Europe Trip Cost ✈️, Finish in 2 Weeks for $2,500! 7 ‘Real’ Saving Tips That Shocked Locals

Hello! Are you dreaming of a romantic trip to Europe? ✈️

The Eiffel Tower at night, gelato in Rome, the grand nature of Switzerland… Just thinking about it is exciting, but are you perhaps hesitating because of the Europe trip cost?

If you’ve been wondering “How much should I bring?” or “How can I save money?”, pay close attention to my post today!

From flights and accommodation to food and transportation! I’m going to spill all the real, detailed saving tips from A to Z that will protect your bank account. 😊

🌍 Europe Trip, How Much Will It Cost? (Total Budget A to Z)

This is the question you’re most curious about! “So, what’s the total?” To be honest, the cost of a Europe trip varies wildly depending on ‘which country’, ‘when’, and ‘how’ you travel. But you need a rough guideline, right? Generally, for a 2-week (14 nights, 15 days) trip, excluding flights, it’s good to think about at least 2 million to 3.5 million KRW per person. Of course, this is based on major Western European cities (London, Paris, Rome, etc.). For Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.), where prices are relatively cheaper, it’s possible with 1.5 million to 2.5 million KRW. It’s important to make a detailed budget plan by looking at each of the items that make up the largest portion of the Europe trip cost!

Estimated Costs by Travel Period/Region (Excluding Flights)

The budget changes significantly depending on the travel period and region. Western and Northern Europe are particularly famous for their high prices, while Eastern Europe and parts of Southern Europe are relatively cheaper. The table below is a rough example based on average daily expenses (including accommodation, food, transport, and sightseeing), so please use it as a reference only!

Region	Average Daily Cost (1 person)	Estimated 2 Weeks (14 days) Cost	Estimated 4 Weeks (28 days) Cost
Western Europe (Paris, London, Amsterdam)	Approx. 150,000 ~ 250,000 KRW	2.1M ~ 3.5M KRW	4.2M ~ 7.0M KRW
Eastern Europe (Prague, Budapest, Vienna)	Approx. 100,000 ~ 180,000 KRW	1.4M ~ 2.52M KRW	2.8M ~ 5.04M KRW
Southern Europe (Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon)	Approx. 120,000 ~ 200,000 KRW	1.68M ~ 2.8M KRW	3.36M ~ 5.6M KRW
Northern Europe (Stockholm, Copenhagen)	Approx. 200,000 ~ 300,000+ KRW	2.8M ~ 4.2M KRW	5.6M ~ 8.4M KRW

Of course, this amount can change based on personal spending habits or travel style. If you think, “I must go to one museum per day!” or “I will only eat at restaurants!”, your budget will inevitably jump. Conversely, if you use hostel dormitories and buy groceries from the supermarket to cook for yourself, you can save much more.

Travel Costs, 4 Major Items

Europe travel costs can be broadly divided into four categories: Flights, Accommodation, Transportation, and Food (+Sightseeing/Shopping). Among these, the ones that take up the largest portion are definitely flights and accommodation. If you manage these two costs well, you’ve already succeeded with half your budget. The remaining costs like transportation and food are parts that you can sufficiently control yourself locally with your own effort(?). We’ll cover how to save on each item in more detail later!

✈️ Save from the Sky! Flight Ticket Saving Tips

The start of a Europe trip, and the largest part of the cost: flights! It’s true that the price, often well over 1 million KRW, is burdensome. But did you know that with just a little online research, you can save 100,000-200,000 KRW, or even up to 500,000 KRW? Getting the timing right for off-season vs. peak season and using various flight comparison sites is basic. Looking for connecting flights rather than insisting on direct ones is also a good method. Especially these days, Middle Eastern airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, etc.) are popular for their good service and reasonable prices. If you have a long layover, getting to travel Dubai, Doha, etc., during the stopover is an added bonus!

Buying Flights, What’s the Best Timing?

The saying “Tickets are always cheaper early!” is half right and half wrong. Booking too early (like 1 year in advance) can actually be more expensive. Airlines often start promotions about 6-8 months before departure. In my experience, 3-6 months before departure seems to be the time you can buy at the most reasonable price. Of course, the peak summer season in July-August or holidays like Chuseok and Lunar New Year are exceptions! At these times, it’s hard to find cheap prices even 6 months or a year in advance, so booking as quickly as possible is the best policy. Setting up ‘price change alerts’ on price comparison sites like Skyscanner or Kayak is another great tip.

