There are many companies that rent RVs or campervans in Europe.  In general they will be smaller than the motorhomes you see rolling down American highways.  OK… so you can’t have a bedroom, a living room, a dining room and kitchen, but you can take efficient accommodations with you.

If you like this kind of travel, RV travel in Europe is something you should check into.  Seeing Europe by caravan will give you a whole different experience than driving or taking the train and staying in hotels.  You probably will have more chances to make friends with vacationing Europeans.

Sure, you say, you can camp in the mountains.  But what about the cities?  Yes, there are loads of campgrounds out in the countryside…. but you may be surprised to find that you can find places in the cities too.

You can set up your RV in the Bois de Bologne overlooking the Seine in Paris.  You can find a camping spot on the beach just outside of Venice.   Roll out the awning for a panoramic sunset view of Florence.  And to make it better, there is often a bus stop or metro stop close by!  (They are on the edges of cities, so expect about a 30 minute ride to the center of town.)

With a campervan or RV, you can wander from campground to campground.  You can shop in local markets for area specialties and cook yourself, or you can find small local restaurants if you don’t want to cook.

Gas is more expensive, but in general distances are shorter, so this won’t be as much of a burden as you might think.

Most local tourist offices list area campgrounds for RV travel in Europe.  Most countries in Europe also tolerate “free camping”… just parking on the side of the road in a discreet spot.  There are plenty of websites that will rent caravans or campervans and give you advice on what you need to know for the RV experience European style.

Here’s something that might surprise Americans…. If you are an RVer, you can take your own “rig”.  This only works, of course, if you have more than a week or two for vacation.  Reports on the internet say it’s not as expensive as you think.  If you’re going to spend several weeks exploring, this is another option for RV travel in Europe.

You’ll probably be happiest doing this if you have a motor home that is only 24-25 feet long (7-7.5 meters) and 8.5-9.5 feet wide (2.5-3 meters).  Tape the dimensions of your rig to the dashboard so you’ll know height restrictions in meters.  You’ll need a step-down voltage converter for the European 220-240-volt current.

If you own your RV, there are also sites that will allow you to do an RV swap just like there are home swapping sites.  If you don’t want to worry about changing the voltages etc., this might be a way to go.

Whether you’re a visitor from abroad or a European looking for a new experience, it might just be fun to consider RV travel in Europe.

Package holidays are simply holidays where the travel operator offers the whole trip, including the flights, hotels and in some cases the transport when you arrive at your destination. Bearing this in mind, a lot of the tips for getting cheap flights will be the same as they are for package holidays. Having said this, there are some specific ways of bagging a package holiday bargain.

The reason that many tour operators offer such cheap deals for packages is because they buy a certain number of flights and hotel rooms which they then try and sell throughout the year. By definition, they will have more possible holidays during peak season, but then there will also be greater demand meaning that the bargains may not be what you would hope.

Last minute package holidays are readily available if you are not fussy about destination and can wait until the very last minute. If you simply want somewhere hot, tomorrow, you will almost certainly bag a bargain; if you want a specific type of destination or resort then you may find that you are not able to get that last minute deal.

Optional extras are big business for package tour operators and they will often make most of their profit from these extras such as insurance, excursions and transport at your destination. Whilst these will often be available elsewhere cheaper, you may find that purchasing these from your package holiday operator will allow you to negotiate a discount on your holiday. You may even be able to get a ‘free’ extra if you agree to book on the spot.

Another thing to bear in mind is that accommodation is not the expensive part of the package and you will sometimes find that a package holiday to a particular destination will end up as a cheaper alternative to trying to book flights on their own. Last minute package deals are often so cheap that you can take the point of view that even if you hate the accommodation you can always phone around for your chosen hotel. On a similar note, the best bargains are often those that are classified as ‘allocation on arrival’. This simply means that you will be allocated accommodation when you arrive.

Some operators offer a halfway option where you will be told the resort, the type of hotel or the grade but the final selection will be done when you arrive.

