How to Travel to Amsterdam on the CHEAP CHEAP with cheapie-travel.com

Netherlands |

The Netherlands, formerly known as Holland, is home to the Dutch people.  New-age thinking and engineering marvels are hallmarks of the Netherlands.  This short trip from France or Germany make it central to a European backpacking adventure.

Amsterdam |

Introduction |

Amsterdam, the Capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Netherlands’ capital), known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and tall, and narrow houses lining the canals.  Its museums house works from Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.  With this cheapie-traveler guide to Amsterdam, you will surely save some moola while you sight see through Amsterdam.  

Amsterdam Budget |

Amsterdam is a European city which you can make your Euros stretch quite a bit longer than other European cities.  Amsterdam has very inexpensive lodging, transportation, sightseeing, and truly offers a multitude of things to do on a tight budget.

Amsterdam is a city in which you can accomplish a shoestring budget.  A shoestring budget is defined by cheapie-travel.com as $50.00 per day (excluding airfare and lodging).  Below, is an example of a daily budget allotment for a shoestring budget traveler: 

Daily Budget of $50.00

$0.00 for Breakfast (most hostels provide a breakfast to those early risers)

$12.00 for a bicycle rental 

$0.00 on light rail metro system

$8.00 on Lunch

$5.00 on hydration

$5.00 on snacks

$10.00 museum entry fee, or other admission fee

$10.00 on dinner

*Keep in mind that a budget cheapie-traveler excursion may not be filled with frills, bells and whistles.  The cheapie-traveler may have to give themselves tours of the city they are visiting.  The cheapie-traveler may not get to experience the fine dining cuisine of your destination backpacking vacation.  

Amsterdam Hostels | 

Hotels in Amsterdam are more expensive than backpacking hostels, and since this is a cheapie-travel log, only Hostel stays are covered below.  

The hostels in Amsterdam are plenty, and are generally in good condition.  The hostels I stayed were comprised of large dorm style rooms, with bunk beds, and shared, multi person restrooms.  The hostels are of very reasonable value, ranging in cost from $20.00 to $60.00 (on the costly side of backpacking hostels) per day.  I stayed in medium range hostels, which cost about $30.00 per night, and were comfortable and clean, and had average age and condition amenities.  

Some hostels have downstairs restaurants and bars.  These can be cheaper options for those travelers who do not wish to have to eat at fast food in order to obtain their cheapie-traveler vagabond dreams.  

Some things to keep in mind before staying in a hostel:

There are travelers coming in and out of the dorm style room at all times of the day and night

Communal restrooms (privacy curtains and doors are used)

Sleeping arrangements (bunk beds, co-ed rooms, etc.)

Lower price and quality than traditional hotels

Despite being known as “youth hostels” very few actually require you to be under a certain age

Hostels can be checked in 24 hours a day (be sure to check with your hostel to confirm)

Hostels are a great place to meet new friends who have similar interests to you (travel), who are from all over the world.

Amsterdam Weather |

Amsterdam ranges from the 90s in the summer, and the 40s in the winter.  Snow falls in the winter and lasts until spring.  I went in spring, and snow was still on the ground, and it was very cold.  Snow boots are not required, but gloves and a coat are during winter!  

Amsterdam Food |

In order to obtain cheapie-traveler status, I was not able to partake in fine dining in Amsterdam.  In order to achieve travelling Europe on a shoestring budget I had to eat like a college student.  In order to maximize my food budget, I visited local stores and purchased small packaged items for “meals” and sometimes visited fast food (due to the low cost prices).  Food in Amsterdam was a tad bit cheaper than other well known European cities.

Amsterdam Vitals |

Passport:
Before you travel outside of the United States, you will need a Passport.  For more information, visit:
The U.S. Department of State

Vaccinations:  
Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional, and you should not take any medical information in this blog as medical advice.  Always seek medical advice from a doctor.  That being said, there are no required vaccinations to travel to the Netherlands that I was required to have.  However, you may want to seek the advice from a medical professional.

Amsterdam Flights |

Flights range anywhere from $900.00 to $1,500.  The flights range in price greatly.  My advice is to do your research, plan months in advance, purchase your tickets months in advance, and use your flyer miles (if you are able to redeem and use them). 