Season	Recommended Booking Time	Estimated Price (Incheon-Paris/London Round Trip)
Off-season (Mar-May, Sep-Nov)	3-6 months before departure	900,000 ~ 1,300,000 KRW
Peak season (Jun-Aug, Late Dec)	6-10 months before departure (the earlier the better)	1,500,000 ~ 2,500,000+ KRW
Shoulder season (Others)	4-7 months before departure	1,100,000 ~ 1,600,000 KRW

Using Multi-city Flights (IN/OUT)

It’s rare to visit just one city on a Europe trip, right? Usually, you travel to multiple cities and countries, like flying into London, passing through Paris, and flying out of Rome. In such cases, using ‘Multi-city’ tickets is much more efficient. For example, buying a single multi-city ticket like ‘Incheon-London / Rome-Incheon’ is much cheaper than buying separate one-way tickets for ‘Incheon-London’ and ‘Rome-Incheon’! Plus, you save the time and transportation costs of returning to London, so it’s a win-win! When searching for flights, try selecting the ‘Multi-city’ or ‘Add journey’ option instead of ‘Round trip’.

🛌🏻 Money for Just Sleeping…?! Accommodation Type-Specific Saving Know-how

You’ve sorted out the flights, but now the sleeping arrangements are the problem! That’s right, accommodation is the second biggest part of the Europe trip cost after flights. Especially in cities with killer prices like Paris, London, and Switzerland, you’ll find yourself saying, “It’s this expensive just to sleep?” But Europe is also a place with a diverse range of accommodation options. From cheap hostel dormitories to living like a local in an Airbnb, and comfortable hotels. It’s important to wisely choose accommodation that fits your travel style and budget. Don’t forget, you must consider transportation convenience (location) and safety, not just find the cheapest place!

Hostel vs Airbnb vs Hotel, Which is Right for Me?

Each accommodation type has clear pros and cons. If you’re thinking, “Budget is my top priority! I want to meet friends from all over the world!”, a hostel dormitory is the answer. You can find places for 30,000-50,000 KRW per night. On the other hand, if you’re thinking, “I want to stay privately with my travel buddies, and I want to cook,” then Airbnb would be good. If you’re in a group of 3-4 or more, it can even be cheaper than a hotel. If you think, “Travel has to be comfortable. Safety and service are important!”, then a hotel is the obvious choice. Recently, ’boutique hostels’ or ‘posh-tels’ that combine the advantages of hotels and hostels are also becoming more common.

Accommodation Type	Estimated Cost (1 night, 1 person, Western Europe)	Pros	Cons
Hostel (Dormitory)	Approx. 40,000 ~ 80,000 KRW	Low price, meet travelers, many good locations	Lack of privacy, noise, theft risk (management needed)
Airbnb (Private room/Entire place)	Approx. 70,000 ~ 150,000 KRW (flexible)	Local feel, cooking possible, private (entire place)	Expensive cleaning/service fees, communication with host, location can be ambiguous
Business/Budget Hotel	Approx. 100,000 ~ 200,000 KRW (1 person, based on 2-person room)	Safe, privacy guaranteed, service, comfort	Expensive price, lacks local feel

Accommodation Booking Time & Location Selection Tips

Just like flights, it’s better to book accommodation in advance. Especially during peak season or for popular places, they can be fully booked 3-6 months in advance. Use booking sites like Booking.com, Agoda, or Hostelworld, and book an option with ‘free cancellation’ in advance. It’s a smart way to switch if a better deal comes up later. For location, you don’t have to stick to ‘near the main station’ or ‘main tourist spots’. It can be cheaper and give you more of a local feel to choose a safe neighborhood in the suburbs that is ‘close to a subway station’. It’s essential to meticulously check reviews to see if it’s dangerous to walk around late at night, right?

