Please note that the following post is written by guest author, Peter Smith.
Europe is a fantastic travel destination, boasting diverse and breathtaking scenery, vibrant, trendy cities and oozing with history and culture.
This article suggests some of the best tips for saving money whilst using European transport, allowing you to get the most out of your travel.
Be Smart with How You Travel
Europe has one of the largest and densest transport systems in the world, offering a wide variety of methods for getting around. The only way to understand how to use this transport system wisely and economically is by doing some prior research before going to work every day. Here are a few tips:
Taking the train
When using trains, it is important to remember that train services vary hugely in both price and quality across Europe. An Interail pass, allowing unlimited rail travel, is a bargain if you are doing a lot of big distances in a short space of time.
When travelling on single holidays or in countries where trains are expensive, such as France or Germany, these can be especially beneficial. Whereas places like Italy have relatively cheap train travel and using an Interail card may cost more. In France and Britain, make sure to book in advance for dramatically reduced rail fares.
Travelling by Air
Europe is a hub of activity, with hundreds of destinations connected by budget airlines. Often, a cheap flight, booked in advance, can be the same price as a bus or a train and is significantly faster.
Travel in off peak periods and use price comparison sights for the best deals. Also, if flights to your chosen destination are expensive, consider flying to a nearby city or town and taking public transport, as a way of avoiding heavy fares.
Travelling by Car
As Europe is so compact, it also makes the ideal destination for a road trip. Petrol is relatively expensive and consistently priced throughout Europe, but make sure to plan ahead to avoid toll roads in countries such as France. There are other benefits of having a car that can make travel significantly cheaper, such as enabling you to carry a tent and large amounts of food and cooking materials.
Lift sharing
Lift sharing is an easy, green, and economical way of car travel. If you have your own car, you can charge people a flat rate in return for a lift to a city or destination. Alternatively, if you are carless, lift sharing offers a great method of travel that is often cheaper than public transport.
Although it takes some organization and forward planning, lift sharing is becoming increasingly easy, with hundreds of websites and companies facilitating lift sharing services online. These are especially effective and safe in large countries such as Germany.
When travelling in Europe, make sure to plan ahead and consider the benefits of Europe’s heavily integrated transport system. An intelligently planned trip can save as much as 90% on travel expenses, giving you more time and money to enjoy the continent and the vibrancy that comes with it.
AUTHOR BIO
Peter Smith has been a travel writer for over 25 years and has been writing about budget travel and single holidays for a host of online and printed media.
Worth Pondering…
Life is short and the world is wide.
—Simon Raven