7 ways to save now on next year’s trip to Europe
Planning to travel to Europe next year? Sure, it can seem like a long way off, but savvy travelers know that there are some smart moves you can make right now — many months in advance — to hep make that trip more affordable and enjoyable.
From plane tickets to trains tickets, cars and hotels, here’s a quick cheapo checklist of some simple things you can do now to find real savings later.
Note: Don’t feel like booking everything on your own? Check out the current EuroCheapo package deals for pretty incredible savings for US travelers heading to Europe. We book your airfare, hotel, and rental car all at once, and pass along the discounts.
1. Set up airfare alerts.
Know your dates and desired destinations? Create an airfare alert on websites like Kayak, Airfarewatchdog, and Skyscanner for your routes. They’ll send you email alerts when your routes go on sale.
2. Sign up for email newsletters from your preferred airline.
Similarly, make sure that you’re receiving emails from your favorite airlines about fare sales. The airlines will usually blast these off to their lists faster than the airfare alert websites–and with airfare sales, timing is everything.
Note: When setting up alerts, also consider “hubbing it”, by flying into secondary airports from which you can catch a cheap flight on one of Europe’s budget airlines to your destination. For example, if Chicago to Rome is your route, also consider flying Chicago to Dublin or Chicago to London, and then booking a cheap connecting flight from Dublin or London to Rome.
Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and many others offer some shockingly cheap fares. (Search cheap airfare on EuroCheapo)
Set up alerts and get miles bonuses to score cheap flights to Europe. Photo: phinalanji
3. Consider switching credit cards to get frequent flyer bonuses.
These days, the fastest way for most people to use credit cards to get awards tickets is by taking advantage of sign-on frequent flyer bonuses.
If your mailbox is filled with credit card offers that promote big miles bonuses (up to 50,000 miles) for signing onto a new card, you might want to take advantage of these now. Most miles bonuses won’t be granted until you’ve spent a minimum amount on your new card, so now is the time to get a card, pass that minimum threshold, and cash in your reward miles on a flight to Europe.
All aboard… a Trenitalia train near Genova. Photo: mauboi
4. Buy your train tickets four months in advance.
You may have already read our articles about saving on European high-speed train tickets by booking them yourself through the official railway websites. (Like this one on German trains or this one on French trains. See more.)
Remember that the earlier you purchase them, the better the deals you’ll find. However, in most cases, you won’t be able to purchase these high-speed rail tickets until four months prior to the date of the train travel. You can look on the websites now to see times and routes, but you won’t be given an option to buy.
Here’s an overview of the most popular national railway websites:
- Bahn (Germany): Four months in advance
- Eurostar – (London / Paris / Brussels): Six months in advance
- Renfe (Spain): Four months in advance
- SNCF (France): Four months in advance
- Trenitalia (Italy): Four months in advance
Note that this is only for longer-distance and high-speed trains. Slower regional trains don’t need to be booked in advance.
Driving a car through the streets of Paris can make one nervous. Photo: chezdom
5. Book your car now. Make changes later.
Booking your rental car far in advance is a can’t-lose situation. Unlike with the railways, booking your car many months off is possible, and can result in substantial savings. (I just found week-long car rental in Paris next summer for $175!)
Then, check again as you get closer to travel time. If you do your search through EuroCheapo’s car search, you can cancel or modify your reservation without penalty. Find a better deal later? Cancel and re-book it!
The Hotel Esmeralda is located across the Seine from Notre Dame. Book it well in advance. Photo: EuroChepo
6. When should you book your hotels? It depends.
Knowing when to book your hotels is a wee bit trickier. Here are some general tips:
• Have your dates locked in and have a favorite hotel? Book it now, especially if it’s a popular hotel (such as the Esmeralda or Tiquetonne in Paris or the Celtic in London) and you’re traveling during peak travel season (late spring through late summer). The rates probably won’t get any cheaper — but the rooms will fill up.
• Don’t have your travel itinerary locked down? If your schedule is still in flux, you can go ahead and book hotels to lock in cheaper far-off rates, but stick to refundable rates that you can cancel if your plans change. You don’t want to be locked into visiting a city just because you booked non-refundable hotel rates.
• Flexible about your hotel? You could play the “last minute” game and try to score a great hotel deal. This might reward you with an amazing hotel deal, or it might penalize you with an overpriced hotel in a far-flung neighborhood. It all depends on how many other people are traveling to the same destination at the same time.
For much more on this topic, read my article on the best time to book a hotel. Click here to search hotels in Europe.
See these runners in Amsterdam’s marathon? They almost all needed a hotel room. Photo: archeon
7. Hotel prices too high? Play with your itinerary.
If your hotel searches are coming back with frightful rates, you might be trying to book during a convention or special event. This happened to me last year when I tried to find a hotel in Amsterdam during the city’s marathon. (It wasn’t pretty — and I ended up sleeping in nearby Utrecht.)
If rates seem wacky, do a little research and see if something else is happening during your planned visit. Then, play around with your itinerary, and see if you can visit the city during a less expensive period. Now is the time to tweak your trip.
Go ahead and watch “Amelie” again if it’s going to get you excited about Paris! Photo: petergerdes
Finally…
With all of these logistics, it’s easy to forget that this moment isn’t just about saving money on your trip. This is also the time to start getting in the mood! Your trip starts now! Some suggestions:
- Watch movies and read books about your destination.
- Pick up some travel guides and see which destinations really speak to you.
- Practice the language. Learn to say the basics.
- Seek out restaurants with the cuisines of the regions you’ll be visiting.
- Become familiar with the wines of the area you’re heading to. (It’s tough research, but shouldn’t be overlooked!)
Your tips
Have any “far off” tips to add to our list of ways to save far in advance on your trip to Europe? Share with us in the comments section below.
About the author
I love this blog and it’s been very helpful. I have visited Europe several times and have found apartment living to be a much better experience over hotels. The feeling of really belonging in the city is unbeatable; I feel less touristy and more grounded. Just be sure to research many companies with their reviews and policies. Once you find one and are pleased with it, I suggest sticking with it to establish a good rapport with the owner/manager. After much research in 2006, I found Perfectly Paris (I’m not paid or compensated in any way- I wish) the owner is an english speaker from Canada and clear communication is THE key. The photos on the website are 98% to 100% true representations of the apartments.
Which ever you choose, I think you will enjoy the feeling of returning home at the end of a wonderful day to that unfinished bottle of wine or roasted chicken left in your refrigerator. I was there solo for an extended visit and I tell you waking up in a luxurious bed in a secure apartment and going into my kitchen to prepare my own breakfast before heading out was heavenly.
I don’t think I’ll ever go the hotel route again. Suggestions: 1. Get a group of friends to share the cost but even a one bedroom or studio is less per night than a good hotel. 2. Book far in advance 3. Let me know when you’re going – I’m always ready LOL.