How My Dream of 2 Weeks in Europe Became a Reality + 5 Tips to See the Best of Europe on a Budget

I'm willing to bet that you can close your eyes right now and picture yourself on your dream vacation. If the imagery in your mind happens to involve Europe and pasta just as mine did, then this post is going to provide you with a ton of information about how to turn that dream into a reality! My 2 weeks in Europe taught me some tricks and tips that maximized my experience while minimizing expenses. If you're interested in learning them for yourself, keep reading.

How My Dream of 2 Weeks in Europe Became a Reality

So let me preface this by saying that I've actually been to Europe before. In fact, I was born in Frankfurt, Germany. My Dad was in the US Army, and we moved back to the states shortly after my baby brother was born. I wasn't quite 2 years old, which is why I have no memories of my time spent living there. That is what sparked my longtime desire to visit Europe as an adult. I got the opportunity for a brief visit in 2021, but it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was hoping for another chance to explore more of Europe after the restrictions dropped.

Fast forward to January 2023. Several circumstances in my life lined up in a way that signaled to me that I should consider making a bold leap (which, might I add, is pretty uncharacteristic for me). First was the opportunity for free housing in Europe as my Dad had been working there for the past few years. In addition to that, his birthday is in March and it had been a few years since I had been able to celebrate with him. Then, I was reminded of the fact that I had a week left of PTO at work that was expiring if I didn't use it by March 15th. A few minutes after I got that reminder, I was on Google Flights looking for a flight deal. I told myself that if there happened to be a flight deal around Mid-March, that meant I should go for it. And there it was - a round trip ticket to Europe for around $600! I booked immediately. I realized I had 6 weeks to prepare for the trip of a lifetime and dove straight into planning.

PLACES THAT I VISITED IN EUROPE

The Netherlands. I stayed primarily in Maastricht, Netherlands. It is a picturesque, calming town that borders Belgium. Maastricht looks like a scene out of a movie with its row of outdoor restaurants that face the streets, unique shops, and a weekly market that brings out almost the whole town on Fridays. I still find myself reminiscing about strolling through the market and stopping to smell fresh flowers and buying fresh food from vendors.

Photo of fresh flowers sold at the Maastricht Markt Square

Three County Points. "Drielandenpunt" as called in Dutch, is the meeting point of the borders of Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands. So technically, you’re visiting three countries at once! Did I mention that visiting Three Country Points is free? Another added bonus is the surrounding countryside. It was so stunning that my photos didn't do it justice. Afterwards, we drove deeper into Germany to do some shopping at an outdoor outlet mall that had Gucci and Versace stores with unbelievable prices. 

France. We took a bus ride to Paris for $100. We'll dive a little deeper into that below. It was a day trip and I wasn't sure if 9 hours would be enough time to explore the City of Light, but it absolutely was! We were able to see the Eiffel Tower, eat, shop, and explore the city's most famous attractions. For me, Paris was just as magical as I always imagined it to be.

Italy. Last, but certainly not least, was my long awaited 3-day trip to Rome, Italy. That dream vacation visualization that we talked about earlier? Mine always involved eating pasta in Italy. I actually remember the first time I watched Eat, Pray, Love in 2012. That movie touched my soul and made such a strong impression on me for a variety of different reasons. It quickly became my favorite movie and I always turn to it during transitional moments in life. Over the last decade, I've joked about having my "Julia Roberts moment in Italy" where I eat pasta to my heart's content. And indeed, I did.

Photo from the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy

My 5 Tips to See the Best of Europe on a Budget

Now that you've learned a little bit about my travel to Europe and how it came about, let's move on to some tips that will help you get there, too! 

TIP #1: FLIGHT SHOP STRATEGICALLY. HERE'S HOW:

The last decade of traveling has taught me that the biggest keys to scoring a flight deal are to:

a) have some level of date flexibility, and

b) plan your trip during the off-season (if at all possible).

My personal favorite flight scouting tools to use are Google Flights and the Skyscanner App. My travel dates were mid to late March, which is before the peak season of travel to Europe that typically begins in late May until July. Traveling during the offseason alone significantly lowered the price of my ticket. Before I lock in a date, I like to toggle with different possible arrival and departure dates to see if they reduce the flight price. My roundtrip ticket for 2 weeks in Europe ended up costing me around $600. 

