Hostels: If You're Up For Them

Hostels can be a cheap alternative to hotels. I thought I'd remind you of this since most of you are probably already aware of hostels. They work out best for people traveling without children. Some people love them, so if you haven't considered one for your travels, I'd say give it a shot!

Personally, I've only stayed in a hostel a handful of times - and never with my son. It was when I was really desperate/broke and was traveling with friends several years ago. I'm a bit of a germaphobe and don't like hostels too much, so you won't hear me recommending them strongly like a lot of people do. Most of  them (there are exceptions, of course!) I've seen or stayed in aren't up to my personal standard of cleanliness. I definitely wouldn't bring my son in one since he tends to touch dirty stuff and then put his hands in his mouth... You know how little boys are. :)

One website I like is Couchsurfing.com. This isn't a hostel website, but the concept is very similar. There are people (honest and safe) on there who offer up a couch or even a bedroom for you to stay in for free. Most of these places are cleaner than hostels, too. You get to know each other through the website and can check their references before committing to anything. Most of the time you end up making a friend, which is another advantage. If you read my other post about friends then you know how hip I am on that idea!! There are even families on there who offer housing for other families. I really do like this option much better than hostels, so check it out. 

That's it for now... 

***If I find a good website with a list of hostels, I'll post it in the resources.

How am I doing so far with the blog? Comments would be appreciated.

"When you are everywhere, you are nowhere. When you are somewhere, you are everywhere." -Rumi

A Word About City Rooms

Just like village rooms, apartments in the city are also affordable. These, too, can be found on Craigslist and through local residents. If you have a lot of things you want to do in a particular city, it's indirectly cheaper to stay in a central city location rather than a village simply because you wouldn't need to pay for transportation back and forth to the apartment. If all your attractions are nearby, you'd just walk or bike. It's true the city apartment itself would be more expensive than a village one, but overall you'd be saving money (and time). 

All of the previously mentioned rules apply with city dwellings just as they do with village apartments. Don't get scammed and avoid fishy situations. If you doubt the integrity of someone offering you a room, you're probably rightfully worried. Pass on it in that case. Don't ever risk anything to save a few euros; saving money shouldn't be about risking your life. 

"We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." -Hilaire Belloc

Let's Go RVing

They do it in America. Why not in Europe, too? It's all the rage these days... Affordable $15 USD per night RV parks dot the map all over Europe, and for good reason.

Let's look at the advantages of RVing in Europe...

It's Cheaper

It's a car, hotel, kitchen, and restroom all in one. It can be parked at an RV park for about $15-$20 USD per night which allows you to utilize the park's electricity and other facilities. This is SO much cheaper than a hotel (or even a village room) and allows you to cook your own meals - which is another big money saver. 

It's Convenient

Worried about where to stay for the night? You don't have to be if you have an RV. 

Want to visit multiple places and need to do it in a timely manner? Don't want to rely on public transportation? Want to just "get up and go?" An RV may be the answer.

Where to Get It

The Netherlands-based company BW Campers is an excellent place to start. For longer trips, buying is the way to go - especially since many of BW's partners offer guaranteed buy back programs when you're finished using the RV. They also take care of all the hassles such as licensing and insurance for you. All you have to do is pick up the RV. Visit their website at www.bwcampers.com . There are other companies, too, I'm sure. I'm just more familiar with BW. Look for others if you want. 

If you live in the US, you also have the option to ship your RV over to Europe. If you already own an RV, this is usually the cheaper way to go. However, you have to deal with insurance and licensing issues on your own. Not fun, but if you do some research it's no big deal. 

There are also various places you can rent the RV from in Europe, but this is more expensive if you plan to travel for more than a month or two. Check out all your options before you decide, though.

Real Life Inspiration

I first got the European RVing idea from the lovely family behind the blog "SoulTravelers3." I absolutely cannot believe how resourceful and efficient they are. Can you believe this family of 3 travels in Europe for only $25,000 USD per YEAR?!? I still can't get over it... This proves how affordable Europe can be if you know how to be tactful and creative. You can view their blog by clicking under the heading "My Blog List" on the left side of the screen. It's worth reading!!!! 

"And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind." -Dave Barry

Friends Are Worth Their Weight in Gold (or Euros!)

