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There’s no escaping the fact that everything is getting more expensive. With the increased cost of living, you may be looking for ways to reduce how much you spend on your upcoming trip to Germany. 

To help out, I’ve come up with a few suggestions to keep costs to a minimum. Although this post is about visiting Germany on a budget, the tips can be applied to just about any popular travel destination.

There are some costs you can’t avoid when traveling, like the price of a visa or travel authorization. The good news is that, if you’re from a visa-exempt country such as the US, you don’t need a visa to travel to Germany for up to 90 days. The new travel authorization for Germany, ETIAS, won’t be operational until 2023 so you don’t need to pay these fees either just yet. 

Most other travel costs, however, are under your control. Let’s have a look at some of the top tips for visiting Germany on a budget. 

Eat at the Markets

The food you’ll find at German markets is both fresh and reasonably priced. It’s also often organic, so you know that what you’re eating is good for you! You’ll find traditional German foods like bratwurst, potato pancakes, and pretzels. You can also try something new—there are often vendors selling international cuisine at the markets.

If you have access to a kitchen, you can shop for local ingredients and cook up your own delish dishes without spending a fortune.

Stay Outside of Major Tourist Areas

Staying in a hotel or hostel outside of the major tourist areas is one of the easiest ways to save money while traveling. And, since all of Germany’s major cities are relatively safe, it’s not like you need to worry about your safety. There are plenty of options for accommodation in every price range and style preference.

Avoiding the most touristy areas is a great way to reduce your accommodation costs. Just make sure it’s not so far out that you’ll end up spending too much on transportation. Go for hotels and hostels that are within around 30 minutes walk of the main attractions and well connected by public transport to other areas.

Also, don’t dismiss budget accommodation. There are loads of great hostels in Berlin and other German cities that provide everything you need, especially if you’re going to spend most of your time out and about.

Find an Apartment to Rent Online

If you are unfamiliar with the city you are visiting, Airbnb is a great option for accommodation. In addition to having access to the amenities of a hotel (like a kitchen and washing machine), many hosts have been known to act as tour guides and offer suggestions on where to go out in town or what attractions are worth visiting.

There are many other websites that can help you find apartments for short-term rent in Germany. Wimdu offers properties ranging from apartments and chalets to farmhouses and tree houses throughout Germany—though some listings may require booking several weeks in advance if they’re popular during high season. The site includes vacation rentals from more cities across Europe including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. 

There are loads more options too, invest some time when looking for accommodation in Germany and it could save you more money than you think.

Use Public Transportation

Public transportation is a great way to get around in Germany. If you’re planning on visiting Berlin, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn are your best bets for getting around. They’ll take you from one part of the city to another quickly and easily—and it’s much cheaper than taking cabs every time!

In cities like Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich, trams are also convenient ways to get around.

Buy Your Plane Ticket Early

Booking early is important when looking for cheap flights to Germany. In general, the earlier you book, the more likely it is that you can get a good deal on your ticket.

Use flight price comparison websites to find the best option. Several low-cost airlines fly to cities across Germany. If you’re traveling within Europe, you can find cheap flights to Germany from just about any European city.

Also, think about when you’re going to travel. The price of your flight to Germany will depend on the time of year, if you don’t mind the cold, January could be a cheap month to travel to Germany.

Visit Museums on Discounted Days

You may also be able to save money on museum tickets on discounted days. Many museums in Germany offer a reduced price for certain days of the week, as well as reduced admission for senior citizens and students. You can check the website of each museum you want to visit for a list of discounted days and special offers.

Finally, if you’re staying in hostels or hotels while traveling around Germany, ask them if they have any deals that will help reduce your costs while visiting museums. 

Go on Free Walking Tours

Ok, so they may be called free walking tours but the truth is you’ll be expected to pay your guide a well-earned tip. Nevertheless, this is a really cost-effective way to get to known German cities.

Walking tours take you to all the major attractions and monuments. During a walking tour of Berlin, you’re likely to see Red Town Hall, Berlin Cathedral, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Brandenburg Gate, among other highlights.

