by Mac a'Bhaird

Created on: February 18, 2009   Last Updated: February 21, 2009

It used to be that when a person mentioned going to Europe, everyone's ears would perk up because it involved a sizeable chunk of change, for the only the wealthy could afford to go. That all changed in the latter 60's when people began to travel without all the amenities. Ever since then, there have been gobs of people heading off to Europe, some staying at the Ritz and others at the Chinze, and everywhere in between.

Here's how to do it on a shoestring:

Airfare

If you get the right kind of credit card, you can get air miles and fly for FREE. I have been to Europe many times and NEVER paid for a ticket, (and at present have enough air miles for 2 more overseas trips) so I know it can be done. Get that credit card; use it for every purchase, and be religious about paying off the balance every month so you are not paying any interest. That is a must. Ask around with your friends and relatives, if they are making a large purchase, see if you can utilize your card and they can reimburse you. Have I done that? You bet ya. Be careful though that you don't get left holding the bag. Be sure when you ticket, that they aren't farming you off on some other airline. They do that sometimes, and charge you extra. So you're paying just the tax and security fees, around $60.00 total. That's a bargain!

http://www.frequentflier.com/

http://www.webf lyer.com/

If an air miles card is not in the picture, just check the deals.

Kayak.com, expedia.com, travelzoo.com, there's a million of them.

Arriving

Don't skimp on maps, and get your bearings, especially of the city you are landing in, so you don't stand there like you have holes in your pockets. Get some local currency as soon as possible, but don't carry any more than you need for the day. Exchange rates vary; usually your ATM card will give you as good an exchange rate as you'll get anywhere else.

Visit the Office of Tourism and get what information you might need, such as local museum and historical site passes.

Cheap Sleeps

If you're going to a large city like Paris or Rome, reservations are strongly recommended. Yup, I have learned the hard way. It's easy to be stoned out and find yourself dragging from no vacancy to no vacancy. So book ahead.

For dormitory style sleeps, Join Hostelling international ($25.00 a year). No bells or whistles, but you'll have a safe (and usually clean) place to sleep. Usually, they are conveniently located in the heart of the historic part of the city, or at least easily accessible.

http://www.hihostels.com/

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