Airfares:   Typical airfares to Europe from the United States are now in the $1,000-$1,500 range.   It is not uncommon to find flights into Peru on major carriers like JetBlue, American, United, Continental, and Delta in the $600-$700 range.  I travel to Peru several times a year and spend 40%-50% below what I would spend on a trip to Europe.

Hotels:  Peru has modern hotel chains like Marriot and other top brands.   I find the hotels in Peru to be less expensive, of a higher quality, with better and more courteous services in general.    In all Peru hotels we use for instance, breakfast is incuded and services like laundry are a fraction of the cost of a European hotel.   

Tours and Personal Services:  Like most other places now, Peru requires their tour guides to be licensed and qualify by taking courses and exam work.  For me to hire a guide in Europe, the cost is probably about 300 euros per day (about $420).   In Peru, we will spend $50-$75 per day for a guide.

Meals:  When I take people to restaurants in Peru they are absolutely stunned at the quality and value.   We go to restaurants like Huaca Pucllana (see http://www.resthuacapucllana.com/es/) where President Clinton, celebrities, and VIP's dine in a beautiful atmosphere on top-rated food.   This is the most expensive restaurant we go to in Peru and the cost is about $45 per person.   On the other parts of the tour we dine at outstanding restaurants rarely paying more than $30 a meal.  In Europe, I would say an average meal at a bistro or trattoria averages about 30 euros ($42) per person.

Museum Admissions:   Admission at Peruvian museums, with the exception of Machu Picchu (at about $78 per day) is negligible.   In comparison a 6-day Paris Museum Pass is about $100 as well as a 72-hour Firenze Card.

Local Transportation:   There is no bargain on train transportation within Peru or flights within Peru.  On our small group tours to Peru we pay what we would expect to pay in the US.   However, taxi and local transportation is much less expensive.  For example a taxi to/from our hotel in Lima is about $10 US whereas if I were taking a similar ride in New York, I would expect to pay about $65.

Please don't get the idea that I am discouraging travel to Europe.   I take my small group tours to Paris, Italy, and Spain and we find the most economical way to travel there without sacrificing comfort or luxury.   It is just that the traveler looking for a history and culture equivalent to that of Europe can find a much better bargain by touring Machu Picchu and Peru.