Buy Cheap Package/Entry Tickets to European Sites?

uniqualz on 31/08/2017 - 09:14

Hi All,

The family and I are doing the 4 week European/Egypt/UK holiday thing next week. I've been looking at prices for getting into places like The Vatican, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Romantic Road castles etc.. and all are 2nd-mortgage type expensive, particularly as wife and I will have 2 teenage kids with us. Does anyone know of any way one can purchase a bulk entry pass for multiple European sites that might offer hefty discounts? I'm coming home more broke than the 10 Commandments if I can't get some cheap options!? If it helps, our itinerary is: Egypt (Cairo & Luxor), most of Italy, Germany (the romantic road bit), Switzerland mountains, Paris, London, Istanbul.

Thanks Very Much,
UniQualz

Travel

Comments

  • djones145 on 31/08/2017 - 10:22
    +1

    Paris: the louvre is free "From October to March: access to the permanent collections is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month. "

    London: British museum is free

  • Some Guy on 31/08/2017 - 11:42
    +1

    Buy your tickets online in advance. Most offer discounts that way and include family tickets. Look for tie-ins with rental car companies or hotel chains etc. Also scour the tourist info sites for city passes that cover entrance fees, public transport and "discounts" at restaurants etc.

    Or perhaps start a crowd surfing type fund?

  • funkybamboo on 31/08/2017 - 11:47
    +1

    Depending on your ancestry if anyone is entitled to EU citizenship, you may not get into parliament but I'm pretty sure you get discounted museum entry! We have an EU citizen in the family and even though I had my Australian nieces with me, due to the fact that we were buying tickets for them and it was obvious we were family they charged us EU rates for all of us.

    Rome: At the national museums and archaeological sites (Colosseum included) there used to be free admission to all on the first Sunday of each month. You can often find this sort of thing in various European cities during certain dates/holidays - depending how tricky it is to tee up with your plans. Bear in mind it may be twice as busy! The Roman city passes sometimes include public transport costs too so research that. Though I can happily walk around Rome, if it includes airport transfers it may be worth your while.

    FYI… just googled "discounted museum entry", plenty of articles with tips and tricks.

  • funkybamboo on 31/08/2017 - 11:56
    +1

    My main tip would be "Queue Hacks", see if you can find a way to hack the queue anywhere you go. This could potentially save you money too. As I have in the past also bought passes and then realised there simply wasn't enough time to make good use of them because we fit in alot less than we though we would.

    You will waste so much of your holidays standing in queues. We used to sometimes grab a take-away breakfast and eat it while queuing. So in Paris, grab a take-away coffee and crepe from a street cart before you head to Notre Dame. (Another money saving hack -bring your own carry cups/stainless steel drink bottles while travelling you will save so much money on water for international travel in airports and day to day. You can even use the hotel coffee in your travel bottle and get the croissants from a boulangerie - more money saved!)

    Colosseum: Go to the (I think it was) "tours" or "coach tours" ticketing section instead of the standard queu and they just sold us the tickets, saved us about 20mins in a queu.

    The Vatican Museum: bring a hat and a fan. If you can find a way to hack the queue…good luck!

    Louvre: Go to the entry which is on the other side of the arch positioned across the road from the glass pyramid in the square. The queue in that entry is generally alot shorter.

    • funkybamboo on 31/08/2017 - 12:05
      +1

      That being said, standing by the Seine eating a croissant is nothing to complain about! That's my two cents. Have a great trip!

      • uniqualz on 31/08/2017 - 13:26

        Awesome info, thanks FB!

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