Nearly all college travelers have one thing in common: we’re all broke.

Whether you’re planning your own backpacking adventure, or just planning some weekend excursions from your study abroad destination, the goal is to maximize the number of places you can see, and minimize the amount of money you’ll have to spend to do it. That may seem a little daunting when calculating the dollar amount of every pound/euro you’re spending, but I can assure you that you can see everything you want to see without breaking the bank. Here’s how.

Transportation

While public transportation isn’t huge here in the United States, Europeans really take advantage of public transport to get from A to Z.

Eurail. If you’re backpacking or traveling between countries, the Eurail is absolutely the best way to do it. The Eurail offers passes for different lengths of time, from one day to three months, and offers passes for differing numbers of countries, whether you want to see only one country or all 24 European countries! The prices are extremely affordable and are much less expensive than the cost of plane tickets to and from each country -- plus, the views are incredible! Most countries outside of Europe have some sort of train system, as well, and they are pretty reliable.

Subway and bus. Nearly every large city in Europe has a subway or bus system that takes you around town. Take advantage of these. In big cities, like London, the price of a day pass that will take you anywhere in town is only about £10. The public transportation systems there are usually very clean and easy to navigate, even if you don’t know the language.

Taxis. In cities that do not have public transportation, taxis are usually much cheaper than they are here, but usually must be hailed in advance. Pop into a local business and have them call for you, if you don’t have a phone plan.

Bicycles. Rent-a-bikes are huge across Europe. I would highly suggest renting a bike for any distance less than 20 miles or so. You’re not going to the gym, you’re eating insane amounts of calories, and biking is an easily accessible way to alleviate all of your troubles. Most bikes rent for less than about $30 a day, and drivers are much more cautious and aware of bikers in Europe than they are in the U.S.

Walking. I know this sounds redundant, but a lot of towns and cities are small enough in area that, although they offer public transport, it makes more sense to walk everywhere. Perfect examples are Florence and Dublin. You can get almost anywhere, from one side to the other, in these cities by walking. In fact, Dublin is only 44 sq. miles (roughly 6 miles by 6 miles) and all of the good stuff is located in the center!

Lodging            

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably only scraped enough money together to get to your destinations, never mind food and lodging. But you have to stay somewhere. There is really only one answer, unless you’re exceptionally lucky enough to have friends living in Europe to crash with. 

Hostels. I apologize to anyone who has seen the movie Hostel. Let’s clear the air here. Yes, there are some evil people in Europe. Yes, it’s really important to be safe and aware while traveling anywhere, but especially abroad. However, if you are with friends and you are smart about it, hostels can be an incredibly safe, enjoyable and inexpensive places to stay. 

What to look for: Stay in a chain. I’m all about buying local, but on vacation you do not want to stay in some sketchy nowhere place that could be run by Dutch businessmen. A lot of chains have branches all across Europe, and you can just plan your trip by hopping from one hostel in their network to the next. Some of my favorites are Generator, Safestay, Stayokay, Hoax, Plus and Urban y Go. Most of these offer options where you can stay by yourself or with a friend for about $50 a night, or you can do potluck with a group room, or a group females-only room, if you’re really brave, for about $15 apiece. 

Food

Plan to eat breakfast every day at your hostel. It’s usually only a few dollars and is pretty cheap. I suggest buying protein bars and keep them in your bag for a quick breakfast, but a lot of hostels don’t allow outside food or drink, and they can get really miffed if you break those rules!. 

Then choose either lunch or dinner to eat out, but not both. That way you get one fancy meal a day on the town and can eat for pennies for the other meal. As soon as you get into a new town, locate the nearest marketplace or grocer, and make your off-meals from stuff you pick up there. Especially in locations with large markets, this can be just as exciting as eating at a fancy restaurant! 

When choosing restaurants, stay away from ones in touristy areas, which tend to be more pricey, and go for ones that are obviously local; ask the clerk at the front desk of the hostel for his or her favorite local eateries. 

Traveling, and the memories, new experiences and new friends that come with it, is worth every penny you have. Follow these tips and you can save your pennies for your next great adventure.