Budget travel · Western Europe

Hello Voyage Forum members. For my wife’s birthday and her 64th year, I’d love to plan a two-week road trip with her—using our own car—preferably avoiding overly touristy spots, so off the beaten path where possible. That said, we wouldn’t mind stopping at must-see places along the way. The trip would cover Emilia-Romagna and/or Tuscany if combining both regions is doable in that timeframe, with the option for some hikes during the period. We’re looking at late November 2026. I’d prioritize the most authentic accommodations, ideally with breakfast included, without exceeding 100 € per night if that’s possible. So, stays like private rooms in hostels or homestays would be perfect. Based on these details, I’d really appreciate any recent tips or insights from Voyage Forum members to help me plan this surprise anniversary trip.

Hello everyone, This is my first time traveling to Italy For a short cultural trip From October 8th to 17th Solo as a senior woman I booked my one-way ticket with FlixBus From Lille Europe On October 8th at 11:55 PM I arrive at Porte de Maillot (Paris Pershing) At 3:05 AM And I’d like to get to Palermo, Italy Starting October 9th I’ve checked tickets—prices are sky-high everywhere, and there are even scams Can you advise me on how to get to this city Affordably By train, plane, or bus I need to arrive by October 9th For my hostel room Which is located at Address provided 5.4K followers • 426 following Travel, meet, be surprised, and fall in love with Palermo Book at: www.acasadiamici.com Via Dante 57, Palermo | +39 091 7654650 Palermo acasadiamicihostel +39 328 317 2205 A Casa di Amici, a place to live!

And from Palermo, how do I get to the hostel where I’ve booked? I’m counting on your support and understanding To make things easier before I arrive And to recommend the best ways to get there Safely Can I count on you? Thanks for your trust. Looking forward to your advice, best regards.

Hi, My trip to the Algarve, which was postponed, is now taking shape. On October 13th, I’m leaving for 2 weeks. When I arrive, I’ll be staying in Lisbon for 3 nights. So, I’d love to find somewhere affordable and well-located to stay—any suggestions would be great! After that, I’ll head to Faro, where I plan to rent a car. Would it be best to rent directly from the airport? I can’t seem to find any agencies in Faro city where I could pick up the car and drop it off at the airport at the end of my stay. Is it possible to return a car at 6 AM at the airport? Can I get the Portuguese motorway pass in France? Thanks so much for your help! Jofra

Hello, I’d like to travel from Lille in the North of France to Italy safely and on a budget. Preferably by bus. If you have other ideas, I’m all ears! I’m interested in any suggestions. How can I get to Italy? Which city is the cheapest? The most visited? Is it safe, please? Thanks for your replies. Best regards,

Hi everyone, I'm traveling solo in Spain for 8 days without a car, on a tight budget. What train/bus route do you recommend between cities, and where can I find the best prices? Looking forward to your tips! Thanks

Hello! 👋 I’m new to this site and feeling a little desperate. 😢 My boyfriend’s birthday is in 4 days, and I wanted to surprise him with a New Year’s trip to London... except I just found out he’s already been there as a kid. Well, there goes my surprise! 😅 Since we both love Christmas and winter, I’m looking for a destination where we can really feel the holiday magic—with a budget of around 500 € for transport + accommodation for two (yes, I know, I might be asking for a Christmas miracle here 😇). We’ve already been to Bucharest, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, so I’d love to find something a little more offbeat, not too expensive, and with a beautiful Christmas atmosphere.

Please help me! 🙏 On social media, it’s always the same ultra-touristy cities... I’m sure there are hidden gems I haven’t discovered yet!

Hi everyone! I’m planning my dream trip for next September, lasting about a month. Here’s my itinerary:

Amsterdam: 3 days (departing from Montreal) Tanzania: 3-day safari Zanzibar: 6 days Istanbul: 7 days Return to Montreal.

Since my budget is pretty tight, I’m looking for tips and advice to cut costs without sacrificing the experience. Here are my questions:

Multi-destination flights: What’s the best way to book these connections? Is it better to buy a one-way ticket from Montreal to Amsterdam, then a separate internal flight, or use comparison tools for a multi-destination ticket? Budget safari: Do you have recommendations for local agencies or tips to do a 3-day safari (Serengeti/Ngorongoro) at an affordable price (e.g., camping/glamping instead of luxury lodges)? Accommodation in Zanzibar: Which villages or types of lodging are the most budget-friendly and accessible via local transport for these 6 days? Istanbul: Any tips for well-located but cheap accommodation and great food deals?

