Top Guide to Budget European Accommodations

UPDATED 6/19/22

You’re dying to go to Europe but are solo on a budget? It’s OK – you’re not alone. Budgets are important to a lot of us, but if planned wisely they don’t have to be something that holds any of us back from visiting Europe. Here is my quick guide to budget European accommodations for solo travel.

Bonus: I also provide basic travel tips and information for individual European countries found through my Europe Travel Guides. Check them out to help you plan your stay in Europe. Let’s get you to Europe.

Like this? Share it with others!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.

Budget European Accommodations – How to Choose

Europe can provide many avenues of inexpensive accommodations, depending on your comfort level. You can choose from 2 to 3-star hotels or hotel alternatives such as hostels or renting a room or an apartment. Before you check out what’s available, let’s first cover some basics.

What is a “cheap stay” in Europe?

Well, what would you consider inexpensive in the U.S.? $75 per night? If you can find accommodations at €75 per night total or less (including VAT), then you are doing very well in my humble opinion. You could possibly do Europe on an average of €150 a day including your accommodations.

If you can find a European accommodation for €100 per night total or less within the desirable city centers, then you are still doing very well on a budget.

Some cities are more expensive than others, of course. Time of year also impacts costs. So, €100 per night maximum is still a good accommodation cost to shoot for on a budget.

Maurushaus Fussen Germany — Budget accommodation in Germany

Let me take a second here to say that when I use the term “cheap” it does not infer the accommodation is not esthetically pleasing or doesn’t have decent amenities – it just means cheap in cost.

Ok, now that we got that settled let me bring up a couple of other planning tips first that I use that may help you budget travelers when looking for budget European accommodations that may help your overall trip budget, which I also touch upon in my Top 10 International Travel Planning Musts. After all, the accommodation eats up a good portion of your daily budget so let’s make it count.

More Budget Travel Tips & Ideas

Location, Location, Location

I look for a hotel that is within walking distance to all, or most, of my planned sights and walking distance to my city entry point (train or bus station). The exception is if I am flying into the city where I then may take a shuttle to my hotel (hopefully paid for by my hotel).

For example, if I am taking a train from Lisbon to Madrid, I would find a hotel within walking distance to the Madrid Atocha railway station. Not only will I not need to pay for taxis or rideshares to arrive to my hotel, or after check out, but I would also be minutes away from hopping on the metro for sightseeing.

The Madrid Metro is clean, inexpensive and extensive. It has13 metro lines, not to mention there are more than 170 bus lines, 3 tram lines, and 10 lines of local trains to the suburbs. It’s also a great way to meet locals.

Old town Fussen Germany — City centers are great locations

Safety

Some destination train or bus stations may be located in slightly rougher parts of town or, due to the influx of people coming and going, may be more subject to petty theft. If you are staying very close to said public transportation depots then just do a little online research to see if the area is considered safe. Perhaps the station’s West side may be considered unsafe but the East side is not?

Amenities

At minimum, I look for my budget European accommodations to have:

no-prepayment and free cancellation policies (for flexibility),
an above-average rating
breakfast included,
free Wi-Fi,
English-speaking staff,
accept my credit cards,
a private bathroom, and
later check-out time and luggage-hold service (depending on my arrival and departure times).

Booking.com hotel rating sign-international travel tips — Booking.com rating

If my breakfast is not included I will look to see if they have a breakfast plan to purchase. A typical European breakfast add-on may run anywhere from €8 to €12, which is a good deal considering all that you get in a European breakfast, not to mention the convenience of not having to go anywhere first thing in the morning.

Maurushaus breakfast Fussen Germany — European breakfast

If other amenities are included, such as a restaurant/bar onsite, telephone, hairdryer, bathtub, flat-screen TV, satellite channels, double-size bed, soundproofed walls, and workout/sauna/steam rooms, for example, then all the better. Only you know what you can’t do without. I merely recommend prioritizing so you keep to the €100 per night or less target.

The more time you have to plan, the more chances you will have to nab a decent accommodation. The longer you wait to reserve, the higher the price. Time of year also impacts price, of course.

Still, I’ve not had a problem finding such accommodations in the €50/night target price with all of my minimum requirements included – such as the Maurushaus seen in attached pictures – and then some. Sometimes the decision between hotels comes down to the pictures.

Maurushaus dining room Fussen Germany — Small hotel dining

Eco-friendly or Sustainable Accommodations

We all want to reduce our carbon impact while we travel, right? Thankfully, hotels and hotel chains, hostels, and other types of accommodations are also thinking ahead when it comes to protecting the environment and saving money.

Unfortunately, finding a place to stay that employs environmental sustainable (“eco-friendly”), or full on sustainable, business practices can tend to increase your nightly stay. Sometimes not.

I encourage you to look beyond the location, price, and other amenities to see which businesses are doing the ‘right thing’. To assist you, Booking.com now has the ‘Travel Sustainable property’ badge on all available booking listings in Europe.

Green Globe and Green Key Global also have eco-friendly certified lodging options to choose from in Europe.

More Eco-Travel Tips & Ideas

Budget Hotels in Europe

As you’ve probably seen me write about before, I’m a huge fan of Booking.com. I am a Booking.com Genius member since I book with them so often. That’s because I love their extensive budget accommodation types, locations and amenities to choose from, and their free cancellation offers. If you’re new to Booking.com, try comparing their selection and options with other sites to see what fits your travel style and budget:

More Budget Travel Tips & Ideas

You may also want to take a look at the country’s or city’s official tourism site as those sites may have better local accommodation information to plan from.

Hotel Alternatives in Europe

Hostels / Pensions

Hostels are good for backpackers, students, solo travelers, groups and families. I have stayed in many hostels and pensions in my travels. I thought they were wonderful.

They were inexpensive, in great locations (sometimes in cool, historic buildings), had kitchens to fix your own food (great if you’re on a budget), laundry facilities, and bars to hang out in, not to mention a wonderful way to meet other travelers and share great travel tips.

These days I prefer to stay in hotels or apartments. I like my privacy and need my beauty sleep, so the thought of sharing dorm facilities is not for me anymore. However, if you don’t mind sharing rooms and bathrooms, then please do try a hostel or pension. Nightly prices can start well under €50.

Again, it all just depends on what you’re looking for. Note: some hostel organizations require a membership. Also, if you’re wanting a private room, I recommend reviewing hostels closely – some appear to cost as much as a hotel.

Room / Apartment / House Rentals

Another alternative to hostels and hotels is room, apartment or house renting. The cost of staying in one location for an extended period of time, or sharing your stay with others, could be offset by a rental situation.

In any case, checking out a rental is a good idea. There are many options out there now besides Airbnb. Here are but a few of the services for European locations:

Booking.com

AirBnB

Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO)

Let Me Hear From You

I would love to hear if this guide to budget European accommodations was helpful to you. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!