Amsterdam Travel |

Bicycles:

In the Amsterdam Budget section, I allotted $12.00 for a bicycle rental, and no money for the metro system.  Amsterdam is an interesting place to ride a bicycle.  There are whole lanes devoted to bicycle riders.  During commute hours, you will see people dressed in suits peddling as fast as they can on bicycles headed to work.  Don’t get in their way.  A good tip is to stay to one side of that lane (the right side of the lane) so that the fast moving bicycles can maneuver around your slower moving bicycle.  I say that you will be moving slower because, unless you commute to work on a bicycle each day in traffic of other bicycles while peddling at full speed, then you will be unfamiliar, and moving slower.

Metro:

The metro system in Amsterdam is clean, timely, and cost effective, however, you will spend a considerable amount moving from each destination.  Your ticket will last for a certain length of time, and after that, you need to repurchase another ticket.  

Vehicle:

A vehicle in downtown (old) Amsterdam is not practical.  Some streets don’t allow vehicles I believe anyway.  The corridors lining the canal system are very confusing to most people.  All of the travelers that I have consulted with have had difficulty accurately navigating the canal streets.  However, since there is a lot of stuff to do in Amsterdam, you really don’t need to know exactly where you are going. There will be something along the way that will spark your interest if you get lost.

Eurail: 

The Eurail http://www.eurail.com/ , is the most efficient way to enter Amsterdam from your previous destination.  To see more information on the Eurail, please visit my Eurail page.

Prepare Yourself |

Top 10 Ways to Prepare Yourself for Amsterdam 

For the Weather

For the cost

For the beautiful canals

For the beautiful flower market

For the confusing streets

For amazing bicycle ride tours

For Bars and “Coffee Shops” 

For backpacking hostels

For nice Dutch people

For making new friends

Amsterdam Excursions |

Amsterdam is a city full of sights to see.  In order to maximize your cheapie-travel experience, I recommend splurging on one event, or thing you want to do per day on vacation.  In order to accomplish this, you may not be able to eat at the restaurant you want to, but you could instead have a picnic in a park.  Cheapie-traveler options are available everywhere – you just need to be able to see them.  

Museums are plentiful in Amsterdam.  I visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and while, it does not house Starry Starry Night, it still features many amazing pieces of Van Gogh’s work.  

Coffee shops are prevalent in Amsterdam.  A Café, which you would purchase coffee at, is a different kind of establishment altogether.  Coffee shops in Amsterdam indicate that a marijuana dispensary is located there, many times, in addition to coffee.  Visitors to Amsterdam do not have to have any type of prescription or recommendation to visit that marijuana dispensary.  However, if you do decide to purchase marijuana from the coffee shop, it’s best to partake in the festivities at the coffee shop and not out on the street.  

The "Pack This" Top 20 Ultimate Travel Essentials List |

The "Pack This" Top 20 Ultimate Travel Essentials List |

1.  Cell Phone:

Your mobile phone, while may not be used while you are scampering down the side of a snow-capped mountain, will be useful in populated areas, and before and after your vacation.  The cameras on cellular phones such as iPhones surpass many consumer cameras for sale known as "point and shoot" cameras.  iPhones provide the traveler a compact camera that instant takes tons of images with pushes of your finger.  

2.  Passport:

An obvious essential to international travel, the passport allows for more than just intracontinental excursions, but allows travelers the option to rent vehicles, and provides a universal form of identification, and is a collector's piece to see how many stamps you can get on your passport.  How many do you have?   

3.  Video Camera:

If your cell phone's memory is full, you may need a video camcorder to capture your backpacking moments.  Video cameras can be feasible options, especially, when you aren't able to dedicate valuable cell phone battery capacity to video capture.

4.  Keys:

You'll need your keys before and after your vacation.  Unless you have transportation from someone who lives in the same residence as you, you will most likely need your keys as soon as you arrive home.  You better just bring them.

5.  A Map:

Don't count on your cell phone's GPS app to guide you.  A hand printed map can be handed to a local for them to guide you in the correct direction.  That may not be as easy with a small electronic screen.  Rail or metro maps are particularly helpful and can be found as soon as you enter a metro station, or near the train cabin door.

