Is there such a thing as an "Inexpensive European Vacation"?

[bubie2.5]

Bratislava or Dubrovnik offer VERY cheap vacations, both are beautiful and there's a LOT to see.

Do NOT rent a car if you're going to be staying in cities like Paris, Madrid or London... they have good public transportation and driving there can be a nightmare.

 

[bubie2.5]

NHdisneylover: How did you found the home you're going to be staying at in Denmark? We found a really cheap flight leaving from Spain and are planning to do something similar (biking a lot) next year, but our destination will be The Netherlands.

 

[CoP Luv]

Another vote for a cruise! The flight (booked Feb. 08) was as much as a 12 night cruise for each of us!

We spent an extra 2.5 days in Rome before our cruise and the set sail for 12 nights. I thought this was a great way to see Europe!!!

I started writing about our excurions in my blog (link below).

 

[missypie]

I've had European vacations that cost a lot less than Disney ones.

First, travel at Thanksgiving, spring break or a time other then the summer. I've paid about half as much for spring break plane tickets as I have for summer.

Rent an apartment.

For a first trip, I'd suggest an entire week in Paris or in Barcelona. Go to the grocery store and buy breakfast food - yogurt, cereal and milk, rounded out by local pastries.

With kids, it's also terrific to have the option of eating dinner or lunch "in." Bring in sandwiches or even meals you can bake or microwave. Kids can get very tired and it can be a relief to eat dinner in the flat a few times. There's nothing worse than having your kids sleep through a "big splurge" meal.

Kids get a lot of price breaks at museums in Europe - sometimes free, sometimes at a reduced rate. I've learned to say my kids' ages in the native language (or you could write it down.) Sometimes the youngest would be free, sometimes the younger two, sometimes all three, sometimes we'd get a "family rate."

The public parks and other spaces are terrific in Paris and Barcelona...lots to do without paying entrance fees.

You can also save money with subway passes (rather than individual tickets.) Research the public transportation options once you settle on your destination.

I've taken my three kids to:

Paris
Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice)
Barcelona
Germany

It can be done!

 

[NHdisneylover]

NHdisneylover: How did you found the home you're going to be staying at in Denmark? We found a really cheap flight leaving from Spain and are planning to do something similar (biking a lot) next year, but our destination will be The Netherlands.

I sent you a PM. If you want a base in Amsterdam you can rent a houseboat which I think sounds fun (we are toying with that idea for next summer).

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Not counting the airfare.... but when I was in England many years ago, it was VERY EXPENSIVE, almost $2 for each English pound.

My wife is hinting at a European vacation next year with our kids....

This isn't my choice for a place to go, so at least I would like to keep costs down.

Have you thought about a European cruise? We did this last year & with the value of a dollar it was a great way to go. We visited Italy & France & started out in Barcelona. Considering your meals are pre-paid for the cruise days it worked out well. Lot of $$$$ has to do with the excursions you pick.
2 weeks ago DH & I did the QM2 Transatlantic & then spent 6 nights in London, the hotel was very reasonable as was the air fare on the return home.