Planning a trip to Europe is not difficult, but planning everything so that the trip is inexpensive and comfortable is already a skill. Experience shows that in order to travel cheaply in Europe, you do not have to reduce your consumption level and deny yourself everything. Not at all! It is enough just to follow some basic rules. Here are some tips and life hacks on how to save money while traveling.
General Travel Savings Rules Everyone Should Know About
1. Are you still planning your August vacation? Finally, start traveling in the “off-season”: there are fewer tourists, prices are several times lower, service is better. The most expensive time in Europe: July, August, September, Christmas and New Year... The most comfortable and inexpensive months: October, April. The cheapest way to travel in Europe on your own in November and February.
Photo: Santa Semana holiday in Valladolid, Spain
2. Shy away from festivals and holidays that you are not interested in. Find out in advance the dates of the holidays that will be held along your route, because the prices for transport and hotels on such days grow 2-3 times. And if these holidays are not interesting to you, then why pay more?
3. Travel on your own! Forget about tours, trips and various intermediaries - you can only travel cheaply in Europe yourself. It's easier than traveling around the countries of the former CIS. Start with at least.
4. Take a reliable bank card on your trip - we have already written. It is better to take cards from different banks: if one is blocked, then a spare will remain.
Council We Traveled-Know
To save up to 10% on travel, have cards tied to different currencies (euros, dollars) and use them according to countries: when going to Europe pay with a euro card, when traveling to the States pay with a dollar card. So you are palpable.
How to save on transport in Europe
How to search for cheap flights, detailed instructions read. But how to save further?
In the photo: passengers at the train station in Marseille 5. For crossings within Europe, the rule most often works: the cheapest - by plane, then - buses, the most expensive - by train. Of course, provided that you buy tickets in advance. For example, the cheapest way to get there is by plane and not invent anything else.
Tourist advice. When buying a low-cost airline ticket, check the location of the airport. Otherwise, it may turn out that you will pay 10 euros for an air ticket, and three times more to get from the airport to the city. Taking this into account, it is more profitable to buy a bus ticket, because bus stations are almost always located in the city.
6. When staying in large cities like Barcelona or Milan, buy a pass for several trips immediately upon arrival. Before traveling to expensive cities useful to read useful tips how to save. We recommend: the very best, wholesome, and excellent.
7. Register on the websites of transport companies (SNCF, RyanAir, Alsa) - so you can receive information about sales by mail.
8. In some transport companies (for example, ALSA, OBB), for some reason it is cheaper to buy two tickets separately than one purchase for two at once - check both options!
9. Most tourists, planning to rent a car in Europe, give in to advertising and order a car along with an air ticket, or book a car on the websites of car rental companies - this is most often unprofitable. Before doing so, do not be too lazy to check the prices in all car rental companies - a couple of minutes, and you can save 10-30%.
10. It is not necessary to rent a car, make up - so you can see a lot of interesting things along the way, even from the bus window. Thus, you can spot places for future travel. For example, you will see Lake Como, the Alps, and magnificent Switzerland. And here is an interesting independent one - a ready-made instruction!
11. Buy yourself a low-cost suitcase with the correct dimensions so you don't have to pay for luggage.
In the photo: the “correct” suitcase is the one that goes into the carry-on baggage of most airlines Tourist advice. Buy a suitcase with dimensions suitable for transport in hand luggage- “cabin bag” - such a suitcase does not need to be checked in as baggage, for which budget airlines charge additional money. There are suitcases “approved” by low-cost RyanAir and EasyJet. In my experience, baggage measuring 55cm x 35cm x 20cm and weighing up to 7kg goes through most low-cost airlines.
Now in some low-cost airlines they charge a fee for a "cabin bag", but still the price is much lower than for a regular suitcase.
12. When planning a route with a rented car, check through how complex road junctions are arranged, especially in large cities. Sometimes this can be a great way to save travel time and even find free parking.
13. Group with other travelers. Group tickets or renting a car for two families can help you save a lot on the road.
How to save on food
Photo: menu in a resort cafe, Tenerife Life hack. To eat tasty and inexpensive in Europe, choose a restaurant away from the tourist paths, at least turn into a side street and walk 50-100 meters. Don't be afraid of Michelin stars, but try to avoid the Tripadvisor sticker. Pay attention to the menu: inexpensive tasty food will most likely be where the menu is in the local language, on one sheet. Food is most delicious in establishments where there is no menu, and the owner himself will tell you what is served today.
15. In cafes and restaurants, the first thing to do is find out the cost of the sets. Buying a set of several courses is usually cheaper than taking the same one, but separately “a la carte”. By the way, always take “Menu del dia” (Menu of the day).
16. To have a hearty and tasty snack, it is not necessary to order a whole lunch or dinner at a restaurant in the center of a tourist hangout. The cheapest thing is to have a bite to eat in bars: we move away from the main street, find a cozy bar and from the counter (without asking for the menu) make an order in the local language. The only difficulty: you need to know a dozen phrases in the local language and the peculiarities of the local cuisine.
For example, in Spain, a cup of coffee and tortilla de patatas (this is a Spanish omelet, but more like a slice of potato and egg pie) in a restaurant will cost 7-10 euros, and in a bar the same will cost 2-3 euros ( Magic word- pincho de tortilla - "pincho de tartilla"), and here's another.
17. In large European supermarkets half an hour before closing, you can buy perishable food for half the price. And by the way, it will always be good to know before the trip. local prices... For example, here's to you.