If you’re looking for a trip to Europe, but you’re hoping to stick to a tight travel budget, you might want to give Lisbon a look. Portugal has always cost less than other destinations in Europe.

So what is there to see in Portugal’s capital city? Well, to start with, the city itself. It is compact and teems with everyday life. Its pleasures are its street life and setting…. Lisbon was built on seven hills, on the Tagus River where it spills into the Atlantic. It doesn’t seem overrun with tourists.

The Portuguese shop in the Chiado and Bairro Alto districts on one of the hillsides above downtown. They party and listen to fado in the alleys of the Alfama on the opposite hillside. The Bairro Alto also has a vibrant nightlife.

The Baixa, the downtown district, runs between the two hills from Rossio Square inland to Comericio Square, the large, much loved plaza on the river. It is the main shopping and banking district that stretches from the riverfront to the Avenida da Liberdade. There are elegant squares and pedestrianized streets… and lots of cafes and shops.

Lisbon has history too. It bills itself as the City of Explorers. Prince Henry the Navigator set the course for exploration in the 15th century. Vasco da Gama sailed from the the city’s Belem neighborhood. Her Glory days were the 15th and 16th centuries when she sent da Gama and other explorers out to “discover the world”.

Much of the city was rebuilt after it was flattened by an earthquake in the 18th century. The Chiado area suffered a devastating fire in the 1980s, but it has been reborn. Actually, many areas of the city have been rebuilt through the years after being flattened by earthquakes or burned by fires. Find pockets of the old grandeur in the Belem district, the Alfama, and the Bairro Alto.

Lisbon is a great city for tourists because of its compact size. Walk the downtown. Take the Santa Justa Elevator (also called the Elevator of Carmo or Carmo Lift) up to the Bairro Alto. This elevator was designed by a student of Eiffel and built in the early 1900s.

Climb back into history through the medieval alleys of the Alfama on the opposite hill. This is possibly the city’s most emblematic quarter.

Get lost winding up narrow streets with laundry hanging over them. You will find stone staircases that open suddenly onto terraces with spectacular views over the red tile rooftops to the Tagus River. Stop in little local restaurants for a bite to eat.

At night listen to real, not-for-tourists Fado here. Admire the Azulejos de Lisboa, the blue tiles that decorate nooks and crannies at every turn…. There are strategically placed miradouros (or viewpoints) that offer breathtaking panoramas over the city. At the top of the hill is the Castle of St. George (the Castelo de Sao Jorge). All that is really left is the walls, but it has a great view out over the city.

Ride the colorful old yellow trams around the city. We haven’t even had time to mention the museums like the Ancient Art Museum (which is Portugal’s National Gallery) or the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum which are two of Lisbon’s best. And since we’ve only mentioned historic Belem in passing, we’ll have to leave that for later.

Let’s just say, if you’re want a great travel experience but you’re counting your pennies, you could be pleasantly surprised with how far you can stretch your travel budget in Lisbon.

Stretch your travel budget from the beginning by saving on your airfare. Your flights will probably cost you less if you travel off season. You’ll save money on hotels and find fewer crowds too. Shoulder seasons are best. The really “off” season may be too rainy or cold for you to enjoy your holiday. You want to save money… not be miserable.

If you’re going to visit several cities consider flying with an “open jaw” ticket. It may cost a little more for the ticket itself, but you might save in time and ground transportation costs. If you’re renting a car, drop off charges might cancel any savings, so it could be better to get back to the same airport. Do your research to see which way you will save.

Once you’re at your destination, stretch your travel budget by using public transportation to and from the airport… taxis can be expensive. You can compare prices… if there are four of you sharing the taxi, it might be a push or only a little more and worth it.

Share rental car expenses. Rental cars can be a great way to get out to the countryside, but they add a daily expense to your budget. Cut that down by traveling with others. If four of you are traveling together, a car may be less than the price of four train tickets.

