More and more cheap flights are being carried out from Yerevan to European cities. NEWS.am STYLE has compiled a list of instructions on how to save on tickets and cut other expenses.
Search for tickets on aggregator sites. For example, aviasales or skyscanner․ They usually give prices lower than on the websites of the airlines themselves.
Plan your trip ahead of time. The earlier you book a hotel or apartment before your expected departure date, the cheaper it will cost you. If you use the Booking hotel reservation system, pay attention to your status in the program. Genius Levels 2 and 3 in the loyalty system allow you to get high discounts and sometimes free breakfast in some hotels. If you do not have such a status, ask your friends and acquaintances - booking through their profile will be beneficial for you.
City center or the outskirts? Hotels on the outskirts of the city, as a rule, are cheaper than those located in the center. But saving on a room, do not forget to include in the budget of the trip the cost of transport, by which you will get to the main attractions. Also, keep in mind the time you will need to spend each day traveling to and from your hotel. Plan your route ahead of time. If you're flying to Europe for the weekend and don't have much time, it might be better to pay more for a hotel in the city center.
Hotel or apartment? If you want to save on food, you can rent an apartment and cook in your own kitchen! Buying groceries in a supermarket and having dinner outside of a restaurant will cost less than eating in a cafe every day. You can find apartments or even entire houses for rent on the Airbnb website.
Use privileges. In popular tourist cities, as a rule, there is a special card that allows you to save on entrance tickets to museums and other attractions. For example, in Paris it is The Paris Pass, in Rome - the Rome City Pass. Study in advance what discounts the card gives and and think about how many days it would be best to get it for.
In addition, major European museums have special days when they can be visited for free. Go to the museum website and check for your dates.
If you are under 30, then you will most likely be able to take advantage of special student rates. They operate in almost all public places, including museums, theaters, cinemas, public transport. Check the cost at the checkout: as a rule, reduced rates are valid until 27-29 years old.
Buy tickets on museum websites in advance, as this will often allow you to avoid the queue.
Sometimes more expensive is cheaper! Major museums and popular attractions often require long queues. There are tickets that will let you pass without waiting. Yes, such a ticket will be more expensive than usual, but you should find out what is included in it. Sometimes, for example, a free drink or admission to another museum is provided. In addition, this way you will save valuable travel time and spend it on more pleasant things than waiting in the sun or rain for several hours.
Save on coffee. Let's agree, it's nice to even save a few euros on a trip. Did you know that in European cities getting coffee at the counter will cost you less than ordering the same drink at a café table?
If you do not want to spend money on a local SIM card and pay for the Internet while traveling, download the free maps.me app for your phone. It will allow you to easily build routes even without a network connection and not get lost in an unfamiliar city. Just in advance, while there is Internet, download a map of the area where you plan to go.
Cheap food and alcoholic beverages. European bars usually have special hours where you can have a glass of wine or a cocktail at a very nice price, or two for the price of one. In Italy, there is such a thing as aperitivo - the time when you can pay for one drink and get a lot of snacks for free in a bar or cafe. In France and other countries, there are tourist menus: during lunch, you can eat salad, main course and dessert at a reduced cost at certain hours.
Profitable shopping. When shopping in Europe for a certain amount, you can get a refund of the purchase tax - tax-free. Ask about this possibility at the checkout, present your passport, and you will be given the necessary documents for a refund.
Anastasia Baru
Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
22:28, May 16
Meryl Streep remembers a dangerously intimate moment from one of her iconic movies20:28, May 16
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Are ‘Headed for a Divorce,’ He ‘Already Moved Out’16:12, May 16
Britney Spears' heartbreaking admission after years-long feud21:18, May 15
Bianca Censori 'furious' over Kanye West's plans to launch porn platform15:32, May 15
Mark Zuckerberg celebrates 40th birthday on yacht worth $300M13:11, May 15
Battle for Iron Throne to soon resume: House of the Dragon 2nd season official trailer released12:17, May 15
Kim Kardashian poses in Pamela Anderson look of 1990s11:21, May 15
This year's Cannes Film Festival likely to be as dramatic as storylines of select star-studded movie premieres10:20, May 15
Meryl Streep receives Palme d'Or20:22, May 14
Francis Ford Coppola releases first teaser trailer for Megalopolis epic project16:13, May 14
Downton Abbey to be made into 3rd movie15:23, May 14
Naomi Campbell exudes elegance in classic little black dress