Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations

Elusive European Bargains, Part 3

I mentioned before that I’ve got an article out right now in Budget Travel on how to keep from going broke while traveling in Europe this summer. In the previous post I ran through some items that didn’t make it into the final article cut, on different kinds of city cards and public transportation cards. Here are a few more leftover tidbits on inter-city transportation and freebies.

Transportation within Europe
You have to crunch the numbers these days to figure out the cheapest way to get from country to country or across long distances in one. Loads of cheap airlines criss-cross the continent now, with so many choices it’s hard to keep track. The best way to figure out which airlines serve a particular route is to go to Whichbudget.com and plug in the cities you’re planning to visit.

In many cases a train is more comfortable, but a budget flight works out to be cheaper IF you’re not a heavy packer. Baggage allowances are stingy so make sure you know how much your luggage weighs and factor that into the total, along with all the other taxes and fees plus the transportation to and from the airport. Follow this link to see how much you can bring on the plane without fees in Europe and how much it will cost you if you go over.

After all that, it can be much cheaper to take a bus and somewhat cheaper or the same to take a train if you plan way ahead.

As mentioned in the Budget Travel article, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn train system offers 25% off of tickets purchased at least 3 days in advance and 50% off advance tickets that leave and return on a weekend. This applies to tickets for anywhere in the country and they can be purchased online (in English) or at a German train station.

If you purchase a French TGV rapid train ticket in advance through the SNCF site, prices drop 50% or more there for bookings made a month in advance: as little as 39 euros to go first class from Paris to Avignon, for instance. In 2nd class, Paris to Brussels can be as low as 25 euros and Paris to London can be as little as 39 euros. Also check the TGV Europe site for special deals. Spain is continually opening up new rapid train line routes too and you can shave a significant amount off the ticket price by booking in advance and taking off-peak departure times.

Find the Freebies
One of the easiest ways to save money in Europe, as backpackers quickly learn, is to figure out what’s free. In the major cities, there’s enough to keep you occupied for days or even weeks in the case of London. The British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Changing of the Guard are all free, for a start. Check the budget section of the Visit London site for a rundown here and in other cities and also pick up the local entertainment weekly after arrival.

In Paris, there’s no charge for Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, or the Perfume Museum.

In Rome, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and St. Peter’s Basilica are all free.

Surprisingly, one of the best countries for freebie deals is Switzerland (and it’s not just the views). In the Alpine town of Arosa, all cable cars, buses, and lake swimming facilities are free, no matter where you spend the night.

In the city of Geneva, just show up, stay at a hotel, hostel, or campground, and claim a free transportation card. You’ll ride around on trains, buses, and boats to your heart’s content for nothing.

Of course no matter what you do, you will spend far more than if you went to one of The World’s Cheapest Destinations, but if you simply must go to Europe when it’s the most expensive it has ever been in my lifetime, you’ll need to grab every deal you can find.

[photo of the tourist class AVE rapid train cabin in Spain, from Seat 61's London to Spain page.]

Related posts:

1. Airfare Bargains are Back
2. Bargains in the Cheapest Destinations
3. Cheap Travel in Expensive Cities
4. Iceland’s Move From Crazy Expensive to Almost Bearable