How to save on accommodation in Europe
The most expensive part of the trip is accommodation. You, of course, have already read everywhere that it is more profitable to rent a bed in hostels than a hotel room :) This, of course, is a super-mega-secret, but here I will tell you about less obvious things.
18. When choosing hotels for the entire travel itinerary in Europe, the first thing to do is to book the weekend. These days, hotels are much more expensive and take them apart first.
19. Everyone knows that you need to book hotels in advance. BUT, if not in time for a month, then later low prices may appear 1-3 days before the desired date. Sometimes even cheaper than six months. However, such miracles do not happen on holidays :(
20. Having booked a remote hotel, write there and find out how you can get to them by public transport. In some cases, you may be provided free transfer from the airport, or tell how to get there by local transport.
21. When booking, check the price in the case of “2 nights + 1 night” and the option “immediately for 3 nights”, etc. The final price may surprise :)
22. To travel cheaply in Europe, when booking an apartment, look at the options for a week at once - sometimes it turns out to be cheaper, because a weekly discount is triggered. As a result, it happens that 6 days cost the same as 7.
To find apartments in Europe at a low price and not to get to scammers, read - in other European countries it is exactly the same.
In the photo: hotels near the sea are always the most expensive. 23. When booking tickets and hotels in major cities, immediately check the location of the arrival station and your hotel.
Travelers often take a ticket before central station cities, forgetting about intermediate stops. Sometimes it is more profitable to get off the train one stop earlier - it may be closer to your hotel and cheaper than going to the central station and from there to the hotel.
24. When buying a ticket for transport or booking a hotel, check the prices for the dates adjacent to yours. Sometimes it can be beneficial to move your entire schedule by just one day.
25. Make direct connections with the owners of boarding houses and small hotels. In the future, you will be able to directly rent accommodation with discounts.
26. If you have a birthday on your nose - do not hesitate to inform the hotel about it. There are chances to get a nice bonus.
What you can't save on in Europe
People often try to save fifty euros, spending a lot of time, nerves, and as a result, losing thousands of euros. Personally, I do not like to spend money for nothing, but there is a limit to everything. There are normal ways of saving, and there are perverted ones - when people seem to be specifically looking for problems for themselves.
It is important not to confuse stinginess with economy, and also remember why you are traveling at all. Spending the night on buses or at train stations is good for those who like extreme travel, but not at all suitable for those who want to relax and love comfort. Maintain balance and don't make pleasure inhuman living conditions.
27. Insurance. In my opinion, the fool understands that only millionaires can afford to travel to Europe without insurance. I don't understand people who save 20 euros in order to collect 10,000 euros from friends later ...
Firstly, without insurance, they may not be allowed to go through customs - they rarely check, but it happens, because Travel insurance is mandatory when entering Europe, regardless of whether you need a visa or not. Secondly, medicine in Europe is expensive for tourists, and if something suddenly happens, even a simple poisoning, then just a doctor's examination will immediately "take away" the money for insurance. There can be only one option for saving on insurance - than ordinary tourists do.
28. Accommodation in shelters, couchsurfing, etc. - it's not safe, and not only for single girls. If you have very little money, it is better to rent a bed in a trusted hostel. In such places, you can not only spend the night for 10 euros in comfort, but also meet new interesting people from all over the world.
29. Rent a house through Russian speakers in social networks etc. Remember “we gussies do not deceive each other”? Everyone knows about this, but stubbornly continues to “save”, lose money, spoil their vacation, and then complain about what kind of fraudsters there are in Europe and everything is bad. And, although in Europe now there are a lot of wonderful Russian-speaking people who not only do not deceive, but also help each other, we must not forget about the rules of elementary security!
I always book accommodation on
How to travel "savage" in Europe
Paris, Rome, Venice ... Who wouldn't want to go there and see everything with their own eyes? Probably no one would refuse. Europe, or old world – interesting place, with many beautiful historical monuments and with a rich cultural history, so there really is something to see.
All this, of course, is interesting, but also more interesting prices for tours to any European country that are offered by tour operators. Of course, they will find a good hotel, and they will provide plane tickets, food, delivery, and excursions ... You will not have to worry about anything, except for paying a rather large bill. Of course, all this is good, only here you will go on excursions in a group, along a strictly "knurled" route, and "not a step to the side." In general, you will not get much freedom of movement.
But what if you want to go wherever you want, not to be bound by some kind of framework? And if you want to visit not one country, but several, and at the same time live there as long as you need, and not strictly allotted 7-10 days? There is only one way out - to go on your own, without the participation of tour operators and travel agents.
Benefits of travel "savage"
Independent travel by "savages" is becoming more and more popular. And there are many reasons for this. Here are just a few of them:
- It is more profitable - in terms of money, it may be even 1.5-2 times cheaper than a ready-made tour. At the same time, you yourself can decide where to save and where not.
- You are not bound by any excursion routes and you can visit any city in any country of your choice.
- You can live with an indigenous family and meet other travelers while immersing yourself deeply in the culture of the country.
- You will be able to see places that are not in any tour.
- You are not limited in time. You can be anywhere as long as necessary for a detailed study of it.
Not being attached to anything or anyone - what could be better? This, and the savings in money, are the best advantages of traveling as a “savage”.
How to prepare for your trip
First, you need to outline an approximate travel plan, at least in terms of dates and states. Think about where you would like to visit and how long it will take. Of course, accuracy until the day is not important, but you need to decide on the countries, especially the first one, which you will enter and where you plan to spend the most time.
You will need a passport. If it is there, good, if not, you need to get it. For children from 14 years old, a passport is also needed.