6.  Earbud Headphones:

They're small, sleek, on-fleek, and necessary on noisy flights.  Keep jammin' and keep your good vacation vibes going with your favorite song on that smartphone that you previously packed above.

7.  Mobile Phone Charger:

You're going to need this.  Everyone does nowadays.  This will come in handy just about everywhere - your hostel, the airplane, the airport, and of course, on they way home on that pesky metro train.

How to Travel to Paris on a Shoestring Budget

Paris |

Paris on the CHEAP-CHEAP with cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Your Euros won't last long in Paris.  Find out how to stretch your bucks with this ultimate guide to ​CHEAPIE-TRAVEL in Paris.    cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Introduction |

Gay-'ol-Paris is a very expensive city.  Many travelers that are going to France already expect the prices to be higher than that of America, but for the low-budget traveler, backpacker, student, or just all-around cheapskate (like me), a low-cost guide to Paris is just what you need to maximize your bucks, your fun, and your time.  cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Budget |

Paris can drain your daily travel budget quickly.  With each bottled drink costing you approximately 2.50 €, you might find yourself living off of crackers for the rest of your backpacking trip through France.  cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Paris can still be traveled through cheaply, but not on a shoe-string budget, which I classify as $50.00USD per day (or less if you are a disciplined budgeter).  To be safe, I would allot myself $100.00 spending money per day, not including lodging.  The $100.00 USD budget would include short travel in the city, food, drink, and moderate entertainment.  If you plan to do some fine-dining, you will need to increase your budge by upwards of $200.00USD per day.  Below, the breakdown of my budget is as follows:

$100.00USD Per Day Budget:

• $5 breakfast
• $15 in metro tickets (or daily pass) to see various things around the city
• $5 lunch
• $30 for one fun excursion, perhaps going up the Tour Eiffel (yes, it's said in that order.)
• $15 dinner
• $15 in coctails or other nightlife
• $10 water or other hydration (tap water is probably not a good idea)
• $5 miscellaneous

*Of course, your budget could be CHEAP-CHEAPER, for example, if you brought your own water bottle that had as a built in filter in it already, you could save on your hydration, and put that toward another section of your budget.  You should remain flexible with your budget.  If you go $5 over, that's ok.  Maybe you compensate later, by taking a scenic hike instead of taking that five minute cab ride.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Phonetics |

pronounced /fəˈnɛtɪks

Paris |

PEAR-WREE (In French) or

PEAR-ISS (In English) 

Paris, France's capital, is a major European city with picturesque landmarks and cityscapes.  It's home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées, among others.  

The Louvre |

The LOU-VAH-RAH (emphasize the VAH)

Musée du Louvre

The Louvre, a museum in Paris, that contains many historical pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo (Aphrodite), and Cupid's Kiss, among others.

Champs-Élysées |

The SHAUMPS-ELLIE-ZAY

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a boulevard in Paris, which runs between the Place de la Concorde (the Louvre is located there) and the Place Charles de Gaulle , where the Arc de Triomphe is located.  

Hostels |

This being a CHEAPIE-TRAVEL website, I've never stayed in a hotel in Paris.  Only hostels.  Hotels in Paris are much more expensive than hostels.  So, below, I will provide just that, a review about hostels. 

I've stayed in two different hostels in Paris on two different trips there.  The most important thing I have found out when trying to choose a quality hostel for a CHEAP-CHEAP price, is that you must read the reviews, and a lot of them.  You should look for reoccurring themes in the reviews.  The hostel I stayed in about 9 years ago was a perfectly fine hostel for the price.  It was about $40 USD per day, breakfast included.  The rooms were shared in a co-ed room of four.  The room was small, but clean.  There were bunkbeds.  Luckily I claimed a bottom one and everything was fine for me. The restroom was small, but was clean and located inside of the room.  That is a plus in terms of hostels.

The second hostel I stayed in had great reviews, great photographs, and great prices.  The price was a downpayment of $10 USD online, and then $30 Euros at the time of check-in.  The only issue, was that they require check in-online, but not until fairly close to your travel date, making it just another thing you have to remember to do before you leave home for the airport.  Online check in was a smooth process.  The issue was that I think I wasn't expecting it to be so humid in Paris when I went in August 2014.  This made the airconditioner useless in the shared 12 person room.  The room was very clean, but it was unbearably hot.  The restrooms were located down the hallway, and were a large dormitory style restroom.  Typical with those type of restrooms, everything is wet, all the time.  Travelers come in from all corners of the earth, at all times of the day, and so the restroom is always in use.  No privacy here.  Be forewarned. 

