While river cruising is generally not considered a budget vacation, with a little planning and a solid understanding of your cruise options, most budget-conscious travelers can get on board and experience a high quality, memorable time. As we point out below, there are several ways to save when planning a cruise.

How to Save on European River Cruises

Here are nine tips to help you get the best value out of your river cruise.

1. Book early for selection or book late for discounts

River cruises tend to be booked almost a year in advance. If you have cabin preferences, we recommend that you book early. The suites and the lowest priced cabins typically book up quickly.

On the other hand, when certain cabins aren’t booked within a few months of sailing, companies tend to offer discounts. If you don’t have your heart set on a specific cabin or even a particular itinerary, you might save money by booking late.

2. Ask questions about what’s included

For example, ask what “all-inclusive” means. The definition varies from one cruise company to another. With some companies, it means that your booking price includes port charges and all excursions, but not so with others. Or, you might not care that all alcoholic drinks are included if you are not much of a drinker. So, ask before booking and expect clear answers.

This cabin has a French balcony — that is, a sliding door that opens to let in air, but doesn’t lead to an outdoor balcony.

3. Consider opting for a “French balcony” for more space

When you consider the square footage of a cabin, that number includes the space on the outdoor balcony, a space that is generally not available to you as living space. Whereas, with a French balcony, the sliding glass panel opens to give you fresh air and a great view without reducing living space. We now prefer the French balconies!

4. Compare apples to apples

Take a good look at the square footage of your cabin, and remember that all river cruise boats are the same length and the same width. The locks and bridges that need to be navigated determine the size of the ship. So, if a river cruise ship allows 128 passengers and another holds 190 passengers, guess which will have more spacious cabins? Pay attention to cabin size and pricing. Why spend more for a tiny cabin?

5. You can save by booking a lower deck cabin

The least expensive cabins on river cruise ships are on the lower deck, and they do not have French balconies. They are partially underwater, so they have high windows that do not open, though they are generally as large as the other regular cabins. You may feel some motor vibrations in these cabins, but generally not enough to be a problem.

So, if you are of the type of traveler who says “I don’t spend any time in my room anyway,” go for these lower-fare rooms. Lots of people must feel the same way, because these cabins tend to book very fast.

6. Organize a group and save

If you can put together a group of 10 people (five cabins) for a cruise, there are perks for you and your group. Talk to your river cruise specialist, who can give you the money-saving details.

7. Ask about discounted airfare

Every river cruise company offers discounted, round-trip airfare from your home city to and from your cruise-embarking city. You will usually get airport transfers included, too. There may be restrictions, but it is often a very good bargain.

8. Ask about pre- and post-cruise options

Buying pre- and post-cruise tour extensions can be expensive if arranged by the cruise company. If you want to extend your stay a few days on either end of the cruise, ask your travel agent to price-out some independent travel options. Or, plan your own adventure.

One advantage to using the cruise company to arrange a pre- and post-travel extension is that they tend to choose only very good hotels and they generally include excursions and tours.

9. Book through a professional for the same cost as booking directly

Finally, if you find cruise advertisements that sound too good to be true, they probably are. I have seen some pretty ragged-looking river cruise ships in port, and when I looked online after getting home, I found that the cruise company was misrepresenting the condition of their cruise ships. I can only imagine how disappointed some cruise customers may have been upon seeing the cruise ship in port.

There are many river cruise companies out there, so it is important to enlist the aid and services of a travel agent or cruise specialist who has the knowledge and experience of selecting and booking river cruises. A river cruise specialist will help you find the right itinerary and the right cruise company to meet your individual needs.

And, of great importance, it costs you no more to book with a river cruise specialist than with the company directly. In fact, you can actually save a bundle because the cruise specialist knows where to find the best buys. We, therefore, strongly recommend that cruise customers avoid buying online before consulting a professional river cruise specialist. Ask your travel agent for more information, or feel free to contact me directly.

An AMA Waterways cruise passing through Regensburg, Germany.

Popular River Cruise Lines

Here are some of the most popular and well-regarded river cruise lines in Europe:

5-Star All-Inclusive: Scenic

This line, which is out of Australia, has been around for a long while but is now marketing to the American market. Scenic accepts 128 to 169 passengers aboard their Europe-based ships.

