Budget Travel for Students in Europe
Updated: Apr 24, 2023
The benefit of studying/traveling in Europe is that you can travel to another country for less than 50€ roundtrip! Here are some tips to follow to keep your trip within your budget!
As a student in Europe, you have access to the rest of Europe for a relatively cheap ticket. If you're not a study abroad student and just looking to backpack around Europe, these tips are also applicable to you.
“You're telling me I can fly to and from London for 20€?"
Destinations:
I have a bucket list of places I've always wanted to travel like Santorini, Positano, and Ibiza. Unfortunately all of these destinations are extremely expensive in the summer months, so I keep google flight notifications on for when the flights drop below €100. This year I was able to travel to Santorini in February because I found roundtrip flights for €70, and the secret is to travel during the non-tourist season. There are less attractions open, and its not the best weather to go suntanning, but going in the down season gives you the opportunity to really explore the island without dealing with all the tourists. I traveled to Positano in May which was the "in-between" of slow and peak season, and I highly recommend traveling there during this time because its not as crowded, and prices aren't AS crazy yet. It also helps to check the RyanAir destinations tab to check what flights are cheap during the month you want to travel!
Flights:
As I stated above, flights in Europe are rather inexpensive, if you know where to look. I use Google Flights rather than a third party booking website because I like to book the flight through the actual website of the airline. With Google Flights I am able to see the prices that the airlines offer and avoid getting scammed. I also like to use the app "Hopper" because they keep me updated on the price fluctuations and tell me when I should buy my ticket based on trends.
Accommodation:
There are many great hotels that offer deals, but I always prefer to stay in an Airbnb or hostel. Hostels can charge between €6 - €50 a night, and an entire apartment on Airbnb can run between €30 - €150 (of course that depends on the location.) Hostels are a great option if you are traveling by yourself and want to make friends to go out with. Airbnb's are nice because they are intimate, and give you the privacy of a hotel.
Food:
I usually make my own food if I am on a budget while traveling, and many hostels have their own kitchen for their guests to prepare a meal. In the reviews of your Airbnb you can see if they have a fully equipped kitchen, and when I do long-term trips and want to save money, I shop at the local grocery store and cook myself. If you want to eat out, avoid going to places in the city center as they are typically more expensive.
Activities:
Depending on what you want to do, there is usually always a cheaper alternative to the tourist traps offered. I always do my research online before I book anything, and I highly recommend reading the reviews before payment. For example, if you find "Food Tour in Rome" online for €125 a person, you are likely to find a similar food tour with great reviews on Airbnb Experiences for less.
Saving Money Tips:
If you plan on traveling around and want to save as much as possible, these are my 6 rules I follow to make the most of money:
Pack your items in a backpack and skip the luggage! Most budget airlines will charge you for your carry-on which changes your €20 flight to a €75 flight!
Make your own food or eat at bakeries! Usually a bakery will have small meals prepared for a fraction of what they will charge at a restaurant.
If you are going to drink, buy some alcohol at the grocery store for the pre-game. Depending on the location, bars can charge a lot for alcohol, so its better to have a nice buzz before you go out and drop €100 on drinks.
Stay in hostels because they're inexpensive and you can often make friends that are also interested in traveling so you can split future Airbnb costs with them!
NEVER take a taxi. Always look at the bus route or Uber (or Bolt) before considering getting a taxi!
Don't exchange money because they usually rip you off with a conversion rate. Its cheaper to take money directly from an ATM (usually you get charged a $5 foreign transaction fee) but your bank will give you the best conversion rate possible.
Happy Traveling!