Europe Costs: The Final Figures

Well it's almost been a month between posts, but we have been exceptionally busy... As I write this, I'm sitting under a circling fan in our 1 bedroom apartment on Calle 102 Norte, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. That's right - after an incredible 9 months of traveling, volunteering, sightseeing and partying throughout Europe; it was time to move on.

We loved Europe, but it was time to move on

As beautiful as the European winters can be, we were both craving some sun on our skin and some cool sea breezes. But more importantly, we knew that Europe alone could easily provide enough to see and do for an entire year - so if we didn't move on we could quite possibly exhaust our budget (and ourselves).

We had also used all of the time our Schengen Visas would allow, which meant that even if we had wanted to re-enter Europe we would need to travel via non-Schengen countries until May 2014 at the earliest.

So the decision was made to hightail it to Mexico, largely because this provided us with a cheap way to enter Central America from the UK (by flying into Mexico and traveling overland) and if we departed the UK in early March, we avoided the subsequent Spring Break mayhem (which is not only popular amongst American college students apparently).

We scored a great deal on flights thanks to Thomas Cook Airlines (one of the primary carriers for flights between the UK, Mexico and The Caribbean) and on the 4th March 2014 - exactly 9 months from when we first arrived in Europe - we departed for the sun-drenched shores of Cancun, Mexico.

One of the first things I did before our departure from the UK was to reconcile all of our spending in Europe over the past 9 months. As I'd been dutifully logging all expenses in a calendar this was a relatively easy task, as I simply added up the total spent in all the countries that we visited.

So - which were the cheapest countries in Europe, and how much did we average per day?

Budgeting in Bonnie Scotland

Urquhart Castle with views over Loch Ness

So we've just concluded our jaunt through the Republic of Ireland and the UK with two whirlwind weeks in bonnie Scotland; a land renowned for rolling green hills, kilt-wearing bagpipers and crumbling castle ruins. Whilst no cheaper than its Irish or British neighbours (we still averaged about AUD$50/ day each) it nonetheless offered plenty for a budget traveler to see and do, with spectacular coastlines and a vibrant cultural scene accessible to all.

Having said that, it did help to do our homework. Because a bit of research can translate into big savings, particularly in regards to transport and accommodation. That doesn't mean you have to book every detail of your trip in advance (especially in winter, when you may have to deal with unforeseen weather conditions), but just a little foresight and planning will make a real difference to your spending.

So here are my tips for getting aboot the majestic Scotland or the picturesque Emerald Isle on the cheap: