European Travel Myths

You want to be able to jump right in and buy from the quaint street vendors. You need to pay for transportation from the airport to the hotel. Certainly, you should carry some local currency into the destination country. But how much? It usually works out that exchanging while in the destination country is more economical than buying the needed currency at home. It pays to consider your exchange strategies before leaving for Europe.

It's true that train travel through companies such as Rail Europe can be an economical way to see Europe, especially on a first visit. But many travelers refuse to think beyond rail tickets in Europe. There are trips for which a car rental can provide a better and more economical experience. For example: With a family of four, I saved about $100 on a one-day journey between Berlin and Amsterdam. I also got to experience driving on the autobahn.

Budget carriers such as easyJet have made Europe the world's best place to snag a bargain airfare. Decades ago, the opposite was true. It is still wise to rent a car or buy a train ticket -- admire the countryside as you travel. But a few well-placed flights in your European itinerary could save precious time as well as money. Many flights are actually cheaper than the available ground transportation.

A trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower will cost you time standing in line and a healthy fee as well. But there is another spectacular view of Paris from Sacre Coeur where neither lines nor fees are involved. If you look for free things to do in Europe, you'll find that many of them will create priceless memories.

Most myths have at least a kernel of truth that prompted their birth and growth. Northern Europe, in a general sense, is an expensive place to travel. But there are areas where you can find value. Adding a less-touristed rural area to your tour of expensive cities can be an excellent strategy. For example, the German region of East Frisia (Ostfriesland) features pastoral landscape, miles of hiking and biking trails and generous helpings of hospitality.

Some places with the word "hostel" in their names also offer private rooms at prices well below what is available at a conventional hotel. Other people shy away from the "H-word" because they think they'll find dirt, drugs or debauchery. You can avoid the few hostels that fall into these categories with a little research. That homework will also tell you if there is an age restriction at your proposed location. If the hostel has the word "youth" in its name, you might find it only admits guests under a certain age. But many others cater to all ages.

Don't expect London to be mild and warm in December. Don't be surprised by cold winds blowing off the canals of Venice in February. You might also find businesses in those places closed for the season, and even a few attractions shut down for remodeling. The key, once again, is research. Find out if the things you want to see and do are available in the off season. If so, trade-offs like shorter lines and lower prices might more than compensate for less-than-perfect weather.

"Duty" refers to a variety of taxes placed on products. Airport terminals, cruise liners at sea and aircraft flying overseas are considered "duty free" areas because they don't fall under the jurisdiction of a government. Sometimes, these businesses offer tremendous bargains for shoppers. Never assume that is the case with every product in every location. There are times when products bought outside the duty free zone are cheaper.

While it's true that compact, budget oriented cars are not on the list, you don't have to spend a small fortune to be eligible for European Delivery factory incentives. Several automakers offer models in these programs for under $24,000 USD. If that's what you're likely to spend for a car in North America, taking delivery of the same model in Europe could add some substantial travel savings. Depending upon the company, you could receive free flights, meals, hotel stays, auto insurance and more. Warning: this option does not work out well for every car buyer. Read more and decide if it would work for you.

It is certainly true that extra caution is needed before booking in Europe with an online auction such as Priceline. Such arrangements are usually non-refundable. But larger parties traveling in Europe might find the smaller guest spaces and restrictions on persons per room might require two or more rooms. That expense can be a budget killer. Bidding for a bargain can offset these potential pitfalls.