Studying abroad can be a good way to travel and discover a country. Here are 10 tricks from a French exchange student on how to travel in Europe without breaking your budget.
- Fly with a low-cost airline
The European continent has a lot of low-cost airlines which compete with mainstream companies. Don’t hesitate to look at the frequent sales promotions on their websites.
However, be careful of hidden fees, rules about luggage and self-print boarding passes. Be careful too about the actual location of the airport. For instance, if your flight arrives in Paris Beauvais you will need to pay 15 euros to reach the city by bus.
To learn more about discount airlines in Europe, visit these websites:
- Travel by bus
The bus remains the cheapest way to travel any distance in Europe, especially because Europe is not a big continent!
Websites to check:
- Ecolines – especially in western Europe
- Eurolines
- Ouibus
- Megabus – especially to get around the United Kingdom
- Hop a ride with locals going their way
Take advantage of empty car seats to go from a city to another (think Uber).
Website to check:
- Get a rail pass
Getting a rail pass is the best solution if you want to discover more than one country. You can order a one-month pass which permits you to travel across 30 countries. Organize your own road trip according to your preferences!
Website to check:
- Use hospitality networks
Nowadays you can easily find a free place to stay due to the popularization of hospitality networks. They are fully based on cultural exchange and community between travelers.
Thanks to online profiles, you can see your host’s photograph, communicate with him or her and see the appreciation of the last guests.
Websites to check:
- Look for a Home Exchange
Try looking for a European who hopes to come to the United States, and exchange homes for a summer.
Website to check:
- Sleep in a youth hostel
Youth hostels are a great option for a tight budget. When you rent a bed you also have access to bathrooms, lounge living rooms and a kitchen where you can cook your own meals to avoid the extra cost of eating out. If you traveled alone, hostels are also a good way to meet new people and go on new adventures!
- Find Apartment Rentals
Want something less expensive than a hostel? You can find a room or an apartment online. Thanks to a renter profile, you can check pictures and appreciation of last guests to make your choice.
Website to check:
- Be a volunteer or try ‘wwoofing’
Don’t want to travel as a tourist? Want to be part of a community with a purpose of helping others? International volunteering can be a good solution for you. It’s also a good way to meet people from all over the world.
If you want to discover small villages and help in farms another famous thing is to do wwoffing. Through this program you can help a farmer 4-6 hours a day in exchange for free food and accommodations.
Websites to check:
- Eat with locals
What better way to discover a culture than to eat local… with locals?
Websites to check: