I am looking for some budget travel options that include B&B as well.
I am interested in seeing Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and Germany.
Any ideas?
www.Hostelworld.com
You should really consider the city Brugge. Its in Belguim, about an hour from Brussels. Very nice there. I would also highly reccomend Barcelona in Spain!
I want to make a budget travel to Norway or Denmark and I am from Hong Kong, what you guys suggest about it? And would like to make around 10 to 14 days journey. So in both expensive countries, can be in very low budget traveling? And how much would be good enough for budget at least? More suggestions are welcome! Thank you in advance.
First, the plane ticket is probably going to cost around 8000 HKD. There are a lot of airlines that fly the route, usually connecting at one of the major hubs in Europe (AMS, CDG, etc). Aside from the usual assortment of flight search websites, another place to keep an eye on is the FinnAir website. They actually fly quite a few flights to Asia, and sometimes have very good deals.
Aside from the plane tickets, a huge part of your budget is likely to be lodging. Hotels can be extremely expensive and many budget options fill well in advance. If you're on a tight budget, there are some hostels available, but especially in Norway they can still be quite expensive. A single room with a shared bath starts around 550 HKD, and even a bed in a shared dorm can cost 350 HKD. For Denmark (more than for Norway), you can find some decent hotel deals online if you search enough.
One particularly Norwegian option, however, is to camp! Since the natural scenery of Norway is one of its biggest draws, this can actually be a really great option, and most campgrounds offer basic cabins, so you don't have to bring much equipment.
Another way to trim expenses is buy self-catering. Even at the supermarkets, food can be quite expensive, but it still costs less than eating out. To give you an idea, in Norway a pizza for 2 people at a chain pizza restaurant can easily cost 375 HKD, and just a take-away sandwich from the corner deli is around 70 HKD! It's much more economical to buy some things at the grocery and put together a few basic meals on your own.
Many cities in both Norway and Denmark offer tourist passes that cover public transportation as well as admission to major sights and museums. If you plan to visit a lot of the included places, these can be very valuable options.
Also, if you are a student, bring along your student ID, because you can get discounts (often up to 50%) on many admission fees as well as a lot of transportation options.
My biggest advice is to do lots of research in advance. Usually, the earlier you book things, the more likely you'll be able to take advantage of low-budget options. For example, in Norway, if you book a regional train ticket far enough in advance, you can buy a MiniPris ticket that can be a fraction of the price! Also, check out resources like the LonelyPlanet "Thorntree" forums, which are frequented by other low-budget travelers, many of whom are happy to share their advice and experiences:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=21
Most of the LonelyPlanet guidebooks (and to a lesser extent the website) contain low-budget dining and accomodation options as well as some very useful information for getting around.
In general, you'll probably spend less in some of the smaller towns compared to the major cities. That's one thing that makes Norway attractive to budget travelers, since that's where the nature is (and the scenery always has free admission)! But as a very rough budget idea, assuming you choose very low-budget accomodation and economical dining options, I would say…
Accomodation…. 400 HKD/night
Food…. 300 HKD/day
Sightseeing…. 150 HKD/day
Transportation… 150 HKD/day (with longer trips averaged out across multiple days)
= 1000 HKD / day for extremely low-budget travel
I'm going to be visiting ireland and getting around on trains and buses and staying in youth hostels. All the travel books cater to upscale traveling. Are there any good budget books on Ireland out there?
A really great book is "Go Ireland: On a Budget!" I really like the "Go" series and if you get the "on the budget" version it will have exactly what you're looking for. I've both Go Ireland and Go Italy and loved them both. They will give you the best places to eat for your Euro and great places to stay at a reasonable price. It also has lots of information on the sites and such that you'll want to see while there including landmarks, festivals, etc. The book is definitely worth purchasing! Have fun!
Traveling is seen as a luxury that can be afforded only by some and necessitates saving over several months in order to get the holiday that you want. This does not have to be the case. With a bit of careful thought and a lot of planning, it really is possible to travel on a budget.
Of course, traveling on a budget means different things to different people. Some would consider a budget holiday to involve backpacking and camping. This type of holiday can be done on a budget relatively easily; the real skill arises when you are trying to get a ‘luxury’ holiday for a budget price.
The Travel Industry Association of America estimated that the average family spends over $2,200 a year on an extended vacation. This is an enormous amount. If you save just 10% of that amount, think how it will add up over the years.
Interestingly, paying more does not necessarily guarantee you a better holiday. Whenever you are on vacation, you will probably be surrounded by other families, some of which have paid more than you for the vacation and others which have paid significantly less.
This site is all about learning to be one of those who sits smugly by the others declaring the ‘cheap’ vacation that they have managed to secure. It’s easier than you think!
Tags: travel