Scenic includes your own butler, gratuities, transfers and all on-board beverages (alcoholic and non) in the cruise rate. It also offers several dining options, complimentary Wi-Fi, personal GPS and electric bikes. There are always sales, but booking early is recommended.

4- Star: AMA Waterways

This line is American, based in California, but owned by pioneers in the river cruise industry. AMA Waterways accepts 158-162 passengers aboard their Europe-based ships.

I have taken two AMA Waterways cruises and can highly recommend this line. The food is excellent, and the service is fabulous. Wine and beer are included at lunch and dinner. Look out for their sales; they make their cruises very affordable.

4-star: Avalon Waterways

Part of the Globus family, Avalon accepts up to 168 passengers aboard. Avalon has designed a new concept called panorama suites. There are no outside balconies; instead, there is a wall of windows that open for a unique balcony experience.

Wine and beer are included at dinner. Avalon has great pricing and offers lots of sales and promotions.

4- star: Viking

Everyone has heard of Viking because of their enticing commercials. And, their ships are beautiful; we took a Viking cruise last winter. Viking accepts up to 190 passengers aboard. Because of the many passengers and smaller lounge space, we found it a bit crowded, but our room was spacious and the service was impeccable.

Viking serves their own wines at meals, so I missed tasting wines from the regions we were visiting.

Comparing the costs of a 7-night Danube cruise

Below, we compare these cruise lines for a seven-night cruise on the Danube for April 2023. As you can see, prices are quite comparable. but make sure you are comparing all the amenities and inclusions.

Scenic
Beginning standard cabin (160 sq. ft.): $3,495 per person
Balcony suite (205 sq. ft.): $4,895 pp
Royal suite (360 sq. ft.): $6,495 pp

AMA Waterways
Beginning standard cabin (160 sq. ft.): $2,899 pp
French/outside balcony (210 sq. ft.): $4,498 pp
Suite (350 sq. ft.): $6,498 pp

Avalon Waterways
Beginning standard cabin (160 sq. ft.): $2,549 pp
Panorama suite (200 sq. ft.): $3,848 pp
Royal suite (300 sq. ft.): $5,048 pp

Viking River Cruises
Beginning standard cabin (150 sq. ft.): $2,399 pp
French balcony (135 sq. ft.): $2,799 pp
Veranda suite (275 sq. ft.): $4,499 pp

Your river cruise tips

Have you taken a European river cruise? Tell us about it, and how you saved on your cruise, in the comments section below.

The post European River Cruises: Tips for getting the best deal on your cruise appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Outdoorsy nature lovers comprise one significant stream, as do the literary-minded – above all else fans of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.

For all of its beautiful countryside, England isn’t really a fall colors destination, though one overhears plenty of comparisons to New England in the Lake District in the autumn, and these comparisons are fair.

In the autumn months, the Lake District becomes a wet splendor, dripping with fall color and, well, rain. The region cradles the season in strong golds, reds and yellows. It’s captivating yet somehow understated. Tourist numbers dip in the off-season as well, and rates come down from their July and August highs.

Visiting the Lake District in fall

Here are five tips for making the Lake District work for you in the off-season.

1. Boats not cars

When it comes to the lakes themselves, consider opting out of a car rental and basing yourself at one or another lake. Traveling by car will mean getting wet and dealing with navigation hassles. Four lakes can be navigated on luxuriously slow, lumbering cruises.

Windermere Lake Cruises operates on Lake Windermere (limited winter schedule), Keswick Launch runs on Derwentwater (limited winter schedule), Ullswater Steamers churn the waters of Ullswater (limited winter schedule), and Coniston Launch provides tours of Coniston Water, though only through early November.

2. Bus tours – and buses as transportation

Bus tours can be booked by a company called Mountain Goat Tours, which operates daylong tours. In the off-season (November through Easter) the number of tours on offer shrinks to just two, but these are, arguably, the essential two: the Ten Lakes Spectacular (£39) and the Beatrix Potter & William Wordsworth’s Countryside (£35).

For general bus travel around the region, there is the North West Explorer day pass, which costs £11.50 for adults (£8.50 for children) and allows travel on buses throughout Cumbria and beyond.

