SAVE MONEY IN EUROPE (FROM A REAL TRAVELER)

I see articles in travel magazines all the time on subjects like this.  They list the same 10 or 20 generic bullet points over… and over… and over.  Either they all just keep recycling the same original How to Save travel article, or I really just take for granted that people can get that info in any travel guide-book. Here are some tips that are a little more creative.  

A couple friends are traveling to Europe soon so I decided to shift gears from the Third World and write a few thoughts about traveling around the Motherland.  Links to some of the better “How to Save” articles I have come across are at the bottom to reference all the standard stuff.  Here are a few little gems above and beyond, to add to your repertoire when traveling on a shoestring.

 

1.  SAVING ON DINING

 

Restaurants and Cafés in Europe can be quite pricey.  It still surprises me every time I visit that a soft-drink costs more than a beer (keep that in mind). Try this gameplan when on a budget:  Picnic for breakfast and lunch, and ask a friendly local or two to recommend a good place for dinner.

** Pocketing the hard-plastic utensils your in-flight meal is served with is a smooth move.  They are lightweight and compact and make great McGruber gadgets for your little picnic we are planning.  

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH COVERED FOR $3.50-$5.00 (depending on what the $ is doing)

Go to the local grocery store in the morning and pick up:

Fresh loaf of bread — $0.50

Round of local Cheese — $1.50

Fresh Produce — $1.50

Baguettes are my favorite (French bread which is usually tough on the outside and real soft on the inside).   Usually comes about 1 1/2 feet long for about $0.50.  Treat yourself and try some good local cheese (not Kraft).  My favorite whenever I can find it is Camembert (a soft-ripened French cheese from Normandy region similar to Brie) 8 Oz round of cheese usually  $1 -$2.50.  Because they are not genetically altered, the local fruit and vegetables in most parts of Europe are noticeably more flavorful than what we are used to stateside.  The produce even has little bug holes sometimes and imperfections I eventually came to appreciate.  Grab an apple or some grapes or whatever is on sale $1-$1.50. 

 

Now you’ve got the makings of a little mini-picnic to break-out throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, and snacking.  If you eat at Cafés for both Breakfast and Lunch you will easily drop $15-20 each day.  This cuts that number down to no more than $5-6 and thats allowing for big price increase since last time I was there.

Find yourself a nice little park or city square to take in the beautiful sites while you picnic.  And don’t worry about that cheese in your backpack, man– its tougher than you think.  Wait till you get there… they leave everything sitting out for days in Europe and everywhere else.  As an American (we have the strictest food-safety regulations) I was shocked my first time at the common sites of raw meat and perishable foods sitting out in the little markets lining the streets.  Didn’t seem to concern any of the locals though.  And apparently not too many places in the world outside of the US refrigerate their egg-cartons either.  So no worries.

SOME OTHER TIPS TO SAVE ON MEALS 

• Remember to carry a refillable bottle of water in your pack.

• Local pubs (not tourist pubs) can offer great bar food and working class meals at a value for those on a budget.  mmm… check out the Beef Wellington at an authentic pub in the UK. Its amazing.  Ok and splurge on a couple pints of Stella Artois. (the good stuff and its cheap over there).

• While you are out exploring, ask some friendly looking locals to recommend a couple of their favorite spots that are not too expensive.  And write down a few of their favorite dishes.

• Remember to be familiar with the tipping customs of the country.  Consult your travel book + confirm it from a few locals (umm not your waiter).  Europe has much higher wage rates than US and tipping in most European nations is often not expected nor customary.

This is a lot more to cover than I thought.  I will have to do a second installment to this article with all the other stuff.  To be continued…  -CM