When you gotta go, you gotta go. “If you have your heart set on Paris, nothing else will do,” says Christine Petersen with tripadvisor.com, an online vacation review and resource site.
A trip to Europe might seem pricey, especially with the Euro dominating the dollar. But travel experts say Europe can still be done on the cheap. Here’s how:
Go at the last minute
Call in sick to work and deal with that awkward jet-lag problem later. “Chicago is a big air hub, you can travel last minute,” says John Hawks, co-author of “The Frequent Traveler’s Guide.” Last-minute travel can mean low prices; Hawks recommends Web sites like www.lastminutetravel.com and www.site59.com for scouting steals.
Travel by rail
Airfare can be expensive, and that’s why some travelers think it’s a great deal to fly to London for cheap and catch a discount flight to another European city. Sure, Ryan Air and Easy Jet offer cheap flights from London to Edinburgh. But there’s a catch: These airlines usually fly out of smaller airports, and the transportation between the two can be expensive, Hawks says. Travelers trying to connect between cities are better off taking the train. “Unless someone is really experienced in inter-Europe travel, rail beats air hands down,” he says.
Research freebies
Many museums have a free day, and some sights are totally free, Petersen says. Travelers can hike to the top of an extinct volcano in Edinburgh, Scotland; stroll through the park at Bratislava Castle in Slovakia; or admire fine art in Budapest, Hungary–all for free. “You can walk around Rome, and all the sights are free,” Petersen says. “Plan your vacation around having a great cultural experience.”
Use public transportation
All those hours cramped on the “L” or bus have finally paid off. Chicagoans have the skill and confidence to maneuver another city’s public transportation system. Skipping the subway for a cab is one of the top mistakes travelers make, Petersen says. Cabs can be a quick way to blow through a budget. Instead, Hawks says travelers can save with local public transportation cards aimed at tourists. Some offer unlimited subway or bus rides for a fixed price.
Watch conversion fees
“A lot of banks have gotten rich off of 1 percent, 2 percent or 3 percent conversion fees,” Hawks says. Check your credit card fees before leaving and use the card with the lowest rate, he says.
Cruise
All-inclusive cruises through Scandinavia or the Mediterranean can help travelers control their budgets. Barge cruises also run through the rivers of Central Europe, Hawks says. “You can also see a lot of places all at once that could have been a struggle if you had to coordinate all your connections on your own,” he says.
Find a converted deal
Some packaged deals are sold in euros, but other converted deals are sold in dollars. “If you want to go to a main capital, the best bet is to shop around for a package that is denominated and sold in U.S. dollars,” Hawks says. “That’s been a big help this year for a lot of companies that are shuddering as the euro goes up and up.”
Research before you book
“Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good deal,” Petersen says. Hostels and privately owned boarding houses might offer a cheaper rate, but beware: Sometimes you get what you pay for, such as noisy or unclean lodging.
Don’t bank on the off season
Who would want to go to London in freezing December? The theatergoing crowd, that’s who. “Even during the dead of winter, you can be gouged if you’re not careful,” author John Hawks says. Summer might be the high season, but deals can still be found all year long. During summer in London, for example, travelers can stay in university dormitories for cheap, says Christine Petersen of tripadvisor.com.
Choose cheap cities
Some cities can be less expensive than others. Dubrovnik, Croatia, is Hawks’ top pick, a place where travelers can eat out and have the “wine flowing all night without breaking the bank,” he says. All of Eastern Europe might seem like a deal, but he warns that Prague, Latvia and Estonia have become touristy and pricey.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