3. Mint cakes

Get sugared up. The Lake District is known for the Kendal Mint Cake, a block of sugar cooked with peppermint oil that became a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts. Think of it as an energy booster. Or as candy. Your choice.

A cozy scene at the charming Ambleside Inn. Photo: Booking.com

4. Cheap beds

Bed down in the lap of value at The Ambleside Inn in the Lake District village of Ambleside. The rooms are above a successful restaurant and bar that serves locally brewed beers. Rooms are simple but cheery. Doubles begin around £99 per night.

Search for more hotels in Cumbria and the Lake District.

5. Escape the rain with Peter Rabbit.

If the weather is just too terrible to explore, there’s the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness for fans and the generally curious alike. There is a short film, a virtual walk through the surrounding countryside, various displays (or “areas”) devoted to various of Potter’s characters, and a shop and tearoom. Admission is £7.95 for adults and £3.95 for children.

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Ferry details

To really catch the flavor of Scotland, it’s good to take a boat or two during your travels. The high season sees augmented schedules on many routes, as well as one or two unusual ferry links that only run in the peak season. Here’s the gen on five fine Scottish ferry trips for this summer.

Bicycles are carried for free on all five routes mentioned here. Cyclists should always mention the need for bike space when making a booking. For foot passengers advance booking is possible, but by no means essential on most of the routes mentioned below. The one notable exception is Route 5 (to Jura) where seats must always be booked in advance.

1. A Viking voyage: Shetland to Orkney

We were blessed with good weather when we sailed from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to Orkney. It is a perfect journey for a mid-summer evening, when you can expect superb views of Fair Isle. It is a route that runs year-round, but during the high season the frequency rises from twice to thrice weekly. Departures this summer are at 5.30 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Lerwick.

Single fare: £17.10
Crossing time: 5 hrs 30 mins
Cars carried: YES
Operator: NorthLink Ferries

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry cruising through Oban Bay. Photo: Ian Britton

2. Island hopping: Kennacraig to Oban

The bus journey from Kennacraig (a small port towards the northern end of the Mull of Kintyre) takes less than three hours and is a very fine ride through stunning Highland scenery. But there is another option. During the high season, there is a twice-weekly ferry from Kennacraig to Oban. It stops at the islands of Islay and Colonsay, affording along the way very fine views of Jura. The service operates until late October.

Single fare: £15.45
Crossing time: 6 hrs 25 mins
Cars carried: YES
Operator: Caledonian MacBrayne

3. Away from Kintyre: Campbeltown to Ardrossan

As last year, Caledonian MacBrayne are running an occasional service from Campeltown (at the southern end of the Mull of Kintyre) to Ardrossan (on the mainland south-west of Glasgow) until late September 2014. The Saturday sailing from Campbeltown is really one for early birds (it leaves at 7am), but in good weather it’s a fine way to see the Firth of Clyde. It skirts the south coast of Arran, making a stop at Brodick.

Single fare: £9.80
Crossing time: 3 hrs 40 mins
Cars carried: YES
Operator: Caledonian MacBrayne

4. Out to the Outer Hebrides: Oban to Castlebay

There are plenty of boats to the Outer Hebrides, with Caledonian MacBrayne offering a good range of services from Oban and Ullapool (both on the mainland) as well as from the port of Uig on the Isle of Skye. But there is one sailing in particular in the current schedules which warrants attention this summer. The Thursday morning sailing from Oban to Castlebay (on the island of Barra) takes an unusual routing via the islands of Coll and Tiree.

Single fare: £14.25
Crossing time: 6 hrs 45 mins
Cars carried: YES
Operator: Caledonian MacBrayne

The view from the Jura Passenger Ferry. Photo: bazzarrgh

5. The back route to Jura

There was a time when the only way to Jura was via the island of Islay. But nowadays there is a seasonal direct service to Craighouse on Jura from Tayvallich on the mainland. It’s not cheap, but this community-run venture gives fast access from the Scottish mainland to one of the remotest parts of the Inner Hebrides. The service runs twice daily from Mondays to Saturdays except Wednesdays. There is also one run on a Sunday. The route operates until the end of September.