Making friends can benefit people in all walks of life - but today I'm going to emphasize on how this is valuable to travelers. We all know that having friends in general is always a worthwhile and rewarding experience, so I won't reiterate the obvious. Since this blog is about traveling in Europe without going broke, I will stick to how making friends while traveling can help achieve that goal. I don't want to sound unappreciative of friends or like I'm trying to take advantage of people, so please don't take this post that way. I am highlighting the benefits of making friends in the places you travel. Regardless, never underestimate the power of a friend - in your travels and at home. Friends are priceless and I would never put a price on friendship.

With that said...

Get to Know Them First

Mingle with the locals for a bit and don't expect anyone to offer up any help for a few days  or more (although they often do on your first meeting!). There are some extremely kind people in this world and many of them are willing to help you right off the bat. Don't expect this, though. You're an adult and should take care of yourself. :) 

Still, the kindness of strangers amazes me. People go out of their way to help you sometimes, and it touches my heart (and theirs) every time they do. I have been dug out of some hefty situations due to the kindness of strangers. A lot of times they become my friend who I see many more times. Even if I never see them again, I still feel as though I made a lifelong friend. With all of the anger and injustice in the world, it's good to know that most people are still kind and generous - no matter where you go.

Recommendations

Friends can be the go-to source for a wealth of information on their locality. For me, they have been the reason why I find cheap restaurants (although I usually cook my own food), hidden or discount supermarkets, freebies such as local concerts and the like, and low cost entertainment or attractions. They are also often a reason for me to get into places at a resident rate. 

All of this simply because I know them. Most people are honored to give out information like this. It makes them feel important and helpful. And it saves money to boot. You can't go wrong asking one of your newly-made local friends how you can do stuff or buy stuff cheaper. After all, they do live there and have to stay within their own budgets. Their opinions and suggestions are non-biased. They won't profit from recommending a certain restaurant or place to you, so this is all the better reason to listen to them. Who else better to ask? Plus, they don't even have to be a friend per se for you to ask them general questions. You can ask any local. Go ahead - try it...

What about guidebooks if you're shy? Don't be shy... The Europeans will shake the timidity out of you before you leave, so don't worry about that. Back on topic: guidebooks give me nightmares and make me max out my AmEx card anyway.... Just look at what most of them recommend: hotels! A big no-no in my experience. Locals are MUCH better than guidebooks. They are the ultimate living guidebook!

Housing

I have had friends (and even acquaintances) offer me very cheap places to stay. I say very cheap because it's even cheaper than the village rooms I referred to in my last post. Some of them are even so kind as to insist I stay for FREE. Some of them won't take my money, and that's okay. Take them up on it, but don't overstay your welcome. Move on ASAP so you don't burden them. Oh, and buy them a gift for their hospitality whether they charge you to stay there or not! A couple bottles of wine or other similar gift fits this situation nicely. Even better is if you brought any items in your luggage that symbolizes where you're from (Colorado in my case). They love getting items like that because they're unique and reminds them of your friendship.

Say Goodbye to Language Barriers

If you have a local friend, you will no longer need to play Charades with other locals who don't speak your language. This makes getting around a lot easier and saves a load of time. 

Also, this friend can help sharpen your skills and lead you that much closer to learning his or her language. Eventually you will be able to speak enough yourself to not need their help anymore. This reminds me of the Lao Tzu quote: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." 

Safety

Another important thing I would like to mention is how making a local friend can provide you with increased safety. By hanging out with a local, you blend into the scene more and don't become such a target for thieves and other criminals. This also goes with the theme of my blog, which is saving money. If your money doesn't get stolen, you save money. Right? Friends help you to not blatantly and unknowingly scream out, "I'm a tourist! I have all my money on me right now! Look! Here's a laptop, too!" They also probably know the places to avoid as well.

Transportation

I've had numerous friends give me a ride to places, so this is much cheaper than paying a taxi or renting a car. It's even better/cheaper than taking the bus and saves you more time than riding a bike or scooter. I always offer to reimburse them for gas - sometimes they accept, but mostly they don't. Usually it's free for me even though I beg them to take some gas money. 