Weather |

Paris can range from snowy winters, to very humid summers.  The humidity may be shocking to some.  It seems as if the local Parisians aren't even acclimated to the humidity of the summer in Paris.  Bring gloves and a coat in winter and early spring, and bring light airy clothing in the summer, just in case.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Food |

CHEAPIE-CHEAP food in Paris, is surprisingly not difficult to find, in the correct places.  Sure, if you purchase something in the Louvre, it's going to be expensive, but if you purchase water in a small corner store, you will expect to see prices still a bit higher than in America.  A bottle of water might cost $2.00 Euro, or an ice cream might cost $3.00 Euro, but, when you're traveling, you have little options sometimes.    cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

You can find budget food located away from major tourist attractions.  I found many CHEAP-CHEAP places near the Gare du Nord neighborhood of Paris.  Gare du Nord is a major train hub in Paris, France.  My personal favorite is Falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern food, commonly served in a pita.  They are CHEAP---like $5 Euros.  They taste great, come with frites (french fries, ironically) and a mayonnaise dipping sauce.  The mayonnaise part might sound weird, but it's really tasty.  Fine French dining reviews can be found on another blog site.    cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Vitals |

Passport:
Before you travel outside of the United States, you will need a Passport.  For more information, visit:  
The U.S. Department of State

Vaccinations:  
Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional, and you should not take any medical information in this blog as medical advice.  Always seek medical advice from a doctor.  That being said, there are no required vaccinations to travel to France that I was required to have.  However, you may want to seek the advice from a medical professional.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Flights |

The CHEAP-CHEAP time to fly to Paris is during the winter months because of the cold, snowy weather in northern Europe.  cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Flights range from about $900.00 USD (including taxes) to $1,250.00 USD.  Research your flights, your layovers, and I couldn't stress this enough -- PURCHASE EARLY.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Transportation |

The main mode of transportation for travelers is the Metro.  

Metro:

A Metro ticket costs €1,80.  It's issued by RATP, the transportation authority for the Paris region, usually out of kiosks or vending machines.  More information can be found by visiting RATP's website at http://www.ratp.fr/en/ 

The Metro is easy to use, and the "next stop" announcement is is French and English.  The train comes very often, but slows as the night wears on.  The Metro does close at about 1 or 2 A.M., so you can't depend on that if you are out for a late night on the town.   If you become confused, RATP has a lot of workers on the busier train platforms for people who are disoriented.  Don't be afraid to ask them questions.  That's what they're hired for, and a lot of the liaisons speak English, or can muster out some English.  Or, if you're like me, you can try to listen to the French and see what latin root words you can pick out and translate into words you are familiar with.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

MORE TIPS HERE...

Bus:

It isn't advisable to ride the bus system in Paris, unless you are familiar with the city, and are able to speak and read French.   cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Cabs:

Cab fare is expensive in Paris.  Sure, it's convenient, but it isn't EL-CHEAPO.  Short cab rides may save you some hassle from point "A" to point "B", but you will pay for the convenience.  A cab fare once cost me 80€ (including tip) from Charles De Gaulle Airport to Gare Du Nord.  From then on, I used Metro from the Airport to Paris, which is about a 40 minute cab ride.  cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

A tip about Cabbies:  Some cab driver will not even give you a ride if your destination is, according to them, in walking distance.  Keep this in mind when in Paris late at night, when you may feel nervous about walking around on the street after a long night at the local watering hole...  cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

Preparing Yourself |

TOP LIST OF THINGS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WHEN TRAVELING TO PARIS, FRANCE:    cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

​

• FOR FRANCE'S BEAUTY
• FOR ITS AMBIENCE
• FOR ITS TASTE IN EVERYTHING INCLUDING FOOD
• FOR BIG-CITY LIFE AND NOISES
• LARGE CROWDS ON ALL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION
• FOR A SIDE OF FRANCE YOU MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR IMAGINED
• FOR ITS HISTORY
• FOR ITS MAGNIFICENCE
• FOR ITS TEMPERATURE
• FOR ITS COST
• FOR ITS UNFORGETTABLE LANDMARKS AND SIGHTSEEING

Also visit http://en.visitparisregion.com/ 

for more information.  The official website for Paris region

For more information, click on the Paris Tourism Office Website.   http://en.parisinfo.com/

cheapie-travel.com/paris.html

How to Backpack to Berlin Germany and Beyond

Cheapie-travel.com presents...