Single fare: £20
Crossing time: 1 hr
Cars carried: NO
Operator: Jura Passenger Ferry

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Yes, Devon has a wonderful trawl of place names. Over the last year or two we’ve roamed from King’s Nympton to Eggbuckland, from Nymet Rowland to Weare Giffard.

Car-free Devon

If you really want to make the most of any stay in Devon, leave the car at home. The slow train on the Tarka Line to Barnstaple and the market day bus to Chagford tell more of the county than the nose-to-tail traffic on the Exeter bypass — which captured the public imagination in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s as a highway that each summer boasted fabulous traffic snarl-ups.

The bypass has been tamed, and these days the cars no longer splutter in a stop-and-go procession of exhaust fumes. But many of Devon’s roads are still crowded and, in a county that boasts a wonderful range of public transport options, it just makes sense to take the train… or the bus… or even a boat.

The 319 Hartland to Barnstaple bus. Photo © hidden europe

Devon by rail

For rail travel, the Devon Day Ranger ticket affords unlimited travel by train around Devon for a day. It costs just £10. On some routes there are restrictions on its use on weekdays prior to 9 a.m., but elsewhere you can set off at the crack of dawn — even on the first train of the day from Exeter to Barnstaple. Early birds who take the 5.50 a.m. train on the Tarka Line stand a better chance of seeing the famously elusive otters that frequent the banks of the River Taw.

The Devon Day Ranger rail ticket is superb value. Roam from Axminster (on the Dorset border) to Gunnislake in Cornwall — one of two stations in Cornwall to which the ticket may be used. The other is Calstock.

For travelers who fancy a summer evening roaming Devon by train, there is a half-price version of the Devon Ranger ticket generally valid from 6 p.m. It’s predictably called the “Devon Evening Ranger” ticket.

Devon by bus

Devon is blessed with an excellent network of local bus routes. The Cartogold website has a bang-up-to-date network map, where you can use a simple menu (in the left sidebar) to reveal route details and call up the latest timetable for any bus service in the county (and for services from Devon into the three neighboring counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall).

Two of our favorite year-round Devon bus routes are:

1. The 93 from Plymouth via Kingsbridge to Dartmouth, a 2hr 15min journey that takes in some of south Devon’s finest scenery.

2. The 319 from Barnstaple via Clovelly to Hartland, a 80-minute roller coaster of a ride that runs out to the bleak and beautiful coast of northwest Devon.

Bus maps and timetables

Check timetables carefully, as some routes run only in the summer season or on certain days of the week. Among the seasonal routes that are really worth making time for are the 82 Transmoor Link service from Exeter to the granite wilds of Dartmoor and Service 300 which plies the coastal route from Ilfracombe to Lynton and beyond — taking in some fine Exmoor landscapes along the way.

If you are planning to spend a few days exploring Devon by bus, it is worth getting hold of the excellent printed timetables prepared by Devon County Council’s public transport team. The timetables and the accompanying map are free.

Boats, too

Devon’s wonderfully indented south coast, where great inlets cut well into the heart of the county, is tailor-made for exploring by boat. The little ferry that shuttles across the mouth of the Exe (from Starcross to Exmouth — connecting conveniently with rail services at both ends) is a delightful ride.

But make time too for the network of routes from Dittisham, Totnes and Dartmouth operated by Greenway Ferry. Last month we used the company’s service from Totnes to Dartmouth. It’s a relaxing 95-minute trip down the River Dart (and half an hour longer if you opt to travel upstream from Dartmouth to Totnes), and the one-way fare of just £3.75 will appeal to budget-minded travelers. The same company also operates services from Torquay to Brixham.

Slow Devon

Many of Devon’s coastal communities have been shaped by their maritime links — and that’s especially true of both Dartmouth and Brixham. The best way to arrive in either town is by boat. Devon is, in short, perfect for devotees of slow travel. Public transport links of the kind mentioned here give an insight into local communities. Take time for Devon. And take Hilary Bradt’s excellent Slow Devon book with you on your travels.

Travel writers Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner have penned warm words about Devon twice this month here on EuroCheapo. See their comments on Devon’s serenity (13 November) and their article on Exeter cathedral (20 November).

