How to Travel with Little or no Money in Europe

Travel has become an expensive proposition these days, what with skyrocketing oil prices leading to higher airfares, transport rates and a slow economy not leaving enough resources for a vacation. But if you wish to visit Europe now instead of waiting for a distant someday when you might have more money, it is quite possible to come up with a Europe travel plan on a shoestring budget.

Getting there

The first hurdle is to get to Europe but even this need not pose a financial hurdle since you can you can fly there with no money by using frequent flier miles. These can be accumulated from previous flights or through incentive programs. If someone you know well, a close friend or a relative perhaps, has extra frequent flier miles, then ask them if they would extend them to you – may be as a present on a forthcoming birthday or something similar. Don’t forget to shop around to find some great airfare deals. Compare the Internet travel agencies, and then call the airlines directly to see if they can beat the price. Be flexible with travel dates. Sometimes the difference between weekends and weekdays can make a significant difference in airfare. It may be worth your while to consider European-based airlines too since at times they offer amazing prices with free stopovers in their home countries. For all you know, you may be lucky to get to see Iceland, Luxembourg or the Netherlands for free. If none of this works out, you might be able to get passage on a ship sailing to Europe – with perhaps boarding and lodging thrown in - in exchange of  working on the ship.

Getting around

When in Europe, you can hitchhike from one place to another, as many travelers do. Families and truck drivers often stop to give strangers a ride. This will not only save you train or bus fare but you will get to see the continent and its many cultures in a way that is just not possible on the sanitized travel that is a staple of the organized tours. But even though hitchhiking is common and largely safe in Europe, you still must be responsible for your own security. Never hitchhike alone, and only do it during the day along busy routes. The Euro-rail is another option if you have slightly more resources at your disposal. A Euro-Rail Pass allows you unlimited travel on European trains for a specified length of time in a specified class of service. You can even tailor the Euro-Rail Pass to specific countries.

Lodging options

Since Europe is full of safe and good quality youth hostels, a great idea for lodging is to work for your room. Many such youth hostels will allow you to spend the night in exchange for kitchen duty, chores and odd jobs around the facility. Approach them politely in the morning and ask if there is anything to be done which can get you a bed for the night or maybe even a simple supper.  Since minimum wage is quite high in most European countries, you may need to spend only a few hours at work and then spend rest of the day and evening sightseeing or enjoying yourself.

Also ask other travelers for recommendations. Very often Word-of-mouth tends to be more accurate than listed resources. Many budget accommodations don't accept reservations so if you are looking for a place to stay that night, be sure to search early in the day before they fill up.

Trade your skills

A great way of financing your Europe tour is trading any skill you have for food and maybe even lodging. Singing for supper, for instance, is a common enough tradition among backpackers through Europe. The continent is full of street performers doing all sorts of things for change from people passing by. All you need to do is to choose a busy spot, put out a cup or hat and then start performing. You can sing, dance, mime, play music or display any other skills you have. You don't even need to be very good to make a few bucks which would be enough to buy you some coffee, cheese and fresh bread at a neighborhood market.

If you have time beforehand, find out how you can plan your Europe tour as a working holiday. If you fluent in English have an international degree/diploma in teaching English as a foreign language, you could work as an English teacher in some of the cities through your holiday. Music, crafts or mechanics are other skills you can use to sponsor your trip though teaching or negotiating with the local population may be a problem if you are absolutely unfamiliar with French and German. Having said that, many regions in Europe, especially the major cities, are slowly familiarizing themselves with English and you may be able to get by with a combination of English and rudimentary knowledge of French or German.

Apply for cultural exchange programs

Yet another option to sponsor your Europe trip would be to apply for cultural exchange programs beforehand. Every year, thousands of young people take advantage of volunteer, internship and work abroad opportunities offered through established Cultural Exchange programs. These types of programs allow participants to live and work in another country, giving them a deeper connection to the native lifestyle, language and culture, and offering a more meaningful and rewarding travel experience as compared to passing tourists. Some of these programs either offer homestays, where a local family will welcome you into their home and provide room and board, as you “live like a local” for a specific period of time. Some programs also offer dormitory or hostel-style living arrangements where you have many opportunities to socialize and learn from other cultural exchange participants. Either will be a good opportunity to travel through Europe while absorbing the best of continental culture and hospitality.

Live frugally

Another important approach to traveling through Europe on the lowest budget is to keep expenses to a minimum. Whenever possible, cook for yourself. Many hostels have cooking facilities and utensils that you can make use of. Another great option is to go for takeaways which will not only be inexpensive but true to local culture. For souvenirs, take pictures. They are the best reminders of your travels in Europe and they don't cost you much. Buying stuff will not only cost you money but add on to your luggage too for which again you may have to pay extra on your return flight.

Go for free sightseeing

Most of the famous museums and popular tourist destinations have high entry fees. Avoid these and instead check out the free sights. The best places to see in Europe are public spaces like parks and lakesides. Neighborhoods are charming and the architecture is unique to each country. Every town has a square where locals congregate, socialize and enjoy free entertainment on the street. Just hang out where the locals do instead of making a beeline for touristy spots – if you must visit the famous museums or art galleries, find out which days are free or discounted for the general public.