BERLIN.

Berlin |

Berlin is a city for the young and restless, despite its old, rich history.  The crowd is young, the streets ar clean, and this is a great city be be friendly!  Find out how to mingle more with your bucks with this penny-pinching guide... FIND OUT MORE...Cheapie-travel.com

Introduction |

Berlin, Germany’s capital and cultural center, is known for its art scene, nightlife and modern architecture, and rich history.  It's home to the graffitied remains of the Berlin Wall, the beautiful Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Reichstag Building, among others.  Cheapie-travel.com

Budget |

Your Berlin budget is one that is surprisingly CHEAPER than in other large cities in the European Union countries.  Your Euro will last a bit longer here than in more crowded French or Italian counterparts (counterparts being capitol cities in this instance).  A shoestring budget, which I define as $50.00 per day, can be achieved in Berlin with relative ease.  Berlin is a city which has many free historical sights to see, and in fact, no money was spent on sight-seeing in Berlin because of it's free landmarks such as remnants of the Berlin Wall (as seen in the photo to the left).    Cheapie-travel.com

Shoestring Budget Allocation |

• $0.00 on breakfast (eat breakfast at the Hostel)
• $10.00 on the U-Bahn (the Metro/Subway system in Berlin)
• $10.00 on lunch
• $10.00 on dinner
• $0.00 on a free (yes they have free) walking tours in Berlin that are very entertaining and informational).
• $5.00 on hydration
• $5.00 on snacks
• $10.00 miscellaneous (gifts, drinks, food, transportation)

*A shoestring budget does not include lodging expenses, which, in theory, a traveler would have already paid for in the initial travel expenses such as flight, transportation and loss wages from being on vacation.  Your travel budget is separate from the initial travel expenses as described above.  For these two reasons, travelers are able to travel on a travel shoestring budget of $50.00 USD per day.  Cheapie-travel.com

Backpacking Hostels |

Backpacking (aka youth) hostels are very prevalent in Berlin, and they remain such a good option for CHEAPIE-TRAVEL that regular hotels are not reviewed in this blog.  Cheapie-travel.com

Berlin hostels are for the most part very clean and updated dormatory style lodging.  Reviews for hostels can be found on sites such as Hostelz.com

Hostels are very cheap, and range from $30 to $50 USD.  Here, the hostels seem to allow for a simpler payment process (easier than some hostels in Paris where they require a down payment and additional payment of the balance upon check-in).  

The dormatory style room which I rented (Meininger Hostel) had approximately 8 bunk beds, with an in-suite restroom and shower.  This is a plus in a hostel.  A restroom down the hallway makes using the restroom in the middle of the night that much more of a chore.  Cheapie-travel.com

Of all of the hostels that I have stayed in, this Meininger was the absolute best.  I met friends from all over the globe there, that some I still stay in contact with.  It was clean, and modern, and I enjoyed my stay there.

Weather |

Summer weather in Berlin is about in the 80s with medium humidity.  Berlin in the winter is cold and snowy.  Bring gloves and quality boots, jacket and pants for winter or early spring visits to Berlin.  During March, snow is frozen to the ground.  Cheapie-travel.com

Food |

This being a CHEAPIE-TRAVEL blog, fine dining is not discussed.  In Germany, you won't find as many foreign street food vendors as you would in a large city such as Paris.  In Germany, and particularly in Berlin, you will find many western style foods abundant in downtown urban areas.  Of course, local Germany cuisine can be found, but I would still classify that as fine dining, since the CHEAPIE-TRAVEL budget allocation above calls for only $20.00 in meals per day!  Maximizing your budget may require you to not be able to experience fine German cuisine, but you may still get to indulge in low-cost German food from grocery stores, street vendors, bakeries, or other delicatessen.  Cheapie-travel.com

