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International travel in hard times; tips for traveling overseas. Part II
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When in Europe, do as Europeans do – go to European discount airfare service providers
When you consider making a budget airline flight part of your international itinerary, you will save money not only by traveling off-season, but also by selecting an air travel vs. ground transportation. When I was traveling in Italy, it was less expensive to take a flight from Rome to Paris, than a train from Rome to Florence. Take a look at what Europe offers:
Ryanair.com – offer airfares in the range from $6 to $56 and offer various destinations in Europe. In addition, Ryanair site offers cheap car and hotels, hostels, villas, cruises, ski routes, campsites and information on travel insurance, and airport transfers. Most of their hotel offers are same or lower rates on the same hotels as www.hotels.com does.
Asia.com - fly Cheap to Europe, 70% off Europe air fares, compare Europe flights.
SmarterTravel.com - find the lowest fare, compare rates from all major travel sites.
Travelocity – Travelocity airfare International deals. Right now, for example, they are offering spring flights from $488 round-trip.
Air Baltic – offers air deals from Western Europe to Latvia, among many others, that are becoming a very desirable international location not only for the continuous discovery of the beautiful culture of Eastern Europe, but also because the value of a dollar is even more stronger in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. So, Czech Republic, Romania, and Poland should be on your list to do.
They also offer cheap flights to cheap flights to Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, etc.
Here are some more links to the Web sites of budget airlines in Europe. This is not endorsement of any kind, it’s an information for you to take, dissect, review and use at your own common sense. Be smart when you plan your trip abroad or from a destination to destination while in Europe. Always check for baggage regulations, additional taxes/fees if apply and any special conditions.
Here are a few more websites that provide airfares and travel information to and in Europe, most of which are more oriented to traveling within Europe.
Euroflights.com - is a handy tool that matches budget airlines with European destinations. In a few clicks, you can have the budget options for your trip, with links to the actual airfare sites included.
BMI Baby Airlines - calls itself as the "airline with tiny fares." It has routes across Europe, and offers many specials to choose from.
Brussels Air – tailors to flights to and out of Brussels, but also shows you daily pricing so you can shape an itinerary to take advantage of the best deals.
Easy Jet - offers almost 200 routes between 55 European cities. They charge you a fee for booking with a credit card, and they do not issue refunds except in cases such as the death of a family member.
Germania Express - offers a variety of discount flights between Germany and Spain, Italy, or Greece.
SkyEurope - calls itself as the leading discount airlines in central Europe.
Wizz Air - started flying in 2003. It flies as far east as Warsaw and as far south as Athens. Its connection to Copenhagen involves a motorcoach ride from Malmo airport. Random sample one-way fare go as low as $13.97.
Too cool to shop at Duty-free?
Well, think twice. This is not the time to shy away from tax-free goodies that otherwise would cost you much more in your native town. Not only you can stock up for yourself, but you can also bring a present (or two) for your friends and family. Me, personally, I was surprised to find out that I was able to get very authentic souvenirs and delicious edible treats at the Madrid airport on my way back home from Spain. Not to mention the temptation to get perfume, especially the ones, whose brands, for some reason, do not make it over the border to USA. And even though I don’t promote any tobacco or alcohol products on my site, it is still worth, and totally legal, to mention what a deal you can get on authentic Stolichnaya Vodka at Moscow Domodedovo International Airport, Russia
Duty-free goods are mostly sold inside international airport terminals, ferry stations, cruise ports, and border stops. And there are always visible; no need to search for them. These pit stops offer goods of all authenticity, omit the country’s tax. Morever, besides goods of this country’s origin, one can get goods of other origins, which in the country you are visiting do cost more due to local country’s tax imposition on it. For example, at Frankfurt City Airport you can get goods of Belgian nature without a tax, while in Frankfurt these same goods will be more expensive because of a tax.
Almost all people in Europe take advantage of duty-free shops. While I used to avoid those shops thinking they are not “authentic” enough for me, generic, now I find joy browsing through their assortment and paying less for same goods I would have gotten, but at a higher price. Plus, it spares me the weight of souvenirs carrying in a bag around the city when I’m on a sightseeing mission.
However, do remember, while you are saving on souvenirs and other goodies shopping at duty-free shops, if you bring into the U.S. more than $800 worth of items purchased abroad—duty-free or not—you'll have to pay the U.S. duty. But I doubt, you’d need to worry about spending that much today, when each penny is counted.
And before you go ballistic on duty-free items, check out Kathy Borrus’ "The Fearless Shopper: How to Get the Best Deals on the Planet" who says: "If you know the price of something back home and you go to a duty-free store, you can compare and know what the bargain might be." Not that a lof of us would go and make a price list of the goods, but some still might.
Want to save money on dining and wining, dine away from your travel ‘comrades’
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What I mean, if you want to save on dining when traveling abroad (or anywhere, for that matter), stay away from touristy sites. Usually, there are many restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges around major hotels and historic landmarks to attract tourists. However, most of these places are more expensive, and often less authentic, than the places known to locals. Not only you will receive a better cultural experience and authentic meal, but you will also save by dining at a spot that is local, meaning – it might not have an English menu, but it will definitely have the real cuisine you’ve read about in a guidebook while salivating.
To find these places, you can ask people you might know in the country/city you are visiting, or you can ask a hotel clerk (but be careful, sometimes they will refer you to a place that they promised to “bring business” to.) Asking anyway wouldn’t hurt, and you can check the places out and see for yourself - a good sign is when the ratio of locals to tourists is much higher than vica versa. And don’t just be more adventurous and experimental and go around until you spot that perfect café or restaurant that looks like a good old place back home where your buddies and you share beers over a football game.
In my next story I will tell you how to be safe with your money when you travel abroad. Part III is coming.
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