**Bonus Luggage Tip: A checked bag is usually $75 each way when traveling from the U.S. to Europe. And I absolutely DO recommend a checked bag for a 2-week long trip! That being said, resist the urge to book the Basic Economy Ticket that is normally non-refundable and does not include a free checked bag. Yes, it is the cheapest option. However, what I suggest that you do instead is opt for a Main Cabin Ticket because it generally includes a free checked bag along with the ability to change your ticket should something arise. I recommend purchasing this ticket because it is usually $150 more than basic economy, which is the price you are going to pay for checked bag roundtrip anyway. 

TIP #2: FIND AFFORDABLE WAYS TO EXPLORE ON YOUR EUROPEAN VACATION. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:

The Paris visit during my trip was a surprise, so I did not have time to pre-book any attraction tickets. So "winging it" for my 9 hours in Paris taught me some valuable exploring tips. Now as a disclaimer, please note that some really popular attractions do require you to pre-plan and purchase your tickets in advance. For example, if you know you want to see the Louvre Museum which houses the Mona Lisa in Paris, you should definitely book your ticket in advance as they tend to sell out quickly. Now, on to some affordable exploring options:

• Guided Walking Tours. While in Rome, we purchased Guided Walking Tour tickets for $25 each. Outside of the pasta, it was the most fascinating part of my visit to Rome. The tour was hosted by a local Tour Guide that had impressively extensive knowledge of Rome's history. Having her narrate as we visited different monuments dramatically enriched the experience. Had I visited those places without her, I would have missed out on so much valuable historical context. Included in the tour were a number of famous attractions, like the Pantheon. We even stopped at a local coffee shop and learned about Italian coffee customs. (Did you know coffee in Italy is like $2?) An added benefit was the exercise we got from walking all over the city! 
• Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tours. Most major cities in Europe have Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tours that are comprised of a network of buses that have pick up and drop off points in front of many of the city's most famous attractions. The tickets were $25 a piece while in Paris and the buses run continuously throughout the day. What I like about these tours is that you go at your own pace. You can hop off to visit an attraction on the route, and then go grab lunch at a nearby restaurant that you're interested in trying. That is a hidden benefit here - you essentially get transportation across the city so plan your day strategically when booking one of these tours. Instead of shelling out money for several taxis throughout the day, plan to eat or shop near points on the route. Let me also add that additional ticket purchases may be necessary in order to go inside certain attractions. 

TIP #3: PICK QUICK, CHEAP TRANSIT BETWEEN COUNTRIES AND MAKE AN ITINERARY!

During my 2 weeks in Europe, I visited a total of 5 countries. When deciding on what countries to visit, the trick is to pick places that are relatively close together and have inexpensive transit options. One important thing not to overlook here is the impact that transit time will have on your trip. Longer transit times significantly cut into the amount of time that you have to spend at a destination. Furthermore, longer transit times can also have a significant impact on your physical body. It can be difficult to be fully present and enjoy vacation when you're tired and jet-lagged. This is why I think creating an itinerary is a critical step that should not be skipped. Plan smart; I think that the ideal 2 Weeks Europe Itinerary carefully combines consideration of transit times, affordable transit methods, and rest time.

• Quick and Cheap Transit Options. Fortunately, Europe has several different options for transit between countries. You can travel between countries by bus, train, or short flights. For example, we used a U.S. Military Bus Tour for our Paris Day Trip that cost $100 bucks. Total travel time was approximately 5 hours from The Netherlands. The departure time was at 4:00 a.m., so I made sure to go to bed extra early the night before. We utilized a different transportation option when we took our 3-day trip to Rome. For this visit, we opted for a flight that was less than 2 hours through Irish-based airline, Ryanair. This airline specializes in offering quick, affordable flights between countries in Europe. You can also add on luggage as necessary. Access Ryanair Flights here: https://www.ryanair.com/us/en. 

TIP #4: THINK THROUGH THESE VARIABLES WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO STAY OVERNIGHT.

