Transport

Short Hops in Europe for budget travelers

Wondering about getting around in Europe? Lucky for the modern European traveler, the options have ballooned for getting around. Want to experience the continent at a leisurely pace? Try the modern Eurail trains. How about a nice road trip? Bus options are cheap and virtually unlimited.

Although the above options great for really experiencing the land, sometimes you just want to get to your destination—fast and for cheap!  Thankfully, the budget traveler has Europe’s gift to travelling mankind—their no-frills carriers.

Yes, these airlines redefine the concept of no-frills. Sure, you’re not expecting ample legroom, or a gourmet meal. But these guys take it to a whole new level—like charging for checked bags, or checking in at the airport instead of online. Some may even seem tacky, like advertisements in all seatbacks.

But, in exchange for some “amenities”, you are likely to find tickets that are cheaper than lunch! Many times, these airlines just give away their seats, charging you only for tax. Even with the extra charges for bags and such, you come out ahead.

I remember my first trip on one of these carriers—I was travelling from Barcelona to Venice, and found a seat for 30 euros on RyanAir. Not bad– worth the no-frills experience in itself.

Of course, it isn’t for everyone. You’ll need to be flexible to get the best fare. And, these airlines tend to use out of way airports, like Girona instead of Barcelona, and Rome’s Campiano instead of DaVinci Fiumicino.

I like to look at it this way—if you’re paying bus fare prices, compare what you get to an actual bus, not a full fare carrier. So, yes, you may not get a meal or even a snack without paying, but what bus will provide even that option? You may have to trek to an out of way airport, but calculate your time savings overall versus a bus. You’ll likely find that you’ll benefit despite the small inconveniences!

Some low fare carriers:

RyanAir

EasyJet 

Other resources

Attitude Travel guide to low cost airlines

http://www.attitudetravel.com/lowcostairlines/europe/

No-frills Air

www.nofrillsair.com