🍽️ 3 Meals a Day, Eat Like a Local & Save on Food Strategy

You can’t give up on delicious food when you’ve gone all the way to Europe! But if you eat at a fancy restaurant for every meal, your travel funds can disappear in an instant. Especially the restaurant prices in Paris or London are beyond imagination. But you can’t just eat bread every day, can you? The answer lies in ‘control’ and ‘localization’. Have breakfast provided by your accommodation, or a simple fix with bread and yogurt bought from the supermarket the day before. For lunch, use the relatively cheap ‘menu of the day’ (Menu del Dia, Plat du Jour, etc.), and for dinner, have one nice meal at a restaurant, but on other days, buy groceries from the supermarket and cook at your accommodation (Airbnb/hostel). This is the real-life tip for saving on food costs while traveling like a local!

Using Supermarkets (Tesco, Carrefour) is a Must!

Supermarkets are love when traveling in Europe…❤️ Local hypermarkets like Tesco in the UK, Carrefour in France, ALDI and LIDL in Germany sell not only groceries but also simple ready-to-eat meals, sandwiches, salads, fruits, beer, and wine at really cheap prices. For lunch, you can have a wonderful meal for less than 10 euros (approx. 15,000 KRW) by having a picnic in the park with a sandwich and a drink bought from the supermarket. In the evening, try buying steak, pasta noodles, sauce, and a bottle of wine from the supermarket and cooking at your accommodation. For 20 euros, you can complete a ‘European feast’ that’s more than enough for two people!

Cost-Effective Local Restaurants & Lunch Specials

You can’t just cook every day! You have to try the local restaurants too. When you do, it’s best to avoid the restaurants right in front of the main squares or tourist attractions that are bustling with tourists. The prices are likely high and the taste mediocre. Check Google Maps ratings (at least 4.0, with 100+ reviews) and find the restaurants where locals are lining up. Also, most European restaurants are much cheaper for lunch than for dinner. The ‘Lunch Special’ or ‘Menu of the Day’ often provides a full course with salad/soup + main dish + dessert/coffee for only 10-15 euros. So, having a hearty lunch and a simple dinner is also a good strategy.

🚆 Master Inter-city Travel! Eurail Pass vs Low-Cost Airlines Showdown

The charm of a Europe trip is crossing borders by train! But this transportation cost is no joke. Especially if you’re planning to travel to multiple countries and cities, you’ll wonder whether the ‘Eurail Pass’ is better, or if it’s better to book ‘trains/buses/low-cost flights’ separately for each leg. The answer is, “It depends on your schedule!” If you have many relocations and a high chance of changing your schedule spontaneously, a Eurail Pass (especially a continuous pass) can be convenient. But what if your schedule is already fixed and you’re only visiting 3-4 cities? It might be much cheaper to book low-cost airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet, etc.) or express buses (FlixBus, etc.) months in advance.

Eurail Pass, Is It a Must-Buy?

The Eurail Pass is not a magic ticket! Especially in countries like France (TGV) and Italy (Trenitalia), there are many routes where you have to pay a separate ‘reservation fee’ of 10-30 euros even if you have a Eurail Pass. For short-distance routes (e.g., Prague-Vienna), it might be cheaper to just buy a one-way ticket. If you’re considering a Eurail Pass, first decide on all your travel routes, then search for the one-way fare for each leg on the respective national railway websites like ‘Trenitalia’ or ‘DB’ (German Railway). It’s only reasonable to buy the pass if that total sum is more expensive than the Eurail Pass price (+ expected reservation fees). These days, the price of the Eurail Pass itself has risen a lot, and the consensus is that it’s hard to get your money’s worth unless you’re doing a lot of long-distance travel.

Low-Cost Airlines (LCC) vs Express Bus (FlixBus)

What if the distance between cities is very far, like from Paris to Rome, or Barcelona to Berlin? For these routes that take 10+ hours by train, low-cost airlines (LCC) are the answer. If you book 2-3 months in advance, you can even find ‘special deal’ tickets for under 50,000 KRW. Of course, you have to consider the airport transit time and extra baggage fees (this is the trap!), but you can save a revolutionary amount of time. On the other hand, for relatively close cities (e.g., Munich-Prague, Brussels-Amsterdam) within 3-5 hours, express buses are the ‘king’ of cost-effectiveness. ‘FlixBus’, in particular, connects all of Europe for 10-20 euros. It takes a bit longer than the train, but at 1/3 of the price, it’s the best choice for backpackers.

