Did you know? A couple of years ago, ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company conducted research, revealing that 95% of Indian millennials are affected by work-related stress in comparison to the global average of 86%. This shows that the youth in India needs to find a way to take a break and rejuvenate themselves.
The good news is studies have also shown that you can significantly reduce stress by traveling. So, like many others, if you have been dreaming about an Europe trip for years, this is the right time to start planning for it. Going on vacation will make you happy, and when you are enjoying life, your productivity will also increase.
Now arises the big question, “Where will the money come from?”
Well, if planned properly, a ten-day trip to Europe may not cost more than ₹1.50 lakhs. And the best part is that you can save this amount in a year, even if your annual salary is ₹6 lakhs. This article will guide you to achieve both so that you go on your dream vacation without any hassles.
How to save money for a Europe trip
Imagine your salary is ₹6 lakhs a year, and you need to find a way to save 25% of it for your dream holiday. Your first job is to make it non-taxable income. As you do not require to pay taxes for a yearly salary of up to ₹5 lakhs, start by investing ₹1 lakh in tax-saving instruments.
Now, you need to determine the budget for your living cost. If you live in an inexpensive area and do not lead a luxurious lifestyle, it is possible to manage your monthly expenses for ₹20,000. So, your annual cost of living will be ₹2.4 lakhs.
You must also consider setting aside ₹5,000 every month for emergencies, which amounts to ₹60,000 per year. And keep another ₹50,000 for additional yearly expenses, which should be more than enough.
So, you still have ₹1.50 lakhs left in your hand, which you can put in a financial product as monthly installments of ₹12,500. If the investment option offers a 6% interest rate, you will have around ₹1.54 lakhs by the end of the year.
And that is all, half the job is done. Now that you know how to save money for the trip, the next goal is to plan a ten-day holiday within your budget.
How to travel Europe on a budget
A Europe tour can be expensive, but you can make it pocket-friendly depending on how you travel. If you can avoid overindulgence, the ₹1.54 lakhs you saved up should be more than enough for the trip.
Here are six tips to help you plan the whole thing right.
1. Book early
Advanced booking is the key to saving money when traveling. When you book accommodations early, you may get good discounts and deals. However, you should avoid spending too much on hotels and be flexible about dates. Reserve your stay on days when the rent is cheapest and opt for weekday flights as they are less expensive than the weekend ones.
2. Plan traveling within Europe
The first thing you must look for is unlimited travel passes that you can use to commute within a European city. These cost about ₹1,000 per day. So, the cost of buying passes for ten days will be ₹10,000. Ensure that these include all the tourist destinations you want to visit. This is by far the best way to save money on traveling within a city.
Moreover, if you book them in advance, you may get discounts. And it would not cost you over ₹15,000 per city for travel passes and entry fees for tourist attractions. So, if you plan to visit three cities during the trip, the expense will be approximately ₹45,000. Moreover, intercity travel costs around ₹5,000 in Europe. So, your total amount for journeys between the three cities will be ₹15,000 in ten days.
But, if you want to enjoy a relaxed trip, consider visiting only the places you want to see. This way, you can avoid spending on the passes and entry fees and reduce the overall cost to ₹30,000. Most of the European cities also have free walking tours. Apart from paying a tip to the guide, these outings will cost you nothing.
3. Get the right credit card
Some credit cards offer travel benefits like discounts and air miles. You can use the card to book flight tickets in advance to save money significantly. In fact, if you have the right credit card and you book your flights three months in advance, you can get a ticket to Paris for no more than ₹16,000. So, look for credit cards that can help you save big and get the one that meets your requirements.
4. Choose a trip to Eastern Europe
If you are traveling to Europe on a budget, consider sticking to the eastern countries. Everyone wants to visit Paris, Munich, and London, but they are relatively expensive cities. Destinations like Poland, Hungary, and Romania are equally picturesque and cost much lesser than the western European countries.
5. Travel during the offseason
One of the most effective ways to save money during a Europe tour is to plan your trip during the offseason. Visiting Europe from October to April can save you money on both flight tickets and accommodation. It will also allow you to experience the winter season in Europe, which is an experience in itself.
6. Stay in hostels
If you cannot find rooms in low-cost hotels, check out European hostel accommodation. They charge about ₹2,500 per night and often provide complimentary breakfast. So, your lodging needs for ten days will not cost more than ₹25,000.
If you follow these tips, you can easily go on a trip to Europe for 1.50 lakh, which includes your Schengen visa, travel insurance, and flight tickets, too. But if you are planning to avail of a loan for this vacation, it is a strict no-no.
Why should you avoid taking a loan for traveling?
Significant growth in personal loans has been observed over the last few years as more and more millennials are opting for travel financing. But financial companies charge between 14% and 21% interest on these loans. So, if you opt for a personal loan of ₹1.50 lakh instead of saving money, it will cost you over ₹20,000 just in interest repayment.
Now that you know how to save money from your salary, you can easily avoid spending the extra amount on interest. All you need to do is look for discounts and start planning as early as possible. And you are all set to dive into the breath-taking European exquisiteness, and that too within an incredibly low budget!
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at http://jupiter.money/resources/10-days-europe-trip-2/