Knowing is half the battle: First, ask yourself: What do you want to see? Where do you want to stay? What can you afford? Do you want to be within walking distance of most things? Do you want to travel by train or boat as well as by air? Next, ask friends, family and colleagues who have traveled to Europe about where they went, what went wrong, what they loved and what was worth the money. Our best day in Europe - a D-Day tour in the Normandy region of France - happened thanks to a tip from a work colleague who recommended a particular tour company. Go to the library or search the Internet for guidebooks that explain all the tourist sights, typical or not.
Six months, at least: The best way to keep costs down is to plan way, way ahead. Airline tickets and hotels, which make up the largest chunk of vacation budgets, can be booked well enough in advance to locate the best deals. Search for airports outside the largest cities. But weigh the savings against the cost of other transportation you'll need to get to your final destination. Don't go on vacation in high season. For most of Europe, April and October are the best months to visit to keep costs down.
Hotel, schmotel: One way to cut costs and make your stay more personal is to rent an apartment, house or villa. A friend recommended I check out Vacation Rentals by Owner - vrbo.com - to book a studio apartment in the Latin Quarter in Paris. I found one for $700 for a week. Yes, really. That's $100 per night in a fantastic location: a quiet street 50 meters from the Seine, a block from Notre Dame Cathedral and around the corner from the Medieval Museum and St. Severin Church. Our studio was fully equipped with a small kitchen, free Internet and a clothes washer. The studio exceeded our expectations, looking just as clean and well-kept as it did in the photos, and felt even more homey.
Vrbo.com lists properties throughout the world and is searchable by city. Some cities or regions are further divided by neighborhood or proximity to landmarks, which is something to consider when thinking of cutting costs. For example, the Latin Quarter is heavy with tourist traffic and budget-conscious students. So the cafes and restaurants are a mix of tourist traps and fantastic deals.
Because Vrbo's rental properties are run by owners, the prices, quality and location are extremely variable. While this can be beneficial because it allows travelers to find a rental that suits their needs, it also means the responsibility lies with the renter to verify information advertised and make arrangements with owners, deal with cancellations and provide proof of payment if a problem arises. Vrbo.com has a legal information page, but also provides a link to free registration for a guarantee that entitles defrauded renters up to $5,000 reimbursement, as well as help finding new accommodations.
Buyer beware: As with eBay or Craigslist, use extra caution in money transactions. Never send wire transfers, and try to find owners who accept credit cards, Paypal or other secure methods. Keep copies of the listing, communications, contracts signed and payments made. Take the owner's contact information with you on your trip along with your emergency information.
The Internet is your friend: The Internet is a solid resource to research restaurants, hotels, tips for traveling with kids, museum information and more. Chowhound.com is a food-oriented message board site where masses of eager Internet-savvy travelers exchange candid restaurant reviews, tips on choosing locations and even locals-only spots. Other sites like Slowtravel.com, which focuses on long stays in lodging rentals, cater to specific travel styles. Look up museums and historical sights you want to visit, write down the hours and entry fees, then sit down and prioritize. Many European museums have discounts or free entry for youths ages 18 to 25. Remember to bring student IDs.
Exchange rate blues: There are ways to avoid the sting of changing money. At the outset, change only what you think you'll need initially for transportation and food until you can find an ATM at your destination. Banks usually charge an ATM withdrawal or purchase percentage as their exchange fee, which, for Washington Mutual, is a mere 1 percent. Wells Fargo charges 3 percent on foreign purchases and a flat $5 fee for each foreign ATM transaction, and many credit cards charge 3 percent or more (some in addition to the cash withdrawal fee). Be certain to call your bank and credit card companies well ahead of travel for their rates and to alert them to your plans.
Leave the cell phone behind: Avoid paying hundreds of dollars in roaming charges by buying a prepaid international calling card. In France, they're sold in tobacco shops, in Italy in Internet cafes. Also, Web sites such as Nobelcom.com sell prepaid cards and allow you to choose a long- or short-call plan for your travel country and provide local-access phone numbers that you can take with you.
Take a hike, or maybe a bus: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. They walk, take the bus and ride the metro. Many European cities have efficient, affordable public transportation systems. Avoid taxis and take trains or buses instead. A carnet or book of Paris transit tickets runs 11 euros and is available in any metro station, while a ticket for the Roman metro costs 2 euros one-way and can be purchased using an automated machine in the underground. Travel within Europe is affordable and efficient by train, but be sure to buy tickets when you arrive rather than purchasing a Eurail pass, which, with the additional fees passholders have to pay to reserve seats is simply not worth the money or the hassle. For night trains, it's best to reserve well ahead as there are limited spots.
The RER B Line train goes from De Gaulle airport to six subway stations in Paris for about $12 one way, but you'll have to take a shuttle bus from the arrival terminals to the RER station at the airport, and it's not easy to take your luggage on the Metro.
I prefer the Roissybus, which leaves from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. It costs about $13 and drops you off at L'Opera Garnier, near the American Express office at 11 Rue Scribe. A cab from there to most places in the heart of the city shouldn't cost more than $10.
Bon appétit! With food, mimic the locals. The neighborhood bakery and the open-air market offer high-quality food at better prices than supermarkets. Plus, an apartment with a kitchen allows you to eat in sometimes. When eating out, keep in mind the type of establishment you want. A bistro or trattoria will be more reasonably priced than a restaurant. Take your time when deciding where to eat. Enjoy Europe's quick and plentiful street food.
In the end, spending time to plan will make the trip more educational, enjoyable and worry-free. And perhaps the savings will allow for a little European vacation splurge: maybe a hand-crafted leather item from the market in Florence or a bottle of fine French wine. Rather than being at the mercy of economics, you choose how to spend, and that makes for a bon voyage.