Mode of Transport	Recommended Route	Pros	Cons
High-speed Train (TGV, ICE, etc.)	3-6 hours Medium/Long distance	Fast, comfortable, good city center access	Expensive price (especially last-minute), reservation fee
Low-Cost Airlines (LCC)	6+ hours Long distance (inter-country)	Time-saving, cheap (if booked early)	Airport transit time/cost, strict baggage rules
Express Bus (FlixBus)	3-5 hours Medium distance	Overwhelmingly cheap price	Takes long, uncomfortable seats, possibility of delays

🎭 Must-See Landmarks! Reducing Tourism & Activity Costs

Eiffel Tower in Paris, Colosseum in Rome, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona… It’s no exaggeration to say that a Europe trip is practically to see these landmarks. But when these admission fees add up, they become a huge amount. Rather than thinking, “Everyone else is going, so I have to go too,” it’s important to prioritize where you really want to go. And for most famous tourist spots, ‘online pre-booking’ is either mandatory or much cheaper than buying on-site. The fact that you don’t have to wait in long lines if you book in advance is a really big advantage! Targeting museums/galleries that are open ‘free’ like the British Museum and National Gallery in London is also a good method.

City Passes, Can You Get Your Money’s Worth?

There are ‘City Passes’ for each city, like the Paris ‘Museum Pass’, London ‘London Pass’, Barcelona ‘Go City’, which bundle tourist admissions and transportation. They sell them by period, like 2-day or 3-day passes, but they are quite expensive, so it’s not easy to get your money’s worth. If you’re not someone with ‘iron stamina’ who will visit 5-6 or more museums/galleries in 2-3 days, you could actually lose money. You need to meticulously compare the list of places accessible with the pass, the individual admission fees, and your itinerary before deciding to buy. It might be more economical to just pick the 2-3 places you really want to go and buy individual tickets.

If You’re a Student? ‘ISIC’ is a Must!

Are you perhaps under 30, or a university (or graduate) student? If so, you absolutely must get an ‘International Student Identity Card (ISIC)’! Europe is very generous with student discounts. Many national museums in Paris, like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, often offer free admission (or a significant discount) to ‘students’ even if they are not EU residents under 26. There are also cases where they offer student discounts on transportation or train tickets. It costs about 25,000 KRW to issue, but you’ll get your money’s worth by visiting just one or two museums, so if you’re eligible, don’t miss out!

✨ Pro Tip from a Travel Expert: Utilize ‘Free Walking Tours’!

In major European cities, there’s something called a ‘Free Walking Tour’. A professional guide walks you through the city’s main spots for 2-3 hours, explaining the history and stories, and it’s literally ‘free’! (Of course, it’s a ‘tip-based’ system where you give the guide as much as you were satisfied at the end of the tour.) There’s nothing better for understanding the city’s overall layout and history. If you search Google for ‘Free Walking Tour in [City Name]’, you’ll find several companies like Sandemans. I highly recommend it for your first day’s itinerary!

🛍️ Shopping & Other Costs, a Final Guide to Spending Wisely

Shopping is one of the joys of travel! And then there are the necessities like USIMs and travel insurance. These small miscellaneous costs can add up to a significant amount. For shopping, it’s good to decide on a wish list in advance of things “I must buy!” Otherwise, you might just buy a bunch of pretty trash (?) and regret it later. For souvenirs, in particular, it can be cheaper and more unique to buy from local supermarkets or small shops in alleys rather than from stalls in front of tourist attractions. When planning your overall Europe trip cost, setting aside an ’emergency fund’ of about 10-15% is the secret to not panicking about unexpected expenses!

USIM vs eSIM vs Roaming

The options have become really diverse these days. In the past, the trend was to buy a European integrated USIM like ‘Three SIM’ in advance in Korea, but these days, ‘eSIM’ is becoming the trend. It’s really convenient because you don’t have to remove your Korean USIM, and you can use local data just by scanning a QR code. The price is also similar to or sometimes cheaper than a USIM. (However, you must check if your phone supports eSIM!) On the other hand, if you’re thinking, “I need to receive calls/texts, and I’m going to use multiple devices (tethering),” then a physical USIM might be better as before. As for carrier roaming… it’s expensive, but if you absolutely need to receive calls and value convenience, it’s worth considering, but it’s far from saving on costs!

