For the first few years I lived in Spain, I didn’t have a car. There’s really no need to get behind the wheel if you’re living in a city or visiting another city on vacation. But sometimes you get the urge for a road trip, and the Spanish rail and bus system doesn’t always reach the » Read more
cars: Budget Travel Guide
Whatever your European landscape of choice — be it beaches, vineyards, medieval villages or historic old towns — you’ll find it all in Portugal, generally at a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere in Europe. But what’s the best way to see it all? We love the bus and train, but renting a » Read more
Looking for a cheaper way to travel by car around Europe? You might want to try a ride-sharing service like BlaBlaCar. Founded in 2006, this sharing economy business is a good option to get between points A and B, especially on longer routes or those without an affordable public transport option. It can also work really » Read more
Ready to hit the road in France? While we love speeding around the country on the TGV’s high-speed rail network, sometimes it makes more sense to head off on your own four wheels. Renting a car allows you complete control over your itinerary, and permits you to visit smaller towns, tiny villages, and out-of-the-way wineries. » Read more
How much will it really cost you to rent a car in Europe? You know that the price you see on car rental websites isn’t the final cost—as it doesn’t include insurance, gas and other incidentals. But how much are those extra charges? On past trips, I’ve made the mistake of underestimating these other charges, imagining that » Read more
Here’s a simple and essential car rental tip that will save a lot of time, money and hassle: When renting a car in Europe, make sure you know if it requires diesel or unleaded gas. Why, you ask? Allow us to demonstrate photographically what happened on a recent journey when we overlooked this critical step. » Read more
This is a warning to anyone renting a car anywhere in Europe: know what you’re getting yourself in for! The natural instinct when booking a car is to go with the absolute cheapest rate possible, but rental car companies are notorious for tacking on hidden fees and surcharges (some are worse than others) that can » Read more
We were checking out the German tourism office’s new “budget travel” section on their website today and came across their article on saving money on transportation in Germany. Most of the tips were helpful, and included train discounts (for weekend travel), cheap inter-city bus travel, city transportation passes, and even bike programs. Share your ride! The » Read more