Try to avoid the collision damage waver charges on rental cars. Generally if you have a “gold” credit card, the credit card company will cover this insurance. Check with your card company though, because certain counties are not included in this coverage. In those counties, the CDW will be mandatory and should be included in the priced you are quoted.

You don’t want to have your rental car in big cities. Those big cities are a headache to drive in. To keep your rental car safe, you need to park in a garage, and parking fees are expensive. Do your city touring first. To save the headaches and stretch your travel budget, take trains or buses between cities, then pick up your rental car for your drive in the countryside.

If you’re going to stay only in cities, use the train and local transportation. When you’re taking the train, go second-class. The seats aren’t quite as cushy, but they are comfortable enough for your trip, and you’ll save a bunch.

When you’re using the local subways and buses, consider how many trips you’ll be taking on that transportation… It might be worth while buying a transit card… or at least a booket of tickets for a discount. If you’re only going to take one trip, just buy one ticket. No need to pay for transportation you won’t use.

Walk around the city on your own with a good map, rather than taking a bus tour. Organized walking tours can be a fun and inexpensive way to go. If you want to arrange a tour, you might do better arranging it through the tourist office rather than your hotel.

You can stretch your travel budget if you are smart about how and when you travel to your destination. Take the less expensive options to get around once you’re there. You’ll be traveling frugally, but having just as much fun.

When the global economy takes a downturn, learn a few tricks to stretch your travel budget.

If your Dollar or Euro doesn’t seem like it goes as far, should you just forget traveling? We don’t think so. Travel gives you a boost. You just have to travel a little smarter. You might cut a few corners so you can eat and sleep cheaper, but you can still have a great trip. How can you travel more frugally?

To stretch your travel budget in Europe, stay in a bed-and-breakfast. It will probably cost you less than even the cheapest hotel in town. You’ll get a friendly host who can probably tell you where to eat great food for less, and the only downside is you might be a ten minute walk from the center of town.

If you can’t find a convenient bed-and-breakfast, stay in a hotel with fewer stars. This will be your cheaper option in the U.S. If you check them out before you take the room, you can get a real bargain…. they may have a lowly one or two stars only because they don’t have a restaurant, or an elevator. Some small family run places can be as cozy and friendly as a bed-and-breakfast.

If you’re going to stay in a city for a week or more, consider a short-term apartment rental. They have small kitchens, so you can shop at local stores and eat in, saving on restaurant meals. They are often no more than a moderate priced hotel room. In the U.S. you can prepare meals in your room if you get a motel with a kitchenette.

Negotiate with hotels. Room rates generally follow the ecomony. If economies around the world are sinking… so are room rates. No matter if it’s a bed and breakfast, a cheap hotel or one with more stars, don’t accept the first price they quote you.

Ask if there are any discounts or if it will be cheaper if you stay more nights. This works especially well if you are at their door, and they are not full for the night. They want to fill that room, and they might as well entice you with a good deal.

Don’t succumb to a nightcap from the minibar. Snacks and drinks are always more expensive from the minibar. If you think you might have the midnight munchies, stop at a convenience store or a local shop and pick up a few items.

If you’re really counting your pennies, doing your laundry in the hotel sink is a great way to stretch your travel budget. Hotel laundry services can be expensive. Some motels in the U.S. have coin operated washers and driers on the premises. Who wants to spend time in a laundromat when you could be sightseeing?

If your hotel doesn’t include breakfast in the price of the room, you will probably save money venturing out to a local corner cafe rather than paying the price for the hotel breakfast buffet.

If you watch the way you eat and drink, and you’re smart about where you sleep, you can stretch your travel budget, so you don’t have to stay too close to home.

Eating and drinking in grand style can stretch your travel budget in the wrong way. You want to make your money go further. There are lots of little ways you can save on food when you’re traveling.

If your hotel doesn’t include breakfast in the price of the room, check to see what your options are in the hotel. You will probably save money venturing out to a corner cafe rather than paying the price for the hotel breakfast buffet. In Paris, join the local crowd and have coffee, juice and a croissant.

