A Simple Secret to Saving Big On Hotels in Europe

Don’t let a strong Euro keep you from planning the trip of a lifetime in Europe. One money-saving hotel strategy is so simple, you can use it for your very next getaway across the pond. And your pocketbook will smile!

Who can resist the allure of Europe? Many of us have long dreamed of exploring classy Paris, vibrant Rome, charming Salzburg, and other eye-popping European cities. These time-honored destinations brimming with ancient history, colorful sights, bustling street life, and scrumptious cuisine are so tempting that we hardly can wait to escape to the continent.

Armed with our passports, we nail a rock-bottom airfare, arrange an affordable rail pass or car rental from our travel agent, and then begin the internet hunt for “reasonably-priced” accommodations in Europe’s most popular places. Of course, we probably are familiar with discounted bed and breakfast stays, youth hostels, camping, and other inexpensive lodging options. But what if we still prefer the amenities of a European hotel?

City hotel “sticker shock” hit me hard when I checked out rates for my favorite hotel in Rome. In 2002 I had snared a double room with buffet breakfast at the hotel for a mere $85 per night. Now the same room costs almost 300% more…a whopping $285! I quickly do the math and realize our “bargain vacation” might come close to breaking the bank.

So, what’s a Europe-bound traveler on a tight hotel budget to do during times when the good ole dollar exchange rate isn’t what it used to be? Enjoy a more authentic, relaxing, and less costly experience in Europe! Just head 15-30 minutes outside the city and overnight in a smaller town right on the main rail line to the big city.

Here’s how to plan. First, go on the net and google the European national rail sites. Austria ’s, for example, is: http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en
Maybe you planned to stay in Salzburg or Vienna. Look on a map of Austria and locate a town that looks close to your target city.

Let’s pick Zell Am See in this case. On the rail website, type Zell Am See in the “from” or “departure” space and next add “Salzburg” as the “destination” on the “to” line. You can then look up the “intermediate stops” between Zell Am See and Salzburg. Choose a town only two or three stops away from your target place on the main train line. Notice that the towns of Hallein, Golling-Abtenau, and Werfen are just outside of Salzburg on a main rail line.

The next stop is to google “Hallein tourism” or “Golling-Abtenau tourism.” Each town likely will have a website listing cozy, family-run hotels. Often for 40%-60% less than the per night cost of a hotel stay in a big city, the nightly rate at an “on-the-outskirts” hotel includes not only a delightful room but also breakfast daily and delicious dinner too. What a deal! Happy travels.