Defining Cheap Travel in Europe Staying at Expensive Hotels

Often we cover the topic of "What is the definition of Cheap?" Whether it be cheap travel or cheap shoes or whatever. In the past few years, "cheap" has gotten a bad name. It has come to be a derogatory term used to insult a product or a person. We hear statements about something being a "cheap knock-off." This means that someone has produced some kind of product at a lower price than the "original." Some times these products are just as good. However, often the products produced are of inferior quality. Some people are willing to put up with the lower quality and even get used to it and would say that buying brand name items at a higher price is not worth the extra money. They are happy with the cheaper option. There are also people that simply aren't happy with anything less than the full-price, original or best quality item. In travel this is also the case as First Class Gold Members will rarely be happy with economy class seats, any more than a millionaire with a private yacht will be happy with a berth on a modern cruise ship with 1,800 other passengers!

So for the sake of definition. Let's just clarify that "cheap" here is meant to refer to getting a good price on something of value. The value may be relative in the sense that some people don't value it at all while for others it's a good deal. A good example of this concept is the hostel stay. I stayed at a hostel in Europe for under 20 Euro and it was a comfortable bed and clean bathrooms. So I suggested it to a friend. He came and stayed and complained the next morning about how loud it was (apparently two people were sitting on a bed talking well into the night in our 10 bed room). He complained and said it would be a better deal for him to split a 60 Euro room with me and have privacy next time. So you have to see what your values are and where you would stay and then make intelligent moves to find cheap prices for the same kind of travel you would want if money were not an option.

Here is a great way to do this. Find a hotel where you would have a great time no matter what (i.e. no matter how much money it would cost). A place where you will be comfortable and one that has the amenities you want. Now start to do some research. When is it "off season" for that particular hotel? Do they have any deals for certain holidays or periods of time? Can you use some miles or rewards from a credit card to get in? This may take some planning ahead, but can lead to some really amazing deals. I just recently was working with some friends to help them find some place for a getaway weekend in Europe. I was amazed to find a 5 star hotel that is part of an international chain (Starwood) available for $80. This is an exceptionally good deal. Especially when you consider that in Europe, you usually can't find anything good for under 100 Euro, and this is hovering around 60 Euro currently. If you check the high season rates (summer because it's a seaside hotel), you will see that they start at $190 a night for two adults. So you are getting this hotel at almost 70% off. Can you say this is cheap travel in Europe when you could probably find a hostel for about 40 Euros and sleep with unknown people talking in your room, or spend a little more and stay at a 5 Star Hotel? I say it IS cheap travel.