Have churros con chocolate in Madrid. There are lots of small breakfast places in the U.S. where you can get a great bacon, eggs and coffee breakfast for only a few bucks.

A great way to stretch your travel budget is to enjoy a picnic for lunch or dinner. You can pick up cheeses and meats and breads at local grocery stores and specialty shops. Grab a bottle of local wine. Eat in your room or in a local park with a great view.

Avoid touristy restaurants. If you see a restaurant on the main street that has menus in several languages, it’s going to cost you more. Find a mom and pop place down a side street or go with a recommendation from a local…. like your friendly B-and-B host. Look for “prix fixe” menus or daily specials for great meals at good prices.

One of our most memorable meals was a little restaurant our host sent us to in Assisi. We had trouble finding it… there was no sign. There were only three or four tables. The owner was the cook, his wife was the waitress. Neither spoke English, and she had to get a dictionary to help us order… but the food was terrific, and the bill was surprisingly small.

Find the open air markets in town and eat there. Cafeterias in department stores can also be a good place to find food cheap.

Eat foods that are in season. That’s what the locals do. Today’s fresh specials will cost you less and be healthier. Another way to save like the locals do is to eat and drink what is special in that country. Drink beer in Brussels and Prague, save the wine for Paris.

Remember that in many countries in the world, the tip is included. In those counties, if you leave anything, you should only leave small change. If you’re tipping 15-20% like Americans do at home, you’re tipping way too much and adding that to the price of your trip.

Don’t feel pressed to order too much for dinner. For example, just having a “primi” (pasta dish), but no “secondi” (main dish) in Italy, may be plenty for you to eat… just add a salad, and you’ll save money over a three course meal. Ask for tap water instead of bottled water in counties where the water is safe.

If you just try a few of our tips, you can eat well and still stretch your travel budget to go farther.

You do know that a direct flight is not a non-stop flight, don’t you?

A direct flight only means that you are on a flight that will take you to your destination without having to change planes. There will be a stop on the way…. maybe two, but you will almost always stay on the same aircraft.

In rare instances, you may have the same flight number, but you will have to change planes. This can happen if the airline has to change aircraft for operational reasons… so pay attention… if the flight attendants announce that there will be a change of planes…. YES, they may be talking to YOU.

If you booked a flight from the U.S. to Europe as a direct flight from, say San Francisco through an East Coast City to London, you may have to get off the aircraft and re-board at another gate. Your direct flight may have the same flight number for both segments, but maybe there is a larger aircraft for that longer segment, or the airline agents may have to check your documents.

A non-stop flight is the way to go if you’re in a hurry or you want to make sure you don’t have the hassles of getting your carry-on luggage from one plane to another. It will also get you to your destination in the shortest amount of time.

If you book your trip on connecting flights, you have to know that you might be making your journey longer, because this requires changing planes at one or more airports along the way. In these days of passengers trying to find the cheapest airfare possible on the internet, it’s amazing how complicated itineraries with connecting flights can be.

If you’re booking online you should pay attention to how many legs this trip will actually entail. Is it really worth making three stops, with three changes of planes, three chances of weather problems or some other delay to ruin your trip… all to save 10 or 20 bucks?

It could take you 12 hours to get from San Francisco to Denver instead of 3 hours on a non-stop flight…. Was losing a day of your vacation with all those connections worth the money you saved?

While we’re defining the basics, let’s make sure you understand your ticket…. We’re talking electronic tickets vs paper tickets. Do you know what you have? Take SOME kind of paper with you in either case. With the paper ticket, it’s obvious… it should BE the ticket…. no ticket, no flight.

If you have an e-ticket, take your confirmation number and your itinerary with you.

It’s amazing how many people don’t know what kind of ticket they have or how many stops they’re making. People complain about airline agents all the time… but much of the time, the passengers create their own problems. Those agents are not psychic, they can’t read your mind and figure out where you thought you wanted to go!

