Expert answers about Costsaver — the budget-smart touring brand from The Travel Corporation, offering guided escorted travel at Europe's most accessible price points without giving up the convenience of a professional tour director.
Costsaver is The Travel Corporation's most budget-friendly touring brand, sitting below Trafalgar in price while sharing the same operational infrastructure. Tours include a professional tour director, motorcoach transportation, and quality hotels — but with fewer included meals and a no-frills approach to extras. It's designed for travelers who want the safety and convenience of guided touring at the lowest practical price point.
Trafalgar includes more meals, more sightseeing, their signature “Be My Guest” dining experiences in locals' homes, and more MAKE TRAVEL MATTER moments. Costsaver uses the same professional tour director model and motorcoach infrastructure but strips back the extras — typically fewer dinners included, fewer optional experiences built in, and slightly more modest hotels — at a price typically 15–25% lower. Your Pavlus advisor can compare specific itineraries side by side.
Both Costsaver (part of The Travel Corporation) and Cosmos (part of the Globus family) target the budget-escorted touring market in Europe and are similarly priced. The main difference is brand parentage and specific itinerary coverage:
Both are solid value options. Your Pavlus advisor can compare specific itineraries for your chosen destination and dates to identify the best fit.
Costsaver is an excellent choice for:
Yes — Costsaver participates in TTC Loyalty, The Travel Corporation's multi-brand loyalty program. Benefits apply across TTC brands, so past travel with Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, or Contiki also contributes to loyalty recognition. Past-guest discounts can meaningfully reduce the already-low Costsaver price on future bookings.
Costsaver tours typically include:
Most dinners, all lunches, optional excursions, gratuities, and personal expenses are additional. This is by design — Costsaver keeps the base price low by letting travelers control their own meal spending.
Costsaver's limited meal inclusions are intentional — this is how the brand achieves its lower price point. By not including most dinners and lunches, Costsaver keeps the base tour fare down and gives travelers the freedom to eat where, what, and how much they choose. Travelers who prefer to find a local trattoria, a street food market, or a supermarket for lunch have total flexibility. This works particularly well for travelers who find included group restaurant dinners restrictive.
Yes — Costsaver tours include a menu of optional excursions available for purchase through the tour director during the trip. These typically include city tours, cultural experiences, regional day trips, and evening entertainment. This “a la carte” approach lets budget-conscious travelers control their total spend — purchase the optional experiences that matter most to them and skip the rest.
Because Costsaver includes only breakfast and limited sightseeing, out-of-pocket expenses are higher than on Trafalgar or Insight. Plan for:
Budget approximately $80–$130 per person per day beyond the tour price for a comfortable experience.
No — gratuities are not included in Costsaver fares. Costsaver recommends tipping your tour director approximately $5–$7 per person per day and the driver approximately $2–$3 per person per day. Budget approximately $8–$12 per person per day for gratuities.
Costsaver tour directors are trained by The Travel Corporation to the same professional standards as Trafalgar Travel Directors. They manage all tour logistics, lead included sightseeing, and provide destination knowledge throughout the trip. The tour director is the most important factor in escorted tour quality, and TTC trains their directors to a consistent standard regardless of which brand they lead.
Yes — Costsaver engages Local Specialists at major historical and cultural sites on most itineraries. These licensed local experts provide site-specific knowledge that supplements your tour director's broader destination expertise. At significant included attractions, a Local Specialist will lead the group and provide context that transforms a visit from a walk-through into a learning experience.
Yes — a single tour director accompanies the Costsaver group from departure to final day. This continuity is fundamental to escorted touring: one professional knows the full group, manages all logistics, and ensures a personally attentive experience from start to finish.
Costsaver operates tours primarily in Europe, with select worldwide itineraries:
Costsaver tours typically run 7 to 18 days. Short “getaway” tours of 7–9 days offer an affordable European introduction, while comprehensive multi-country tours of 14–18 days cover broader regions. The accessible price point makes even longer Costsaver tours financially within reach for many travelers.
For first-time visitors to Europe, Costsaver's multi-country tours covering major highlights — typically spanning 5–8 countries in 10–15 days — provide the best introduction to European diversity. If you have a specific country or region in mind, country-focused tours offer greater depth. Your Pavlus advisor can recommend the right itinerary based on your bucket-list destinations and available time.
Costsaver tours move at a standard escorted-tour pace — covering multiple destinations over the course of the trip with 1–2 nights in most stops and longer stays in major cities. The pace is comparable to Trafalgar. Because fewer activities are pre-scheduled, guests often have more flexibility in how they spend their time at each destination, which can make the tour feel less rushed than more programmed competitors.
