Extra Money, you say?

Not everyone is on the strictest of budgets. For those fortunate few of you who are not, realize that your extra money can go pretty far in Europe. If I had, say, USD 1000 to add to my “realistic budget,” my first priority would be to buy more rail travel power. As I detail in Basics #2, an unlimited pass is more than worth the money it costs. The next upgrade would be for accommodation - an occasional hotel to break up the hostel routine. After that would come food, then some truly nice souvenirs. Last on the list would be getting around in cities and upgraded air travel. I’m not mentioning museums because, as I will discuss in a few pages, museums, monuments, and other cultural attractions should never be scrimped on in the first place.

For those of you with no limit to your budget at all, you will find plenty of places in Europe that will be happy to take as much money as you can spend, and provide you with exquisite surroundings and impeccable service in exchange. A large resort is a large resort anywhere in the world; where Europe truly shines in upscale travel is in small, old, family-run hotels and inns that offer a level of personal service and hospitality that can’t be found anywhere else. If you’re going on a trip that includes these kinds of places, all I can say is: take me with you!