Where you stay impacts your experience and overall trip budget more than we like to think. I have been traveling out of the country for about a decade now, and one of the most important things that I've learned is to think past just booking the hotel with the cheapest nightly rate.  The first considerartion should actually be proximity. Try starting your search with places that are close to where you will spend the majority of your time. I know what you're thinking - these places are generally more expensive, which is true. However, there are a few other factors to consider here. First, you get to spend more time doing activities since you are spending less time traveling to them. The second reason is that you save money on transportation costs if your accommodations are a short walk or taxi ride away. So there is a beneficial trade-off here - pick a central location and you will recoup the funds you spent on more expensive accommodations by saving on transportation costs. All while, might I add, maximizing your activity spending time.

One of the many amazingly affordable breakfasts I had in Maastricht

TIP #5: UTILIZE THIS MEAL STRATEGY TO EAT WELL WHILE SAVING MONEY:

My vacation food strategy takes my dietary restrictions, desired food experiences, and budget into consideration. Start by asking yourself these few questions. What is your favorite meal of the day? How many meals a day do you typically eat? What are the must-try regional foods on your list for each country you will visit? Now let's use that information to strategize and figure out how you can keep your typical meal continuity while saving some money.

• Generally speaking, eating out 3 times a day for every meal is going to be expensive. If you typically eat breakfast, you can save money here by eating the free continental breakfast that might be offered at your hotel. My hotel in Italy offered it and it was like eating in a small Italian cafe. I loved the choices and the food was amazing. If your hotel does not happen to offer free breakfast, take into account that breakfast is typically the least expensive meal of the day. Consider starting your day by exploring local cafes for breakfast prior to your planned activities. I personally prefer to eat out for dinner every night while on vacation. With that being said, I typically eat a free or relatively inexpensive breakfast, and will then give myself more leeway to spend on dinner.
• Think broadly about other ways to save while still enjoying the cuisine a country has to offer. For example, do you enjoy wine but don't want to pay restaurant prices for it at every meal? Then visit a local wine shop. I did while in Italy and was blown away by the selections and the prices. I even brought some home to give as gifts to close friends. So it is possible to try all of the foods that you want; it just requires a little research and planning. If you are traveling with others, see if there are tapas-style restaurants to visit in the area. This restaurant style allows you to share a variety of dishes, and you can split the cost with your travel buddies which is great for your budget. As a foodie, it is important that I don't cheat myself out of the meal experiences I want while traveling.

Using this strategy, I ate the most amazing breakfasts in the Netherlands, had bratwurst in Germany that the thought of still makes my mouth water, and fulfilled a bucket list goal of eating pasta in Italy. What you want is possible, you just have to strategize on how to make it work.

BONUS: ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I DID ON MY EUROPEAN VACATION

Fun fact - I LOVE spas. As an introvert, I nearly always choose to recharge my battery over big celebrations for my birthday. So as a result of my preference to sneak away on birthdays, I have been to some of the best spas the U.S. has to offer located in places like Charleston, S.C., Chicago, D.C., and New York. After I booked my trip to Europe and began planning my itinerary, visiting a European spa was at the top of my list. Europe has long been influential in the spa industry and it is nearly impossible to not mention Europe when talking about the history of spas in general.  The spa I decided to book is located in Maastricht, Netherlands. At about 1/3 the price of what I have paid for spas in the U.S., I wasn't quite sure exactly what to expect or how different the experience might be. Immediately upon arrival, I was blown away. There were various pools with different temperatures, more sauna variations than I knew existed, salt scrub showers, a restaurant with the absolute best burger and truffle fries I've ever had, and a NAP ROOM. Oh, and did I mention that the package I booked also came with a bottle of champagne? If you have it in your budget to visit a spa while in Europe - GO. The spa I visited is called SpaSareen and I booked the Bubbalicious Package.

READY FOR YOUR 2 WEEKS IN EUROPE?

I hope that the tips and tricks you learned here equipped you with some valuable information that helps you make the best of your European Vacation. Remember that your trip is your own - you can use any information that you learned here to tailor your own preferences and desires. Curate an experience that feels authentic and aligned with who you are and what you want. 

Wishing you the time of your life! 

- JoMarie ♡