One of the main obstacles of moving to the Netherlands, or any place in Europe, is getting there...

Flights can be outrageously expensive if you don't know where to look and how to search, Here i've compiled a number of useful tips and resources in order to help you all get the most for your money...

Here are the main websites I use to book my flights:

Kayak- an incredible flight search engine, it literally searches through almost every airline looking for the cheapest flights available. They are very good at booking transcontinental flights...
www.kayak.com

student Universe- If you're a student, they have lots of deals for flights here, but only if you're a student... they check on this
www.studentuniverse.com

Cheap Fare Guru- Another search engine like Kayak that sometimes can get cheaper flights, but its inconsistent
www.cheapfareguru.com

1.) Plan Ahead!
Whether you're travelling for a Short vacation or a permanent move, its essential to plan ahead of time.

Depending on when you decide to Travel, book your flights at least 2-3 months in Advance. Usually companies have a number of "cheap" seats that they sell in advance on flights. Getting to them early and booking them are essential. Once these tickets are gone... they're gone...

There are a number of websites that do specialize in
last minute cheap flights, but be warned that you're not going to get their deals until literally weeks before you leave, And there's no guarantee that you'll get the cheap flights... My advice, search around with enough time to change your plans if need be

2.) Choose your departure Airport carefully

International flights Usually leave from large Hubs around the US... Chicago, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, etc..

NYC is one of the cheapest places to fly to europe I've found, It works best when flying to London.... you can get round trip tickets for about 100 bucks cheaper when you fly out of NYC (usually JFK airport)

A good way to save on transcontinental flights is to use these hubs as your starting point. They will always be cheaper than booking directly from your home airport.

That way you can get cheap flights from your home town to one of these hubs....


3.) Choose your departure day of the week carefully

When choosing a departure date.... its always best to leave on a tuesday-thursday. Any time you try and book on a friday/saturday/sunday, the prices automatically jump upwards at least 50-100 dollars. This can be the same for any kind of hotel as well... if you can minimize your weekends you'll end up spending a lot less...



4.)When to travel?


The best time to get a cheap flight is on the off season. Everywhere in Europe is cheaper in the Fall and the late winter. Their climate is much milder and therefore the winters are milder (if you come from like texas... don't expect to be in 86 degree weather.... unless you go to spain...it's comparable to maryland/ chesapeake bay area... in England and the netherlands.... )

Sometimes you can get deals in the spring, but try to avoid big holidays... and you can keep it cheap


5.) Once your overseas a really good way to get around... is to actually fly... There are a number of discount airlines that fly all around the continent....
check out these cheap airlines...

Easyjet.com
This company is based in england, (Luton Airport London) and flys to most european countries on the mid and lower continent... ( but not Ireland surprisingly.... maybe the brits still don't like them?)

For example.... Using the guides I put up before...leaving on a tuesday and returning on a thursday, I got quoted a price of 75 pounds, or 150 bucks.... which is 75 both ways


ryanair.com
I've heard good things and bad things about this company... I've never used them but people say they don't quote correct prices... you may find a deal there... but make sure your check ALL the taxes...


bmibaby.com

Another airline based in England... they have flights out of The east Midlands (a few hours north of london.... check out nottingham in england.... its right next to the airport... and theres some good green up there, I used to go to school there)



www.kayak.com

I don't want to be repetative, but I can't stress the importance of this tool. They not only give you all the airlines collected, but you can do more research and find smaller airline companies who have cheaper prices....




So these are my tips on travelling to, and around Europe...

Here's another example using the tips I gave above...booking a flight From NYC, to Amsterdam here we go

I picked a date at least 4-5 months in advance..... Chose a good day of the week...

say November 24th to December 2nd... Its not cold yet... stays warm....

I just got you a flight from NYC to AMS for 637 Dollars....and you're in amsterdam for the cannabis world cup....

not too bad eh? but beware... they change fast! it may already be gone!
try it yourself