European states require a visa to enter, at least from Russian citizens. Therefore, the first step is to obtain a Schengen visa. It will allow you to move around European countries that are part of the so-called Schengen area. Before that, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for obtaining it, it is useful to read the "Schengen Code". As a rule, a visa must be obtained at the embassy of the first country in which you will enter. What documents need to be collected in each case, you also need to study. All visa documents should be in perfect order, and it is better to take extra certificates than go and find that something is missing. You need to take at least a week to collect certificates and obtain a visa. Before going to the embassy, you need to call there and find out what time it is best to come up with your question.
Of course, if you are planning to visit only one country, for example - France, then it is enough to contact the French embassy and get a visa there. It's a little easier than moving to different countries. Although obtaining a visa is generally the most unpleasant moment in all preparation for the trip, you will have to go through it. In addition, if a tour operator was engaged in this, you would have to pay, and so it will cost you almost free.
After successfully obtaining a visa, you need to sit down at the computer and work out your future route in detail. Here you need to clarify the cities, the approximate duration of stay there, to clarify the places of overnight stays, the prices for air-tickets. By the way, air tickets can already be ordered.
If you are going to stay in hotels, you can book rooms in advance via the Internet - there are special services for this. But this is quite expensive and makes it difficult to maneuver. Most savage travelers prefer to stay in cheap hostels or local residents, which can shelter a traveler for free, for the sake of communication. All the information about this is easy to find on the Internet.
In addition, you need to decide on the method of travel - by train, bus or plane. It is worth checking the prices for all this in different countries... There is an opportunity to purchase travel tickets by train or bus. Alternatively, you can travel by your own car or rent one. All these "minor issues" need to be resolved in advance; it is better to print a list of the most important points for each city. You can make maps - Google Maps is great for this.
You need to pay attention to such points as communication in those places that you want to visit, and solve the financial issue. How to make calls, how much does a roaming call cost and how are things going with your mobile operator there, how to get cash if you suddenly need it? Try to buy an international tourist SIM card with a single tariff for all countries - it is more profitable than regular tariffs. Important numbers phone numbers must be recorded, including the numbers of your embassy in different countries. A plastic card must be serviced anywhere - there is nothing worse than being stuck somewhere without money ...
When entering a foreign country, you will have to comply with its laws and customs - do not be too lazy to read about it. If you break something or insult someone out of ignorance, then you will not be given discounts. What can be brought into the country and what cannot be exported? How much cash and number of cigarettes can I have with me at customs? All this should be read in order to avoid troubles and misunderstandings.
Going to Europe as a "savage", take care of how you will communicate there. It is unlikely that knowledge of Russian will help much there. You need to learn at least the most common phrases in local languages. Knowledge of English will greatly facilitate communication in many countries and at customs. If you do not know the languages yourself, an electronic translator will help, and best of all - take a travel companion with the necessary knowledge. Communicating with gestures and pictures is still a pleasure ...
What to take with you
In fact, you don't need to take a lot. There is no need to collect a bunch of suitcases - you will have to carry them, and not someone else, do not forget about it. It is enough to collect an ordinary backpack with the most necessary things- among other things, you will save on the fact that you do not have to pay for luggage. It is especially important not to forget some of the necessary documents.
It is enough to take hygiene products, some clothes, a camera with you. Many European cafes have Internet and free Wi-Fi, so it is advisable to grab a netbook or tablet - with it you can book rooms, order tickets, plan a route and keep all the necessary background information there.
If you do not plan to stay only in hotels, a sleeping bag will come in handy - there are very light and compact ones. Minor items can be bought anywhere.
Choose clothes that are light and comfortable. No heels - you will surely have to walk a lot and nothing should slow you down or annoy you.
A vacation without a voucher, or, as it is called, a savage, is a great opportunity to organize your dream vacation yourself, while saving on the services of a tour operator, travel agency and other expenses. Which countries are best for a savage to visit?
This type of recreation became very popular about 20 years ago, when not everyone could get or purchase tickets to the south and, as a result, went to the sea with tents or rented accommodation from private owners. Today's rest as a savage does not mean spending the night in tents, self-catering and other "delights" of travel of the Soviet period. No, of course, for those who wish, all these opportunities still remain, but lately the "savages" prefer to rest in a more civilized manner, the path of many lies abroad. In order to organize a vacation in another country yourself, you need to make a visa yourself (if the country requires it), buy plane tickets, book a hotel (or choose a hotel on the spot) and think over your transfer.
The pros of a savage holiday
The main advantage of a savage holiday is the saving of money, which is sometimes quite substantial. Judge for yourself: in many countries where you can go on your own, there are a huge number of cheap hotels, the cost of living in which will be several times cheaper than in those offered by travel agencies, and the quality with the right choice will be no worse. The fact is that it is unprofitable for tour operators to sell cheap hotels to tourists: they receive little profit from them, and there is as much work as with more expensive hotels.
There is another important plus in the rest of the savages - this is the freedom of movement. You are not tied either to the hotel, or to the city, or even to the country, and you can change the hotel and the recreation area at any time without losing your money (unless, of course, you paid for everything in advance and you have no way to get your money back).
Cons of resting a savage
Of the minuses independent travel- the fact that you yourself have to fill out all the documents and no one is responsible for your vacation, except for yourself. However, if you are traveling to a civilized country, there shouldn't be any special problems.
What countries is it good for a savage to travel to?
Croatia
A huge number of tourists rest in Croatia as savages - it is not difficult to organize a vacation, living in this country is not expensive, and there are no special problems with food.