No matter what kind of ticket you have, check in at least an hour prior to departure for domestic flights, earlier still for international flights. “Scheduled Time of Departure” does not mean that’s when you should show up at the airport. Just kidding…

We’re trying to get your attention so YOU pay attention and know what kind of ticket you have, where you’re going, and when you should be at the airport. Don’t be an uninformed passenger.

Is a little more time in the plane and the savings that might come with it worth it to you? Then a direct or a connecting flight will be fine. If you want to get there fast… book a non-stop flight. And however you decide to go, have your ticket and documents with you. Knowing what to expect, you’ll have a great time.

Should you keep traveling when things get tough financially around the world? Everyone is affected… and everyone needs to trim costs. But even when economic downturns occur, a majority of travelers intend to travel anyway… they just become more cost conscious.

The travel industry is “self-correcting” when it comes to economic downturns. It may be THE best time to travel and get travel bargains. Airlines, hotels and tour operators are slashing prices and offering extras like they haven’t in a long time.

We think it’s important to keep traveling unless it will completely ruin your home budget. Clearly during global financial slowdowns, we are all going to have to work a little harder for less. We will have to plan our spending a little more carefully, but we shouldn’t give up traveling.

You might want to dine out less often at home, take your lunch to work, start mowing your own lawn… then put the money you save toward your travel budget.

Travel plays a vital role in our lives. It is rejuvenating. It’s one thing to take your vacation time and just stay home… it’s a whole lot better for you to go somewhere and try something new. There is pleasure in the discovery that travel gives you. You might even cherish your travel experiences more during tough times. If you have to focus on value, do that, but still travel.

We just need to find ways to pad our travel budget. You know you still want to go…. You just want to trim around the edges and travel for less. Stop and make a list of things you can cut down on at home and not miss too much. We’re sure you can add to our list…. Don’t part with your vacation. Even in the U.S. where workers normally only get two weeks of vacation a year, the majority of people say that vacations are important.

Travelers may simply travel closer to home in rough times. With our web pages and blogs, we’ll try to help by giving you ideas on how to save… how to travel more frugally. Don’t give up on your wildest travel dreams. Travel frugally now, but hang onto those travel dreams for future trips when the economy recovers a bit.

Travelers may look to prepackaged tours to save money but still be able to travel. Volunteer vacations may be a way to save on a trip and contribute to helping some segment of society at the same time.

Some people may talk about cutting back, but we’re a world full of wanderers… collectively, we love to travel…. and since we do think of that old saying… Where there is a will, there is a way.

Go out and enjoy the world, but instead of eating at 5 star Michelin restaurants, enjoy a little local place, or picnic. Spend leisurely days in free museums. Hike in the mountains. Take the travel pace a little slower… walk, take public transportation… just sit in a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the ambience.

Travel not only helps you, it helps keep economies flowing. During economic downturns, and when terrorism strikes, it’s easy to start feeling depressed. Taking a break from the daily grind… some place exciting and new lifts your spirits. It just makes you feel good.

And isn’t there a saying that goes something like… if it feels good… do it? So we hope everyone will keep traveling… you’ll just learn to travel smarter.

Can you figure out those hotel meal plans? American Plan, Modified American Plan, European Plan, Half board…. What does it all mean?

If you’re looking up hotels in a book or online, you may see that they have meal plans or dining plans listed. There are different “plans” for providing a room and meals and services to their guests. These plans, and other amenities, are often listed as a string of letters after the description of the hotel.

I don’t know about you, but I find all this alphabet soup at the end of hotel listing a bit confusing…. All the more so because those hotel meal plans don’t make sense when we look back on our travels.

“American Plan”, sometimes abbreviated as AP, means that the quoted rate includes all three meals a day. Why this became known as American Plan is a bit of a mystery to me, because as an American, I can tell you most hotels don’t include breakfast in their hotel rates, let alone another meal or two!