Vitals |

Passport:
Before you travel outside of the United States, you will need a Passport.  For more information, visit:  
The U.S. Department of State

Vaccinations:  
Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional, and you should not take any medical information in this blog as medical advice.  Always seek medical advice from a doctor.  That being said, there are no required vaccinations to travel to Croatia that I was required to have.  However, you may want to seek the advice from a medical professional.  Cheapie-travel.com

Flights |

Flights range anywhere from $900.00 to $1,500-$2,000.00.  The flights range in price greatly.  My advice is to do your research, plan months in advance, purchase your tickets months in advance, and use your flyer miles (if you are able to redeem and use them).  Cheapie-travel.com

Travel |

Travel inside of Berlin is accomplished easily and CHEAPLY.  The U-Bahn is Berlin's subway/metro system, and has many perks to using it: 

• Operation of 24 hours per day
• Inexpensive fare
• clean train cars
• low crime

Travel inside of Berlin using taxicab is CHEAPER than in other European cities.  Most taxis in Germany are Mercedes Benz, BMW or Volkswagon, and are in very clean condition.  Travel with a taxicab on a shoestring budget is not feasible.  Cheapie-travel.com

Prepare Yourself |

• FOR BERLIN'S HISTORY
• FOR BERLIN'S LANDMARKS
• FOR WALLET SAVING THINGS TO DO IN BERLIN (INCLUDING FREE WALKING TOURS)
• FOR THE COLD WINTER WEATHER
• FOR CHEAPER PRICES THAN OTHER LARGE EUROPEAN CITIES
• FOR GREAT NIGHTLIFE
• FOR GREAT MASS TRANSPORTATION
• FOR NICE LOCALS
• FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCALS
• FOR EMOTIONS THAT MAY COME WHILE VISITING HISTORICAL SITES
• FOR LOW CRIME
• FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES ON THE PLANET

Excursions | 

Berlin is a city of free or very CHEAP things to do while travelling there.  Cheapie-travel.com

Free Excursions:

• free guided walking tour (they do accept donations, but they don't push for them)
• free self-guided walking tours
• bar-hops / pub-crawl / bar tour (at night time)
• free landmarks such as Brandenburg Gate, Hitler's bunker, Reichstag’s dome, Holocaust Memorial, concentration camp memorial and scattered remnants of the Berlin Wall, among others.  Cheapie-travel.com

Tip |

*Out of all of the cities that I've been to, Berlin is a city that I would want to travel to a second time because of the amount of stuff to do that I didn't get to do the first time.

How to Travel to Croatia CHEAP with cheapie-travel.com

cheapie-travel.com presents...

Croatia (Hrvatska) & the Adriatic Sea, Dalmatia (Former Yugoslavia)

cheapie-travel.com

Want to know where one of Europe's greatest held secret vacation spots is?  It's Croatia. Croatia, and nearby Montenegro are the premier playground vacation spots for Europeans, and soon, Americans too.

Traveling through Croatia, it was evident by most of the other tourists that we met, was that this was far off the beaten path for some of those cruise-ship American vacationers.  This was most obvious in the small spring break town of Pag.  During the time we traveled to Pag, Croatia, school was long in session, and the city seemed like a ghost town...

Budget |

This Croatian guide is based on a 10 day trip traveling throughout Croatia, spending minimally on such things as souvenirs, taxi rides, or expensive meals.

While traveling through Croatia can be done on a shoe-string budget, which I classify as $50.00 (or less if you are very skilled), I recommend (by experience) a Croatia travel budget of approximately $100.00 per day in spending money.  This shouldn't include your lodging - you should add-on another $70 or so dollars per day, as explained in the next paragraph.  This $100 budget should cover food, drinks, transportation, entertainment, and light nightlife activity.  cheapie-travel.com

Hotels |

The best deal, by far, when staying in Croatia is AirBnB Rentals. 

These vacation rentals are perfect for a group of people travelling throughout Croatia.  We rented several when in several Croatian cities, such as Pula, Zadar, Split.  Each rental had been remodeled, were very clean, were very private, and it really made our trip special because it made you feel at home in such a far-away land.  The rentals we rented allowed full use of bedrooms, the kitchen, laundry and even a spare bedroom for free in one instance!  Croatians are very nice and accommodating people.    