The country is known for its natural beauty and wonderful climate that suits almost everyone. In Croatia, there is no sweltering heat, and comfort is also achieved due to the fresh and light air and pleasant sea temperature. Beautiful nature, a lot of greenery, great prices for accommodation in hotels and food - what distinguishes Croatia from other European countries.
In order to visit Croatia, you need a visa, it is issued at the consular section of the Croatian Embassy in Moscow. You need to take care of this in advance. Note! If you have a valid Schengen visa, you can visit both Croatia and other countries. But if you have a national Schengen visa issued to visit Croatia, then it will not give you the right to travel to other EU countries.
Bulgaria
This is another great country for independent rest... Here you also need a visa, which is issued at the embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria. You can get there by train, but it takes a long time to travel - the journey from Moscow will take more than 2 days, so it is better to choose a plane. Bulgaria has a huge number of private hotels and a lot of offers for renting apartments. There will be no problems with food - there it is the same as ours.
Thailand
If you want exotic, Asian nature, gentle ocean, unusual food and cheap but high-quality massage, go to Thailand! You do not need to apply for a visa in advance; it is placed upon entry into the country. But you have to hunt for inexpensive air tickets! As for hotels, there are a huge number of cheap options in Thailand, and you can decide which one you want to stay in immediately upon arrival. Even though Thailand is poor Asian country, subject to the rules of hygiene, you are unlikely to bring from vacation something that you do not want to bring at all.
Goa
In Goa, you can enjoy not only the sea and the sun, but also rejuvenate and heal your body. Spa treatments here are based on the principles of Ayurveda. For a more party life, head to the north of the state. In its southern part, life is more measured, and in the center it is all mixed. An Indian Visa is required to visit Goa. Seasoned travelers advise not to get attached to one place and see the whole state. Depending on this, decide how you will book a hotel or hotels along the way.
Italy
If you do not want a beach, but a more informative holiday and you have a Schengen visa (or you are going to apply for one), then visiting European countries will not be difficult. If you want to plunge into beauty and touch history, go to Italy. All you need to do this is a valid visa, plane tickets and a booked hotel.
If you also want to save on accommodation, you can stay abroad in campsites. There are many campsites in Europe, it will not be difficult to find them. Choosing this vacation option, you will have to take care of your accommodation on your own, that is, take all the necessary things from home with you for a comfortable stay there. Take care of your tent first. If you are going on vacation with children, there is a reason to take a two-room tent with you. Also take sleeping bags, preferably those that turn into a blanket - in warm or hot weather, they can be unbuttoned and sleep like under a regular home blanket. You will also need rugs (preferably self-inflating) or foam. And to understand what else you might have forgotten, go to the website of the online store, where there is everything for tourism - walking through the boutique virtually, you will find what you need.
As the saying goes, rest is good, but good rest is even better. Take care of your vacation in advance, think over every detail and enjoy a wonderful trip!
Medical travel insurance... Specify the country and travel dates, then select the appropriate option and issue a policy.
A few tips on how not to depend on anyone and go on a trip yourself.
Moreover, it seems to me that this information will be useful for planning trips not only to Europe, but also to other parts of the world. The euro exchange rate is growing so vigorously that personally I am already beginning to slowly try on the experience gained in Asian destinations.
But this article will still focus on Europe. Well, a little bit about America.
Where to begin
The first step is to decide on the city of arrival and departure.
You can, of course, start a euro tour in one city, and fly home from another, but in this case you will not be able to avoid additional costs and problems.
First, it will be more difficult to find air tickets and will almost certainly cost more. Secondly, it always costs less to rent a rented car in the same city in which it was rented.
So let's be more economical and consider the option of traveling in a circle.
Entry points
Among the cheap air gate to Europe I can name Vienna, Berlin, Prague, Madrid. For example, last year a one-way flight from Moscow to the capital of Austria cost us only 3,700 rubles per person.
True, it is difficult to find such prices now - the euro exchange rate soaring to the skies has led to an increase in the cost of air travel. For example, a one-way ticket to Vienna (for a flight in August 2015) costs 5,500 rubles. At the same time, before the euro began to rise in price, it was cheaper by about one thousand and one and a half.
Fishing hours
There is a huge number of all kinds of services on the Internet for searching and ordering air tickets, so you can use any of them. I prefer one of the oldest search engines: www.skyscanner.ru. True, I confess, I have never ordered tickets with his help. The resource is used specifically to search for cheap tickets, and the purchase itself was already carried out on the airline's website.
Naturally, already in the process of searching for tickets, you need to have a card with a sufficient amount at hand. It also happened that cheap tickets appeared on sale and were sold out in just a few hours.
By the way, the proverb: "He who gets up early, God gives him" - in this case it is very appropriate: the best time for catching cheap air tickets starts somewhere around 5-6 o'clock in the morning.
How to plan a route
It is not for nothing that I put this point third, and not first or second. Europe is not as big as it might seem, and the distance between interesting and famous cities pretty short. So first it is better to decide on the "entry point". And after that, you can already plan the route.
Here Google maps (www.google.ru/maps/), as well as a huge number of travel sites and travel blogs will become indispensable helpers.
To find them, it is enough to type in a search engine the template phrase: "What to see in a day (or two, three) in such and such a city" - and a grateful machine will helpfully offer you a couple of million pages of the desired topic.
It is preferable to use Google maps for route planning rather than a similar service from Yandex. They are much more convenient and clearer than Russian maps.
