This summer, tourism in Europe picked up again – and Europe was unprepared. Pandemic-related staff shortages have led to massive queues and flight cancellations at many airports; meanwhile, hotel and taxi prices have risen.
Then there were the record-breaking temperatures that caused roads, airport runways and train tracks to buckle, causing further disruption.
Our family of three visited Europe this summer – our first trip there in three years – and had a great time despite the challenges. Yet climate change, growing crowds and the lingering effects of the pandemic have changed the way we travel. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, consider the following tips to save money and have a better experience.
1. EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS
European capitals – Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Rome, etc. – are very popular for good reasons. But you can often get a better sense of a country’s culture in one of its smaller cities while enjoying lower prices.
For example, the third largest city in France, Lyon, has a beautiful old town, spectacular Roman ruins, world-class museums and amazing restaurants. Even in high season, I found a three-star hotel room for less than $100 a night and never encountered the long, excruciating lines for attractions that can make Paris an ordeal.
Similarly, we enjoyed Austria’s second largest city, Graz, a beautiful and affordable alternative to Vienna, and beautiful Delft, a canal city just an hour’s train ride from Amsterdam.
European capitals are still worth visiting, but adding some alternative destinations can save you money and stress.
Spring and fall are usually cooler, cheaper and much less crowded. If summer travel is your only option, try to go as soon as possible after Memorial Day, as crowds (and prices) increase in July and August. Scott’s Cheap Flights, a deals site, recommends booking international travel two to eight months in advance for good deals.
At the beginning of our marriage, we rented an apartment on the top floor of the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris for a week – we didn’t know that many old European buildings don’t have elevators. Our little loft had a great view, but facing six flights of stairs after walking around Paris all day was no fun.
These days we also provide air conditioners, which are still not as common in Europe as they are in the United States. Hotels and apartments with air conditioning usually mention this fact in their online listings, but if you have any doubts about air conditioning or elevators, ask before you book.
4. TREAT EUROPE LIKE A THEME PARK
Hear me out: Disney advice sites like Undercover Tourist and Mouse Hacking recommend arriving for the “rope descent”—when the parks first open. You can then retreat to the hotel in the afternoon, when the crowds and temperatures are at their highest, and return in the calmer and cooler evening hours.
Consider a similar approach when traveling in Europe in the summer: go to the most popular attractions when they first open, escape the heat in the afternoon, and go out when it’s more pleasant. If you book an outdoor activity, plan it in the morning or after sunset if possible.
Find refuge from the afternoon heat in cinemas, old stone cathedrals and many art museums that are air-conditioned to protect the paintings. Don’t stand in hot lines to buy tickets for anything without first checking if the ticket can be purchased online.
Before the pandemic, we often tried to save money by buying non-refundable trips. Nowadays, we’re happy to pay more for flexibility.
For example, we had to fly out of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport days after the baggage system broke down, separating thousands of passengers from their bags and causing KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to briefly ban checked baggage on flights in Europe . Even after the baggage issue was resolved, passengers reported long waits for check-in and security due to a lack of staff.
Instead of going through the chaos, we decided to take the train to Austria. We didn’t get all of our money back—Austrian Airlines charged a fee of about $70 for each ticket, or about one-third of what we originally paid—but the refund made up for part of the last-minute train fare.
You could pay a lot more for fully refundable airline tickets, but this “refundable with commission” option has achieved the best affordability and flexibility.
We also avoided apartment rentals or Airbnbs with demanding cancellation policies. Hotels tend to have much more flexible policies and staff to make travel easier. For example, a front desk clerk in Lyon recommended a wonderful restaurant that served traditional Lyonnais cuisine and arranged a taxi for me to the train station after three Uber drivers canceled the taxi in a row.
We also had trip interruption and delay coverage with the credit cards we used, but luckily we didn’t need it. In addition, we had travel insurance that would pay for hotels, meals and rebooked flights if either of us had to be quarantined. The policy added about $100 a week to our travel expenses, which seemed like a small price to pay for peace of mind.
This column was provided to The Associated Press by personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a NerdWallet columnist, certified financial planner, and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
NerdWallet: Why You Should Consider a Second City Trip in 2022 https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-why-you-should-consider-a-second-city-trip-in-2021