If you are going to stay in a Hotel, you should read the people's reviews, but remember to take them with a grain of salt, and consider whether someone might have bone to pick with the Hotel.  I personally thought I was purchasing a room from the photo on the hotel's website, and was a little surprised that it wasn't a photo of the room I was given.  It worked out just fine anyway, since the hotel was so close to the beach in Bol, Croatia, on the island of Brac (pronounced BRA-CH) (hard "H").  cheapie-travel.com

Lodging Budget:

The best deal, by far, when staying in Croatia is AirBnB Rentals.  Rentals were the same price of getting a hotel room, or cheaper in many instances.  We paid about $65.00 to $85.00 each person for the AirBnB rental.  That is a very reasonable price considering the accommodations that you get to use in a full-blown house rental from AirBnB.com

Money Conversion:

Kuna is the national currency.  About 6 Kuna (Kn.) is equal to one dollar.  For example, a bottle of water costs 6 Kn., or $1.00 USD.  A city like Paris is more expensive than the U.S., but a European city such as Split, Croatia, which is one of their biggest cities, is far-off the beaten path of the main Euro-crowded tourism spots.  I often told myself, it's nice to not see a bunch of tourists around!

Travel Transportation:

A bus ticket from Split to Zadar cost cost me about $200 Kn., about $30.00 USD.  Exactly what you might expect to pay in the U.S. or in other parts of Europe.  The prices are on right on target.  cheapie-travel.com

Weather |

The weather in Croatia can change on a dime.  In the city of Split, rain can come and be gone in a matter of minutes.  

Croatia in August was not muggy or humid.  It was warm, but there was a sea-breeze and a Mediterranean climate.  You will be well prepared bringing light jackets, and pants, with warm weather clothing and swim suits.

Food |

Croatia is the land of Cheese and Honey.  By the way, those two foods go great together in the morning or for lunch in Croatia.  It's also known for it's meats, such as Prosciutto and sausages known as chevapchichi, which is served with a roasted-red pepper dipping sauce and frites.  Served with a cold glass of Ožujsko (lager, but a good lager), overlooking the Adriatic Sea is the absolute best.   cheapie-travel.com

Vitals |

Passport:

Before you travel outside of the United States, you will need a Passport.  For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State.

Vaccinations:

Disclaimer:  I am not a medical professional, and you should not take any medical information in this blog as medical advice.  Always seek medical advice from a doctor.  That being said, there are no required vaccinations to travel to Croatia that I was required to have.  However, you may want to seek the advice from a medical professional.

Flights |

The CHEAP-CHEAP time to fly to Croatia is during fall and spring because there are less people, and the weather in Croatia is the nicest, without being hot like in summer.

Flights range from about $1,200 (including taxes) to $1,700 USD.  Research your flights, your layovers, and I couldn't stress this enough -- purchase early.  A two week difference in my purchase date caused me to spend a little more on my plane ticket, which was about $1,500 USD.   cheapie-travel.com 

Travel Inside of Croatia |

Travel inside of Croatia can be accomplished in a variety of ways, the best being- - bus and rental car.  Flights are more difficult, but can be accomplished if you have enough time.  An extensive ferry system provides transportation to seaside cities.  

Bus:

The buses running between cities are reliable, and run very often during the week, and a little less often on weekends.  A bus ticket from Split to Zadar cost cost me about $200 Kn., about $30.00 USD.  Exactly what you might expect to pay in the U.S. or in other parts of Europe.  The prices are on right on target to travel from one town to the next.  They are clean, not usually too crowded, and a fair amount of english-speaking Croatians ride the bus.  The inner city bus system is not recommended, but could be accomplished.  cheapie-travel.com

Rental Car:

While travelling through Croatia, I had met up with some of my friends who were travelling separately.  When I met up with them, they had a rental van, which makes travelling between cities very easy.  However, that was an added expense, and for the budet CHEAP-CHEAP traveller, it might be too expensive.  The roads and road signs are easy to interpret.  You drive the car on the same side of the road as in the U.S.  Gasoline, which Europeans call Petrol, is purchased just the same as here in America, with exception that you will have the litre/Euro conversion to try to calculate.  All you need is a valid U.S. driver's license to rent a car or moped.  cheapie-travel.com

Train:

I did not see rail cars while in Croatia.

