Reader Question: How Much Money Do I Need?

Ferris Wheel in London
[Photo courtesy of Amy Richards]

While writing my blog, I found the most common question asked by readers was "How much money do I need to travel through Europe?" Like everything on your trip, this will depend on your personal preferences on how you want to spend your money and what's important to you. For example, some people will think it's worth it to spend the extra money to get an authentic taste of the local cuisine, while others would rather travel around with a peanut butter sandwich so they can spend money on tours and local attractions. Because of these individual variations, I broke down a budget and offered variations, ranging from scraping by to splurging.

Your basic budget, not counting travel is 45 - 60€/day. Add your travel on top of that (averaged in) and you'll probably end up spending a total of 80€/day, multiplied by 30 days is 2400€ total. Here's how I got that number:

• Hostels cost anywhere from 15 - 20€/day. Earlier in the year I wrote a blog about hostels and how you can save money when booking your hostel, so make sure to check that out if you need some extra tips.
• Food will cost you anywhere from 10 - 20€/day. Your 10€/day budget will consist of sandwiches and pastries, and while it's doable, it probably won't fill you up. 20€ is a better budget if you want to stay full and try some of the street food in the area. 
• Your mode of transportation will be the biggest factor determining your budget. Some places you visit, you will be able to walk everywhere, others you will have to take a bus (about 3€ round trip depending on the the place you're visiting. Traveling from country to country depends on whether or not you fly or take the Eurail, as the prices will differ greatly depending on how many countries you plan to visit. For tips on the best mode of transportation to use, you can look at my blogs about rail systems within a country, the Eurail, and plane travel in Europe. 
• Lastly, you have to take into account that it will cost money to do some touristy things. For example in Scotland Edinburgh Castle is 14£ and a bike tour in Amsterdam is 20€. Experiences like these are often worth the money, so make sure you include this in your budget. Also keep in mind that you might encounter more than one tourist opportunity in one day, or you may want to buy a souvenir from your travels.

Edinburgh Castle
[Courtesy of Amy Richards]

There are items outside your budget that are important to consider too, like bank fees (see my blog about money in Europe) or what to do if you find you've been pick-pocketed.

Have any questions of your own that I could answer? Feel free to e-mail me at europeforstudents@ymail.com or post a comment below. Click the "Follow" button on the top left hand corner of the blog to keep updated on trips for traveling through Europe.

Happy Travels!


Julie

Fly Away! Plane travel within Europe

European countries rely much heavier on public transportation than we do in America, so not having a car will not pose a problem. Because of the wide variety of public transportation, there is a different type to use depending on the distance and time of day you plan on travelling.

Ryan Air Cabin [Credit]

Flying is the best method of travel if you plan on travelling from one country to another in Europe. Unlike flights in the United States, flights in Europe are fairly cheap, some fares even being as low as 5 euros. Your best bet for finding the lowest fair is to choose an inexpensive “no frills” airlines, such as BMI Baby or Ryan Air. If you do plan on flying with “no frills” airlines, there are a few words of warning you need to take note of. First, make sure to check the extra fees and charges that you may accrue. For example, unlike most airlines in the United States, some (but not all) airlines will charge you up to a 40 pound fee of for checking in at the airport counter instead of free online check in. Other extra charges include a fee for checked luggage, depending on its weight and how far away your destination is, and then a fee for infant and infant items.

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With whomever you choose to book your flight, make sure you book ahead of time. While travelling may seem like a “spur of the moment” sort of thing, in reality it is much less expensive if you book at least two months ahead of time. One helpful website to compare all airline prices in one place is skyskanner.net, which can be used for both flights within Europe and when you come home and want to travel within the United States as well.

Keep updated on tips for travelling through Europe by clicking the "follow" button on the top left hand corner or the page. If you have any specific questions about travelling through Europe or have a topic you'd like me to address, shoot me an email me at europeforstudents@ymail.com. Check back next week for more about travelling from country to country and the most inexpensive ways to do so. 

Happy Travels!

Julie

Getting There - Flying to Europe

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Once you make the decision to travel abroad, you will then have to decide where you will be visiting and how you will get there. While your destination will depend on your personal preferences of climate and culture, how will arrive at your destination is fairly limited to either a boat or plane. The majority of people will choose to travel by plane due to the fact that it is much quicker. Because travelling such a far distance by plane is foreign to many people, this particular entry will discuss how to book your flight abroad, what to pack for your flight, what to expect with your flight and how to deal with jetlag.

 A transatlantic flight can cost anywhere from $800 USD (U.S. Dollars) upward depending on where you travel, with most flights averaging around $1000+. In order to get the best deal when booking your flight, it will be most beneficial for you to fly to Europe from the biggest city near you. While you will have to spend money on gas to drive to the nearest big city, you will save yourself time that you have to be confined in an airplane. In addition, you will increase your chances of a straight through flight, which decreases the risk of your losing your luggage in a transfer flight.

Another money saving tip when booking your flight is to book through the website skyscanner.net. When using the website, it’s okay to be set on your destination, however I suggest that you stay flexible with your dates, as it could save you money. Keep in mind that the cheapest days to fly are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. A constant theme that you will see throughout this blog is to plan ahead. In keeping with that theme, it is best to book transatlantic flights four to six months in advance.

The Skyscanner.net website [Credit]

As soon as you’ve booked your flight abroad, you may be wondering what to pack. Most large airplanes have TV screens so you can choose from a wide variety of television shows, movies, games and music to choose from on your flight. The airline will also most likely provide you with complimentary amenities such as a set of headphones, a small pillow and a blanket. If you fancy higher end amenities, I would suggest bringing your own. Unlike most domestic flights, you will be served both dinner and breakfast; however it is always advisable to keep some snack food with you on the plane just in case you don’t like the food served.

[Credit: Laura White]

Most flights over to Europe will start in the afternoon and arrive in early morning in a European time zone. As a result, you will probably want to sleep on the flight. This is when the blanket and pillow often come in handy. Sleeping on the plane will also help you adjust to the time change, so when you step off the plane you can jump right into the European time zone. Another suggestion for overcoming jetlag is to start getting up earlier and going to bed earlier the week before your trip overseas.

Remember if you have any questions, feel free to email me at europeforstudents@ymail.com. Check back next week for my blog about money while you're in Europe!

Happy Travels!


Julie