How To Travel Europe on a Budget | Imoova.com

How To Travel Europe on a Budget

Europe is so varied and has so many opportunities for adventure - whether you want to explore chilly Scandinavia, swim in the lakes of Italy or Switzerland, or experience the laidback culture in Spain, there's a way it can all be done on a budget. In this guide we will cover our top tips for travelling Europe as cheaply as possible, even in peak Summer season.

1. Campervan Relocations

If you can drive, then it's going to make backpacking Europe a lot easier and allow you to cram more countries in. Of course you can take cheap flights with airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet, but a roadtrip will allow you to see multiple countries in one trip and get off the beaten path.

You could rent a campervan, or you could relocate the same one for only €1 per day! You read that right, €1 😱 Imoova works with trusted rental companies such as Indie Campers and Roadsurfer to help relocate their campervans & motorhomes after one way trips. Instead of putting them on a truck, customers can get access to a campervan for a nominal fee. A degree of flexibility is involved as the rental company decide how many days you get, where it needs picked up and dropped off, and when it needs picked up by.

You could visit Barcelona, Athens, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, Milan, Split, Oslo - the list is endless!

New relocations are added daily and you can also sign up to the waitlist if you have a specific route in mind.

2. Interrailing

Interrailing has always been a popular option when travelling Europe on a budget, and it's ideal if driving isn't an option for you. The cost completely depends on how flexible you want to be and how many cities/countries you want to see as you can get single or multi country passes. It can cost anywhere from €190 - €800, depending on the class you choose as well as additional seat reservations etc.

3. Buses

Again, if you don't drive then Europe has a great bus network through companies such as Flixbus and Megabus. If you book far enough in advance then you can sometimes get fares for as low as €5. They're not luxurious but get you from A to B!

4. Free Walking Tours

Walking tours are a great way to get your bearings in a new city whilst also ticking off all the major sights - best of all a lot of them are free! Check out Sandeman's Tours and Guru Walk - many of them are free of charge and just request you leave the guide a small tip. It's also a great way to meet other travellers and learn from a local.

5. Public Transport

Europe has great public transport infrastructure, with most major cities having bus, train, tram, and metro networks. If you'll be in one place for a few days or longer it can be worth investing in a travel pass, you can usually get 24/48/72 hour passes or even 1 week which will save you money as well as not having to buy multiple tickets. Most cities also now allow you tap on/off with a debit or credit card so there's no need for paper tickets.

6. Student Discounts / Youth Cards

Lots of attractions, shops and even restaurants in Europe will offer concession discounts if you have a valid student ID or youth card, depending on where you're from. You can typically save anything from 10-20% off full price so it's definitely worth packing your card!

7. City Passes

Many cities in Europe offer passes where you can get access to some of biggest attractions at a discounted rate, for example the Berlin Welcome Card, the London Pass, and the Amsterdam City Card. You can buy these in advance online or can also usually purchase at airports and hotels.

8. Food

Make the most of Europe's famous patisseries and fresh produce in supermarkets and have picnics instead of always eating out! You'll save heaps of money and be able to eat al fresco in beautiful parks and botanic gardens - win win!

Europe can definitely be cheap if you want it to be, with €1 campervan rentals and cheap flights you can't go wrong! Travelling in off-peak/shoulder seasons is another great way to save money and Imoova have 100's of cheap campervans available this Spring! You could drive from Florence to Bologna, Berlin to Barcelona, Barcelona to Oslo or Berlin to Edinburgh to name a few! If you're interested in a cheap European roadtrip you can find the full list of campervan relocations here.