Save Money on International Travel
CNN Travel has a great if somewhat obvious article by Rick Steves, travel expert extraordinaire, on 20 ways to save money in Europe, an important topic for anyone looking to hit that beautiful continent, for business or pleasure. Especially given the fall of the U.S. dollar against the continuing rise of the Euro, maximizing your hard earned cash is paramount.
So whats the problem with Road Warrior Rickys article? Well, its really truly awfully long, you see. So Ive taken the liberty of condensing these ideas into easily digestible bits, the Tums to Steves tall glass of milk. My way there are only 13 tips for luck instead of 20.
B & Bs are more comfy and less expensive than hotels.
Hostels are even cheaper.
Budget, chain hotels are another good option for families and singles alike. So are the more meagerly star-ed hotels. Get a room with shared bathrooms in the hall and youll save even more. (Thanks Steve! These sound swell.)
Double up in your lodgings.
Avoid tourist hot spots: Theyre rip offs.
Or take a picnic/ bag lunch that youve shopped for at a grocery store, not at a convenience store.
Open-air markets are inexpensive as they cater to in-the-know locals. Just ask around.
Share food. Dont splurge on drinks.
Dont over-tip. Many places in Europe include tip with the cost of a meal, so dont tip twice when youre pinching pennies.
Fly, seriously. So-called open jaw flights can be cheaper, from a round-trip standpoint, than the time and energy of two or more train tickets. Shop around.
Dont drive.
Buses, both local and travel, are dirt cheap. Rub elbows with the common man and locals.
Use ATMs instead of travelers checks, and take out your money in larger increments to minimize fees.
I hope these were helpful. For the complete article, click here.