The economy may be in a slump and you may want to postpone that European vacation, but with some extra planning and cost-cutting know-how, you can take that trip after all.
Knowing is half the battle: First, ask yourself: What do you want to see? Where do you want to stay? What can you afford? Do you want to be within walking distance of most things? Do you want to travel by train or boat as well as by air? Next, ask friends, family and colleagues who have traveled to Europe about where they went, what went wrong, what they loved and what was worth the money. Our best day in Europe - a D-Day tour in the Normandy region of France - happened thanks to a tip from a work colleague who recommended a particular tour company. Go to the library or search the Internet for guidebooks that explain all the tourist sights, typical or not.
Six months, at least: The best way to keep costs down is to plan way, way ahead. Airline tickets and hotels, which make up the largest chunk of vacation budgets, can be booked well enough in advance to locate the best deals. Search for airports outside the largest cities. But weigh the savings against the cost of other transportation you'll need to get to your final destination. Don't go on vacation in high season. For most of Europe, April and October are the best months to visit to keep costs down.
Hotel, schmotel: One way to cut costs and make your stay more personal is to rent an apartment, house or villa.