Choosing hotels
Once you have decided on the cities you are going to visit, it's time to book hotels there. This should be done strictly using the website www.booking.com. This oldest resource has gained such authority that the embassies of European countries, when applying for a visa, recognize bookings from this service. Although just a few years ago, to confirm that you had a place to live while traveling, you had to call the hotel and ask for a confirmation of your booking by fax.
Paying for numbers straight away is usually not required. Most hotels charge money upon check-in, and sometimes even upon check-out.
Also, most hotels allow you to cancel your reservation for free, up to one or two days before the expected date of arrival. And this is very convenient.
You can book one hotel at first and check other offers regularly in the months before your trip. Almost certainly, over time, there will be more profitable or more convenient hotels for you, and it will not be difficult to make a new reservation and remove the previous one.
For example, before our trip to Europe, we booked rooms for 70 euros per night in a small three-star hotel on the outskirts of Munich. However, a couple of weeks later, the Munich "Ramada" suddenly announced a promotion and reduced prices several times. Naturally, we urgently canceled our previous reservation and took a room in this luxurious hotel for the same money.
The most interesting thing is that less than a month later, prices in the Munich "Ramada" rose again to their usual 250-400 euros per night.
So, once you've found and booked a hotel that suits you, that's not a reason to quit looking.
It is important
There is one very important nuance in communicating with www.booking.com: some hotels charge cancellation fees, and there are those whose rules in this matter are extremely non-standard. Therefore, before entering your bank card details and confirming a reservation, be sure to read the terms of its cancellation. Otherwise, a surprise may happen, like the one that happened to me when I was looking for a hotel in Miami.
Shortly before my trip to the USA, I saw that very suitable apartments for us were vacated, I hurried to book them, but I had not thoughtfully read the terms of cancellation of the reservation. According to them, it can be done free of charge only one month before the date of the proposed check-in. As soon as this deadline comes up, $ 450 is blocked on the guest's card account, and if he cancels the reservation, the money is debited from the account in favor of the hotel, and if he moves in, it goes towards paying for the accommodation.
At first, I was very surprised when, within 5 minutes after confirming the reservation, 450 bucks disappeared from my bank card. However, after reading the rules more thoughtfully, it dawned on me that I had booked the room 20 days before the check-in date, which means that the rule for blocking funds on the card took effect immediately.
In the described case, inattention did not cost anyone anything, but in other conditions it can put you in front of an unpleasant choice. If suddenly something more “tasty” appears on www.booking.com, and the threat of a fine hangs over you, you will have to decide: either donate money or stay with what you have.
Car for rent
This service is well developed in Europe. A car can be rented relatively cheaply and for any period of time, and there are many rental companies. We regularly use Eurocup services.
To order the car you want on the required date through the distributor's website it will not be difficult for any car enthusiast. I can only recommend: pay attention to the size of the trunk and measure it against the number of suitcases that you plan to take with you.
Do not be afraid of the language barrier upon arrival. It is easily overcome with the help of preliminary preparation. Print your reservation in advance in the language of the country you are flying to, and just slip this piece of paper under the nose of the distributor. And then he will do everything himself. You just have to check whether the offered car meets the requirements that you ordered. Remember: the rental company is obliged to provide you with a car with the parameters that you indicated, or better and for the same price. But by no means worse.
But the most important thing to know: you receive a car with a full tank, which means you must return it with a full tank. If you do not refuel the car before returning, the distributor will be very happy to rip off double or even triple the cost of gasoline from you (depending on what is written in the contract).
By the way, before leaving, it doesn't hurt to take a navigator with you and download a translator and phrasebook to your smartphone. They and international sign language are enough to solve almost any tourist problem.
We issue a visa
When the tickets are paid, hotels and cars are booked, you can proceed to visa processing. Naturally, there is a risk that it will not be given to you. Then you will almost certainly lose money on tickets already paid for. But you will have to buy them - no one will give a visa without a return ticket. So you still have to risk a certain amount.
But, as they say, whoever does not take risks does not drink champagne in Champagne and does not eat Viennese schnitzels in Vienna.
There are two ways to solve the visa issue: pay the travel agency or do everything yourself. In the first case, it will cost 80 euros per passport plus consular fee, medical insurance, payment for a photo for a visa.
The second way is cheaper and more fun (I like to travel, even if only to Moscow, and you, since you are reading this article, apparently, too). Let's consider it in a little more detail.
Set of documents
It is the same in almost all embassies of the Schengen countries. You can find a list of them on the websites of consulates, so we will not dwell on it in detail. I will only note that it is mandatory to provide proof of residence in the country for the entire duration of the visit.
As already mentioned, for this it is enough to print the reservation on the website: www.booking.com. Moreover, the printout must be in the language of the country whose visa you are receiving, or in English. Although it is formally allowed to provide confirmation of the reservation in Russian, it is still better not to risk it. At the German embassy, they once wrapped up documents with a reservation in Russian and issued it only after we submitted them again with printouts in German. The same goes for confirming your car reservation.
Finishing touch
Imagine that everything worked out for you: tickets are purchased, hotels and cars are booked, the visa is in your passport, you, satisfied, land at a European airport and go to passport control.
And there a stern uncle (or aunt) with an impenetrable face in a language you do not understand begins to demand something. And you can’t answer his “Du yu spik english”, except: “Nicht ferstein”. As a result: you are at a loss, he (or she) is angry, and on the horizon looms the prospect of flying home on the same plane on which you just flew.
What can you do to avoid such an unpleasant situation? Sheer trifle.
