With the dollar to Euro difference getting worse everyday – nearly two dollars to one euro – traveling to Europe has become more costly than ever.  Here are a few tips for saving money when in England.

 One way is to get around on the Tube (London’s Underground).  You can save time and money when traveling by way of the tube, and can expand your dollar even more by purchasing an Oyster Card.  This is a plastic transit card that costs a small fee and gives you access to discounted rides.  You can store up to 90 euros on the card, and you can reload it as necessary. It can be used on the Tube, trams, buses, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services in London.  The credit on the card never expires, and you can reload on the internet easily.

 Also, many historic and beautiful museums are free to the public, such as the British Museum, the British Library, the Victoria & Albert, the Science and Natural History museums, the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden.  Also, in many of the art galleries, such as Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.  Historic sights, such as Stonehenge are as free as can be to visit, and they are currently making plans to divert the busy road by Stonehenge further from the sight, and they plan to build a new, low-profile visitors center near the attraction.

 And last to save money, is to invest in an English phone card or mobile phone, especially if you plan on making local England calls.  These phones are inexpensive and can be as low as 20 pounds for a phone, which comes complete with a SIM card and minutes. You can also rent a phone, there are many locations where you can rent cell phones, and many airports in Europe have kiosks where you can rent one

 We all know that high-end travelers and back-packing college students are all flocking to Europe in the high seasons in summer.  Although this time is so popular because its beauty and convenience with the weather and length of the days, you may want to consider Europe’s off-season.

 When traveling during Europe’s off-season you get to enjoy the beautiful sights and destinations, while avoiding the large numbers of tourists, this results in lower costs (hotels are often hundreds of dollars less during this time) and less waiting.  During this time you can, in confidence, arrive at a European Hotel with no reservation, and get a room, and probably for less than usual.  First you arrive late, and without a reservation, and look to see how many available rooms they have by glancing at how many room keys they have hanging up.  Then you can explain to the receptionist about how you’re a hosteler, student, or artist, and have a budgeted price limit, and you can bargain with them from there.

 Yes it is true there are some drawbacks when traveling to Europe in the off-season.  First, due to the time of year the weather is worse and often cold, windy and drizzly, and the days are shorter with it usually getting dark by 5 p.m.  Also, many sights, while still open in the winter, have shorter hours during this time as they due during the peak-months, so a sight’s hours may go from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the peak season to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the off season, with the falling of dark usually discerning the closing time.  But you can work around these drawbacks, and get the most out of the time you have.  First, try to wake up early and start your day fast.  And second, eat quick meals for breakfast and lunch, you will have time for a large dinner once night falls and your no longer in a rush.  But, as noted earlier, these sights will be less crowded due to the fact its winter, allowing you to really get Europe all to yourself.

 The high-speed train service, Eurostar, recently moved its London terminal from Waterloo Station to St. Pancras.   They also formed themselves as an entirely high-speed train service, and beat their own records by cutting 20 minutes off the trip from London to Paris, and 25 Minutes off the London to Brussels trip.    This is results from a part of a $12 billion project.  Trains now can reach the maximum of 186 mph in Britain.

 The first scheduled trains on the service departed for Paris from St. Pancras Station in central London, at 11:01 a.m. and arrived at the Gare du Nord two hours and 15 minutes later (down from the previous standing of two hours and 35 minutes).  The Brussels train left at 11:04 a.m. and arrived at the destination one hour and 51 minutes later.