The post Explore Devon by bus, boat and train to get closer (and save) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Cheapo tours

The city has numerous ferries plying the Elbe in its transportation network, which means that for the price of a transportation day ticket, you can hop on-hop off these water routes as you wish.

The classic tour is #62 to Finkenwerder, an area with a small village atmosphere that’s enjoyable to explore by foot before returning to the mainland by ferry – or make a half-day trip out of it by packing a picnic lunch or dinner along. The ferry makes a number of stops along the coast, giving you the opportunity to walk on the beach or enjoy a beer or fish sandwich from the small restaurants along the shoreline, a lovely diversion when the weather is agreeable.

Ferries depart every 15 minutes from Landungsbrücken.
Total travel time: one hour.
Cost: day tickets from 5.80€.

Alster cruises

ATG offers basic trips around the Alster all year long. If you’d prefer a short trip, it’s possible to pay per station; otherwise, purchase a round-trip or day ticket.

Cruises depart from outside S-/U-Jungfernstieg.
Cost: round trip 8.50€, day tickets 12€.

Canal tours

ATG also offers extended versions of its Alster tours, which include an additional hour-long excursion through Hamburg’s canal system.

Runs March through October.
Cost: 18€.

In good weather, however, you may prefer to rent a small boat – a canoe or even a swan-shaped paddle boat – to explore the canals at a slower pace. Try Bootsvermietung Dornheim in Winterhude; prices start at just 9€ per hour for a two-person boat.  Closest station: U-Saarlandstrasse.

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City Tour

There are numerous boat companies plying the central waterways on sunny summer days. Such tours typically last one hour and take passengers past the city’s major sights: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, government quarter including Chancellery and Reichstag, Hauptbahnhof, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, and Nikolaiviertel.

Boat companies include: Stern & Kreis and Reederei Riedel. The most convenient location with regular departures is Friedrichstrasse station. Cost: Around €10

• Cheapo tip: Have a local friend or host with a transportation ticket subscription? Such “Abo” customers are eligible for 2-for-1 tours on BWSG boats. Print the coupon here.

Canals Tour

Stern & Kreis offers a “bridges” tour through Berlin’s canal system, taking you through Mitte, Friedrichshain, Treptow, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg, before returning through the center of the city. It’s an excellent three-hour excursion. Wait for a fine day and slap on sunscreen! Click for departures from Friedrichstrasse or Jannowitzbrücke. Cost: 20€.

• Cheapo tip: Score 20% off your ticket price with a coupon from the Berlin Stars booklet, distributed with paid admission by participating attractions (Fernsehturm, Madame Tussaud’s, SeaLife, Legoland, etc.).

Ultimate Cheapo Tour

For the price of a regular AB public transportation ticket or included in any day or week ticket, Cheapos can take the ferry F10 across Wannsee to Alt-Kladow. The harbor is a quick walk from Wannsee station, located 20-30 minutes from Friedrichstrasse (S1/S7) or Zoo (S7) stations.

The ferry ride takes 20 minutes in one direction; either enjoy a stop in one of Alt-Kladow’s harbor-side biergartens for an hour, or disembark and immediately join the line reboarding for Wannsee. Consider stopping on an excursion to or from Potsdam. Cost: 5.20€ (or free). More information.

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Flash forward to Saturday, though, and I’d already found my first Cheapo tip to write back home about. The Bateaux-Mouches, simple boat tours of Paris from the Seine, are well-worn tourist territory. But this doesn’t mean you should hesitate to board one of the barge-looking vessels for a quick, convenient and inexpensive introduction to the City of Lights.

Sit, relax, and ogle

As a very sore, very jetlagged traveler, being able to sit on a boat and ogle the major sights of Paris without having to walk or worry about planning was a blessing. The Bateaux-Mouches (and other similar boat services) cruise by the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Hotel de Ville and a number of other sights in a brisk hour or so. No other service can offer so comprehensive a tour more quickly or cheaply.  A Seine River cruise is never a bad idea, but for the tired traveler, it can’t be matched.