Before departure, print in the language of the country you are flying to your return tickets, car and hotel reservations and be sure to take them with you on the plane.
Far from always, but sometimes it still happens that the border guards demand these papers before they put a stamp and let you into the country.
So if they took your passport, and then suddenly began to demand something else, just shove the prepared printouts to the border guard, wait until he satisfies his excessive curiosity - and you are in Europe!
The first summer month is running out and you still haven't decided how to spend your vacation? Want to go to Europe, but plane ticket prices are becoming more and more like the cost of traveling on a space shuttle? Does the thought of visiting several countries make you feel horror at all? Do not despair! There are ways now to organize a rich and interesting vacation in Europe, combining excursion program and the beach without spending a fortune on it.
Let's start with the essentials - air tickets. Let's plan a vacation for the second half of July and see how much the combined self-guided tour for two weeks for two with a flight from Moscow. And also - how and on what we will be able to save money, while denying ourselves almost nothing.
HOW TO BOOK AND SEARCH CHEAP TICKETS
Since we do not start booking air tickets in advance, all popular beach tourist routes are already affordable. For example, just a flight to our dates on the Moscow-Tivat-Moscow route will cost at least 42,000 rubles for two, and you can fly to the Croatian Pula for almost 60,000 rubles.
PREPARING FOR HOLIDAY
What to do? It's that simple! Free yourself from the thought that the direct route is the easiest, and transfers are just a waste of energy and time. Most of the transfers are not only possible, but also necessary to make an interesting and enjoyable vacation.
1. We are looking for tickets from Moscow in search engines that allow you to leave the “where” field blank or mark “everywhere”.
2. We choose direct flights to European destinations with the cheapest tickets.
3. From them we choose the direction with big city or a major aviation hub, as a rule, there are many very low-cost flights from such cities.
4. Now, as the point of departure, we set the city where we found convenient tickets from Moscow, and as the destination of arrival again we select the item “everywhere”.
5. We evaluate the results. If there are inexpensive and interesting flight destinations for you, then the city for the first stop was chosen correctly.
RESERVATION OF AIR TICKETS. EXAMPLE.
1. Moscow - “everywhere”. There - Saturday, July 16. The return trip is Sunday, July 31st.
2. From European countries the most favorable tickets for these dates are to Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary and Estonia. Their cost is from 8 to 12 thousand rubles.
3. For our first stop, we chose Budapest (Hungary), the cost of one Moscow-Budapest-Moscow ticket is 11,000 rubles.
Why Budapest?
Of all the proposed directions, Riga and Budapest are suitable for the role of a transshipment hub. We chose Budapest. It really doesn't take long to check the routes and ticket prices from several European cities, and the list of low-cost flights from the Russian capital is usually limited.
Budapest is incredibly beautiful and interesting city with a rich imperial history, luxurious cuisine and very reasonable prices for hotels and food.
ATTENTION: If you cannot imagine the price level in the country or city that you want to choose as your “European point of departure”, be sure to spend a few minutes searching for a hotel before booking your plane ticket.
For example, Munich or Vienna are often very profitable destinations for a flight, but finding an inexpensive hotel here you need to spend a lot of time. Public transport and food will also cost a pretty penny. This beautiful cities, but savings will not work with them.
Budapest. What's next?
We have planned three days for Budapest: July 16, 17 and 18, and on July 19 we would like to go further.
We arrive in the capital of Hungary in the morning, so we can safely assume that we have three full days to explore the city. For European capital hotels in Budapest are inexpensive. In the city center for our dates, you can book an apartment from 80 euros for the entire stay... Still, most of the quality offers start at 120 euros. The lowest cost of a separate apartment near the center that we found is 55 euros. By ordering an apartment, we can save on food in restaurants and get a large living space, usually from 30 to 60 sq. meters. Let's calculate that we will pay 120 euros for housing in Budapest.
If the apartments frighten you for some reason, then, having paid extra 30 euros for the entire time, you can easily find a hotel in the central part of the city. We'll put another 150 euros for food, 50 for transport and excursions, 40 for the famous Hungarian baths. This should be enough for one dinner in a restaurant with wine, and the rest of the time we eat at home and in small cafes.
The cost of visiting the Gellert Bath for two is 38 euros, and the Rudas Bath (those where the scenes of the movie "Red Heat" were filmed) - about 20 euros.
Budapest. What to see.
Budapest is located on two sides of the Danube, on the east - Buda, on the west - Pest. Both banks are connected by many bridges with views of the Danube and the city.
- Royal Palace and Castle Hill. The first official royal residence arose here in the middle of the XIII century. Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest Historical Museum and State Library. Széchenyi.
- Hungarian Parliament building. Built after the unification of the cities of Buda and Pest in late XIX century. It stands right on the banks of the Danube.
- Fisherman's Bastion. Located on the Buda Hill. There are fantastic views of the city from here. Despite the fact that the fishing bastion was built at the beginning of the 20th century, it has something of the Cinderella castle, but with a Hungarian flavor.
- Walking along the Danube.
- Mount Gellert is named after the Catholic saint Gerard of Hungary. At the foot of the mountain you can see a waterfall, and at the top is the Citadel, built in the middle of the 19th century.
- Baths of Budapest: Gellert, Rudash, Chasar, Kirai, Rat and others. In total, there are 27 baths in Budapest, of which 13 are therapeutic. Most of the baths are quite old with marble fittings and tiles.
