Budgeting and Trip Planning Advice - Europe Trip - Two Adults

[Deactivated] on 22/08/2018 - 07:33
Last edited 23/08/2018 - 23:43 by 1 other user

We want to travel to Europe for the very first time but not sure where to start and stop. Too many countries and still getting information about budgeting the trip.

• We will have limited savings.
• How much our budget should be for 4 weeks (excluding and including flights)
• We don't want to go shopping or spend savings on expensive hotels and restaurants.
• We would like to read other's itineraries to get references and modify our trip accordingly.
• We are planning for a 4 weeks trip
• We would like to know about cheap hotels and transportation methods.
• We are planning to go in June/July
• We will travel form Melbourne

Many thanks :)

• 

  jjjaar on 22/08/2018 - 07:53

  +2

  Check hostels as well as hotels. Sometimes I’ve found hostels to be cheaper, other times hotels are.

  Hostels have options including dorms and private rooms, with or without bathrooms. So selecting from these options can also reduce costs.

  But like I said, sometimes hotels are cheaper, so do your research. Hotels that offer shared bathroom facilities are often well priced too.

  Check out HostelWorld to compare hostel prices and booking.com for hotels. (To name a couple, there are many more)

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 22/08/2018 - 08:09

    Sure I will try to find the best deal.

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  Hellfire on 22/08/2018 - 08:53

  +2

  It will mostly come down to what you want to see and do.

  4 weeks in central/eastern Europe would be a very cost-effective trip. Something like Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. You'll get a good mix of sun, party, culture, history, art, food. Travel around by train or bus. Stay in small hotels, private rooms in hostels or Airbnb. The downside is you won't "tick off" the big European destinations like Rome or Paris. But my view is there plenty of time to go back and see more. Go further east for an even cheaper holiday.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 22/08/2018 - 11:58

    I would love to but my wife wants to see Paris and maybe London. We would love to see Switzerland, Milan, Venice and a few more well-known destinations. I am definitely going there as a backpacker to save money wherever I can and enjoy as much as possible. I was also thinking about making it a 6 Weeks trip but again depending on the budget.

    • 

      Hellfire on 22/08/2018 - 12:29

      Paris and London are hideously expensive. It'll will be hard to properly experience both on a tight budget. Top tips would be avoid eating or drinking anywhere close to the city centre and stay further out but on a train/metro line.

      Your must see destinations are a long way apart. Try to stick to a single region so you don't waste time or money on transport.

      Any reason for Switzerland? I've never been but don't remember anyone ever recommending it. It's also very expensive from what I hear.

      • 

        maiuspala on 27/08/2018 - 20:33

        Im from europe. To me Paris and London are cities like any other. But Swizerland is my favourite country in europe - so clean, so beautiful and so small that you can see it all in a short time.
        But everyone is different.

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  undercut on 22/08/2018 - 09:50

  +3

  Late June/July is peak season in Europe, so hotels will be more expensive and likely to be fully booked. Any possibility of travelling in May/early June or late September/October? You'll still get fairly warm and sunny weather (depending on which countries you're visiting), and the added bonus of smaller crowds and cheaper hotels and flights.

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  GG57 on 22/08/2018 - 10:36

  +1

  Perhaps consider a bus tour or similar. The advantages for you include:
  - Your limited savings can be matched to available tours.
  - Your budget will be well defined (particularly if you are not interested in shopping or expensive hotels / restaurants) as the tours show the inclusions etc.
  - The start / end dates of the tours will allow you to plan your flights via various options (routes / costs) and give you a little flexibility if required
  - The itineraries are well planned and can be relied on to cover the 'must sees'. Some are more specialised if you have those interests; some provide lots of free time.
  - You could combine a tour (of <4 weeks) with basing yourself somewhere of specific interest for the remainder of your trip
  - The hotels are usually mid-range, and transportation is sorted.

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  Sweet3st on 22/08/2018 - 17:31

  +1

  You've given us a hard task, with a list of expensive destinations, at an expensive time of year for everything! Leaving earlier (May) would be better. There are some lovely train journeys to be had. The Rhine Valley, the Bernina scenic train through the Swiss Alps through to Milan. I would go with trains in Europe, very comfortable and good value for money, if booked at the right time. Study https://www.seat61.com/, have your itinerary planned, and grab the cheap tickets when they come out. Hostelworld is good for locating cheap accommodation, as mentioned, although AirBnB worth a look for 2 of you (you won't get much in London or Paris). Buy your food from the local supermarkets.

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  Sweet3st on 22/08/2018 - 17:44

  Also an idea to get an open jaw flights ticket. Arrive in London, leave from Spain. That way you don't have to return to your starting point.

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  altomic on 22/08/2018 - 19:25

  ADVICE

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  dane45 on 23/08/2018 - 13:57

  I recently spent a week in Europe (not nearly long enough!) doing Prague - Krakow - Budapest which was very affordable. As with anywhere prices can vary depending on the standard of accommodation that you're looking at (room in a dorm, private room with shared bathroom, or hotel room) but I found everything to be very cheap. My itinerary was:

  1 night in Prague (private room in hostel) - $45 AUD
  Sleeper train Prague - Krakow (own cabin) - $65 AUD
  1 night in Krakow (room at ibis Budget) - $35 AUD
  Sleeper train Krakow - Budapest (shared cabin with 1 other person) - $150 AUD
  2 nights in Budapest (splurged and stayed in penthouse apartment) - $300 AUD

  Of course, there's many ways to make this cheaper. Stay in dorms, travel in the chouchette cars on sleeper trains, get the bus between cities. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas though!

  If you're on a tight budget, I'd recommend only spending the limited amount of time (just as much as you need to see the sights that you want to) in London but definitely taking the train to see other towns in the UK.

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  maiuspala on 27/08/2018 - 20:46

  You have plenty of time, wait for good offers and sign up with amex and other cc-s to get enough points to get free (biz) plane tickets.

  I know it is not aussie thing and I dont know how adventurous You are, but I have hitch-hiked through most of western europe. That would help You meet local people and save you heaps of money.
  If that doesnt sound like a plan, then You can sign up for european low cost carrier newsletters and build your itinerary around whatever cheap flights you can get.

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  backpaqer on 28/08/2018 - 10:13

  Tip 1. Don't try to do everything. Tip 2. Try not to look like a tourist and read up on the scams people pull. Tip 3. Look at the hotels that tour operators use (eg Sports tours international) as I've found these to be quite comfortable but targeted at a lower price point.

  Further tips may be based on the countries you plan on visiting (but remember tip 1… Stay at least 2 nights in each place so you can soak up the atmosphere)