Expenses, part 1

Most Americans never leave North America. I think this is unfortunate. While there are certainly many and complex reasons for this, I think it is safe to assume that one major reason is the assumption that it costs too much money. It does cost a lot of money to visit Europe, or anywhere else. The cost of airfare alone can be so overwhelming that a person could easily be discouraged from looking any further. But there are also a number of ways to keep costs under control. I hope to touch on some of the ways we have learned so far.

Costs can generally be divided into 5 categories: airfare, ground transport, lodging, food, and entertainment/incidentals.

The best way to save on airfare is to not travel during the summer high season. Those of us with school-age children though, have little choice. "Shoulder" seasons (essentially spring and fall) cost about 30% less and still have pleasant weather. Low season (winter) can be as much as 60% off summer fares, but offer poor weather for outdoor activities. Beware of Christmas travel, as the prices shoot up for this 3-week period to even more than summer high season. Plan way ahead so you can monitor airfare prices over an extended period of time. Eight months or more ahead of time is not too soon. Establish what a "normal" rate is for your travel dates and snap up any airfare that is $100 less than this normal rate. While it is possible that a better deal could turn up eventually, it will be unlikely to be much better, and you will then have the advantage of more time to better plan your itinerary and make lodging reservations.

The cost of ground transport varies widely. If you stay in one place, it's almost nothing. But people generally want to see as much as possible and want to be on the move. Renting a small car costs roughly $300-$400 for the first week - less each additional week. But gas costs $7-10 a gallon and there are often toll highways & parking charges that can really add up over time. Driving, itself is easy enough in small cities and rural areas, but never, ever drive in a large city if you can possibly help it. Driving and parking in large cities is more difficult that you can possibly imagine unless you have tried it. Streets are never strait or clearly marked. Train travel in Europe is wonderful. Stations are located in the centers of cities, exactly where you want to be. Regular fares can be substantial, but children under 14 often travel for free and there are also numerous ways to save 50-70% over regular fares by booking ahead and understanding each country's promotional offers. Rail passes used to be a guaranteed bargain, but no longer are except under very specific circumstances. Buses also connect major cities, as well as providing vital service to smaller towns that are not on rail lines. Buses are generally slower, but cheaper than trains. Your choice of ground transport should be dictated by the types of places you hope to visit. For city to city travel, stick with trains. For rural and small town sections of your trip, consider a car or bus.

Picture a typical US chain hotel room; two queen sized beds, modern furniture, private bathroom and an indoor pool down the hall. This room does not exists anywhere a tourist wants to be in Europe. Something similar might exist 20 miles outside of the city, near the airport, but that is not where you want to be. In small towns and city centers your choices for short stays are smaller hotels or B&B's with most rooms for two people only. You can ask for "family" rooms that have more beds, but these will be few in number. Hostels are a good alternative for families since they are child-friendly and have rooms for 4, 5, or even 6, but they do have an institutional, dorm-room, feel. A family of 4 visiting Paris, for example, could be faced with having to get two rooms, for a total of $300/night for a modest hotel. A youth hostel room for 4 might cost half that much, or less. For longer stays, Apartment and cottage rentals are fantastic alternatives for families. Not only do you save a considerable amount over a hotel, but you get twice as much space, the opportunity to cook your own meals, and a chance to live like a local for a short time. Having the sense of a "home" to return to after a long day of sightseeing is heartwarming in a way that is difficult to describe, but priceless.

Any time you are limited to eating out for all of your meals, costs will be considerable. You can keep these under control a little if your lodging provides a hearty breakfast that can get you through the afternoon with little more than a snack. Then you can afford to splurge a bit for the evening meal. As an alternative, you can do what many Europeans do and have a light breakfast, hearty lunch (at one of the many restaurants offering lunch specials) and have only a light evening meal. If you are renting an apartment or cottage, you can buy groceries where the locals do and make whatever combination of hot meals, picnics, and sandwiches fits your needs for that day. A full meal for a family of four at a modest sit-down restaurant in Europe could cost $100. Groceries, while still more expensive than in the US for that same quality of meal, can still be had for $20-30. A light meal from a sandwich shop could cost $40 for that same family, or $10 worth of groceries.

Entertainment & incidentals are all other costs including entry fees, tickets, souvenirs and other minor purchases. Museums sometimes have free hours and almost always have pass packages good for multiple museums for a specific number of days. For those who love museums, these can be a very good value. Avoid buying tickets for entertainment that is not specific to the culture you are visiting. Zoos, amusement parks and the like can be fun any time, but the animals and rides are the same everywhere. Save them for when you are home. Everyone loves mementos of their trips, but let photographs be your touchstone, not a trinket that may well have been made in China. Sometimes the best entertainment is simply strolling a quiet neighborhood in the evening with your camera at hand, ready to snap a photo that could well become a cherished souvenir...