It’s about time you finally took a vacation, and your heart is set on Europe. Even though you’re already aware that the dollar is weak and prices on many travel services have risen, you're determined to enjoy a quality vacation without going overboard with costs. Besides 'packing light,' here’s some tips to manage the cost of your European vacation:

Tour Packages
According to the U.S. Tour Operators Association, choosing a tour package can save travelers an average of 15-20% off the cost of doing it on their own. Most tour operators include transportation, most meals, entrance fees, and hotel charges in their prices, which can allow you to take advantage of bulk pricing.

An additional benefit worth considering: the convenience of leaving the planning to someone else. Whether you plan to explore one city or several countries, language barriers, parking, and standing in lines can get in the way of enjoying a long-awaited trip. Tour operators, on the other hand, have multi-lingual guides and arrange the details of parking and sightseeing ahead of time.

If you worry about a packaged itinerary being too regimented or too hurried, consult a brochure. Many tour operators are up-front about indicating whether an itinerary will be lively or leisurely. If in doubt, talk to a representative at the company or your most trusted travel agent for input.

The Off Season
Summer is the traditional time to explore Europe, but in many ways autumn, winter and spring are far superior times to visit. Crowds are substantially thinner, which means the long lines to the most popular attractions vanish, and everyone from airlines to restaurants and museums offer lower prices on their services. Tour operators lower their rates as well, some by as much as 20% compared to summer. Just by traveling during the off season of November through April, you can do more, see more and experience more for less.

Look For A Better Exchange Rate
If the deciding factor is how far your dollar will get you, consider exploring a destination that’s not as common or that hasn’t adopted the Euro as its currency. Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Poland and Russia all have exciting cities to explore, fascinating natural landmarks, and scrumptious food, all at a much friendlier exchange rate. As of today, the Swiss franc had an exchange rate of 1.07 to the dollar, the Swedish krona was at 7.12 to the dollar, and the Russian ruble was valued at 29.77 to the dollar.

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