How to Plan Your Europe Itinerary 3 Weeks on a Budget

By Alice Ross | ITINERARY

Sep 25
europe itinerary 3 weeks

Traveling to Europe is one of the biggest dreams of many people from many parts of the world. After the feeling of excitement of deciding to go for a Eurotrip, the most overwhelming part comes up: creating an itinerary.

A lot of us hear travel stories and see pictures from other people's social media pages of their trips to Europe. Because we see that they posed next to the Eiffel Tower and the Swiss Alps, we assume that we should also take the route they took.

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But you have to know that everyone's itinerary is unique. When you compare your trip to others, it's more likely for it not to go according to plan. If you have 3 weeks to spare in Europe, you're lucky as we will help you how to plan in.

This Europe itinerary 3 weeks will help you make the best decisions for yourself. We will make sure that you wouldn't be overwhelmed with information, and let you know what's really important and what's not. Here is a useful guide on how to plan your Europe itinerary 3 weeks.

MAKING DECISIONS

Who are going with you? Your best friend? Brother or sister? Parents?Spouse? A group of friends? Whom you are going with makes a huge impact on making plans for accommodation, destinations, and transportation options.

What to do? Are you interested to see the most famous paintings in Paris? Do you want to have a tour at the Whiskey Distilleries in Scotland? Dreaming of riding the Ferris wheel while looking at the Big Ben in London? Or maybe you want to experience drinking in the pubs in Ireland?

Of course, it's not necessary for you to have a theme for your trip, but having a bucket list of what to do would be more fun and exciting for you. It will also help you organize you Europe itinerary 3 weeks better too!

london

Via visitlondon.com

Where to go depends on what you are planning to do during your trip. It also depends on WHEN you're planning to go. If you are planning to go during summer, then maybe you want to go to south Italy and enjoy the beach or maybe you're planning to go in winter, you can find the best place to do skiing. You must also keep in mind that days are normally longer during summertime the farther you go up to north – and conversely, shorter during the winter, which results in much shorter days for exploring.

Why you want to go should depend on your main purpose. Do you want to relax and enjoy your free time? Do you want to experience the local culture of the Europeans? Do you want to see that beautiful setting of your favorite movie in real life? Do you just want to get away from the screaming kids? Or make your co-workers jealous? Choose your reason and it will be easier for you to make prepare your Europe itinerary 3 weeks.

AIRFARE

paris

When planning a trip, the first thing we tend to do is to check for the best airfare deals. While a lot of travelers do go in the low season months of August and July, there's certainly a reason why the best time to set your Europe itinerary 3 weeks is summertime.

Summertime has longer days for you to see more attractions, have better weather, less wind, and rain. The only not-so-good thing is that airfares and hotel rates are more expensive.

There are many budget airlines that normally offer flights between major European cities for only $50 to $250. If you're lucky, you can even score cheaper deals. In order to get the cheapest fares, book as early as possible. The lowest cost seats run out quickly, which leaves more expensive fares for those who book late.

sardinia italy

New basic airlines take off annually. There are major European airlines which are facing competition from low-cost carriers, have even also decided to have seat sale to attract more passengers.

A lot of budget airlines concentrate on particular hubs, like Norwegian Air has centers in Bergen, Oslo, Copenhagen, London, Alicante, and Stockholm.

Below are some of the third-party websites that you can check for the cheapest flight offers:

  • Kayak
  • Expedia
  • SkyScanner
  • WhichAirline
  • Momondo
  • Dohop

If your concern is your budget, it's important to know which city has the cheapest flight on a particular day, this will help you decide where and when to go.

ACCOMMODATION

england manchester castlefield

Via planetware.com

When you've already booked your airfare, the next thing you will have to work on your Europe itinerary 3 weeks is where you are going to spend your nights while you're traveling.

There are cities where it's better to only spend a day and move to another city when the night comes. Some people find it more expensive to stay the nights in a particular city that they simply decide to move to another.

The B&Bs that are quite popular in the United State tend to be more expensive than those in the United Kingdom, so you must be aware of them. The typical rates for a room in Europe play around$30 to $60 per person, which normally comes with breakfast. You can try to ask for a discount if you are planning to stay longer than 2 nights or more during your 3 weeks of traveling.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

transportation

Now that you know when, where, and why you're traveling to Europe, the next thing you have to figure out is how to get there? If you are staying more than just a few days in the UK and Ireland,renting a car would be the best idea.

While it's possible to take the public transports like train and bus when getting around, a more fun and interesting way to travel would be to go at your own pace. If you're going to take a bus, making a detour at hidden castles and interesting restaurants wouldn't be possible. Doing this will give you a lot of opportunities.

The thought of driving on the other side of the road might be worrying you,or you're thinking that cars with automatic transmission cars would be so expensive, but it is definitely worth it.

Take note that gas can be so expensive there. It runs approximately $8 a gallon right now. But the good news is that the engines of European cars normally run much more effectively and you could typically get about 45 miles per gallon from them. But then again, filling up a tank could still cost you $100, so budget wisely.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

Now that you're done doing the important research, booked your tickets, made a hotel reservation, and decided where which form of land transport to take. You think you're ready to go? Not really! Here are some more you should add when planning for your 3-week Eurotrip.

sand slide

Imagine breaking your arm while you are on your trip or maybe losing your baggage while on the plane together with all your money. Fortunately enough, there is an insurance to help you.

There are different kinds of travel insurance you should consider before your trip. But there are travel insurance plans you can get that include coverage for cancellations, hurricanes, interruption, medical emergencies, lost, evacuation, stolen, delayed baggage, and others. By investing a small amount of money, you will have a peace of mind.

Packing

luggage

Via myfiveacres.com

Sure, you have already packed dozens of times for your previous trips, so what is the big deal? Well, there are restrictions you have to be aware of. Long-haul flights apply new rules, and it befits you to know them before you're line up for your flight.

Carry-on: Most airlines, not only in Europe, have carry-on guidelines on their sites passengers have to follow. Some put weight and/or size restriction, so make sure you check the website first before picking which bag you choose to carry with you. This also depends on the city you are flying to, so make sure you did a research.

Checked luggage: There are airlines that are now charging heavy fees for overweight luggage, and putting limitations on the number of items a person is allowed to check in. Also, there are some airlines that cut the locks on the check-in baggage by TSA for airport security purposes. So, it would be a smart idea to simply use cable ties to when locking your bag, so that if ever TSA has to check in your bag, you won't be wasting a lock.

When traveling to Europe, don't forget to carry the most important thing with you when traveling Europe – a possible and great attitude. Having a good attitude can take you a long way, especially if you are in an unfamiliar city. After all, you're in Europe, so how what can possibly go wrong?

By following this Europe itinerary 3 weeks guide for budget travelers, you're in for of magnificent memories, exciting experiences, and meeting wonderful people. Do you have any tips you want to share when preparing for a travel itinerary? Leave it in the comment box below!

Rating: 4.47 (17 votes)

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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(4) comments

Lynda December 17, 2016

At last, someone comes up with the “right” answer!

Reply
    Alice Ross February 10, 2018

    Aw thank you so much!

    Reply
Stephen, My Five Acres August 24, 2017

Hi Alice, Great post. I know so many people in Europe travelling right now! Perfect post. And thanks for sharing the picture of my suitcase (its covered in WAY MORE stickers now) and linking to our article on how to pack light.

My tip for those packing: If you think “I might need this”, you don’t! Leave it at home.

Reply
    Alice Ross February 10, 2018

    Thank you for your tip! I love adding stickers to my suitcase too, they give such a cool look and make it super easy to find your checked luggage!

    Reply
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