How to do the Olympic or Paralympic Games on $2,500!!

Thinking about making a last minute move to go to the Games? I think you can do it.

When people began asking me about going to the London Olympic Games three years ago, I would always tell them one thing, “Save your money, around $5,000, at least.” After I said the magic number, most people would balk.

I would try to convince them that the $5,000 was worth it. It’s the only event in the world that brings every country together in an effort to promote peace through sport. It’s also a big party with a ton of athletes, and even more regular people. It’s an event that you have to go to at least once in your lifetime.

With London hosting the 2012 Games, it seemed like these would be the most expensive Olympics to date. And for the most part, they are. Tickets cost about five times as much those in Beijing ($150-$500 on average for London tickets). Hotels, which have always been expensive in London, are averaging $300 a night.

Now, however, I am coming to realize that travelers could get by on significantly less than $5,000 when visiting London during the Olympic or Paralympic Games. You could do it for less than $2,500, if you try the following tips:

1) Buy your plane ticket by the end of May. Fares to London are just going to increase after June. Get those tickets now!

2) Only go to London for four nights. I know you want to spend at least a week at the Games, but that’s not possible on a $2,500 budget.

3) Go to the Games during the second week, because everything is more expensive close to the opening ceremonies.

4) Don’t just think of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as solely sporting events. London is a cultural destination, with plenty to do outside of the actual Olympics.

Here is a suggested budget that could keep your entire Olympic trip under $2,500.

Flight

Depending on where you are flying from in the United States, flights will range from about $1000 to $1,300—if you buy before the middle of June. The cheapest flights will leave from the East Coast, but shop around.

Remaining Budget: $1,500-$1,200

Lodging

While you can certainly find cheaper (or much more expensive) accommodation, a solid budget allows for $300 a night double, $150 a night single. At four nights, you’ll be spending around $600 on housing.

Interestingly, housing is one of the areas where you can wait a bit to buy, because London is notgoing to run out of hotels. As the Games approach, accommodations are likely to get cheaper, because people will be desperate to sell hotel vacancies, or rent out those spare rooms in their apartments. Another way to find cheapish housing in London is to stay in West London, near the airport or Ealing. To get to most Olympic venues, it will take about 1.5 to 2 hours. But that’s the cost you’ll have to pay, in time rather than money.

A simple search on Hotwire, Expedia or Hotels.com reveals a few hotel options under $300 a night. But also look into renting a small apartment or room in a private flat. Check out Airbnb.com, Tripadvisor.com or VRBO.com for some apartment rentals well under my suggested budget. You can also rent a college dorm room for $100 a night at University of East London, which is just 15 minutes from the Olympic Green. Also check this link to rent university rooms. If you do that, you’ll save a significant part your budget for tickets and food!

Remaining Budget: $900-$600

Games Tickets

If you’re only planning to spend $2,500 total, give yourself $250 for tickets. Will you be at the 100-meter or women’s all around gymnastics final? With your budget, no. But there are 26 sports in the Olympic Games (and 20 Paralympic Games sports) offering many other, less expensive opportunities to see the world’s greatest athletes in action. The goal of going to the Olympic or Paralympic Games doesn’t have to be seeing those marquee sports. It should be to see top athletes compete at their best. For US citizens and residents, the official ticket seller is CoSport.com.

Remember that the women’s and men’s marathons and triathlons are free. All you have to do make sure to get on the path of the competition. Check out the route for the marathon here. Check out the triathlon route here.

Still, you haven’t been to the Games unless you’ve been to the Olympic Stadium. The cheapest way to visit the main stage will be buying a ticket to a morning session of Track and Field. It’s easiest to scalp these outside the Olympic Park. I don’t think the Olympic stadium has ever been full on a morning session of track.

Otherwise, just make sure you get a ticket to the sport on the Olympic Green in Stratford, London, where most of the Olympic action takes place.. You’ll probably spend $200-250 on one ticket. But keep in mind that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are so much more than the sports!

Remaining Budget: $650-350.

We’ve Still Got Food and Transportation Left!

For inner city transportation, budget about $150. To get from the airport and to the airport, invest in the £35 (US$55.30) roundtrip transport on the express line. To travel within the city, get an Oyster Card weeklong pass for zones 1-4, which will cost about £41.80 (US$66). There will be no taxis on your budget.

Remaining Budget: $450-150.

Food

Food is likely going to be a combination of breakfast and sandwiches from London grocery stores, plus a few filling meals at some good ethnic restaurants. If your hotel does not provide breakfast, head straight to a local grocer and stock up on fruit, yogurt, bread and boiled eggs. Just attending the Olympic Games is quite strenuous, so to survive the 18-hour days, you must eat a large breakfast. For lunch, the London markets offer really nice sandwich meals for under £5 (US$8).

Can you eat at a sit-down restaurant? Yes, indeed! Ethnic food restaurants offer the best value for your money in London. Markets also offer great meal deals. My favorite spot for a sit-down meal is in the Brixton Village Market area. For three restaurant meals, budget around £20 (US$31.60) a person, plus £30 (US$47.40) for breakfast and lunch.

So that’s about $150 total for food.

Remaining Budget: $350-$50.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing in London is cheap, because the best museums are free. You can visit the British National Museum, Modern Tate, and several others without spending a pence. Check out this is a great article from About.com, Top Ten Free Thing to Do in London.

Entertainment

There will be so much free entertainment in London during the Games that you won’t have to shell out a single pound. But, if you want to go to some swanky club serving bottles…well, that’s not in your budget.

Ready? Then go buy your plane ticket right now!!!