Can you make a Euro summer happen on a student’s budget?

For this week’s Top Story, we’re figuring out how to have a European summer vacay on a really cheap budget.

When Katelyn Mann, a senior high school student in Alliston, Ontario, was saving for a trip to Europe, she knew she needed to be diligent. A student’s budget is tight, and a trip across the ocean isn’t cheap. Hers was an organized trip to the Netherlands, Belgium and France, but even with school contributions and fundraising, it cost over $5,000. To cover it, she worked two part-time jobs. Since she lives at home, she could save about 80% of each paycheque. “On a tight budget, the best thing is to think about what’s ahead,” she says. “It really got me motivated to save instead of spending money on things that may not be a necessity. It’s all about the destination.”

But what if you’re organizing a (post-grad) trip on your own? How much will that cost? 

Planes, trains and buses

Budget anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 for your roundtrip flight (and be aware that ticket prices are likely to rise with tight fuel supplies). Airlines flying to major hubs like London and Paris usually have the best fares, but those are the priciest cities to visit for a stay. A pint in London could cost as much as £10 (that’s $18!). Tickets to the Louvre are €32 (over $50).

You may want to fly into a hub for cost and convenience of the flight but then head to more affordable spots. Eastern Europe—think Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Czechia—is almost always cheaper. In Western Europe, consider cities like Lisbon, Valencia and Athens rather than London, Paris and Madrid.

Plus, you’ll get a more unique experience visiting less-touristy places. Kash Bhattacharya of BudgetTraveller.org and author of The Grand Hostels: Luxury Hostels of the World, says Riga, Latvia, is his pick to visit on a budget. You can get a one-week stay at a city centre hotel for less than $1,000, a five-day transit ticket for €10 and cheap snacks like bakery pastries for €0.50 or maizītes (open-faced sandwiches) with €0.80 toppings in the UNESCO-listed Riga Central Market.

To country-hop, take advantage of cheap airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet, whose fares are often between $50 and $150, depending on the destination (one-way, before baggage). They’re hardly the lap of luxury, but European destinations are close to each other, which means flying times (and your discomfort) are short—four hours max. 

Trains can be pricier, but bulk passes are a bargain. A Eurail pass for travelling any seven days within a month starts at about $475. If you’re travelling from London to Paris or Amsterdam and are flexible with your dates, Eurostar Snap fares are 50% off the normal rates. 

Overnight trains can also be a way to save. “You can hop on any of the night train services, like ÖBB Nightjet or the European Sleeper, saving you a night’s accommodation—which is great in the summer when room prices skyrocket,” says Bhattacharya. 

For short distances, you can brave the bus, which isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds. FlixBus, for example, is comfy, convenient and cheap with routes like Budapest to Vienna for $20 or Berlin to Prague for $44.

Hostels and working holidays

Forget hostels’ association with slasher flicks or bunkmates getting busy. Many hostels offer private rooms and could even be called luxurious, at a fraction of the price you’d pay for a hotel—averaging around $50 or $60 in expensive cities like Edinburgh, Barcelona and Rome.

“Hostels have evolved from being basic, cheap places to sleep in,” says Bhattacharya. “They were always great places to socialize, but now they also have the comfort factor. You can find incredible facilities in hostels nowadays.”

Spending more than a few days? You could even boost your budget by working at the hostel in exchange for accommodation. “Typically, you would work 15 to 20 hours a week. Tasks vary from helping with breakfast to working reception, taking guests on tours of the city or helping at the bar,” says Bhattacharya. “It’s a fun way to meet travellers, and you have a bed to sleep in, plus some meals taken care of.”

Check out Workaway or Worldpackers, but make sure you get the right paperwork. The Canadian government has agreements with more than 25 European countries that allow Canadian citizens under age 35 to get work permits. 

Some older travellers find opportunities to volunteer for house- and pet-sitting through Workaway, although work permit rules may still apply. “Because you trade help for free accommodation rather than a wage, many travellers do this on tourist visas, but any exchange for labour is considered work,” warns Bhattacharya.

You don’t have to go it alone

Unsure about solo travel? There are packaged trips tailored to students and new grads that include accommodations and some meals and activities (but typically not flights). 

Contiki’s European Highlights ticks off seven countries in 14 days, for about $3,000. A 24-day Epic Europe trip with Intrepid 18-35s hits seven countries for under $5,000. 

And don’t forget free (usually, in fact, pay-what-you-can) walking tours. “Tour guides can help you make smarter spending decisions,” says Carolina Martinez of GuruWalk. “You can ask where to eat without paying tourist prices, which attractions are worth the entrance fee, and which nightlife areas are more affordable.”

Is a Euro summer possible?

With some smart planning, strategic saving, and a willingness to trade a bit of comfort for adventure, your dreams of a post-grad Euro summer could become reality.

Read more from this issue of The Get:

1. The procrastinator’s guide to spontaneous travel (and not going broke)
2. Mobile florist Vienna Hintze on how to find a job that feeds your soul
3. Oops, did you ghost your money? Where to find missing cash and accounts
4. What’s the best way to draw down my RRSPs over five years?