3 Quick Tips for Planning Your Trip to Europe: Show Me the Money! • Wander Your Way (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to plan a trip to Europe? ›

Establish a route and timeline.

Consider how weather, crowds, geography, time of day, and your personal travel style will affect your plan. Balance big, intense cities with cozy small-town stops. For example, pair Vienna with the Danube River Valley, London with the Cotswolds, and Paris with the Loire Valley.

European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.

So, you might be wondering - how much cash should I bring on a three-week vacation to Europe? You can use the costs in our table above, and the $100-per-day rule of thumb, to calculate how much money you'll need for your trip. So for a three-week trip, you'll be needing over $2,000.

Deals directly to your inbox

So, how much money do you really need for 3 weeks in Europe? While it varies depending on your travel style and destination, a budget of around $2,000 - $5,000 USD should cover your expenses. Of course, this is just a rough estimate - the more you can save, the better!

It's often more cost-effective to exchange a small amount of euros in America for initial expenses and then withdraw euros from ATMs in Europe for a better exchange rate and lower fees. I would always recommend buy some local currency before travelling to any country.

Because merchants pay commissions to credit-card companies, small European businesses (B&Bs, mom-and-pop cafés, gift shops, and more) often prefer that you pay in cash. Vendors might offer you a discount for paying with cash, or they might not accept credit cards at all.

What is the cheapest time to go to Europe? ›

The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are generally the cheapest time to fly to Europe, although fares can spike for the year-end holiday season. It's often cheaper to fly to Europe mid-week, particularly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bulgaria

One of the cheapest countries in Europe is Bulgaria. You're bound to save money travelling throughout this beautiful country. The capital city of Sofia is absolutely stunning! And luckily most of the main attractions, even in Sofia, are affordable.

It's possible of course that you might get a better deal when you land in Europe. It may well be the case that fees are lower and exchange rates better. But this leaves you with uncertainty, which is never good when you're dealing with money.

A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.

Most European countries use the Global System for Mobiles or GSM network, as do a whole heap of other countries around the world. This is one of the main reasons why, as long as your phone is operating on the same network, you shouldn't come across any usage issues when traveling.

Six Months in Advance

You want to go to Europe. You have some extra time, you have some extra money. Start planning for your trip in six months—right now. Choose a destination: This is obviously your biggest task.

The report compared the prices of flights and trains on 112 European travel routes and found that taking the train was cheaper than a flight in only 23 cases. As a result, despite the fact that flying produces more greenhouse gases than train journeys, people will often opt for the former.

If you want more luxurious options such as five star hotels or private tours then your costs will increase significantly. On average, a month long trip to Europe could cost anywhere from $4,500 -$7,500 depending on how extravagant your vacation is!