Don’t Skimp on Travel Insurance! (feat. Currency Exchange & Cards)

For those who skip travel insurance thinking, “What could possibly happen?”… absolutely don’t! Europe, especially Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, has a lot of pickpockets. Losing your phone or wallet can happen in an instant. You could lose millions of KRW trying to save 10,000-20,000 KRW. Travel insurance is essential! Make sure to check that the ‘personal belongings coverage’ is good before signing up. For currency exchange, rather than carrying all your money in Euro cash, it’s recommended to use prepaid cards with no overseas transaction fees like ‘Travel Wallet’ or ‘Travel Log’ as your main payment method, and only carry about 20-30% as emergency Euro cash (mostly small bills). That’s much safer and more convenient.

🙋‍♀️ Europe Trip Costs, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ 30)

Here are some questions you might have about Europe travel costs!

Q1. For a 2-week (14 nights, 15 days) Europe trip, what’s the total budget I should plan for?

Including flights, an average of 3.5-5 million KRW per person for Western Europe (Paris, London, etc.) and 3-4 million KRW for Eastern Europe (Prague, Budapest, etc.) is typical. Of course, this can vary greatly depending on peak/off-season, accommodation grade, and shopping.

Q2. What’s the budget for a one-month (30 days) Europe trip?

Including flights, it’s good to expect 6-9 million KRW per person. As the period is longer, the daily expenditure might be slightly less than a 2-week trip, but it’s wise to budget generously as inter-city transportation costs will be added.

Q3. What should be the daily budget? (Excluding accommodation)

Excluding accommodation, it’s good to set a minimum daily budget of 70,000-100,000 KRW (50-70 EUR) for Western Europe and 50,000-80,000 KRW (35-55 EUR) for Eastern Europe, covering food, city transport, and simple entrance fees. Of course, if you plan on museum visits or nice meals, you’ll need +alpha.

Q4. Is there a big price difference between Western and Eastern Europe?

Yes, quite a lot. Switzerland, the UK, and Northern Europe are famous for their killer prices, and France, Italy, and Germany are also on the expensive side. On the other hand, Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and also Portugal and parts of Spain are much cheaper, feeling like 60-70% of Western Europe’s prices.

Q5. What are the biggest items in the travel budget?

Number 1 is definitely ‘Flights’ (round trip), and number 2 is ‘Accommodation’. These two items often account for 60-70% or more of the total budget. So, how much you save on these two items determines the overall cost.

Q6. Are round-trip tickets to Europe for under 1 million KRW really impossible?

It’s not impossible! During the off-season (Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov), if you search well about 3-6 months in advance for one-stop flights (with long layovers) on Chinese or Middle Eastern airlines, you can often find tickets in the 800,000-1,000,000 KRW range. Setting up ‘price alerts’ on Skyscanner is a must, right?

Q7. What should I be careful about when booking LCCs?

‘Baggage’ rules! European LCCs like Ryanair and EasyJet have very cheap base fares, but they charge extra for everything except one small carry-on bag. You even have to pay for a 20-inch carry-on suitcase. If you forget the ‘add baggage’ option when booking, you could face a penalty several times the cost at the airport, so be sure to check!

Q8. If there’s a big price difference between direct and connecting flights, is connecting always better?

Not necessarily. If the difference is 200,000-300,000 KRW, a layover might be reasonable. But if the layover is 10+ hours long, you have to consider the opportunity cost of the food you spend while waiting at the airport, the physical toll, and the loss of a precious travel day. If the difference is 400,000-500,000 KRW or more, it’s worth actively considering a layover.

Q9. Is it true that booking flights on a Tuesday is the cheapest?

There’s some truth to it, but it’s not an absolute rule. This saying came about because airlines often look at weekend sales data and adjust prices on Monday night or Tuesday morning. These days, prices fluctuate in real-time, so the timing, like ‘off-season 3-6 months before departure’, is more important than a specific day of the week.

Q10. Aren’t multi-city tickets (different IN/OUT cities) more expensive?

No! They are often cheaper. For example, for an ‘Incheon-Paris-Rome-Incheon’ itinerary, buying a multi-city ticket ‘Incheon-Paris IN / Rome-Incheon OUT’ is much cheaper than buying an ‘Incheon-Paris round trip’ ticket and a separate ‘Paris-Rome’ one-way ticket. Plus, you don’t need to return to Paris from Rome, saving time and money.

