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Germany is already a relatively cheap country to visit, but with a few tips and tricks and a little common sense, you can make your holiday around Germany an extremely cheap break.

Travel

As with most holidays, the biggest expense is simply getting there. The travel to the country, however, is also your biggest chance to save.

As anyone who’s been awake at some point during the past decade will know, booking flights in advance really is the best way to save. All too often, people postpone booking flights hoping to catch a last minute deal the week before their break. That sounds great in theory, but then they begin to panic when the plane tickets start running out a month or two before and they end up forking out a lot more than they hoped for to secure their spot on board.

With so many cheap flights from budget airlines you are sure to find something to get you to Germany and the best way to stay in the know is to subscribe to the various newsletters from low-cost airlines. Don’t worry – you can unsubscribe once you’ve found your perfect flight to avoid cluttering up your inbox!

Once in Germany, you’ll probably want to travel around to see more than one city. If so, look into the German Rail Pass. Starting at €174, this pass gives you four to ten days of rail travel as long as all the days are used up within the period of one month – perfect for a summer journey around the country.

Accommodation

Accommodation – the other big expense!

Hostels are probably the cheapest roof over your head that you’ll find in Germany and are also a great way to meet new people, your fellow travellers. You’ll be able to share travelling tips, a drink and maybe even a cheap dinner together, given that most hostels provide a kitchen, meaning you don’ have to eat out every night.

Another cheap and more comfortable option for those who are put off by the idea of sharing a room with strangers is renting a self-catering apartment. Again you’ll be able to save money on food by eating in and there is bound to be something available in every city, with Oh-Berlin.com as one example, offering cheap holiday apartments in the capital.

One final option worth considering is free accommodation. Yes, you read that right! A worldwide network called CouchSurfing gives travellers the opportunity to crash on somebody’s couch or floor in return for little more than bringing a skill, for example, cooking or cleaning. You have to be selected by the couch’s provider so be sure to create an interesting profile when registering and get practising that skill!

Food

As mentioned above, a self-catering option such as an apartment or hostel is a great way to save money when refilling your hungry stomach. But there are also many ways to go out and taste the local cuisines without breaking the bank.

If dining out, avoid restaurants close to the main tourist attractions. This is an obvious piece of advice, but many tourists understandably look for the most convenient spot to eat after a long day’s sightseeing when just a couple of streets back from all the famous landmarks – at least in the bigger towns and cities – you can find somewhere selling better food at a cheaper price.

You can also avoid the tourist prices by checking if a place has English menus. A lot of the cheapest eateries aim to cater only for locals, so if there are no English menus then there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled across one. And don’t worry about not understanding what you’re ordering, as that’s part of the fun of experiencing a new culture! Just be sure to make lots of yummy noises no matter what it tastes like!

Germany is also pretty famous for its street food and with many cities hosting a large Turkish population, most notably the capital Berlin, you’ll come across a delightful coming together of German and Turkish delicacies, rarely for more than a few euros. And keep an eye out for some currywurst. Believe me, just try it!

Not that you have all the info you need to take a cheap holiday to Germany, go start preparing!