How to visit as many European countries on a tight budget?

Posted by Educational-Tip-4430@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 30 comments

I guess spending less days in each one, using the cheapest hostels or hotels? I already eat food from supermarkets on my trips and I no longer stay more than 3 days in a country at a time.

I'm an European citizen and yet I've never been to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Moldova, and a few more.

I've been to just about 12 countries. Should I sign up for a multi country trip so I don't waste time on figuring out hotels and transport between many countries with unrelated languages? Or get an Interrail pass and use sleeper trains and complement with FlixBus when a train isn't available like in the Balkans? For Scandinavia a trip with a travel agency would cost less than if I book everything myself.

I want to sample as many countries so I know which ones I connect to the most and revisit them for longer trips later or even apply for jobs there so I can move there. Sometimes it's just love at first sight with countries but my sample of countries is very small. I'm not sure I want to revisit any of them again, except Hungary and Slovakia. Please help!

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sgtapone87@reddit

Here’s the thing: going to countries just to tick it off a list is a dumb way to travel. Someone bragging about how many countries they’ve been to is someone you can likely ignore travel advice from.

Go where you want, when you can afford it. Take the vacations you want, not ones you think you should to “keep up” with others.

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Interesting_Rock_318@reddit

Here’s the thing, responding to posts in a condescending manner when you didn’t comprehend the post is a dumb way to answer.

They are trying to cheaply sample as many countries as possible, so they can figure out what countries they want to focus on for later travel or perhaps even moving…

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sgtapone87@reddit

I comprehended the post perfectly. I pointed out that his goal is a pointless one.

But yeah I guess if reading comprehension is an issue I can see how you wouldn’t understand the reply, sure.

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Interesting_Rock_318@reddit

Ignoring anything else you say, including your 2nd line in this post, because of how clueless you are…

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sgtapone87@reddit

Ok champ

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Interesting_Rock_318@reddit

Fix your ignorance

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Interesting_Rock_318@reddit

Obviously you didn’t comprehend it at all if you’re telling him it’s dumb to just go to tick places off of a list when that isn’t his agenda

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TelluridECore@reddit

all of this is true, and must be said, but it does not necessarily apply to OP's situation

racoontosser@reddit

Couch surfing, hitchhiking is you’re broke broke. Budget airlines, public transit, and hostels are your other friends.

Specific_Yak7572@reddit

And in the Balkans, shared taxus, or marshrutkas.

Educational-Tip-4430@reddit (OP)

I agree about the others, will look at them, but Couch surfing these days involves way too many people mentioning they'll wear no clothes. :D

ElysianRepublic@reddit

If the goal is to set foot in as many countries as possible, as cheaply as possible, you can’t beat the convenience of Interrail. Flixbus is also a good (and often cheaper but less comfortable) alternative. Most of Europe has decent, reasonably priced hostels. Check reviews to make sure they’re of an OK standard. If you’re a camper (I’m sure not), consider camping from time to time as well. I think Scandinavia can be done more cheaply with a rail pass (and eating food from supermarkets, cooking for yourself in hostels rather than dining out) than with a tour agency. In fact, it’s surprisingly affordable that way.

That said, I tend to travel fast, and 2-3 days is usually the minimum I need to visit a city or town, and to say I’ve “seen” a country, I’d personally like to visit 2 or 3 distinct cities and regions. Maximizing the sheer number of countries visited can make the trip tiring, but nonetheless, if it’s what you want, go for it.

Yes I do it fastly because I can get the general vibe of a country really quick. I loved/dreaded some the moment my train/bus/car passed into them.

RandyClaggett@reddit

Go from Greece to Estonia by bus. Avoid Croatia, Austria, Germany and anything west of these countries.

I've already been 2 times in Greece so I wouldn't like to repeat it a 3rd time lol

So, start in Albania instead then :)

Ta1kativ@reddit

I spent 45 days traveling thru 6 countries (Eng, Fr, Belg, Neth, Germ, & Swed) this last summer for 2,600 USD (including the plane ticket, pre-travel gear purchases, etc). I used Couchsurfing staying 1–4 nights with each host and it was incredible. I did have to stay in a hostel a handful of times when I couldn't find anyone to couchsurf with but it was also peak travel season.

I also hitchhiked a bit. In Germany, you can get the Deutschland pass for 50€ which is well worth the money. The year before that, I stayed in France for 2 months and also spent $2,600 in total but I used workaway. It was a great experience but I didn't get to travel around much. Most people expect you to stay 2 or 3 weeks minimum.

I've looked into Interrail/Eurrail multiple times, and it seems very convenient but very expensive IMO.