Q11. Are hostel dormitories safe? Is it okay for a woman to go alone?

They are mostly safe, but there’s no 100%. Book a ‘Female Dorm’ and be sure to check for ‘safety’ and ‘cleanliness’ keywords in the reviews. It’s basic to lock your luggage in the personal locker under the bed with a padlock and always carry your valuables with you when you go out!

Q12. Airbnb seems more expensive than a hotel with the cleaning fee and service fee.

That can be true for short stays of 1-2 nights, as cleaning and service fees are charged once regardless of the length of stay. However, for longer stays of 4-5 nights or more, or if a group of 3-4+ people rents an entire place, it’s much cheaper than a hotel and has the huge advantage of being able to cook, which saves on food costs.

Q13. Is the location near the main station always the best for accommodation?

It’s convenient if you travel frequently, but not necessarily. The area around main stations in Europe can often be unsafe at night (homeless people, gypsies, etc.) or noisy. It might be safer and cheaper to stay near a subway station in a quiet residential area where locals live, 2-3 subway stops away from the main station.

Q14. Is it better to book accommodation with ‘free cancellation’?

Yes, especially if you’re booking months in advance, definitely book with the ‘free cancellation’ option! The ‘non-refundable’ condition is about 10-20% cheaper, but you never know how your travel plans might change. You can book with free cancellation and then, when the trip is imminent and your plans are firm or a better deal comes up, you can re-book with a non-refundable option.

Q15. Should I always include breakfast at European hotels?

Hotel breakfast (especially in the UK) is often poor value for the price (15-25 EUR). It’s cheaper to book without breakfast and grab a croissant and coffee (5-7 EUR) at a nearby cafe, or eat bread/fruit bought from the supermarket the day before. (Of course, if the hotel is famous for its great breakfast, it’s an exception!)

Q16. How much should I tip at European restaurants?

It’s not mandatory, but it’s good manners to leave a tip if you’re satisfied with the service. In Italy, France, etc., check the bill as a ‘service charge (Coperto, Service Compris)’ is often included. If not, about 5-10% of the total. In the UK or Germany, 10% is common. (You can add the tip amount when paying by card, or leave cash on the table.)

Q17. I heard you even have to buy water in Europe, the food cost burden is too big.

That’s right. Ordering water (bottled) at a restaurant costs 3-5 EUR. However, in most European countries, it’s safe to drink tap water! (Italy excluded). If you ask, “Tap water, please,” at a restaurant, they will give you a glass of tap water for free, so don’t bother ordering bottled water. A saving tip is to boil tap water at your accommodation or buy a large 1.5L bottle of water (less than 1 EUR) from the supermarket and carry it in a tumbler.

Q18. Does buying groceries from the supermarket and cooking really save a lot?

Yes! It really saves ‘a lot’. In Europe, while eating out is expensive, supermarket prices are similar to or even cheaper than in Korea (especially dairy, fruit, wine). With 20 EUR (approx. 30,000 KRW) worth of groceries, two people can eat a hearty dinner and breakfast the next day. That’s the price of one meal at a restaurant. If you cook for yourself even once every three days, you can drastically reduce your food costs.

Q19. What is the ‘Menu of the Day (Menu del Dia)’?

It’s a ‘lunch special’ offered on weekdays (usually 12 PM – 3 PM) in countries like Spain (Menu del Dia), France (Plat du Jour), and Italy (Menu Turistico). For a low price of 10-15 EUR, it provides a course of ‘appetizer (soup/salad) + main (meat/fish) + dessert (dessert/coffee)’. It’s the best value-for-money choice, so definitely try to take advantage of it for lunch!

Q20. What about European street food (kebab, crepes, etc.)?

They’re perfect for a quick bite during a busy schedule! Especially Germany’s currywurst, Berlin kebab, Paris street crepes, and London’s fish and chips (takeaway) are great ways to have a cheap and filling meal for 5-8 EUR. Use them when you want to save time by not sitting down in a restaurant.

Q21. The Eurail Pass is expensive, do I really have to buy it?

No! In fact, the trend these days is not to buy it. If all your travel routes (A-B, B-C…) are fixed, compare the total sum of one-way fares (searched 3-4 months in advance on each country’s railway website) with the Eurail Pass price (+mandatory reservation fees). 90% of the time, the total of one-way bookings will be cheaper. This is even more true if you consider low-cost airlines and FlixBus.

