A Brief Overview of the Cheapest Way to Get to Europe
There has been a lot of talk lately about cheap travel to Europe thanks to a few competing airlines attempting to offer the lowest costs possible. Traveling to Europe is often one of the top items on an American’s bucket list, but understanding how to travel to Europe on a budget can make this dream a reality.
For those considering a trip to Europe, a lot of time and effort is required to make the vacation as memorable as possible.
Therefore, anyone who wants to travel to Europe cheap should begin planning now. The question that remains, however, is: where do I begin? With so many travel sites available online, it is difficult to know which one will offer the cheapest way to get to Europe.
A lot of travelers are afraid that even if they find the cheapest places to fly into Europe, it will be difficult to stay there within or under budget. This, however, is a common misconception. Throughout this article, we will discuss how you can travel Europe cheap — even after you land.
As we discuss the cheapest places to fly into Europe, we will also answer several of the most commonly asked questions, like:
- Can I travel Europe by train for cheap?
- Will cheap European airlines help me get from country to country?
- What is the cheapest way to fly to Europe given my location?
Since we want our tips to be as helpful as possible to a large number of people, we will discuss the cheapest way to travel to Europe in a general sense. A lot of the cheapest places to fly into Europe will depend on where you are traveling from and how you want to spend your vacation.
With that being said, we will offer you specific suggestions on how everyone can travel to Europe on a budget. Seeing the world is one of the greatest opportunities we can embark upon if we plan it right. The stress that goes along with planning, however, often interferes with some of the fun.
But that is where we come in. The cheapest way to get to Europe is out there. Our job is to help you find it.
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How to Begin Your Search for the Cheapest Way to Travel to Europe
Beginning your search for cheap travel to Europe might be the most difficult part of the trip. But before you start scouring the internet for answers, ask yourself a few questions.
Where do you want to go? How many countries do you want to see? What kind of living arrangement do you want while you are there? Answering these questions will greatly help you search when looking for the cheapest way to get to Europe.
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Once you know where you want to travel and how you want to spend your time, you can begin searching online. Just by typing your departure and arrival cities into Google, you will get a ballpark estimate on how cheap or expensive your trip to Europe can be.
Part of the reason that using Google will help you is that it will give you a sense of the cheapest places to fly into Europe. Think about the countries you want to see. Since you know where you are flying from, type in all of the different cities as your destination.
It is cheaper to fly to some European cities than others. If you are flexible as to where you begin, you can find the cheapest way to travel to Europe by simply adjusting the order of your trip.
In many ways, finding the cheapest places to fly into Europe will be the biggest battle you face. If you want to travel to Europe cheap, choosing the right airline will be your biggest hurdle. As we will soon see, once you get to Europe, you can travel Europe by train or find cheap European airlines so that you can travel Europe cheap.
Once you have figured out the order of your trip, the next thing you should do is find and book the cheapest way to fly to Europe. And trust us, once you book the flight, the stress will immediately fade away.
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Closer Look at the Cheapest Way to Get to Europe
As we have already mentioned, finding cheap flights is half the battle when trying to travel to Europe on a budget. If you don’t search for the best deals, you could spend over $1,000 per ticket, preventing you from keeping your trip to Europe cheap.
Start by looking early. Think about where you want to go and look for the cheapest way to travel to Europe months in advance. Airlines raise their prices closer to takeoff because they know people are willing to spend more if they have to be somewhere soon.
Recently, a couple of airlines began to advertise that they have the cheapest way to get to Europe imaginable. As opposed to spending hundreds of dollars, you could spend roughly $70 to get to Europe.
For instance, WOW Air has started advertising cheap travel to Europe with $69 flights. In many ways, this sounds too good to be true. The same goes for Norwegian Air, which is competing for the cheapest way to travel to Europe with a $65 deal of their own.
One thing to keep in mind when booking with airlines that offer the lowest possible fares for your trip to Europe is that they may not come with the amenities you are used to on a plane.
In several cases, if you book the cheapest way to fly to Europe, you will not be offered a meal while on your flight, you will have to pay for checked bags, and they only fly to a few select destinations.
It will be up to you to determine if the cheapest way to travel to Europe outweighs the temporary inconvenience of cramped seating and lack of amenities. You should also consider how long your flight will be. If you are flying from Boston to Iceland, for instance, a meal will not be necessary, whereas for a trip from San Francisco to Paris, it will be.
Therefore, weigh the pros and cons of the cheapest way to get to Europe. Sometimes, it helps to spend a little bit more on the upfront costs of the flight to ensure you have found the cheapest way to travel to Europe.
