Ensuring That Euro Does Not Mean "You Owe" October 13, 2008
By Nancy Lazarus
A recent trip to Spain's Catalan region uncovered tips that can be used to save money on every step of your next incentive trip to Europe:
1. Selecting lesser-known destinations leads to savings on lodgings. In Tarragona, a coastal city south of Barcelona with exceptional Roman ruins, the main hotel overlooking the Mediterranean only cost $140 per night.
2. Hotel deals come in smaller packages. Barcelona's Hotel Granados 83, a stylish boutique hotel in an upscale neighborhood, had smaller rooms but also a lower price tag at $240 per night.
3. Traveling in-between seasons is a discount shopping opportunity. Many retail shops feature end-of-season sales. During my early September trip, I noticed sales signs in many store windows and bought Puma sneakers for just $33.
4. Combining modes of transportation in same trip cuts travel expenses. In Barcelona I took the bus from the airport to the main plaza and then a taxi for the shorter distance to the hotel.
5. Multi-day transportation passes offer price reductions. The Barcelona card, available for two to five days, provides savings on public transit and cultural attractions and is also more convenient.
6. Eating in is a good way to economize. The hotel's buffet breakfast wasn't such a good deal at $27, so I bought groceries at a local market and ate on my hotel room terrace for a fraction of the price.
7. Stick with the starter course to save at dinner. Restaurants frequently offer appetizers large enough to serve as a meal. At an elegant Gaudi-designed restaurant, the seafood croquettes cost one-third less than the main courses.
8. Consume local products, especially alcohol. Europe is an expensive place to order liquor or mixed drinks. The local wines, however, are of high quality and are far more affordable.
9. Use the hotel staff to make local calls. When the concierge makes your dinner reservations, you skip phone charges appearing on your bill and often get prime seats and better service at the restaurant.
10. Check your bills carefully to avoid hidden costs. One restaurant added a charity donation to my bill without even asking. The same applies to hotel mini bars, where housekeeping charged for items I never consumed. Don't hesitate to point out extraneous charges.
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