Discount Europe Travel - Restaurants and Hotels
From LoveToKnow Travel
Europe's many discount restaurants and hotels offer an enormous variety of cuisine to its visitors. From the hearty pastas of Italy to the thick soups of the Netherlands, you'll definitely have the urge to sample the local eats during your travels. Restaurants will gladly dish out their country's finest, but they also serve high prices for tourists. With a little care you can eat more for much less. Discount restaurants are an easy find if you know what to look for.
After you've eaten your fill, you might be ready for a siesta back at your hotel. Sleeping is another major expense while traveling. Fortunately it's quite easy to trim the hotel budget without sacrificing your comfort. Discount hotels are right around the corner. We'll show you where to look.
Discount Europe: Restaurants and Hotels - Eating Cheap
Food is a big expense while traveling, and restaurants in tourist-frequented areas seem to know it. Many travelers budget over $100 a day for meals and other culinary treats. The most convenient places to eat are often the most expensive and usually not the most tasty. To get real local cuisine, you'll need to venture a little off the beaten path. Your wallet and tongue will be very pleased.
To save a few euro, snoop around for out-of-the-way places and watch where the locals go to eat. Avoid busy squares and restaurants on the main drag. Never eat near a large museum or other famous site. You might as well just hand over your wallet. Some bars and cafés charge as much as 80% more if you drink your coffee sitting down. Stand like the locals and save your money!
The signs are obvious for discount restaurants. If a sign says "We speak English", don't go in. These places often have the worst food with the highest prices. Places with "local-sounding" names in their title can be a gamble as well. Generally, look just off the main roads for areas that aren't bulging with tourists.
Eating on a Budget
Restaurants aren't the only way to fill your stomach. Another great way to save on food is to have picnics. Find a grocery store and get some bread, cheese, fruit or other goodies. You can do this ahead of time or when hunger calls you. Take your meal and sit in a park to soak in the view. You'll spend practically nothing and enjoy the same food the natives eat.
Discount Europe: Restaurants and Hotels - Cheap Hotels
You've gone sightseeing, you've sampled the local food, chatted with the locals and had a full day of activities. Nothing rounds out the evening like a comfortable room. You can break the bank on a fancy bed or spend a little less and skip the mint on your pillow. Discount hotels in Europe doesn't mean you'll be sacrificing your comfort. All you need are a few tips and a good eye for a bargain.
As with restaurants, hotels in the tourist-frequented areas of town are most often the expensive ones. Instead, turn off the main square and walk a few roads away. Here, the mid-grade rooms reside with much lower prices with the same amenities the big guys offer. Good rooms in Europe will vary greatly in price, but usually you can find something between 50 and 70 euro, depending on what city you're in.
Signs for discount hotels are less obvious than for restaurants. Usually, hotels named after the city or other famous landmarks are more expensive. The off-season for tourism, late fall through winter, often brings hotel prices down 10 or more euro. Do your research before you go and book well in advance.
Other Discounts for Sleeping
The cheapest and most fulfilling way to stay in Europe is with a native family. Agricultural tourism organizations are set up in many European countries. They maintain an active list of farmers in the area who offer room and board for very affordable prices. You'll live with the family, speak with them, eat with them, learn with them. It's a hot dose of culture and a wonderful experience.
Hostels are another good way to go to save some cash. Rooms usually start at 15-20 euro per night and can climb as high as some of the ritziest hotels in the area. You'll usually bunk with a few others in a room, so if you need your privacy then stick with hotels.
Other European Discount Tips
The most effective way to save money while traveling Europe is to be patient, prepared and flexible. Scour the internet well before you go and have an itinerary planned ahead of time. Check guidebooks and other sources for restaurant and hotel recommendations. Search your network of friends for some first-hand information. Who knows, maybe your brother's friend's sister's dog sitter has a little apartment you can stay in while abroad? Keep your eyes open for deals and you'll never be disappointed!
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