Where $3,000 can get you...
So many people I talk to believe international travel to be absurdly expensive. A conversation I was having just this last weekend was yet another reminder that it is a widely held thought that you have to spend a small fortune to travel abroad. Here's my attempt to change your mind.
First off, I'm going to focus on Europe because it is where I have the most experience. I will warn you that there are other ways to find cheaper fares and rates, but I will show you the tools that I predominantly use. These are not the end all be all of cheap travel! They are merely a set of told that I use to travel at a reasonable price with maximum flexibility.
Before I get into it, you should know that I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants sort of girl and I don't like being held down by reservations. My tricks will work even if you prefer reservatiovns father in advance, but know that freedom is my preference. all that being said, let's begin.
1. Flights
I've already written an article about cheap flights that you can find here. I use Google flights the most, I'd say. It has a broad variety of features that helps when planning somewhat open ended travel.
You can choose multiple destinations, to and from
You can set filters for ticket price or number of stops, etc.
You can search freely across any date and see where the cheapest flights are
You can search regionally (i.e. An entire continent, if you choose)
These features help the cheap, optimizing nerd like me find the right flight.
2. Transit
Getting around Europe is ridiculously easy. Whether by train, plane, or automobile, there are a great many options.
Trains
Check out this article on the details of the Eurail Pass. I've used it several times and it's a fantastic way to see a lot in between cities. The benefits of trains are flexibility, consistency, and exposure. Trains go everywhere in Europe and they run in time. When the departure time says 11:15, you can bet your boots that you're butt had better be in the seat at 11:15 or you'll be left behind. The schedules are clear and consistent and there are so many trains that go so many places. The draw back is they take longer than flying. An example I can think of is Paris to Rome. It's a 3 hour flight, but an overnight train. It all depends on you.
Planes
Ryanair is probably the most amazing website I've ever found. It's almost as if they've taken notes from the train companies. Planes don't travel to as many places as trains, but they can be cheaper and they are most certainly faster over longer distances.
You should know that you can get one way tickets from one city to another in Europe for as little as $15! I'm not kidding! That's with a carry-on, no checked luggage. But, it's still an amazing service.
Automobiles
Taking on the challenge of driving in another country can be daunting. Especially in a country that doesn't share your country's rules of the road. Be sure you research plenty ahead of time and know what hoops you may have to jump through to be able to even rent a car somewhere else.
Many countries require an international driver's license. Many do not. This gives you the most freedom and is still quite affordable. But, you have to do the driving. I've always been a fan of letting someone else do the driving and just enjoying the ride.
3. Accommodations
Let's face it, hotels get expensive in a hurry and whether you're looking for hostels our castles, you can find something. I use hotels.com the most. They have rewards four nights that I book and they have international listings.
There are so many hotel site that I just recommend playing around with a few and seeing what you like best about each. SkyScanner is good for accommodations also and I use that on occasion.
Now, let's get to the meat and potatoes. What can I get for three grand? I'll set this up as a trip with the things people most commonly ask me about. Meaning, no hostels, hotels planned the whole way, transit included and a daily budget with a couple things to do each day. Let's go!
4. The Itinerary
I went broad on this one, so the overall trip is 5 countries in 7 cities with flights from Chicago to Barcelona. Here's the itinerary I came up with:
Day 1
Board your flight in Chicago
Day 2
Arrive in Barcelona
Travel to Hotel Catalonia Albeinz
Fill the afternoon taking in sights in beautiful downtown Barcelona
Day 3
Day in Barcelona
Day 4
Day in Barcelona
Travel to port and board ferry to Italy (overnight)
Day 5
Arrive in Genova, Italy and travel to AC Hotel Genova by Marriott
Day in Genova, here are some things to do in Genova
Day 6
Enjoy the morning in Genova
Board a train to Rome and enjoy the view of the Italian countryside
Arrive in Rome and travel to Traiano Hotel
Enjoy the afternoon and evening wandering the piazzas
Day 7
Begin your day with a guided tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica
Spend your afternoon visiting monuments like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain
Day 8
Good morning Rome!
In the afternoon, board the train to Venice
Enjoy more of the Italian countryside on this wandering train
Arrive in Venice and transfer to Hotel Giorgione on the beautiful canals
Enjoy the afternoon and evening wandering St. Mark's Square and take a gondola ride
Day 9
Day in Venice
Board night train from Venice to Paris and enjoy a good night's sleep in a bunk or a reclining seat
Day 10
Arrive in Paris and transfer to Villa Opera Drouot
Afternoon and Evening in Paris
Day 11
Day in Paris taking in sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysee, the Arc d'Triumph and many others (check out my post, 6 hours in Paris for more info)
Day 12
Morning in Paris
Board train to Amsterdam and enjoy crossing three countries
Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to Singel Hotel in downtown Amsterdam
Afternoon in Amsterdam (know that there is something to do at ALL hours in Amsterdam)
Day 13
Morning in Amsterdam
Board train to Berlin and enjoy more European countryside, transfer to InterCityHotel Belin Hauptbahnhof
Evening in Berlin
Day 14
Day in Berlin check out some of these things to do
Day 15
Morning in Berlin
Travel to airport, board plane to Barcelona
Arrive in Barcelona, transfer to Hotel Campanile
Enjoy your last evening in Barcelona
Day 16
Travel to airport, board plane to return to Chicago
Conclusion
This trip took me about 3 hours to build up on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. It is most definitely possible to build these types of trips for even cheaper! I have put together all of my sources for the pricing and reference for you, which you can check out here.
Thanks,y'all for reading and I hope you learned something with me!
