10 Ways to Visit Europe and Save Money

There is no question that a holiday in Europe can be expensive.  Transportation, accommodation, food and souvenirs add up each day.  However, there are a number of ways that you can save money yet still have a wonderful and memorable experience. 

1.      Travel During the Off-Season.   Summer (June – August) and the holiday season (December) are the most popular times to visit Europe and therefore the rates are highest.  Choose to travel during the spring and autumn months when crowds are thinner, the weather is nicer and prices on airfare and room rates drop 20 – 50%. It is often less expensive to fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to boot. 

2.      Visit a Country or City Off the Beaten Track.  Paris, Rome, London, Prague…if you haven’t visited these cites, one day you certainly need to go.  But if traveling on a budget is your current focus then these are not the cities to visit now.  There are dozens of places that are quite remarkable that are not nearly as expensive.  The Eastern European countries and Portugal tend to be the most cost-effective.  If you prefer to visit Western Europe, simply travel to places that are less popular and less expensive.  For example, the Loire Valley just outside of Paris is stunning, covered in ancient castles in the middle of wine country.  Or visit Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic which is known as a “pocket-sized” Prague with half the tourists and a fraction of the cost.

3.      Holiday Apartment Rentals.  Instead of pricey hotels, seek out holiday apartment rentals.  The best resources online are Craigslist or Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO).  Both websites offer photos and information on thousands of independently owned apartments in cities all over Europe.  During the off-season, remember to negotiate the price and you’ll be surprised how many rentals bite.  Think about it: it’s better for them to rent to you for a lower price than have their rental go empty for a week or weekend.  Remember that most apartments will have a kitchen, so go to the local supermarket and cook and save even more!

4.      Picnic.  All over Europe there are thousands of beautiful plazas and parks to relax in with a picnic lunch.  Shop at the local markets for bread, cheese, salami, fresh fruit and a bottle of wine.  Ask the shopkeepers for the local specialty and try it.  The price is right, the taste is delicious and the memory unforgettable.

5.      Buy Local  Beverages.  Each region in every country in Europe is known for a special wine, beer, liqueur or other beverage.  Reference your tour book, an information center or simply read a menu outside for an idea of what the local specialty is and there is no doubt that you can get a delicious mug of beer or bottle of wine for a just a few dollars.  Remember that soda is often very expensive.  Also, the tap water is fine to drink (and free).   Refill and reuse your water bottles.

6.      Seek Out Discounts and Free Activities.  There are a number of free activities in Europe.  During warmer months there are plenty of complimentary outdoor festivals and other events. Wine tasting is generally free as well.  If you are an outdoor enthusiast, hiking trails are at your fingertips all over the continent.  Some cities even offer city tours with the sole expectation of just a few Euros for a tip.   Museums in London are free.  Check museum websites in advance to find out which days and times discounts are offered.  Often there are group, student, senior and child discounts and if you don’t see it mentioned, just ask.

7.      Package Ticket Purchases.  If you love museums, cities such as Paris and Amsterdam offer a “Museum Pass” that allows entry into multiple museums with a discount.  You can do the same thing in many cities with a subway and a train.  If you are planning to visit multiple countries, check out the Eurail website see if a bundled train tickets are right for you – there is a potential to save you hundreds of dollars!

8.      Use Public Transportation.  The European Union invests quite a bit of money into its infrastructure.  The end result is public transportation that is quick, efficient and cost-effective.  We all know how pricey taxis can be.  Instead, spend 5 minutes and figure out how take the subway, bus and/or train.  It’s much more relaxing, too!

9.      Eat and Shop Away From the Main Tourist Trail.  There is no doubt that in European cities the shopkeepers know where the tourists go.  Just venture off the main streets a block or two and pop your head into a restaurant to see if they are speaking English or the local language.  Chances are if you hear locals, the prices will be lower and the food much better.   With regards to shopping, you will find better prices on many of the same items if you walk a few blocks away from a main tourist street or attraction.  In some places, bartering is acceptable so if you do not see a price posted, name a price and negotiate from there.

10.  Volunteer or Couch Surf.  There are a handful of volunteer organizations that exchange work for room and board.  For example, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) an organization that promotes organic farming .  A traveler works for 4 hours a day on an organic farm in exchange for a place to sleep and eat.  Another way to sleep for free (and not work) is Couch Surfing.  Check out their website for details.  

With these tips in mind, you can visit and thoroughly enjoy a holiday in Europe and save money.  Simply create a budget and stick to it and you will have a vacation filled with memorable experiences – and Euros left in your pocket.