I’d like to drive to Morocco from Paris via Spain. I was really surprised to see the ferry crossing prices—around 500 €—but especially the crossing time (about 1 hour). Normally, I pay 3000 € to go to Tunisia from Genoa, but that’s for a 24-hour crossing. My question: is it cheaper to buy the ticket on the spot, as some Moroccans have advised me? Though I’ve also heard the opposite. What do you think, considering I need to get to Tétouan around July 17th and return from Tangier around August 4th? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone,

It’s been ages since I last dropped by here... maybe simply because, apart from Nepal, I haven’t really had the chance to hit the road lately. 😉

This year, I’d love to spend a few days in Lisbon, probably in late May or early June. But with my budget being what it is, I’m looking for great tips to avoid wasting time once I’m there and risk missing out on hidden gems or unusual culinary specialties and/or quirky activities! I’m hoping to find a room in a local’s home where I can stay in a quiet neighborhood near the center, so I can get around without relying too much on public transport—my walking shoes are my best travel buddies. I’d love all your recommendations, especially for parks, small neighborhood markets, casual eateries for a quick bite, your favorite viewpoints to soak in the scenery (I’m bringing my travel journal to sketch my getaway in watercolors), events around traditional art and crafts, and so on. All your advice will definitely help me travel peacefully and come back with my head full of vibrant memories! Thanks in advance, everyone! Isabelle

Hi there, This is my first time traveling to Italy, and I’m planning to go by car. From what I’ve read, parking is tough in cities like Florence. I’m looking for a small town not too far from Florence where I can stay and park my car, then take the train to visit Florence. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance

Hi there, it’s been a long time since I last went to London. I’d love to spend a week there in July with my daughter and my niece (both young adults).

Of course, I’m looking for great tips on accommodation, and I’m wondering about renting an apartment. It seems like a better deal to save on restaurants (with the option of having a few meals at home... but is that really the case? I’m not sure about the cost of a meal in a modest restaurant, the pound exchange rate, or grocery prices...). Otherwise, I’d like to stay in accommodation (hotel or apartment) near a tube station and in Zone 1.

If you have any great tips, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks,

Marsyork

I'd love some destination suggestions for a road trip from Nice to Livorno by car, including the routes, tolls to cross, distance, and estimated travel time. We're planning a 5-day trip, with 2 nights near Nice, 1 night along the way, and finally 2 nights in Livorno. There are 4 of us in a rental car, and we'd like to stay in either an apartment, a mobile home near the sea, or a campsite. Our budget isn't too extravagant!!!! We want to visit the Promenade des Anglais, and I've heard Menton is really interesting. Once we reach Livorno, we'll take the ferry to Corsica for 12 days with the same rental car. We're planning to leave the last week of May and the first two weeks of June 2026, so around 17-18 days total. Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a trip to Tenerife this winter and have already booked my flight. I’d love any tips to help me prepare. My wife and I are into hiking and exploring all the interesting spots—countryside, villages, and towns. We usually get around by bus, but renting a car in Tenerife seems like a good idea to reach different sites. I’d appreciate any info on car rentals and accommodations. Thanks so much!

Hi everyone, Next year I’d love to spend some time in the Dolomites and do a few nice hikes—not too difficult. Can anyone give me some tips? I’ve read that it gets super crowded, you have to start really early, and everything’s pretty expensive. Anyone familiar with the area? Thanks for your help

Hi everyone! This is my first time in Spain, and I don’t know it at all. I’m heading to Barcelona for 3 days, but I don’t have any specific plans yet. I’ve heard it can be quite expensive, so I’d love to get some tips on how not to break the bank during these 3 days! 😊

Hi there,

We’re planning a trip around Madrid to visit the must-see spots—Alcalá de Henares, El Escorial, Chinchón, etc. We’ll be traveling from Béziers by train and getting around by bus or train. Which village would be the best base for a week-long stay, given that Madrid itself is too expensive for us?

Thanks for your help!

Hi there, Could you please let me know if there are any campgrounds on the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote, and La Palma? Thanks in advance!

Hi there! 😊 I’d love to take my two kids (12 and 14) away in July. We’ve never traveled all three of us together before. My son would like to go to Italy, but nothing’s set in stone… We’d like to go abroad, but I have two tricky conditions: - Budget max 1000 € all-in, I’ve tried but I can’t save any more than that 😅 - I have some health issues, so… I can’t drive for more than 2-3 hours. No way we can go by car. Also, once we’re there, I can’t do long hikes or sports (short walks and swimming are fine).

Any ideas, please?

I’ve started looking at Airbnbs and the prices are reasonable, but as soon as I check flight tickets 😵💸🔥

Maybe it’s better to go for an all-inclusive place like Booking.com?

Thanks so much to anyone who can help! 😊

hi, I’m heading to Amsterdam for the weekend on November 10th and 11th, 2024. Do I need to book tickets in advance for things like the Anne Frank House or multi-day bus-boat passes? Thanks!