And if it’s hot out, which does happen in Paris (90 degrees two weeks ago), it’s much nicer on the water than in city streets. Be forewarned, though, that in chilly weather, the wind up the river can make the tour almost unbearably cold.  I first took a Bateaux-Mouche two Februarys ago. I don’t think I could’ve penned a glowing review then.)

For information on the best Paris river cruises, along with prices, check out our post from June.

As for the rest of my trip, I’ll be getting to it soon. My itinerary so far hasn’t allowed for much quality blogging time. But while you’re waiting for these longer updates, you can follow my movements on Twitter and Facebook. It’s been a ton of fun so far and there’s plenty left to talk about!

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For most tourists, being charged over £4 for a single journey in central London is (understandably) a most baffling concept. While unfortunately I can’t tell you how to make travel on public transport in London cheap, here’s how to make it as cost-effective as possible:

1. Don’t rely on your walking shoes

If you’re planning to really explore all London has to offer, don’t make that common mistake of thinking it is a walkable city. It’s not and it never will be. With the exception of a few tube stops clustered around the area between Piccadilly Circus and Holborn, most stations are there because it would take a very long time to walk between them.

Just tap your Oyster card on the sensor and go through. Photo: Tom Pagenet

2. Make sure you have an Oyster card

The Oyster card is a small plastic card that can be topped up like a “pay as you go” phone (perfect for shorter visits), or used for weekly, monthly and annual Travelcards. Valid for travel on London Underground (The Tube), bus, tram, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), National Rail Service and London Overground, the Oyster card offers savings of over 50% compared to buying individual tickets.

You can get your Oyster card at Tube stops and Travel Information Centres by paying a £5 deposit. If you return your Oyster card when you are leaving London, you get this money back. However, if you are planning on returning regularly then it is worth keeping hold of your Oyster.

With “pay as you go,” a Zone 1 Tube, DLR or London Overground journey will cost you £2. Depending on how much you travel in one day, Oyster will cap your daily spend at £7 for off-peak travel and £8.40 for peak-time travel. Bus rides alone cost £1.35 each with Oyster. If you are staying in London for a week, save some pennies with a 7-day Travelcard to Zones 1 & 2 for £29.20.

Cheapo tip: Just remember to touch in and touch out on the yellow oyster card readers when you enter and leave stations – if you forget your Oyster card will be charged a penalty.

3. Ditch the tourist bus and take the RV1

When you’re out and about in London you may be tempted to give one of those open top sightseeing buses a go. Well, they’ll set you back a whopping £23.

So here’s an idea for Cheapos: One of central London’s public transport bus routes, the RV1, takes in an incredible number of sights and is a whole lot cheaper. Pay with your Oyster card (max £1.35 and less with a Travelcard) and bag a seat next to the window. This is a great option in the winter, as shivering in the rain on an open top bus is certainly not my idea of fun!

Starting in Covent Garden, the RV1 makes its way past Somerset House and across Waterloo Bridge onto London’s South Bank. It then stops at the Royal Festival Hall, the London Eye and the Oxo Tower before heading towards City Hall and the Tower of London. Spend the whole day hopping on and off and feel incredibly smug every time you see an expensive tourist bus pass by!

4. Cruise down the Thames with your Oyster

Another perk to using your Oyster card is that it includes discounts on Thames riverboat routes, meaning that you can opt for public transport and forgo the overpriced tourist boats along the Thames.

Oyster Travelcards will get you a 1/3 off any of the public boat services on the Thames, while Oyster “pay as you go” will get you a 10% discount just on KPMG Thames Clippers riverboats.

KPMG Thames Clippers are perfect for visiting some of London’s biggest attractions, from the London Eye and the Tate Modern, to cruising passed the Millennium Dome and enjoying a leisurely day out in Greenwich. Fares cost between £2.30-£5.40 depending on how far you wish to travel.

Also in our guide: Heading to London and looking for more ways to keep it cheap? Our editors have visited, reviewed and inspected great inexpensive hotels all over town. Read reviews and see photographs in our London guide.

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Of course, there are plenty of other ferry options, many of them with much longer crossing times than the short but sweet shipping routes which we highlight here. Those longer options includes several North Sea crossings from the eastern England ports of Harwich, Hull and Newcastle to the continent. And there are also a range of routes linking the south and southwest England ports of Newhaven, Portsmouth, Poole, Weymouth and Plymouth with France and Spain. The “short-sea” routes on which we focus below are all year-round services.

