two favorite airfares are TripAdvisor and Kayak because the price they show you in the search box is the price you pay with all the extra fees already included. These two websites will inform you if their prices have increased or decreased by sending you notifications. 

When looking for a flight, you have to keep in mind that the time of the year in which you travel will have a big impact in the ticket price. There are high and low seasons. The high season is mid June through August, it is during the summer, this is when most people travel. 

During the high season a ticket to Europe ranges between $1,000 - &1,600. The low season is November through April and this is the time period where you will find the cheapest tickets to Europe, during this season the price will start at $500, which isn't so bad for a trip to Europe. 

When purchasing your flight you should also consider which European airport you want to fly into because that can save you a couple hundred dollars. You should search all the European major airports and compare prices as you go. Although the cheapest airport isn't always the best choice because it does have to fit in with your itenarary, it is something you want to keep in mind if you are just browsing for cheaper prices. 

It is also important to book your ticket to Europe with anticipation. For international flights, you want to book as soon as possible. I would recommend at least three months in advanced would be ideal for a ticket to Europe but the longer anticipated, the better. I also try to search for tickets after midnight because I was told thats when they drop prices.

Sources: https://www.google.com/flights/ & https://thesavvybackpacker.com/cheap-flights-to-europe/

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The picture above is a photo of me bungee jumping in Stockhorn, Switzerland. The photo was taken by Michael Anderson.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

As college students, we all like to save money in any way possible. During my time off school, I like to travel anywhere affordable. I have a part-time job, so I try to save as much as I can so I can travel as much as I can. Although saving money is hard, I always tell myself it’s to travel the world and it gets easier to save. 

I always find myself searching the internet for groupons, deals and cheap all-inclusive traveling deals. I am constantly checking for these affordable deals. With school and work taking up the majority of my life, on my free time I like to get out of Gainesville and step out of my comfort zone. 

I decided to blog about traveling to Western Europe on a budget because traveling is one of my favorite things to do and I want to make college students aware that you can travel the world on a budget. You just need to plan accordingly and keep in mind these helpful tips that you’ll receive throughout my blog.

I know it might seem impossible to travel to Europe on a budget because nowadays everything is so expensive, especially in Europe. But don’t let this fear hold you back from seeing the beauty of world. Save money and travel as much as you can because we are not getting any younger. 

My blog will help those of you who are currently in college and on the “broke college student” bandwagon and want to travel to Europe on a budget, the way I did last summer.