So, I’m sure travelling always sounds like something extravagant and expensive, but believe me, you can experience some grand things in life in an affordable way. Granted, everyone has their own expectations when it comes to how they like to solo travel – and you don’t have to compromise on that! Do what makes you happy, man! But, if you’re like me and seek adventure at every turn, keep reading to find some budget-friendly tips for solo travel in Europe.
Transport
Now this tends to always sound like the more complicated part of the process – actually finding a way to get to where you want to. I’d rather think this is the easier part to be honest, here’s why:
- – Budget airlines – take advantage of Europe’s extensive network of budget airlines for inter-city travel, e.g. Ryanair or Wizz Air.
- – Book early – book tickets in advance for the best deals.
- – Buses and trains – use local public transport like buses and trains instead of flights or a combination of the lot to save on transportation costs.
Transportation in Europe is fairly simple to navigate so you’ve got several options you can use to get from country to country or city to city.
Read Also : Things To Know Before Enrolling In A Phd Program
Accommodation for Solo Travel
I understand this is very much an individual preference – and it’s different for women and men. Safer options for women are hotels and well-rated hostels, then men can generally try other options. Airbnb’s are great, but in my experience, they are better for a group of people. Here’s my advice:
- – Hostels – these aren’t just for backpackers, as many of them now offer private rooms for solo travelers at a fraction of hotel prices and even have all female only or all male only dorms if you don’t want to share with the opposite sex. They sometimes have breakfast too. I like using Hostelworld and Agoda for my accommodation needs, and the standard – Booking.com.
- – Guesthouses – there are also several of these that operate a little like hotels really, just more privatized and with fewer amenities.
- – Couchsurfing – oooo….I loved this idea, you basically chat up a stranger online and they offer you a place to stay overnight in their house – goes against everything we were taught as kids, but hey, times change!
- – House-swap – this is also a good alternative. It’s possible to find on Facebook Groups, e.g. Solo Traveler’s Network where you can post your country, and your destination country and ask to swap houses for a period so you can stay in a new place for a while – it’s a better option for someone solo travelling in one place for a longer period.
- – Pet-sitting – if you’re an animal lover, this is a great alternative. You can take care of someone’s pet for a little while, whilst you’re living in the house at no-cost and going about your touring.
So quite a few options here and some may not be your cup of tea, but hey, these are just my budget-friendly tips.
Food
Everyone’s favorite part right. I think this is the easiest thing about solo travelling to be honest, because it all depends on you and your taste. Europe has a kebab frenzy going on, and you can never go wrong with a kebab lol. Here are my tips:
- – Accommodation offering breakfast – if you can find a place that offers breakfast, it’s the easiest way to get your first meal of the day in. This is usually provided in the info when booking so you can always check.
- – Food stalls/stands/markets – plenty of these around that can offer you a decent meal for a couple of bucks.
- – Grocery shops – Lidl, that’s all I’ll say lol. Lidl is, to me, the most affordable supermarket in Europe, and you’ll likely find one in most countries. If you’re using Airbnb or even a hostel, buy groceries if you’re there for a longer stay, it will cut your costs.
- – Restaurants and bars – I make sure to treat myself to at least one fancy meal, even when I solo travel alone, and when searching online, you can find recommendations for affordable local or international cuisine in your destination country, so don’t hesitate to use Google. If you’re at a hostel too, they might offer some free meals once a week, so that’s something, and you can always ask for recommendations there.
Your food costs are entirely up to you y’all. Make good food choices!
Activities
Now this is the most expensive part of travelling – depending on what you like to do. I’m a museum, history, and adrenaline junkie so that’s where most of my money goes. Here are my tips:
- – Free walking tours – this is where I begin. I use GuruWalk to get free walking tours around the cities I solo travel to. I get to see and hear most of the history without having to read about it.
- – Museums – I keep the ones most interesting to me and go to those. Tickets may range from 5-20 euros depending on the museum and what it offers, and the country too.
- – Outdoor activities – these need a bit of planning, so I make sure to include them in my trip towards the end so I’m not so exhausted to try them – this includes hiking, water activities or other.
Every time I solo travel, I make new friends when staying in hostels or joining walking tours. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation, you may make a great friend or acquaintance just by a simple Hello!
I’ll continue sharing some tips on my social media, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask!