Tips to travel in and around Europe cheaply

RyanAir is one of the cheapest airlines out there, offering one-way flights across Europe for under 20 dollars, taxes included. However, to get this price, it is necessary to buy the tickets early and pay attention to RyanAir’s very strict travel rules.

They have recently changed their regulations to only allow one piece of carry-on luggage, including a personal item. So only a backpack or a purse/briefcase/bag can be taken for free; the other must be checked, which costs another 10 euros.

Make sure to check in and print the boarding pass before arriving at the airport. Even if already checked in, there is a 20 euro fee to print out a boarding pass at the airport. However, they do let passengers check in online and print the boarding pass up to two weeks before the plane takes off.

RyanAir also often only uses small airports, so factor in the added cost of a bus from the airport to the city center.

Eurail Passes – Taking the Train

Trains are the easiest way to travel around Europe if you are going to many different cities. There are several different kinds of passes offered on Eurail.com, to be tailored to each person’s travel needs. If staying in one country, rail passes on that country’s website might be a better deal. If going to only a few places and staying for a while, it is probably better to fly between them.

Most trains do not require reservations, but they might be necessary when using the high speed trains (TGV in France, ICE in Germany, AVE in Spain), especially on busy travel days or near big cities at rush hour. These reservations usually cost around 3 to 6 euros and can be made at any train station.

Though someone with a reservation is technically ensured a seat, there will often be someone else sitting in it. When this happens, the people are usually understanding and willing to move. It’s helpful to know the phrase “This is my seat” in the native language of the country.

Quasi-legal tip: Some conductors are very strict about the rules (and will charge up to 50 euros for breaking them), but filling in dates with an erasable pen or purposefully sitting in the wrong place can create days of free travel, which can save a lot of money.

Choosing Good HostelsHostelWorld.com is a useful and easy-to-use website that lists most of the accommodation options in any city in Europe. It is easy to make or cancel reservations here, though it requires a 10% non-refundable deposit. Taking printed receipts as proof of the reservation made will prevent problems if hostels make a mistake.

Before booking a hostel, good things to look for are access to breakfast, a kitchen, sheets, towels or internet. Even if you have to pay, the last two can be necessities. If they’re free, even better – it may balance out the cost of a slightly more expensive hostel.

A central location is crucial. A cab ride to and from the city every day is expensive and being an hour’s walk from the city’s main attractions is tiring. Not being able to go back and forth easily means more things to carry during the day and more difficulties when going out at night.

Before arriving, check if the hostel will take a credit card; some only take cash.

Other Sleeping OptionsNight trains can be a great way to save money, especially for a heavy sleeper or someone whose only sleeping needs are a roof and a blanket. Though it’s important for night train riders to secure their valuables.

Sleeping couchettes, four to six fold-down bunk beds in a compartment, can be downright comfortable (except for the bouncing of the train and having no space to sit up) and these are normally equipped with a pillow, blanket, reading light, and complimentary breakfast. While these reservations (with a valid rail pass) are around 20 euros, roughly the same price as a cheap hostel, they are useful for long-distance travel; a traveller can fall asleep in Frankfurt and wake up in Budapest, without wasting daylight hours to get there.

A reclining seat reservation is the cheapest method of overnight travel at around 5 euros a seat. While these seats can flatten completely, the setup is six seats in a compartment, three in a row facing the other three. So in a full compartment, stretching out flat involves being able to spoon with strangers.

Quasi-legal tip: Reading the fine print about overnight trains can yield a day of free travel, either the day of or the day after the night train. With Eurail passes, any overnight travel after 7 PM counts as traveling the following day – so the entire next day, all other trains are free. However, most conductors will also accept a ticket with the date that the night train starts – so the entire day before the start of the overnight travel can then be free.