How to Save Money on Your European Vacation

PAY IN ADVANCE.

For the rest of your expenses, the best thing you can do for your budget is pay for as much as you can in advance: accommodation, rail passes, student discount cards, etc. This will help you avoid fluctuating currency exchange rates and better plan for expenses you will have to pay as your trip progresses.

Hostels and hotels. Booking a bed or a room before you leave on your vacation will mean you pay our student-friendly US$ price, you can get in on specials like stay 4 nights and get the fifth for free, and you’ll have a reservation. During the summer, a reservation is like a coveted golden ticket. Hostels and budget hotels fill up fast because they’re cheap, student friendly and near everything you want to see. Many hostels are found in regular buildings, but you’ll also find them in old churches, boats and castles! Cool, huh? Most hostels sleep at least 12 to a large room. If you’re looking for something smaller, like 4 to a room, you may want to consider a budget hotel. These are a great option because you sleep pretty cheaply and enjoy your own room and, usually, an en suite bathroom.

*Based on a a 6-bed dorm during a weekend stay at a price of $24/night.

Eurail passes are a fantastic and economical way to get around Europe and have a blast while you do it. Paying for your pass before you go means you pay the US$ price. Big difference when it comes to the (price in Euro) you would pay if you waited until you arrived overseas. Eurail serves more than 8 million customers a year and covers 18 countries with two main types of passes: Global and Select. The Global Pass is valid for travel across all 18 countries and is really flexible on the amount of time you can travel. The Select Pass is valid for travel in 3, 4 or 5 countries for 5, 6, 8 or 10 days within 2 months. Booking your Select Pass now will earn you a free extra day of travel. So, if you book a 6-day pass, you’ll have 7 days of travel.

*At a price of $352 for 6 days, it's like saving $59!

Discount cards are just $22 and can save $100s in airfare, accommodation, sightseeing, entertainment and shopping while you travel. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is for current students. The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is for grads and those of you travelers not in school but under the age of 26. Want to visit the Tower of London? One of these nifty cards will save you 3 GBP (about $6). Plus, certain hostels and hotels offer special discounts to cardholders, like free welcome drink upon arrival or free Internet access.

If you like the idea of having a lot of the planning taken care of but you still want to retain some control, try hop-on-hop-off bus networks. This type of traveling follows a set bus route across several countries. You decide when you get on the bus, when you stop and how long you stay in each stop. The route makes a full circle so you finish where you started. Ask your STA Travel Advisor about your tour options – you have a million. Again, pay for your pass before you leave to ensure you get the best price possible.

A few extra thoughts…

Credit card companies charge an international transaction processing fee and banks then lump their own fee on top of that.

You’ll get the best possible exchange rates using an ATM. Just make sure to alert your bank before you leave that you’re traveling overseas. Otherwise, the bank’s fraud department can flag your account and freeze you out because it thinks you’re account info has been stolen.

Withdraw a few days-worth of cash at a time instead of making several small withdrawals. Distribute the money among secure places like your money belt and an interior pocket of your backpack.

Tell us all about your adventure! We want to hear about all of the fun you had on your trip. We even GIVE you money if we publish your story/photo on our Web site. Plus, you can upload pics, videos and blog to your heart's content on www.statravel193.com!