But American Plan is what you should look for if you want to take all of your meals at your hotel and know what the price will be in advance. In the United States, you will generally only run into this kind of plan in resort hotels or in hotels in remote locations.

“Modified American Plan”, designated as MAP, includes only two meals a day. You will get breakfast included and either lunch or dinner.

In Europe, Modified American Plan is more often referred to as “Half-Pension” or “Half-Board”. Those terms seem to make a little more sense…. At least they tell you what you’re signing up for.

We have come across a number of hotels that require you to take half-board in Europe. This assures that they will make a little more money. It can be a good thing if you are in an area without many restaurants…, but it also restricts you. If you want to dine at different restaurants, you might want to look for a hotel on the European Plan.

“European Plan”, EP, is a hotel rate that includes NO meals. Another mystery. Don’t most European hotels, the small ones anyway, include breakfast? (I always think they got this backwards because a room with no meals is the way most American hotels operate.)

Tips and service charges may or may not be included with American Plans and European Plans.

Bed and Breakfasts will give you a place to sleep and breakfast. With any of these plans you want to know what breakfast means… is it a small continental breakfast or a full English breakfast?

“All Inclusive” is a term that means all food and drinks are included in the price of the room. It generally also means that all tips, services charges and some activities such as water sports or horseback riding are included. Not all of these plans are the same, so you should check to see what is included.

When you’re evaluating all of these hotel meal plans, think about what you want. Do you want to just stay at the hotel? Do you want to eat at any little place of your choice? Will those plans save you money or cost you more? There’s no right answer here. Understand what you’re being offered and make an informed decision for your travels.

There are endless little budget travel tips that can save you a little money here and there. None of them will save you tons of money, but all those little bits can add up to an affordable trip.

If you’re visiting a big city, hotels tend to be expensive the closer in you stay to the city center. Even the budget hotels might strain your budget. Consider staying in a suburb or the next small town over. Take a 15-20 minute bus or train ride into the city. Hotels and restaurants will be cheaper, and it may even be a cuter area to stay in.

Home swaps are becoming more popular as a way to save while on holiday. They’re good for families or small groups traveling together to share the expense.

As an even more frugal alternative to a hotel, if you’re young and adventurous, you might even want to give “couch surfing” a try. It’s a system where you register, then are referred to strangers who are willing to let you sleep on their couch. Sign up to host or be a couch surfer with an organization like Couch Surfing. They will connect you with others who are interested in letting you flop on their sofa. You can also sign up to host travelers yourself.

There are house swaps and couches to flop on all over the world. You have to be willing to give up a little of your privacy, but you can save a lot of money…. and make new friends while you’re saving.

Consider booking a fly/drive bundle or hotels bundled with flights. You might be an independent traveler who likes to find your own accommodations, but you might find you can save a bundle with that bundle.

If you want to go to a play or the opera look for half-off, same day sales booths. Many cities have these. In London and New York where everyone wants to see a play, these booths can save you a bunch. The only downside is you might not be able to see the latest plays. You may have to stand in a long line, and you might have to pay cash.

Are there any budget travel tips when you’re renting a car? Get the smallest car that you and your group can fit in. Car companies love to say they can “upgrade” you for only a little more…. but why do you want to pay more if you don’t need the space. Bigger cars take more gas… gas is expensive. (And, the driver in our team reminds me, they’re harder to park.)

Don’t get the “gas package” where you can return the rental car empty… you’ll never get it to empty…. You’ll be too afraid of running out of gas on your way back to the airport, so you’ll lose money on that half tank that’s left. Just fill it up near the airport and save money.

Think about your budget… and the environment when you leave for your holiday. Your house can save you money if you unplug all those appliances that say in “ready mode” and suck electricity while you’re gone. Unplugging them saves the environment too. Lower the hot water heater temperature to “vacation”. Make sure the heater or the air-conditioner are at money saving settings. The house doesn’t need to be heated or cooled as much while you’re gone.

All these little budget travel tips could add up to more travel time… so watch all those little things carefully.