While it sounds counterintuitive to spend more on flights, several cheap European airlines will try to hide the bag and meal fees when you book. Be sure to do your research and calculate how all of the additional fees will add up.
For instance, let’s say that you book the cheapest way to get to Europe at $69. It sounds good until you see checked bag fees, snack fees, meal fees, and more. Try adding up all of the additional costs to see what your trip to Europe will actually cost.
In some cases, you will find that booking a slightly more expensive airline is actually the cheapest way to get to Europe. If this is the case for you, don’t feel guilty about spending more on a flight. It may end up being the best way to travel to Europe cheap.
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Tips on How to Travel Europe Cheap
Once you have figured out the cheapest places to fly into Europe and how to get there on budget, it is time to determine how you can keep costs down while you are there.
If you plan on going to several countries on your vacation, one of your best options will be to travel Europe by train. One of the best ways to reduce stress while also ensuring that your trip to Europe will be as cheap as possible is to book your tickets online and ahead of time.
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There are several sites that will help you travel Europe by train, but some are more reliable than others. My Train Ticket, for instance, is a good way to book tickets that are reliable and inexpensive.
By booking your tickets ahead of time, you will not only be getting the cheapest way to travel to European cities, you will also not have to worry about waiting in long lines while you are there. Simply book your tickets ahead of time, print them out, and know when to show up at the train station.
While it is nice to “play it by ear” on vacation, you should have a fairly concrete travel plan before you travel to Europe. If you travel Europe by train, then booking tickets ahead of time will save you unnecessary fees from European travel agents and anyone else who claims they will get you the best deal.
One thing Americans tend to notice when they travel to Europe is that the train system is far more advanced across the continent. While trains are most frequently used for short distance trips in the U.S., the European train system transports people through several countries.
Do not shy away from traveling Europe by train. Trains are safe and reliable and will often offer the cheapest way to get to European countries.
Additionally, you should consider what type of living arrangements you want during your trip to Europe. Are you trying to have a romantic getaway? Or do you want to “rough it” and travel Europe cheap with the lowest possible expenses?
Your answer will determine what type of living quarters you choose. If you want to rough it, you can stay in hostels, where prices can be as low as eight or nine Euros per night, making them the cheapest way to travel Europe. Keep in mind that unless you have a big enough party to fill an entire room, you may have to share it with strangers.
If you want something a little more private, look into hotels or Airbnb. Airbnb has sprung up all across the world and will often offer the cheapest and most reliable trip to Europe. Booking through Airbnb is also a good way to get to know some of the locals, since you will be communicating with them during and before your visit.
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Tips on Cheap European Airlines
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If you would rather fly than take the train when you travel to Europe, there are several reliable airlines that will help you travel to Europe on a budget. Remember that you should scour the internet for the cheapest places to fly into Europe in order to plan the order of your trip.
This last tip will be especially important if you are traveling to three or more cities while in Europe. As long as you can adjust the order of your itinerary, check out the cheapest places to fly into Europe based on the city you will be leaving.
While it may be hard to believe, some cheap European airlines charge only a few Euros to get from one place to another. You will be charged fees and taxes on top of the price, but since there are so many competing airlines, it is easy to find the cheapest way to travel to Europe when you look at all of your options.
If you don’t know which airlines to search for the cheapest places to fly into Europe, start with Ryanair and easyJet. These two cheap European airlines offer some of the most competitive prices available and travel to just about anywhere you’d want to go.
Of course, the prices will go up the longer you wait. If you can lock down your itinerary ahead of time, be sure to book your airfare before you leave the United States. Booking only days in advance will make it far more difficult to travel to Europe cheap.
Conclusion: Book Ahead for the Cheapest Way to Get to Europe
The most important advice we can give you when trying to find the cheapest way to get to Europe is to book far in advance. This goes for airline and train tickets, living arrangements, and tickets on day-long excursions.
Traveling to Europe can be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of your life, but keeping the vacation cheap and stress-free is often difficult. With a little bit of research, however, we can safely say the you will find the cheapest way to get to Europe.
Remember to look for the cheapest places to fly into Europe first. Your airline tickets could easily become the most expensive part of your trip, and many airlines offer cheaper tickets to some destinations over others. Therefore, the cheapest places to fly into Europe will save you the most money in the long run.
Once you have found the cheapest way to fly to Europe, start making the rest of your travel arrangements. The cheapest way to get to European cities will either be by airline or train, so be sure to look at all possibilities and know that all are safe and reliable.
With that being said, the most important part about your trip to Europe is the experience itself. While it is great to travel to Europe on a budget, don’t simply book the cheapest way to travel to Europe at the expense of your enjoyment. By doing your homework, you can keep your vacation cheap without missing out on the fun.
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