Tips for Travelers
Weak dollar puts travelers under a serious disadvantage. Now traveling to
Europe becomes more expensive than ever, and for many of US citizens not affordable. As an experienced traveler I would like to share some very useful advice for those who are going to visit Europe this year.
1. Traveling Period
Choose your traveling period as accurately as possible. I strongly recommend you to travel during low season. It will give you an opportunity to save about 50 % of your budget. There is a simple explanation – during the high seasons the prices are usually considerably higher. Another forcible advantage – no more crowds of tourists thronging at the museums. Try to avoid traveling during big holydays, such as Christmas, New Year, and Easter.
2. Choice of the hotel
Staying in a hotel outside of city center or historical places will save you up to 50 per cent. You can conveniently put up at a hotel in the suburbs. Believe me, it’s a great alternative. Just compare – booking a room in a four-star hotel in the centre of a capital will cost you twice as much as booking a room in the suburbs –let’s say 15 minutes ride to the historical centre. Or imagine, a room in a seedy hotel in the centre is equal in expenses to a room in five-star hotel in the suburbs.
3. Choose hotels with half board (H/B) or full board (F/B) and access to the Internet
Half board means that only breakfast and lunch or dinner is included. If you book a room with full board, you get three meals a day. Note, that full board usually doesn’t come with alcohol included. If the Internet access is included, you won’t have to search an unknown city for Internet to communicate with your friends. Make sure that it is included in the price.
4. Use ATM machines
You will save money, if you’ll get your cash from an ATM machine. Usually, exchange offices charge high commissions.
5. Try to avoid using taxis
You can use instead public transportation. The overwhelming majority of European cities have well-developed system of public transportation.
6. Self-catering apartments
You can even stay in a self catering accommodation instead of renting room in a hotel. It will save you hundreds of dollars, not only on accommodation but also on restaurant expenses.