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Vacations are needed by all of us. In a world that is constantly shouting GO! GO! GO!, sometimes the best thing we can do is stop and slow down for a few moments. With a vacation, if done correctly, you can have that break and return feeling fresher and more rejuvenated. It’s important in order to avoid stress and frustrations building up to the point where it affects our lives. Nobody wants that!

One vacation option is sailing. It’s a cool idea for such a break for several reasons.

You Can Explore The World

Did you know that the ocean covers up to 70% of the earth’s surface? That’s a remarkable amount. But, for most of our lives, we’re stuck on land and apart from perhaps a trip to the beach every now and then, the ocean doesn’t play much of a role. In fact, for many of us, travel doesn’t play much of a role either, despite its importance.

So, with a sailing vacation, you can actually get out into the world a bit, in a different way. You can take advantage of the vast oceans and seas, explore destinations that you wouldn’t otherwise reach and travel at your own pace as well, all without the crowds and hassle of land travel.

For example, you could enjoy a sailing trip around the stunning islands of Greece or island-hop in the Caribbean. And those are just two of endless options that exist for a rewarding travel experience!

You Can Have An Adventure 

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it.” Embracing adventure is an integral part of living a full life. 

While sailing, each day spent on the open sea is typically a day filled with adventure. Whether it’s spotting marine life, taking a swim in beautiful waters, visiting destinations you can only reach by boat or enjoying the true peace and quiet of being surrounded by the sea in all directions, it’s difficult not to feel the rewards of such a trip.

And if you want to learn the ins and outs of sailing during vacation, you could learn about rope knots, nighttime navigation methods, hoisting the sails and so much more to keep you busy.

Fill each day with new experiences and challenges and your vacation will be even better than you hoped for!

It’s Good For Your Health

When we think about health and wellness, we often think about spending time at the gym or following all kinds of self-help advice that’s currently trending. However, it’s important to simply remember a core idea – to treat our bodies and minds well. There’s a lot more to being healthy than spending thirty minutes on a treadmill.

With a sailing vacation, you have a chance to move your body and exercise your mind at the same time. And since you don’t have to force yourself to go to a gym, it will be far more enjoyable. You’ll actually have fun being out in the warm air, learning how to sail, swimming and again, using the mesmerizing, peaceful surroundings and variety of destinations you visit to clear your mind and focus on what’s important.

That’s the definition of health and when it comes to a vacation, the idea is to experience what is best for your body and mind and come back feeling better than before you left.

It’s Money Well-Spent

It goes without saying that travel and taking a vacation can prove to be quite costly these days. Airfare prices are up, hotels can be scarce, cars need to be rented and so on. 

A sailing vacation actually takes care of some of those issues. The value can be remarkably high since your accommodation and transportation expenses, often along with food, are all wrapped up into one. You can simply enjoy the sea, and also the destinations you visit by picking out a few appealing activities before returning to your boat. As a result, expenses are quite reasonable for what you get with this kind of a trip.

Of course, you can also shop around when looking for an affordable yacht rental or sailing vacation so that you can find the best value option for you and your group. There is no shortage of options.

It’s Versatile 

When you take a sailing vacation, it also comes with the kind of flexibility that other trips don’t often enjoy. You can have exactly the type of vacation you want to have – whether it’s slow and relaxed, action-packed or anything in between. You decide and with a yacht, you have the freedom to make anything happen.

Even better, being on a sailing vacation allows you the freedom to alter plans. There are no hotel bookings or flights to change if you want to suddenly do something different. It’s you and your yacht and you can travel as you wish.

When you wake up each day, you can decide if you want a day full of swimming and snorkeling or a wander through a town on a Greek island or a night out in a popular port city. Drop anchor, and make it happen.

You Can Bond With Your Loved Ones 

Life certainly gets busy when we’re at home. As a result, our priorities often get all mixed up and we even find it difficult to spend time with the very people we want to spend time with. It’s just how life goes.

But another benefit of a sailing vacation is to get these priorities straight for awhile. Being together on a yacht allows you to reconnect with your friends and/or family in such a beneficial way. You’ll all be there on that boat, away from the noise and bustle of life of land, and as a result, you can focus on each other and the quality time you are spending together. Also, with the fascinating experiences you’ll be sharing in this unique environment, you’ll create memories that will only help to solidify and grow the bonds with each other.

A sailing trip definitely stands out in this way!

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