Travel on trains, your best friend if you are traveling throughout continental and western Europe. (If you are headed to eastern Europe, look for buses, but be aware that the stations are often obscure and difficult to find.) For those who do not live in Europe, one of the various Eurail Passes is the easiest way to handle train travel. Each day of the pass grants 24 hours of travel on multiple trains and up to 29 hours if you leave after 7 p.m. for an overnight trip. Trains are fast, relatively comfortable and do not take too much practice to figure out, even for a foreigner who does not speak the local language. As a plus, most conductors know enough English to help confused travelers find their way. For those who do not wish to buy a Eurail Pass, students and seniors can often obtain other fare discounts with proper identification.
Get a discount card. They come in several types. Those younger than 26, can obtain an International Student Exchange Card. This is an identification card that grants discounts on everything from travel fares to restaurants, museums and lodgings. Each card has emergency numbers listed on the back. For those who are living for a time in a specific country, fare discounts may be available. For example, Austria issues several versions of a card called the "Vorteilscard," which enables the bearer to obtain a 45 percent discount on all public transport fares within the country. These types of cards are helpful for those spending a large amount of time in one country. Many places offer discounts for seniors with proper ID. Take the time to do a little research because discounts are often hidden in fine print or available only to those who ask.
Look into hostels, which can be a traveler's best friend. Although typically considered dirty places for students who cannot afford hotels, hostels in Europe often cater to travelers of any age, and many are quite nice. Generally the rooms are small and simple, and breakfast may or may not be provided. Some places provide nothing but a bed and bathroom; others offer breakfasts, a full bar, lounge areas, music and more. The best place to look for hostels is hostelworld.com. This website lists hostels all over Europe. Be sure to read the reviews. These are sometimes worth more than the hostel's description of itself and can save you from the pain of searching for new lodgings late at night. It is always a good idea to have a backup hostel in mind, just in case the one chosen turns out to be of lower quality than expected. As a plus, many hostels offer guided tours and information on activities and places to see that are not too expensive. The front desk clerks usually are fluent in English and can guide travelers to activities that are often cheap and only known by locals--these often turn out to be the best kind. Book ahead of time, write down all the information about the hostel and carry it with you. Then, if you are lost, you can simply pass your map and the hostel's address to a local person, who can point its location out to you even if he does not speak English.
Take your own food when traveling when possible. Part of the fun of seeing Europe is dining out, but this can get very expensive if you plan to order anything except a Pizza Margarita, so leave dining out to dinner and carry your own breakfast and lunch. Local grocery stores are the place to go--they usually sell fresh bread, delicious quality cheeses at prices far below those in the States, fruit and other cheap, pleasant fare. This is especially true on trains. Many European trains are extremely long, and reaching the dining car is often a feat of balance, climbing and juggling food. When you finally reach the dining car, the food is generally small and expensive. Bring your own and have a train picnic. There are tables of some kind with nearly every seat on the trains, except some small, local ones, so take advantage of this to have a nice, cheap, tasty meal while watching the European countryside roll by. It is quite a pleasant and relaxing experience, especially after a long day of travel.
Walk. Save money and book hostels that are within walking distance of the train station and city center. Walking is an excellent fitness and weight-loss program and encourages you to pack lightly. You need nothing more than a backpack for a weekend trip; take advantage of that and save some money. For a longer trip, invest in a rolling bag. This is not an area where saving money is a plus. Lugging a stuffed duffel bag across a foreign city in search of a hostel after traveling all night is not pleasant. Save yourself the pain and buy with wheels.
Network. Plan to visit any relatives you have abroad. Have some second cousins whom you never met? Now is the time. Many people prove to be quite hospitable, especially in countries such as Ireland. If you have ever met someone who lives in Europe, give her a call; perhaps she has a friend who has an extra room. Staying with a local family can give you inside tips for things to do and see, a taste of local cuisine, free tours and more.
