Want to travel Europe this Summer?
Last year, I had the opportunity to travel Europe for 2 months, looking for the best location to host Morning Mindfulness’s first-ever international retreat. Whether you plan on joining us or here for some juicy tips.
Here is a brief guide on finding the cheapest flights, how much money you should save and the precautions.
Finding the Cheapest Flights
Let's start with the first step in your journey—finding the perfect flight that aligns with your schedule and budget.
Turn on Incognito Mode: If you use Google Chrome; click on the top right-hand corner of your browser and select the three dots > new incognito browser
Your browser tracks you, so if you have been speaking about flights, it will bump up the price. I have found a varying difference of $300 once just from switching to incognito.
Use Skyscanner: Use Skyscanner ( in incognito mode) to search for flights, you can choose to search anywhere if you are looking for the cheapest flights to a holiday destination. Or you can select to view an entire month of flight prices and choose from the cheapest if you have that flexibility.
Flexibility is Key: Be open to adjusting your travel dates. Sometimes, a day or two can make a significant difference in airfare.
Set Price Alerts: Use online tools and apps to set up price alerts for your desired route. This way, you'll be notified when there's a drop in prices.
Consider Budget Airlines: We flew with Scoot Airlines, our priority was to save money on flights and invest that money into enjoying our time whilst in Europe. Our experience was average; the seats were on the larger side than many Australian budget airlines, which was a positive. However, they charged approximately $5 for a cup of water and refused to allow water bottle refills. So you can imagine how much money was spent on water alone on a 20+ hour flight.
In saying that we did save nearly $2000 per person, as opposed to flying with any other airline. We got return flights for $900 per person Syd > Athens. So although there were some annoying things, it was well worth the money saved. I have used Scoot again for our upcoming flights for our Retreat in August; I scored a return flight for approx $1500 this time, which is still ridiculously cheap in comparison to better airlines.
For example, the below screenshots for return Syd > Athens Flights at $1385.72 was only taken on the 22nd Jan 2024.
While it may require additional research, budget airlines often offer surprisingly affordable options. Just be mindful of any other fees that might be attached.
In Europe, a lot of airlines require you to check in again at the airport, be wary of this!
Embrace the Layover: Direct flights can be convenient, but sometimes a layover can significantly reduce the cost of your ticket. Use this time to stretch your legs and explore a new airport! If you fly Scoot, you will more than likely end up in Singapore Airport with a minimum 2-hour layover. Ours was 12 hours, in the middle of the night. We wish we had splurged the extra money to have a bed to sleep in because other cultures don’t necessarily abide by the same “common sense” rules as us Aussies. We tried to sleep in the quiet zone, to have groups of people playing music out loud, taking phone calls, playing games.
If you have a layover during the day ( which is unlikely with scoot) you can explore the Singapore Airport, there is so much to do! From an indoor waterfall and meditation space, bars, pool, massage parlours etc. We were unlucky that most things were closed, so we had no other option but to try and sleep. This massively helped because we experienced no jetlag going over, although there was a massive 9-hour time difference.
2. How Much Money Should You bring?
If you can, pay for accommodation, transport, and activities before your trip. We budgeted $150 AUD, spending money per person, per day ( excluding accom, transport and prepaid activities). The Australian dollar is generally .60 cents to 1 euro. After bank fees and atm fees, we just saw it as a flat double for everything.
So if it is a 30 euro burger, it’s 60 AUD. Crazy! I know, but places like Nice, Paris, Greek Islands are pretty expensive for us Australians.
$150 aud per day was the perfect amount, as some days we spent less, and others we spent more so it evened out. We did not miss out on anything; we ate at the nicest restaurants and explored a lot! So, if you are looking for a stress-free holiday that gives you the freedom to experience everything you want. I would say budget for $150 per day, minimum. ( After accommodation, experiences and transport is pre-paid for )
Mindful spending is an integral part of our philosophy, which extends to planning your retreat. While the experience is undoubtedly priceless, here's a simple guide to help you determine how much to budget:
Assuming you intend to make the most of your European trip and plan to explore beyond the retreat, here are some tips.
Accommodation: Don’t fall for the Instagrammable locations; you can stay 5-10 minutes out of a popular spot to find accommodation 1/4 of the price. This will also increase your chances of having a more culture-rich experience.
Research different accommodation options, from cozy hostels to charming Airbnb stays. I would not recommend using Booking.com in Europe, we ran into many problems doing this. Individuals can rent out their homes (kind of like Airbnb) via booking.com with less security than you would get with an Airbnb. One host never showed up to let us in the property, and we lost $3,000 AUD, and booking.com refused to refund us.
We stayed in a mixture of high-end boujie stays and budget hostels, and honestly, we enjoyed the cheapest ones the most. Unless you are paying for convenience, where you lay your head at night shouldn’t matter. Because you will be out all day exploring a new place!