One final thought I have is that I am not the best traveler. Fundamentally, I am a writer. Obviously I can't rely on friends to dig me out of steep situations or help me every single time I need it, but they haven't failed me yet along with my common sense. As with many things - careers and such, it's not necessarily what you know so much as who you know. Those in the corporate world know what I'm talking about. What you know will make you wiser, but who you know will help you through the present so that you have the opportunity to obtain that wisdom.  

These are my initial thoughts. I might add a spin-off post on this very important topic later! There is so much to say about it, so I will build upon it as my blog grows.

Comments anyone?

"I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself." -James Baldwin

Be One of the Village People

It may take a village to raise a child, but I'll argue that it also takes a village to raise a traveler! 

There's no doubt in my mind that housing eats up the biggest portion of everyone's travel budget. Just because finding a place to stay is the most expensive part of a trip doesn't mean you can't use your creativity to save some money. More importantly, it's completely possible to stay within a strict budget - much like the one you probably have at home.

Never, Ever Stay at a Hotel

...unless you have to, of course. It's one thing if it's late and you are too tired or can't find a cheaper place because it's an odd hour. It's entirely another thing if it's daytime and you have access to a computer or did adequate planning before you left home. Staying in a hotel for your whole trip is the fastest way to the poorhouse when you get back (or even smack dab in the middle of your vacation). Don't do it...unless you're desperate - and even so, only for one night. Trust me on that...

Village Rooms (Apartments)

First, I will say this is my absolute favorite way to bunk when I travel. Some may call it living on the edge, but I call it "my key to a longer vacation!"

Ditch the city and stay in a village! In every single one of the picturesque villages I've been to, there has always been a vast amount of locals with open invitations for me to stay in either a room in their house or at an apartment (or house) they own nearby. 

It's always cheaper than a hotel. Much cheaper. They often give discounts of 10% or more if you stay more than 3 days. In these situations you also have more room to haggle with the price a bit (without coming off as cheap of course)!

Village apartments are more fun as well, in my opinion. They're quaint and give you a real sense of what life is like in the village. You can stay at a chain hotel anywhere. These village homes are one of a kind. It's not an opportunity I like to pass up. 

Hang Out in the Village or at the Port Where Ferries Arrive or Outside the Airport

A lot of times, people will be walking around with signs that say "Room available" - or its equivalent. Or they might ask people they know are tourists. This is a quick and easy way to get a place to stay. Not to mention cheap. Did I mention cheap?

Craigslist and others...

Often times you can find an apartment or room to stay in before you even leave for the trip. You can also hit up a coffee shop or a place with free WIFI (if you bring a laptop or handheld device, obviously) and scan Craigslist for potentials to check out before nightfall. Craigslist is always full of ads offering housing in every major European city - this truly is an amazing resource. There are also travel sites and websites such as weather.com that have vacation home listings. Just do a google search and you will find plenty of listings. 

Look around a bit and decide after you've seen several ads. Make sure to email or call the person/business to get an idea of the rates or to see if they offer discounts for longer stays. If they have a website (if it's a business), even better! If you're in a hurry to find a place, I would definitely call.

Avoid scammers at all costs!!! I cannot stress this enough! Never - I repeat never, wire money, use Paypal, give out your credit card number, or mail cash to someone for a "deposit." Never do that, because those are scams. The only case in which I would send a deposit to reserve a room is when 1) they have a professional website, 2) they have a valid phone number that they answer in the name of the business, 3) they are registered to do business in that particular country, and 4) I'm traveling during a busy season where finding a place might be highly competitive. I never give deposits to online individuals offering me a place to stay - it must always be a business.

Usually (except during busy seasons as mentioned above), the legit offers will not ask for a deposit until you arrive and actually see the place. I try to stick with those, or the alternative that I mentioned in the previous heading about hanging out at the port, airport, or village itself. 

This may not be the way most people travel to Europe and it may not be glamorous with all the five star hotel hype, but it's a big reason why my travels are possible. I honestly don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything by rooming this way and I have loads of fun interacting with locals. I have even made tons of friends along the way by doing this. In Europe, making friends is inevitable and maybe necessary if you want to stay within your budget...more on that later. 

Comment away! I want to know what you're thinking!!

"It is not down in any map; true places never are." -Herman Melville