Four companies compete with ferry services from the Kent coast to the continent, three running from Dover to France and the fourth operating out of Ramsgate to Belgium.

Cruise-ferry comfort with P&O

Top choice from Dover to Calais is P&O, which offers cruise-ferry comfort on the 90-minute crossing to France. The company currently shuttles to and fro 46 times each day, but services will be a shade less frequent in the quieter winter months (from early January to mid-March 2012).

These are wonderful, well-appointed ships. Crossing the Channel by sea is a chance to relax, see the White Cliffs of Dover and recall how that short stretch of water separating Kent from the French coast so powerfully shaped English identity.

Daytime-only for foot passengers

This P&O ferry route to Calais is the only route from Dover on which foot passengers are permitted. And remember that foot passengers may not use night services. They are restricted to daytime sailings (viz. sailings that leave Dover between 8:10 a.m. and 7:35 p.m. or those that leave Calais between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.).

One-way fares for a car (including up to nine passengers if you can squeeze that number in) start at £25 single, and that fare also applies to car travelers wanting to return the same day – good for shoppers making a day excursion to France to stock up on cheap wines and French deli produce.

By coach and ship to France: Eurolines

Selected departures on Eurolines’ London to Paris express bus service also use the P&O shipping service from Dover. (Others take the less romantic option: the Eurotunnel vehicle shuttle). Services using the ferry are marked as such on the Eurolines timetables.

Grab one of Eurolines’ Advance Single fares and you may pay as little as £29 for the one-way ride from London to Paris, with a short cruise with P&O along the way.

DFDS and Sea France

Two other companies operate from Dover to French ports, namely Sea France (to Calais) and DFDS (to Dunquerque). Neither carry foot passengers, although the DFDS services will carry cyclists – and they have a very reasonable £10 one-way fare that covers both cyclist and bike.

Ramsgate: A link to Belgium

Kent’s second port at Ramsgate is very much smaller than Dover. Ramsgate is north of Dover and the travel time from London to both ports (whether by car or by train) is broadly similar.

Transeuropa Ferries offer thrice-daily services from Ramsgate to Oostende in Belgium. Crossing time is 4hrs 30mins (so more than twice as long as on services from Dover to France). Transeuropa do not carry foot passengers – a travesty as the ferry port in Oostende is right by the train station and this route would be so convenient for rail-sea travellers.

And – surely this must be against the law – Transuropa say that, for the time being, they will not accept cars that have a passenger who relies on a wheelchair. We have never used a Transeuropa ferry, but we understand from those who have that there is little by way of creature comforts.

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First, what makes it so darn hot here anyway? The main reason is that Florence is surrounded by hills which limits the airflow to the city. Mix this with smog and that big yellow ball in the sky and you’ve got yourself one gigantic pressure cooker.

Boat Tours

Believe it or not, even with that juicy river passing through the center, Florence doesn’t offer much in terms of boat tours. There are a few small private tours which float tourists along the Arno using vintage Tuscan “push boats,” but these can be quite expensive and change owners all the time.

My advice would be to pass by the Tourist Office on via Cavour 1r to inquire about which companies are still afloat and which are most affordable.

Head to the Lake

For those extra hot days, why not consider a short trip outside the city? One suggestion is Lago di Bilancino, Tuscany’s largest artificial lake. Just a half hour from Florence, it’s both cheap and easily accessible by buses and trains.

Click here for more info how to get there and what to do with yourself once you’ve arrived.

Free Water

One thing’s for sure. Taking in the sights during the summer means stocking up on plenty of water. And trust me, the cost of buying those little bottles in the center can quickly add up.

But great news, because the city of Florence has just installed purified bottle-filling stations around the city. And the best part is that they’re absolutely free! (How’s that for cheapness?) You can even choose between sparkling or still! Test it out at Piazza della Signoria behind the Zeus fountain.

And if you’re still desperate for a bowl of soup, I’d really recommend the gazpacho.

The post Florence: How to keep cool during the summer appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.