10 Ways to Manage Money When Traveling to Europe

Europe is the most expensive region of the world to explore. In capital cities such as London, Paris and Moscow, hotel fees are quite expensive and the standard of living is equally expensive.
This makes the costs of public transportation tickets, like dining, very difficult to reach for travelers.

But this does not mean that it is not possible to travel to Europe with a reasonable budget. We've put together 10 tips to save you money on your next trip to Europe.

Trip Planning

1. Check out the fees in lira.

Long before you start traveling, try to find out the cost of hotels, rental cars and many things not related to flights in Lira. This way, when your credit card statement arrives, you won't be charged more than you calculated. Moreover, many hotel booking sites guarantee a fixed price in dollars at the time you make the reservation.

2. Find Your Focus.

When planning a trip to Europe, instead of jumping from place to place, set a focus and explore a specific region or specific cities. For example; Instead of fitting the Milan, Venice, Florence or Rome route into 7-8 days, you can spend a week observing the surroundings in Florence and organize day trips to neighboring cities. You will not only avoid wasting time sitting on the bus for hours, but also expensive train tickets and plane tickets. For more, read about slow travel.

3. Save money on museum entrance fees.

Many museums provide free entrance on certain days or nights of the week or month. (For example, the Louvre Museum offers free entry on the first Sunday of each month from October to March.) Research the free entry days of the museums you are interested in and organize your trip accordingly.

4. Find Free Entertainment

. Similarly, follow free concerts or shows in public parks or churches and other public places. You can most easily find them in local newspapers or in information brochures of entertainment venues – or just randomly come across them while wandering around.

5. Purchase multiple passes.

Most major cities sell cards that provide discounts or special offers for museums, attractions, tours and public transportation. These can be quite profitable if they cover many places you plan to visit, but make sure it's really worth it. If the card is more than 100 Liras and you will only use it in one or two museums, it may be more convenient to pay separately.

6. Withdraw cash from ATMs at the bank.

An ATM will be the most profitable way for you to access money in terms of a favorable exchange rate and interest rates. ATMs usually charge a transaction fee (probably 1-2%), but it will still be more profitable than exchange offices. To avoid high transaction fees, withdraw more money at once and keep them in a money belt or hotel safe. To learn more about money security, read our related article.
You would also do well to avoid using old ATMs that stand alone in remote corners or in supermarkets. These types of ATMs usually charge higher transaction fees, so use ATMs near the bank. (If possible, prefer to use your own card bank. You can check your bank's website to find out where their ATMs are located.)

7. Use your credit card.

The best parts of using an ATM card will likely carry over to a credit card, especially exchange rates. Keep in mind, though, that credit card companies' transaction fees in foreign countries can typically range from 1-3%. Choose the card that allows you to avoid these fees as much as possible. Research credit card companies and try to find the route that will cause you the least headache abroad.
While you're on the road, find out in advance whether hotels, restaurants or other places charge additional fees for credit card payments.

8. Choose Your Foreign Exchange Carefully

If you somehow have to use the exchange office again, skip the ones at the airport and train stations, they offer the worst rates. Instead, choose a bank if you can find it. Wherever you are, your current job (driving a taxi,
Convert enough cash to cover an emergency (such as an emergency or a purchase) and try to reach an ATM as soon as possible.

9. Don't walk around with cash.

Wait until you reach your destination before converting the money and try to use up most of your money before returning home. Thus, you will not have to carry it with you and you will incur minimal losses when buying and selling money.
This is especially true when it comes to coins while you're traveling. You'll be lucky if you find a currency exchange that will accept to convert these coins into the local currency when you get back home. So try to spend your coins on the road, or at least stop by a bank and convert them into receipts, maybe you can use them again one day.

10. Don't be afraid to bargain.

Of course, we can't recommend trying this at places like Harrods, but there are still plenty of places in Europe where bargaining is valid. Street shops and stands are great places to show off your bargaining skills.