Price
So, we consider:
2. Transfers, accommodation, meals ≈ 22,000 rubles
3. Excursions and entertainment ≈ 5000 rubles
TOTAL: ≈ 49,000 rubles
Minimum cost:
1. Flight. 11000x2 = 22000 rubles
2. Transfers, accommodation, meals ≈ 9,000 rubles
3. Excursions and entertainment ≈ 2000 rubles
TOTAL: ≈ 34,000 rubles
Budapest - Milan: moving on
Milan turned out to be the most profitable destination for a flight from Budapest to the south of Europe. The city is not cheap, but interesting. In addition, there are many flights from there across southern, southeastern and southwestern Europe. Also in Italy, rail links are well developed. And nobody canceled shopping in Milan.
Milan. What to see.
1. Cathedral Duomo - beautiful both day and night.
2. Observation deck on the roof of the Duomo.
3. Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and fresco "The Last Vespers" by Leonardo da Vinci. It is better to buy a ticket here in advance. For summer months in a few days or weeks via the Internet.
4. Pinakothek Ambrosian, where you can see the masterpieces of Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian.
When booking the following flights, you should remember:
1. Time and dates of flights.
- Departure time from Budapest to Moscow is morning, and therefore it is better not to risk it and fly to Budapest the day before, that is, on July 30.
2. Airports of departure and arrival. Relevant for cities with several airports, such as Milan or Moscow.
A flight on the Budapest-Milan-Budapest route costs us 7600 rubles for two. Departure there - July 19 morning. Return - July 30 in the afternoon. Although the morning flight is a little cheaper, we will try to dock our transfers so that on the way back we do not spend the night in Milan.
- Transfer: Airport-Milan-Airport - 20-40 euros (depending on the airport), that is, an average of 2000 rubles for two.
The transfer from Bergamo is cheaper, so if you are not planning flights from Malpensa on the same day, choose Bergamo airport.
- Flight ≈ 100 euros (7600 rubles)
- Accommodation in Milan, two days ≈ 90 euros.
- Transfer ≈ 30 euros.
- Food and transport in the city: ≈ 70 euros.
- Guided tours ≈ 70 euros.
Total: ≈ 26,000 rubles.
Minimum cost: ≈ 22,000 rubles.
You can save about 60 euros on accommodation and meals, that is, a little more than 4000 rubles and refuse excursions.
IMPORTANT: Taxis are very expensive in Milan, so it is better to book morning or afternoon flights in order to use public transport.
Routes from Milan
Milan is a large aviation and railway junction, so many routes can be planned from here, differing in price, duration and complexity of organization. We will consider a few, the most simple and inexpensive.
Milan is the sea. The easiest route.
The cheapest and easiest to organize is the Milan-Pescara-Milan flight. A flight on this route for two will cost 4500 rubles. We will not need additional transfers from / to the airport, since we will arrive from Pescara and fly to Budapest on the same day - Bergamo airport.
The airport of Pescara is only three kilometers from the city, and the bus transfer does not take much time and money. It takes 15 minutes and 6 euros from the airport to get to the city.
Apartments in Pescara, not far from the coast, but not on the first line, will cost us 650 - 800 euros for 9 days. Having a kitchen will save a lot on food. But all the same, we will include in our budget the possibility of having a snack outside the home and plan our budget for food 550 euros. Total - beach vacation we get up to 1,300 euros - about 95,000 rubles.
Beach vacation - cost
- Flight Milan - Pescara - Milan ≈ 4500 rubles.
- Accommodation in an apartment ≈ 50,000 rubles.
- Food and transfers ≈ 41,000 rubles.
Total for a beach holiday ≈ 95,000 rubles.
The minimum cost of living with a private kitchen on the coast for our dates, which we found - 360 euros ≈ 26,000 rubles. If you almost completely refuse to eat outside the home, then 300 euros or 22,000 rubles will be enough for food and transfers.
Thus, the minimum budget for our beach vacation is ≈ 52,000 rubles.
Pescara. What to do besides the sea
In Pescara there are not only beaches, but also the Cathedral of San Setteo, the house of the writer Gabriel D'Annunzio, the churches of the Holy Spirit and the Apostle Andrew, as well as the government palace. There are museums. Just in mid-July, the city hosts the international music festival Pescara Jazz.
Pescara and Rome
Pescara is located just 155 kilometers from Rome. The fastest way (with the exception of taxis) to get there is by bus. Travel time one way is 2 hours 25 minutes. The cost of a round trip for two is ≈ 50 euros (3700 rubles).
Rome - the eternal City, so let's calculate that one day here will cost us 150 euros. On excursions, city trips and food. One day is certainly not enough to explore Rome. You can stay for the night near the center for 50 euros, and we will put in an additional 50 euros for transport and food. Now you can make it to the Vatican. Going to the museum and admiring the hand-made paintings of the Sistine Chapel: Botticelli, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo, as well as many other works of art, of course, is priceless, but it will cost 56 euros for two, that is, about 4000 rubles.
Thoughtfully walking around the Vatican Museums in half a day is impossible, but getting an idea and seeing the main masterpieces is quite real. Total: the second day in Rome will cost us 7200 rubles (100 euros) without visiting the Vatican museums and 11,200 rubles or 160 euros if you visit the Vatican museums.
Drive to Rome. Price
- Bus Pescara - Rome - Pescara ≈ 50 euros (3700 rubles)
- Excursions, food, transport in Rome ≈ 150 euros (10,800 rubles)
Total trip to Rome for 1 day ≈ 200 euros (14,500 rubles)
Savings are possible on food and excursions if you explore most of the sights on your own, and for lunch and dinner in advance choose a restaurant in the center, but not in a popular tourist area. Then a day in Rome will cost us about 75 euros or 5,400 rubles. The economy travel option will cost a little more than 9,000 rubles.
