How much will a Europe trip cost?

Money--Back Packing Student Trip Costs

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How Much will a Backpack/Hostel Trip Cost?

Expenses Before You Leave:

--Start with your Passport and Pictures. These can cost about $65-$75. Make sure you do this several months before you depart. You want to allow time to return it and get it back in case there are some "typos". To find out how & where to get a new passport or renew the one you have, got to: TERC's Getting a Passport page. Check out our list of cheap Passport Photos sources.

--Your Transportation to and around Europe will be your BIGGEST Expenses unless you have frequent flyer miles.

Getting TO Europe: Air prices will vary considerably depending on your departure location and time of year you fly! Check TERC's list of Airlines and on-line agencies for best Air Deals. The real Budget Minded traveler should check out AirHitch and can fly Round Trip for as little as $330 (east cost) to $466 (west coast) plus local taxes & Airhitch registration fee! Hawaii residents can fly to west coast for $278 + taxes additional. No AGE restriction for these fares.
Getting Around Europe: Any one who lives in USA or Canada, will need to purchase their RailPasses BEFORE they go to Europe. Costs will depend on the length of your trip and the number of places you want to visit. You should be able to buy a decent rail pass for $250-800 for travel in continental Europe. Add another $185-500. See How to Choose Your Rail Pass . With some research and planning, you can Save Lots in this area.

Now let look at Supplies you will take with you to Europe--For a detailed Travel bedget see our Sample

--First is your Backpack! Expect to pay about $89 for one without an internal frame and $145 for one with a frame. Find a pack that fits you. Shorter travelers will appreciate the fit of our favorite low end MEI Pack. For those of you who want the support of an Internal frame--check out the Eagle Creek Expandable Journey Pack. About 2500-2800 cu inches is enough space for what you need to take with you.

See article on Selecting a Bag for Your Trip for more criteria that will influence your choice.

An under the waistband Money Belt $8. This is Essential for keeping your Valuables Safe at all times as you travel and sleep.

--Useful Travel accessories $75-175 depending on your needs and "creativity". Hostlers need a Sleepsheet.--$20. and possibly a Combination Lock for lockers at some Hostels-- $10-20.. A Flashlight for Hostel living including reading your combination in the dark-- $9. Toiletry Kit with a hook for counterless bathrooms --$15-32. depending on the size you need.Fast drying Paktowl --$10-15. Rain Poncho with hood that will cover you and your pack (much more efficient than an umbrella and easier to carry) $2.50-25.

--Taking care of Body & Clothes A First-aid Kit which includes nail clippers and "mole skin" for your blisters or "rubbed shoe sores". (make your own for almost nothing). A Sewing Kit ( you can buy for $2-5. or put together yourself. Remember to add some LARGE Safety Pins). Small bottle of Woolite for hand-washing and an Elastic Clothes-line -- $7 plus some "Shout Packets" for removing soiled spots as they happen!

--If you plan to Picnic Add a 3# plastic coffee can lid to use as a cutting board, Zippered Baggies in different sizes (not easily found in Europe), Travel Wipes, and if you plan to CHECK YOUR BAG WHEN YOU FLY, a Swiss Army knife or equivalent --$25-35 Otherwise pick up utensils when you get there if you are carrying your bag into the cabin. See Allowable items if you keep your bag with you when you fly.

--Travel Guide(s) & Phrase Books $18-50. A small investment for the most current information for a $2000+ travel experience. Learn how you can Get some of these FREE. Get a 10% discount on Book Purchases by mentioning that you saw this message on this page when you place your order. (10% Not available for sale Items) Go to our Travel Bookstore for our favorite money saving resources.

--Your Transportation to and around Europe will be your BIGGEST Expenses unless you have frequent flyer miles.

Getting TO Europe: Air prices will vary considerably depending on your departure location and time of year you fly! Check TERC's list of Airlines and on-line agencies for best Air Deals. The Budget Minded should check out AirHitch and can fly Round Trip for as little as $330 (east cost) to $466 (west coast) plus local taxes & Airhitch registration fee! Hawaii residents can fly to west coast for $278 + taxes additional. No AGE restriction for these fares.
Getting Around Europe: Any one who lives in USA or Canada, will need to purchase their RailPasses BEFORE they go to Europe. Costs will depend on the length of your trip and the number of places you want to visit. You should be able to buy a decent rail pass for $250-800 for travel in continental Europe. Add another $185-500. See How to Choose Your Rail Pass . With some research and planning, you can Save Lots in this area. TERC Staff can help you cut these prices by analysing your trip plan. We find that it is best to use your railpass for your long expensive trips, and and then buy cheap point to point tickets for trains and/or buses locally as you travel. See TERC's Free Trip Planning Service.

Expenses Once You Arrive in Europe:

Accommodations such as Hostels, Monistaries or Convents, or cheap double Pensions will cost $15-25. per day (prices tend to be at the higher end of this range in large cities like London and Paris, but are considerably cheaper if you go to cities in Eastern Europe and Spain. If you use a night train, a couchette birth will cost about $27. per/person in addition to your Pass. Again you can pay less per day with a little more pre-planning! Mix in some FREE SLEEPS by using SERVOS. or go cheaper by Camping. See TERC's Where to Sleep page for more information.
Food will cost $15-25 per day depending on how much, what, and where you eat. I picnic ALOT--buying most of my food at grocery stores. If you are planning to eat in restaurants at least once a day, plan on $25-30 a day. When I travel with a companion, we look for cheap double accommodations that include a breakfast in their price.
Other Transportation Costs: In some countries such as Spain, Italy, and Eastern Europe you may find yourself using buses & local cheap trains in addition to your Railpass. Costs will vary depending on your country. And don't forget that some of your trains will require seat reservations be made. Check your timetables before you go to find out which routes require seat reservations on top of your Railpass or train ticket.
Local transportation in towns & sight seeing/activity fees: These will vary a lot. You'll probably be using local city buses, subways, and/or renting bicycles to get to your attractions in the cities you are visiting. Then when you get to them, it is more money for the entrance fees. Costs will depend on where you go and what you see, but expect to pay about $10-15 per day. Again, a little country by city research will help you find the best city transportation and sight seeing discount cards--thus cutting these costs.

Traveling Expenses while in Europe TOTALS:	30 days=$1,250-$2,000
(These prices do not include Pre-Trip Total/Basic Supplies but do include transportation)	45 days=$2,000-$2,500
	60 days=$2,750-$3,250
	75 days=$3,500-$3,750
	90 days=$4,000-$5,000

One quick way to get a rough estimate of your trip costs is to multiply the number of days of your trip by US $50. Remember this does not include your airline ticket and your other "Basic Supplies" because prices for these items can vary so drastically from person to person.

Check out these TERC articles and web sites for more information:

TERC Free Trip Planning Service