Europe isn't as cheap for Americans as it once was, but even with less-favorable exchange rates it's still possible to take in the history, food and culture of European countries without breaking your budget.

As you plan your summer trip, here are some things to consider, whether you are a college student booking hostels and living on bread and cheese, or a family trying to pinch a few euro cents.

How far to hop?

To stay within budget, choose places that are relatively close together. Your trip's cost will greatly increase if you want to hop around all of Europe in a short time. If you have less than a month, pick a region and hit various places in that area. For your next trip, choose a different area. If you try to do too much, you'll end up broke and exhausted.

The great debate: Airlines vs. trains

Check rail passes. If you plan to take the train a lot, buying a pass is the way to go because individual train tickets add up quickly. Trains cost a lot more than you might expect, so compare them to airfares. I found the least-expensive airfares on Ryan Air (http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/) and Easy Jet. Easy Jet (http://www.easyjet.com/) is often a little more expensive, but it does not have a weight limit for baggage.

How to book a hostel

You can book hostels online. I suggest hostelbookers.com. It offers the same services as other Web sites, but doesn't charge a fee. You must pay a 10 percent deposit. If your plans change and you cancel by the hostel's deadline, that's all you will lose.

What a hostel is like

Hostels all have pretty much the same features _ nothing grand. They offer small and large rooms with bunk beds. The price varies by the number of beds in the room. Most are co-ed. Generally, the more beds per room, the lower the price. Some have free linens and towels, others charge a few bucks. There is usually a shared bathroom in the room, but some are in the hallway. Most hostels include breakfast, usually bread, butter, jam and cereal. Some step up with fruit or cheese and meat. Some charge a few euros for that.

What to look for in a hostel

Almost every hostel claims a great location. But take such boastings with a grain of salt. Do a little research. Accordingly, try to determine ahead of time how social a hostel is. Some hostels sponsor events. This is important, especially if you are traveling alone. You can have a new best friend every day to sightsee with, but some hostels make it easier to meet people than others.

Are hostels safe?

As a 22-year-old female, often traveling alone, I never had a problem. That said, it doesn't mean theft _ or worse _ never happens. I always felt safe and never worried much about my belongings. Most everyone I met was just like me: students traveling as cheaply as they could. I always locked my bags before leaving for the day and used the lockers in the hostels that offered them. I often left some loose clothing on my bed. I never lost a thing.

How to eat well

I usually ate one dinner out per city. I got to experience the cuisine without spending too much. Look for places that are off the beaten track. You can often find less expensive, more authentic eats at smaller places away from the town center. As a general rule, the farther away from the main tourist areas you can get, the cheaper the food will be. For lunch, I grabbed something from a take-away for no more than 5 euros. I cooked my other meals in hostel kitchens after buying fresh, super-cheap produce at outdoor markets. Often, other travelers will be in the kitchens, so it is a way to meet people.

Seeing the sights

Hostels often offer inexpensive tours and events, another good way to meet other travelers. Even if you are not staying at a hostel, you can usually join a tour, so it is worth stopping into hostels to see what they are offering. Most city attractions can be viewed without a tour guide. Get a map, figure out the public transit system and go at your own pace. If you have done some research, you won't miss too much of the history that tour guides offer.

 

 

 

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.net)