Turning 26 soon? Book Your Trip To Europe Now

Turning can 26 can be scary. It means you are closer to 30 than to 20 and it officially makes you an adult. Well, at least in the eyes of the European tourist industry. Many things that you would pay for while traveling Europe increase for people once they turn 26 because you are no longer considered a "youth," but an adult. Here are just a few things that will cost you more after your 26th birthday.

Trains

If you are on a budget, traveling by train is expensive enough. However, once you are 26, the train prices go up significantly. For example, to take a train from Bruges to Brussels will cost an adult $17 for the hour ride. But for a "youth" under 26, the same ticket costs just $7. That is a 10 dollar difference that could potentially fund other activites on your visit. This is not just in Belgium, but in many European countries. When purchasing tickets, you will always be asked whether you are an adult or a youth for pricing, but do not think about cheating the system because you often have to show your passport during ticket collection. If you are not sure when booking a ticket if there is a cheaper option for youth, make sure to contact the company or service representative.

Buses

For starters, the age difference does not apply to all bus companies. For instance, MegaBus which is a bus company that services most of England and some parts of Central Europe does not offer a discount for youth. On the other hand, Eurolines does offer a discount for people under 26 and they service most of Central and Western Europe. For example on Eurolines, a bus ticket from Lyon, France to Barcelona, Spain could be between $5 to $10 less if you are under 26. If you multiply that difference by the amount of buses you may take, the money can add up.

There are some exceptions to this rule. If you are looking at buying special priced tickets or bus passes, there may or may not be a discount. It all depends when you purchase the tickets and where you are traveling to