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Great ways to save money on travel to Europe

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Europe can either be one of the most expensive destinations inthe world, or one of the least costly, depending on what you do,where you eat, where you stay and how you get around. Europe isa hit with budget travelers and the well heeled alike, but thisarticle focuses on helping the former get the very most fromtheir travel dollar. The goal of budget travel is not merely to spend as little aspossible. The true goal of the budget traveler is to get themost value out of his or her travel budget, and to focus thoselimited funds on the things that mean the most to them. Oftenthis means finding cheap lodging in order to enjoy a four stardinner at the finest restaurant in Paris. For others, it couldmean buying food at the local grocery and cooking your owndinner, so that you can splurge on a night at the opera or theballet. Listed below are some of our all time favorite tips for savingmoney on a vacation in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter):  Eat where the locals eat. Eating with the local peopleinstead of the tourists is a great way to save money and enjoysome of the finest cuisine. The restaurants favored by localresidents tend to be those that provide the best meals at thelowest prices.  For a quick and economical breakfast, pick up a roll,some fresh cold cuts and a piece of fruit from the local market.Then enjoy a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the localpark.  When eating out, choose the fixed price menu and thehouse wine for the best value. Most restaurants offer two orthree choices on their fixed price menu, and these dishes areoften a great way to sample the local cuisine.  Sleep cheap on the train. Overnight trains are a greatway to both get from place to place and sleep cheaply. Be sureto bring a meal, bottle of water and snack along with you. Youwill save money by not visiting the dining car, and you willenjoy some great food as well.  Take lots of pictures and enjoy the people you meet onthe road. Take pictures not only of local tourist attractionsbut of the friends you meet along the way. If using a filmcamera, it is best to bring the undeveloped


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rolls back with youand have them developed once you get back home, since filmdeveloping in tourist locations is usually quite costly. And ofcourse a digital camera offers a great and cost effectivealternative, and you can choose to print only the best shots.  Try emailing your postcards. Find a website that offerssome great photographs of local attractions, or upload your ownfrom your digital camera. Use these shots to send some greatpersonalized email postcards to family and friends back home.  Try to learn at least a little bit of the locallanguage. If you know the language, or at least the names of thecurrency, it will be easier, and often cheaper, to buy thethings you need.  When making large purchases, it is always best to use acredit card. Not only will your cash last longer, but creditcards provide the best exchange rates.  Get cash through an ATM instead of at currency exchangekiosks and hotels. Like credit cards, ATM cash transactionsprovide the best exchange rates, and you will avoid thesometimes costly fees charged by hotels and currency services.  Take advantage of all the discounts you are entitledto. Many locations provide student discounts, senior discounts,etc. If you are not sure about discounts, always be sure to ask.  Plan your vacation budget wisely. There are someexcellent, and very inexpensive mementos of your trip, such asstickers, patches or postcards. For more expensive purchases,remember that the further you venture from the touristattraction, the less expensive the souvenirs will become.  Tour the city with the locals. A bus pass or subwaytoken is a great way to meet the local people and see thesights. The public transportation service of most European citesis remarkably efficient, clean, safe and easy to navigate. It isnot necessary to speak the local language to navigate on thesubway or the bus system of most cities. About the author: Tony Robinson has travelled extensively throughout thiswonderful planet with his family in tow. For great travel savingtips, techniques and articles on visithttp://www.budget-travel-site.com

Written by: Tony Robinson

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