Volunteering in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the few regions in the world that has an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Situated in Latin America, Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful and mysterious wild life living in the tropical forests or rain forests. Some of the tropical mammals that you will find here include sloths, monkeys, tapirs, and then there are the wild cats like jaguars. There are over 850 species of birds, 200 species of animals, 35,000 species of insects, 200 species of reptiles, and 9,000 species of plants. 25% of the country landmass is considered as a protected area and there are several national parks like the Rara Avis Reserve, Whale Marine National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, and Corcovado national park among many others.Why Volunteer In Costa RicaVolunteering in Costa Rica is a part of a more beautiful experience, one that you can’t compare with any other experience you have had so far. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get to become a part of their vibrant and unique culture, which will provide you with the base for fostering a meaningful working relationship with the local community. Costa Rica offers different types of volunteer projects but a larger number of programs deal are focused on the conservation aspect. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get an opportunity to be a part of their environment and take back home more than just a certificate of completion. Types Of Projects AvailableAs a part of volunteering in Costa Rica, you will get to choose the kind of project you are interested in. The different types if projects available include:• Teaching: There are many schools in the rural areas of Costa Rica who don’t have enough funds or resources to facilitate a good education system. As a volunteer, you will get the opportunity to share your learning over the years with the students of these schools. Subjects can vary from teaching English to science, arts, sports and others. There are plenty of opportunities in far off regions like the Guanacaste province. • Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife conservation is one of the integral conservation projects in Costa Rica. There are several species of wildlife that are considered endangered including the Jaguar. As a volunteer, you will get an opportunity to work with wildlife rescue centers in the Alajuela or Guanacaste provinces in Costa Rica. Depending on the type of conservation projects, you will get to work on marine turtle research, research on Jaguars using camera traps, research on migratory birds etc. There is no technical experience required. The important thing is that if you love to work with and around animals then you will be fine and might have a better time in the rainforest than in a crowded city.• Orphans: Working with orphaned children can be demanding as well as satisfying. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will get to work with orphaned children and this can include everything from taking care of them to imparting education and take them on an adventure tour.• Street Children and Youth: There are several youth programs in Costa Rica that you can volunteer for. These programs are targeted at making life better for the troubled youths and the street children who have experienced every form of depravity. As a volunteer, you will be living with these children and share a part of their life. You will help them to change their lives. Volunteer RequirementsAge: The minimum age for volunteering in Costa Rica should be 18 or older. For conservation projects, the maximum age limit is 50.Duration: The standard duration of most projects is 5-8 weeks although they can also vary from 1-2 weeks or 9-12 weeks.Fitness: A high level of fitness is required for working in wildlife and conservation projects.Fee and Other detailsThere is a fee attached to each of the projects that you volunteer for. The fee is charged in advance and is charged for the following:1. Accommodation2. Emergency evacuation services3. Food/meals4. Travel insurance5. Transportation within the region6. Emergency support7. All types of training material8. Supervision by local staff9. Orientation on arrival10. Local sightseeing & recreational activitiesConclusionVolunteering in Costa Rica will bring you closer to nature and wildlife and also the warm people who are ever ready to help you become a part of them. As a volunteer, you will get to enjoy the limitless opportunities and attractions that Costa Rica has to offer.

Volunteer for Sonafluka Community Building Project in Costa Rica

The role of the Sonafluca Community Youth Group is to provide a medium by which the youth of the community can come together and take an active role in improving their community. They serve the Sonafluka Town and surrounding areas. This placement needs volunteers because although the town has many plans to improve the its infrastructure and facilities, they lack the labour force. The Youth Group (“Jovenes Activos Sonafluca”) has stepped up to the challenge but needs lots of extra hands. As in most communities, there is always lots of work to be done to help the community by keeping in clean, and by building new structures. It is a rewarding experience as the volunteer can feel like a part of the community and see the progress they have made.

The volunteers can help by doing followig tasks:

-refurbishing different buildings and facilities in the community -painting (signs, buildings, etc.) -clearing trails in the town’s ecological reserve, preserving the water reserve -construction (taking down rotten structures, or helping to build new ones) Other tasks that you may be requested to preform outside of your core duties: Helping kids to improve their level of English after class. Helping to fix the local church (painting, reinforcing existing structure)

The specific skills they are looking for at this placement are :

 Carpenter

 Framer

 Drywall

 General

Labour

Forestry

Waste Management

Soccer

Basketball Hiking

  Basecamp International Centers welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity Nicoya in Costa Rica

With the drop in export prices for agriculture and the rise in cost of living, there are many needy agricultural families in Nicoya who live in substandard housing. Construction volunteers will work with a maestro de obras or construction supervisor who will explain what needs to be done and how to do it. Volunteers must be hardworking, have a positive attitude, be adaptable, and want to help make a difference in someone’s life.

 Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:-Engineering Student Carpenter Framer Project Management General Labour

Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:-

As a construction volunteer you will participate in various phases of the construction process, including digging the foundation and septic tanks, mixing concrete, laying cement block, building rebar frames for the walls and roof, pouring concrete floors, and plastering the walls. On a typical workday, you will work at the construction site along with Habitat families, other volunteers, and the Habitat-contracted maestro de obras or construction supervisor. You may not see the entire house constructed while you are here, but you will be able to witness tremendous progress as a result of your work.

 Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Volunteer for the Hogar Communitario in Costa Rica

Serves as a shelter for girls whose families are unable to take care of them or who have been removed from their homes by PANI. The girls at the shelter have no real contact with their families and appreciate having volunteers come to share time with them.

 Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. This Placement does not need any volunteer in the month of Jan.

 Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:-

Child & Youth Worker Early Childhood Education At-Risk Youth Work Social Worker (BSW) Social Work Student Psychology Student Day Care Work Social Worker (MSW)

Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:-

 Arts and crafts, teach English, sewing, tutoring, etc.

Location of the placement:

San Isidro de El General is the largest and most important town south of San Jose. It is often referred to as San Isidro, Perez Zeledon, or just Perez. It is located in a valley created by the Rio General and has become a centre for agriculture, tourism, and transportation.

Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 186 Princess Street Kingston, Ontario Canada, K7L 1B1 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

The town is located along the Interamericana Highway, so it is easy to get anywhere in the country from San Isidro. The town has a large downtown area with a wide variety of supermarkets, banks, restaurants and shops and is centred around the large cathedral and Parque Central.

Volunteer for Ecocentro Danaus in Costa Rica

They teach programs regarding the environment and native animals to local schools through educational activities and games. They also serve tourists who can come check out all the centre has to offer while learning about different species as well as about Costa Rican ecotourism. There is always much work to be done at the centre and they love the experience of sharing with international volunteers. They appreciate the help conducting tours and helping at reception, as many of the visiting tourists are English-speakers. There is also much to do to keep up the centre such as trail maintenance, collecting butterfly eggs, and feeding the birds and other animals. There are lots of plants and animals but not many people to help with all the work and upkeep.

Volunteers can help by doing following tasks:

-collecting butterfly eggs -taking care of the baby trees in the nursery -feeding butterflies and birds -conducting tours of the animals and plants -helping at reception/gift shop: taking money and telling them about the site -documenting inventories of animals -helping maintain the trails by raking etc. Other tasks that you may be requested to preform outside of your core duties: if someone is interested in helping with construction they would be welcome to.

The Specific skills that they are looking for this placement are :

Conservationist

Environmentalist

  Basecamp International Centers welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Rescuing Turtles in Costa Rica

Isabelle Pury, a Swiss citizen, saw Costa Rica by sunset, sunrise and, mostly, by moonlight.

During the day, she was resting. But she wasn’t a weary traveler; she had come to Costa Rica to work. Isabelle volunteered through the Global Volunteer Network to work on a conservation project rescuing endangered turtles on Costa Rica’s scenic Pacific coast.

Isabelle, who was joined by other volunteers, had the opportunity to have a hands-on experience working with two types of turtles: Baula turtles and Olive Ridley turtles. Both populations are in sharp decline due to over harvesting of eggs, beach development, and fishing. Volunteer roles include beach patrolling, handling eggs, helping to release baby turtles and counting and recording eggs, and the work day often begins just as the sun is setting.

“I really enjoyed freeing them,” Isabelle said “You put them on the beach and they just run into the ocean. And sometimes there would be a sunset, so it was like they were running toward the sunset. It was very beautiful.”

The Baula Turtle is a subspecies of the Leatherback Turtle, the biggest marine turtle in the world, weighing as much as 1,900 pounds and reaching nine feet long. The name is indicative of their backs, which are actually not shells, but pliable thick leather like skin. The Olive Ridley is the smallest of its species, weighing in at 75 pounds and measuring only 2 feet long.

This program is run by a biologist, and volunteers are supervised by personnel, who give volunteers on-site training; volunteers are not required to have prior biological knowledge. Volunteers live in basic accommodation, which is built only for the turtle season, and spend their free time lying in hammocks and learning to salsa dance.

“It’s really nice because it’s all protected area and you can feel the energy of nature,” Isabelle said.

Isabelle found that she experienced the country differently as a volunteer than as a tourist.

“As a tourist, you just experience a resort, nothing else,” Isabelle said. “This is something with the soul. You felt like you were part of the people that live there. You’re living the way they’re living and eating what they eat everyday. There’s no comparison.”

A few months after her trip, Isabelle is still eager to return.

“I just want to wake up with the sunrise and free the turtles,” she said.

For more information on volunteering check out: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/

For more great articles on volunteering check out: http://globalvolunteernetwork.blogspot.com/

© 2000-2007 Global Volunteer Network

Volunteer at Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center in Costa Rica

The SCLCs mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Ricas northern lowlands. The SCLC focuses its efforts in four areas environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism in order to help form future environmental leaders, raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and offer tourism that serves as a source of support for sustainable development in the area. Our programs serve hundreds of local people and thousands of ecotourists each year. This region is the 6th poorest county in all of Costa Rica. Tourism is a rapid growing industry, and therefore there is a high demand for English speakers. The center is an important leader for ecotourism in the area and the more help to spread awareness to locals and foreigners the better. This placement is located in the northern region of the province of Heredia. The Sarapiqui region is known throughout Costa Rica for its amazing and rich biodiversity as well as for being an adventure seeker’s dream destination. Lying in the north east of the country and bordered by Nicaragua in the north, it is surrounded by agricultural plantations and lush forests

Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. This placement does not need any volunteer in the month of jan and dec. Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:-

 - assisting with ESL lesson planning – instructing ESL classes – teaching in a rural school once a week assisting with eco-tourism activities – working at the artisan gallery and reception one Saturday a month Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:- Teacher – English Teacher – Science Teacher – Environmental Science TEFL Certificaiton / Training

Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604