Costsaver intentionally provides more free time than its more inclusive TTC sister brand Trafalgar — this is a defining feature of the Costsaver value proposition. With fewer mandatory group activities scheduled, guests have more flexibility to explore independently, find their own dining, and set their own pace within each destination. Your tour director will always provide recommendations and be available for questions.
Yes — participation in included activities is never mandatory on a Costsaver tour. If you'd rather explore a neighborhood market than join a guided city walk, that's entirely your choice. Simply let your tour director know your plans, note the departure time for the coach, and enjoy your independence. This flexibility is one of the reasons independent-minded travelers choose Costsaver.
On most Costsaver days, coach travel between destinations is 2–3 hours. Longer transfer days occur when crossing regions or countries, but these are generally broken up with scenic or historical stops. Costsaver coaches are modern, air-conditioned, and comfortable, with seat rotation practiced to ensure fairness across the group.
Costsaver typically requires a deposit of $100–$150 per person at booking (one of the lowest in the escorted touring industry), with final payment due 60–90 days before departure. Cancellation penalties apply on a sliding scale. Even at Costsaver's low price points, travel insurance is worthwhile to protect your deposit and any flights already purchased.
Yes — even at budget price points, travel insurance is recommended. A comprehensive policy covers trip cancellation, emergency medical (which can be very expensive abroad without insurance), evacuation, and baggage loss. The relative cost of insurance vs. the risk of uninsured losses makes it worthwhile for any international trip. Your Pavlus advisor can help identify suitable coverage options.
Costsaver is a popular choice for solo travelers, particularly those who want affordable group travel without the party-focused energy of Contiki. A single supplement applies for private room occupancy. Costsaver periodically offers promotions with reduced supplements on select departures — ask your Pavlus advisor about current offerings. The group format makes it easy to meet fellow travelers, and the free-time-heavy schedule suits solo explorers who like independence.
Costsaver uses 3- to 3.5-star hotels in centrally located positions. These are clean, serviceable properties that provide a comfortable night's sleep after a full touring day. While they lack the amenities of Trafalgar's or Insight's properties, they are well-maintained and appropriately located. Guests who prioritize exploration over hotel amenities find Costsaver hotels perfectly adequate.
Costsaver tours require a moderate level of fitness: walking 2–3 miles per day on varied surfaces, navigating cobblestones common to European historic centers, and managing stairs at monuments and museums. The tours are not strenuous, but a reasonable level of mobility is necessary. If you have specific physical limitations, discuss them with your Pavlus advisor before booking.
Costsaver is an excellent entry point for escorted touring. The professional tour director handles all logistics, eliminating the stress of independent planning, while the affordable price and extra free time reduce the “commitment” feel that can deter independent travelers from trying guided touring. If you try Costsaver and enjoy the format, you can always step up to Trafalgar or Insight Vacations on a future trip for a more inclusive experience.
Call 800-528-9300 to speak with a Pavlus Costsaver specialist. We'll review available departures, apply any past-passenger or TTC loyalty discounts, note your room preferences, and complete your reservation. Costsaver deposits are among the most affordable in the industry at $100–$150 per person, making it easy to hold your space early while you arrange other travel details.
Booking through Pavlus gives you:
Pavlus maintains a TTC-family booking relationship that keeps us informed of Costsaver promotional fares, TTC loyalty discounts, and early-booking offers. We proactively contact clients when relevant deals become available. Call 800-528-9300 to ask about current Costsaver promotions.
In many cases, yes. Call us at 800-528-9300 and we'll determine whether your direct Costsaver booking is within the transfer window. There is no cost to transfer to Pavlus.
No — you will pay less. Pavlus provides a savings benefit on top of all current Costsaver promotions, in the form of a discount, cash back, or onboard credit. Our expert service comes with a savings advantage over booking direct — at no additional cost to you.
Pavlus Travel has been booking TTC-family brands. Our advisors are deeply familiar with the entire TTC portfolio — from Costsaver through Trafalgar to Insight Vacations — and can help you navigate the differences between brands for any given destination and budget. We know which Costsaver itineraries are the strongest and which departures fill up quickest.
Call Pavlus at 800-528-9300. We act as your dedicated advocate with Costsaver for billing issues, room concerns, schedule changes, or any complaint that arises before or during travel. No matter the price point of your tour, you deserve professional support — and that's what Pavlus provides.
When you call 800-528-9300, have ready:
For peak-season European summer departures (June–August), booking 4–6 months in advance is recommended. Costsaver's affordable price point makes it popular, and peak-season departures can sell out. For spring, autumn, or winter departures, 2–4 months is typically sufficient. Call Pavlus as soon as you have your dates confirmed — even if the departure is months away, holding your space early gives you peace of mind.
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