Ferry:

The Ferry and Bus system in Croatia are very similar.  The price to be ferried off to the island of Brac cost about $10 USD for an hour ride across the Adriatic.  It's quite a view from the top of the Jadrolinija Ferry!

Airplane:

The airports in Croatia while small, can be plagued by delays, as with any airport.  The airports in Split and Zagreb were very small in terms of American International airports.  They both seemed to move at a much slower pace, and seemed overwhelmed with the amount of passengers.  Since Croatia is such a small country, I would recommend travelling from city to city via bus, ferry (if applicable), or rental car if you have the option.​​  cheapie-travel.com

In-City Travel:

Moped/Motorcycle:  A moped is a great way to get around certain towns, and certain parts of certain towns.  I say this because rentals did not seem available in less tourist populated areas such as the cities of Zadar, Pag and Bol.  Also, some city centres dont allow vehicles.  The mopeds allow you to zip through traffic, bypass traffic jams, and they eliminate the use of cabs.  You can rent a moped for about $50 USD per day.  This is a great and cheap way to see the city of Split, or others, because you can give yourself your own tour with just a simple tourist map available at any tourism office.  cheapie-travel.com

Cab:

Cabs in Croatian cities are plentiful, but they can be a lot more expensive, and it may not fit into the CHEAP-CHEAP traveller's budget, like me.  I rode in very few cabs because of the cost, and how much you miss out on when compared to when you are walking on the street.  

Bus System:

The bus system in Croatia would be difficult to navigate because one would not be familiar with any landmarks, or bus stops, making it difficult to ride the bus.  

Metro:

There was sort of an above-ground metro system in Split, but I did not see it operating at the time, so I cannot provide any input, but I would image it would be hard to navigate without being familiar with the city.  cheapie-travel.com

Excursions |

In Croatia, excursions and fun events are going to be the highlight of your trip here.  With breathtaking outdoor views, there will be something for every person to enjoy.

Sailing:

Croatia's pastime seems to be sailing.  Since located on the Adriatic Sea, boating and sailing are a large part of the Dalmatian lifestyle - and why shouldn't it?  You are in the Mediterranean after all!

An all-day sailing tour from Split to the Island city of Solta (Šolta) and to several other islands cost $120 Euros.  The captain was a very nice Croatian lady, who was very knowledgeable and friendly.  We enjoyed her tour very much.  She took us to a place call the "Blue Hole" in Croatia, and to Šolta Island, where we had a wonderful oceanside lunch.  Sailing was not limited to age.  We went sailing with a family friend who is 85+ years old!  cheapie-travel.com

Canyoning:

While I did not partake in repelling down canyons, my friends did and they enjoyed the challenge of repelling down waterfall cliff faces.  The experience, from what I hear, is exhilarating.  I could only image the beautiful sights you must see...

Moped:

As I explained above, a moped is a great way to see Croatian cities on your own.  They provide the privacy and freedom to do as you please, and stop and take photos where you want!  I used my Moped to learn how to navigate through the non-tourist area, and to explore off-the-beaten-path places where a lot of tourists didn't go.  I loved this because I went shopping at a locals grocery store, visited far away secret private beaches, and learned how to drive just like a Croatian on a motorcycle -- with no fear.  Riding a moped on the highway in the rain, through narrow and dimly lit tunnels, and up giant mountains was an experience that you could only imagine.  cheapie-travel.com

Water sports:

Croatia is large on watersports.  Rental equipment is available usually on the beach.  There you can rent surf boards, paddle boards, wind surfers, kayaks, and more, including ATVs.  Prices range from a few Euros to $100 Euros (several hundred Kunas).  cheapie-travel.com

TOP 10 Things to Prepare Yourself |

TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WHEN TRAVELING TO CROATIA FROM cheapie-travel.com

• FOR CROATIA'S BEAUTY
• FOR WARM SKIES AND WATERS
• LOTS OF SUN
• GREAT FOOD
• BEAUTIFUL SIGHTS
• LOW CRIME
• NICE AND FRIENDLY LOCALS
• COSTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
• OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
• NUDE BEACHES