Rick Steves' Travel Tip To Save Time, Money, And Have More Fun Exploring Europe

Planning any trip is an exciting and somewhat overwhelming endeavor. Finding the right place to stay, transportation to get there, and making the right decisions when it comes to ordering food can be thrilling, stressful, and expensive. Since money is certainly involved to explore Europe, travel guru and television host Rick Steves suggests an easy way to ease the budget and increase the fun of the experience: Travel with a friend or partner.

When two people travel together, expenses are sliced in half. This basic math can help save on the costs associated with exploring Europe, Steves says. He shares on his site, "A single hotel room often costs nearly the same as a double. And by splitting taxis, chores, guidebooks, and picnics couples save both time and money." And if you're traveling with a group, consider turning every night into a sleepover. "The more people you put in a hotel room, the cheaper it gets per person. A quad is only a little more expensive than a double."

If you and your traveling companion(s) are close enough, pairing up for the adventure can also increase the fun of the trip. Money saved on accommodations, for example, could be used for those museum passes or city passes that give you easy access to more sites. That, in turn, saves you time. Research goes a long way and can help you decide if a city pass in Rome, for example, is the right option for you. So, make a plan, pair up, and explore in tandem to cut costs.

Who doesn't love a good picnic? Tempting restaurants, bars, and street vendors are readily available throughout Europe. And while the food may be delicious, all those purchases can add up. Steves suggests that planning some meals picnic-style with a friend or partner to reduce your dining expenses.

"Picnics save money," Steves says bluntly. European grocery stores have impressive deli selections that can make packing for a meal on the go easy. You can even save time by breaking out some snacks while traveling by rail, he suggests, which only adds to the enjoyment of the experience. Steves also suggests learning the metric system to better understand your food choices and prices. It's a good skill to add to your list of words and phrases to learn before any vacation.

Europe's transportation network is impressive, but tickets for taxis, buses, trains, trams, and boats can add up fast. Sharing those costs with a travel companion can ease some of that burden, Steves says, and hopefully reduce some stress along the way. "Make the most of public transit," he adds. Ride share options and taxis may seem convenient, but their fees can add up quickly.

To really save money on a European vacation, invest in an up-to-date guidebook, Steves suggests. Better yet, Steves says to split the cost of the guidebook with your traveling companion. The upfront cost of a guidebook is worth it in the long run and can help reduce your expenses along the way, Steves says. "Saving money by not buying one is penny-wise and pound-foolish," he adds.

Steves also reminds readers that purchasing maps in Europe will save you more money than if you purchase a map in the U.S. European stores will also have a wider map selection with more specifics to the region, he adds. Sharing the costs of these helpful guides makes the small investment worth it for a less expensive trip overall.

While traveling with a companion, partner, or friends will reduce costs, there are plenty of benefits to traveling Europe solo. There are even ways to avoid paying extra if you do choose to explore the world on your own. However you travel, Steves says the biggest benefit of lowering the costs of your experience is that it "lowers barriers between you and the culture you've traveled so far to experience."