Two day trip to Rome
A second day in Rome will add € 50 to € 150 to existing options.
- Rome - one night in a hotel near the center - 50 euros (3700 rubles)
- Visit to the Vatican Museums ≈ 56 euros.
- Transport, food, souvenirs, tickets for excursions for two days 150 euros (10 800 rubles)
In total, a trip to Rome for 2 days will cost ≈ from 250 to 310 euros for the entire trip (18,200 - 22,200 rubles).
What to see in Rome in one or two days
- Cathedral and St. Peter's Square (Vatican)
- Optional Vatican Museums
- Piazza Navona
- Pantheon and Rotunda
- Trevi Fountain
- Coliseum
- Arch of Constantine in Rome
- Baths of Caracalla
Way home
Since we bought all the round-trip tickets, most of the expenses for the return trip have already been calculated. We fly from Pescara to Bergamo, from where we fly to Budapest in four hours. Therefore, we will put 40 euros for a snack at the airport and 20 euros for transfers from Budapest airport to the hotel and back. To make travel easier, we chose a hotel two kilometers from Budapest airport on the way back.
We take accommodation without breakfast, as we have an early flight. Double room ≈ 35 euros. Dinner in the restaurant will also be estimated at 40 euros and we will leave another 12 euros for breakfast at the airport. To calculate the minimum budget, you can replace dinner with a snack and spend 15 euros on it, but you should not refuse a sandwich and coffee at the airport. The airline we fly with offers meals on board only for an additional fee, that is, approximately the same 12 euros for two.
The way home cost
- Light lunch at Bergamo airport (pizza and drinks) ≈ 20 euros.
- Dinner in Budapest ≈ 40 euros.
- Hotel accommodation ≈ 35 euros.
- Breakfast at the airport or on board the plane ≈ 12 euros.
- Transfer airport-hotel-airport ≈ 20 euros.
Total for the road back is about 130 euros (9000 rubles).
As we wrote above, you can only save on food here. Belt tightened, or by switching to hot dogs, the way home will cost us 7,000 rubles.
SUMMARY BY ROUTE
- Two or three countries: Hungary, Italy (Vatican). Three cities: Budapest - three days, Milan - two days, Pescara - 9 days. Six flights. Optionally, another trip to Rome for one or two days.
- The minimum budget for all flights, accommodation, meals and transfers is ≈ 115,000 rubles for two or 57,500 rubles for one traveler.
- An economical, but still not austere budget is ≈ 179,000 rubles for two or 89,500 rubles for one traveler. With a trip to Rome - from 188,000 rubles.
Prices in comparison
We called one of the major Russian travel agencies and asked to calculate for us minimum cost package tour for two on the coast of Italy from 16 to 31 July.
Accommodation in a 3 * hotel with breakfast relatively close to the sea will cost from 97,000 rubles for two with flight and transfer. Even if we only eat pizza and drink only water, we will eat at least 500 euros in 14 days. Thus, a package tour, without excursions and a diet hazardous to health, will cost us at least 130,000 rubles.
Package tour, without excursions and a diet hazardous to health will cost us at least 130,000 rubles.
ROUTE TWO - SPANISH
We will not detail the second route. We will describe it schematically, minimalistically and by date.
- From 21 to 30 July we are traveling from Milan to Barcelona.
- The flight Milan-Barcelona - Milan will cost us 200 euros 14,400 rubles.
- Accommodation on the coast of Barcelona for the entire period (9 nights) from 600 euros or 43,200 rubles.
- Meals (we prepare ourselves) - 300 euros or 22,000 rubles.
- Transfers, excursions, souvenirs - 150 euros or 10 800 rubles.
Total beach vacation in Spain from 90,000 rubles.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS FROM MILAN
We will briefly describe a few more probable travels from Milan to the beaches of Europe. On the this moment their cost is comparable to the options that we have already described. In the case of traveling towards South-Eastern Europe, Croatia and Montenegro, there may be slight savings on food and hotels.
1. Atlantic coast of Spain Santander and Bilbao.
a. Flight from Milan and back 220 euros.
2. Croatia and Montenegro: flight to Dubrovnik and back - 180 euros. 7-9 days in Dubrovnik and surroundings from 700 euros. In the neighboring (distance about 50 km.) Herceg Novi (Montenegro) from 450 euros.
3. North of Italy and Croatia: we get to Trieste by train - the round trip will cost us about 100 euros.
Buses in Croatia are comfortable, air-conditioned and often equipped with toilets.
- Hotels or apartments on the Croatian coastline are not cheap. For 9 days the most profitable proposition- this is an apartment for 450 euros, but the next accommodation option asks for 950 euros.
- You can stay for one night in Rijeka (about 100 euros) and go to Plitvice Lakes by bus. There you can rent quite good apartments for 400 euros for the entire stay.
Attention! Prices are current at the time of writing the text, and therefore may differ from the current ones. To determine prices, we used one air ticket aggregator, two most popular booking services for hotels and apartments, bus and railway transport Italy and bus transportation Croatia.
In this text, we are looking at affordable options for living in private rooms or apartments with a private bathroom. Accordingly, the cost of living in a hostel or in a hotel room with a shared bathroom can be 10-50% lower. Also, the total cost can be reduced by completely eliminating restaurants. We also provide an example of the minimum route budget based on current market offerings. All prices in the text are for two adults
