How to Travel Around Europe Without Breaking the Bank

There is a great misconception that Europe is an expensive destination to visit for American travelers. As an American myself traveling to over 20 European countries and more than 30 cities within the continent, I am happy to share eight tips that will make your next trip to Europe not break the bank!

The most effective way to budget travel is by letting the market decide which destinations you should visit. Also, Google Flights is the greatest tool for finding cheap flights. By using its "flexible dates" option, you will be able to see the price of any plane ticket within the next 6 months. This is a great way to keep more money in your pockets without sacrificing your experience.

Europe is one of the most interesting continents in the aspect that your PPP (Purchase Power Parity) in one country can be 2x more than or less than another country. For example, Budapest, Hungary is extremely cheap to visit versus Geneva, Switzerland, from accommodations, travel, food and activities. However, both destinations will produce an incredibly unique experience that you never forget.

Any major European city airport usually has multiple methods of transportation to the city center. Before taking your trip, consider whether you'll be using the train, bus or Uber to secure a much cheaper trip from the airport to your final destination. I experienced this myself, when I took a taxi from Vienna's airport to the city center for 50 dollars, when I could have got a train ticket for less than $15.

There are a few important facts to know when searching for your accommodations. Expedia owns Travelocity, Orbitz, Trivago and Hotels.com, and Booking.com owns Priceline, Kayak and Cheapflights.com, which amounts to controlling a very high percentage of the U.S. online travel agencies. If you're traveling solo, I suggest using hostels by booking with Hostelworld or finding available Airbnb options. For a family, I would suggest an "entire place" Airbnb or three- or four-star hotel that allows four guests in one room.

The shoulder season is a wonder for the international traveler. Flights to Europe are definitely more expensive during the Summer and holiday times. The best time for travel is from mid-March to early June and September to November. The quality of the experience will be not be sacrificed for the price. Make sure you check out the weather at the destination of your choosing. For example, the Greek Islands are a much better destination to visit in May compared to March for tourists to experience a true Greek summer.

A challenge while bouncing around Europe is the currency differences even within the European Union. A quick list of common traveled to countries that don't use the Euro include the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Norway and the Czech Republic. The greatest advantage of having a credit card with no foreign transaction fees is the amount of money you save when converting money. Additionally, it's always smart to travel with some form of cash as some countries are not as modern financially as other western countries.

Almost every traveler has experienced returning home from an incredible international vacation to a phone bill much higher than usual. A great way to prevent this is by buying a sim card at your destination. Most European Union countries have sim cards that work just like the ones you're accustomed to in the states.

Food and alcohol are an under the radar expense in Europe due to the continent's large diversity in PPP (Purchasing Power Parity). For example, if you and your college friends want to go party for a week, there are great destinations like Budapest or Malta that are perfect for the price and quality of the experience. To maintain a budget, avoid cities like Paris and London where the price is about twice that of the above mentioned destinations.