So that being said, Allocate a decent emergency budget that aligns with your comfort level.
Daily Expenses: To make it easy, have all accommodation, flights, and planned activities paid for prior to leaving Australia. The Australian dollar fluctuated a lot while we were there, so having things pre-paid avoided any unexpected dollar crashes.
Consider your daily needs, including meals, transportation, and any planned excursions. Having a rough estimate of your daily expenses will help you plan accordingly.
Emergency Fund: Life is unpredictable, especially when travelling in a foreign country. Having a little extra set aside for unexpected expenses will add a layer of peace to your journey. We lost a lot of money from public transport fines…. there is little to no assistance on trains and bus ticket terminals. And it is very easy to purchase a ticket to the wrong place; they make a lot of money off tourists doing this. Guaranteed there will be someone checking your ticket on most trains and buses.
Most fines are a 50 euro ($100) on-the-spot fine. They do not believe in innocence, like us Australians. So be very careful when purchasing domestic transport within Europe. I would advise purchasing all tickets online to avoid this and paying the extra for flexibility.
Recommended places to visit:
Of course, it depends on what you like and what you want to see. I love hiking, nature, fun adventure activities, warm weather and clear blue water. So I prioritised travelling to places that had those things. If that sounds like you, then you will love the following places :
South Of France
Known for Nice and Monaco, we travelled along the French Riviera, discovering the beauty of the coastline. I recommend renting a car if you feel comfortable driving on the right-hand side of the road. It gives you freedom to explore out of the train line.
Must see: Verdon Gorge, The Harbour of Toulon (picture locals dancing on the street, and beautiful allyways), Nice ( very expensive but so beautiful!)
Croatia
Known for its party boats, but less known for its natural beauty! Croatia was one of our favourite countries, the people, the food, the options. Everything.
Explore
Plitvice Lakes ( need a minimum of a whole day )
Everything Adventure in the town of Omis, from zip lining, canyoning, beautiful hikes, stunning lakes for kayaking
For island hopping, save your money and jump on a ferry from Split harbour to explore the islands that most appeal to you. There is no need to pay for an expensive tour; it is best done at your own pace.
Italy
Wow, where do I begin? We travelled from the north all the way to the south of Italy. And our favourite spots where undeniably not what most expect. We found Amalfi Coast and Florence… so overrated! Go here instead
Cinque Terre
We stayed in the town of Monterosso in an Airbnb that we highly recommend, the hosts were so lovely and so passionate about the history of their home —> cute pirate’s house.
Cinque Terre is known for its awesome 5 town hike, beautiful authentic towns and food. ( hint: if you hike for sunrise, you don’t need to pay at the checkpoints. Otherwise, after 8 am, each town charges a 5-15 euro fee for tourists to pass). The water is insane here, and the scenery is similar to the Amalfi coast, minus the crowds and pricing.
The Italian Dolomites
The Swiss Alps of Italy is the best explanation. This is where my partner proposed and it was by far our favourite. We spent two weeks here, travelling the mountains in a motorhome. Italy is very wild camping friendly, with free cleaning bays and parking just about everywhere. You can park on a cliff overlooking million-dollar views… for free!
The Dolomites is a large mountain range used for famous hut-to-hut hikes, incredible lakes in the sky in summer and in winter it is an awesome ski field. If you are interested in going here I can provide much greater detail via email.
GREECE
Ah, our favourite of the countries travelled and the spot we chose to host our first international retreat this August 2024! The Greeks are very similiar to Aussies, friendly and helpful unlike some of the other countries mentioned. Each Island offers something unique, but for the most part, they are covered in beautiful white and blue buildings, surrounded by pink flowers, cacti, cliffs and crystal-clear blue water.
Athens - We loved Athens! It was the first stop of our trip, so that may have been why we were just in awe. But although I don’t take much interest in architecture and history. It was surreal exploring the ruins and standing in the places where once stood some of the most significant historical moments, as well as the much-loved ancient Greek philosophy, which was born. Explore the town of Parikia for sunrise and climb to the top of the lookout to see the town from above before anyone wakes up.
Paros - is our favourite place of them all. Paros perfectly balanced tourism, culture, art, adventure and food. The island offers beautiful waterfront restaurants, the freshest seafood and the cutest cobblestone alleyways filled with local shops. Jumping on an AV and exploring the island is an adventure not to be missed; it was a highlight of our trip :)
Travel Insurance: We always use World2Cover and they have been easy to deal with when making claims. Invest in comprehensive travel insurance! I cannot stress this enough: for a small $150-300 investment in insurance, it has been a safeguard against any unforeseen circumstances. It's a small cost for significant peace of mind.
Keep receipts for everything, and always file a police report immediately for anything stolen or lost.
Safe travels,
Alycia 💫