Q22. When is the cheapest time to book train tickets?

European train tickets (especially high-speed trains) are cheaper the ‘earlier’ you book, and get more expensive the closer it gets to the date. It’s just like plane tickets. They usually open 3-4 months in advance, and this is the cheapest time. (e.g., a ticket that was 30 EUR 2-3 months ago can cost over 100 EUR on the day!) If your schedule is fixed, book in advance, no matter what.

Q23. FlixBus is so cheap I’m worried, is it decent?

Yes! For the price (10-20 EUR), it’s excellent. Of course, the seats are less comfortable than the train, it takes 1.5-2 times longer, and delays are frequent. But for medium-distance travel of 3-5 hours, there’s no better option for backpackers wanting to save money. They also mostly have Wi-Fi (slow) and power outlets.

Q24. Do I have to buy a Paris ‘Carnet’ or London ‘Oyster Card’?

They’re not essential these days! In Paris, the ‘Carnet’ (a pack of 10 t+ single tickets) has been discontinued as paper tickets and replaced by a rechargeable card called ‘Navigo Easy’. In London, too, the ‘Oyster Card’ deposit/refund is cumbersome, so it’s much more convenient to just tap your own ‘Contactless’ credit card (like Travel Wallet). The fare is automatically applied with a ‘Daily Cap’.

Q25. Is it worth buying a ‘City Pass’ (Museum Pass, London Pass, etc.)?

It’s really hard to get your money’s worth. If you buy a 2-day pass (approx. 100,000-150,000 KRW), you have to visit 3-4 museums/galleries per day, meaning 6-8 places in two days, just to break even. (Virtually impossible…) Compare the total admission fees of the 2-3 places you really want to go with the pass price. If it’s a loss, it’s better to just book individual tickets online.

Q26. Can I get my money’s worth from an ISIC (25,000 KRW issuing fee)?

Yes! If you’re a student under 30, I definitely recommend it. Many major museums/galleries in Paris, like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, offer free admission or significant discounts (10-15 EUR), so you’ll make back the issuing fee and more by visiting just one or two places.

Q27. Should I exchange all my money into ‘Euros’ only?

No! Countries like the UK (Pound), Switzerland (Franc), Czech Republic (Koruna), and Hungary (Forint) do not use the Euro and have their own currencies. However, you don’t need to double-exchange in Korea for these countries. Use cards like ‘Travel Wallet’ / ‘Travel Log’ (which allow payment/withdrawal at local ATMs with no commission) as your main payment, and prepare only about 300-500 EUR in small bills as emergency cash.

Q28. ‘Travel Wallet’ vs ‘Travel Log’ card, which is better?

Both are essential items for a Europe trip with almost no overseas payment/withdrawal fees! (Get both!) The subtle difference is that Travel Wallet (Visa) has a lower charging limit but supports more currencies, while Travel Log (Master/UnionPay) has a higher limit but requires a specific bank account. If you get both, one Visa and one Master, you’ll be perfectly prepared for card loss/errors.

Q29. Do I have to get a ‘Tax Refund’ in Europe?

If you’ve spent over 100-175 EUR (varies by country) in one store, of course, you should! It’s getting back the VAT (10-20%) included in the price. Say “Tax refund, please,” when you buy, get the documents, get a customs stamp at your final departure airport, and submit it to the refund counter. (These days, it’s also easily done via apps!)

Q30. Is it okay to get the cheapest travel insurance?

I’d recommend paying 10,000-20,000 KRW more for one with solid coverage. Especially, check the coverage limit for ‘personal belongings’ (phone, camera, etc.), whether there’s a ‘deductible’, and if ‘flight delay/cancellation’ compensation is included. Pickpocketing and flight delays are frequent in Europe, so it’s good to check these two coverages.

 

Whew! I’ve given you a lot of tips.

“The more you know, the more you save” on a Europe trip. Does that sink in now? 😆

What’s important isn’t a ‘miserly tour’ where you save on everything, but a ‘smart trip’ where you save wisely where you can (flights, accommodation) and spend without hesitation where you should (good food, experiences).

Making a meticulous budget plan based on the tips I’ve shared today will be the first step to successfully saving on your Europe trip cost!

I’m cheering for your romantic European journey! 💖