Dollar-Saving European Travel Tips
for Americans

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ABOVE: Booking through Venere can save you 35% at the Timhotel Montmartre in Paris.

TIP 3: Don't overspend on hotels.

Americans are often nervous about staying at moderately-priced city hotels, mostly because such hotels have disappeared from so many U.S. downtowns. But in most European cities, a three-star hotel isn't likely to be a fleabag, and hotels that are even cheaper can be comfortable or even pleasant. As for four- and five-star hotels, their extra stars may be based on amenities such as elevators and room service, not necessarily on better furnishings and location. (To a great extent, you'll get what you pay for, but if you're on a budget, why pay for services or luxury that you don't need?)

In many cases, you can lower your hotel costs by searching for bargains from hotel consolidators such as Venere (our main booking partner), which negotiate discount rates with thousands of hotels around Europe.

Even in big cities, prices can be surprisingly reasonable: For example, the Timhotel Montmartre in Paris (see photo above) had an average double-room rate of €95 or about US $149 per night through Venere when I last checked. That's an amazing value, even by U.S. standards, for a hotel on a pretty cobblestoned square in prime tourist territory.

Another possibility, if you're staying in one city for more than a few days, is an apartment rental. On our most recent Paris trip, we rented a studio apartment on the Place Émile Goudeau (across from the Timhotel) for about the same price as a hotel room. From the apartment's back windows, we could see all the way to Notre-Dame and the Seine.

Local tourist offices often list available rental properties, and larger cities have agencies that specialize in holiday apartments. (See our articles about one- and two-bedroom flats we've rented on the Île de la Cité and in Montmartre in Paris, and near the Campo Santa Margherita and Campo Santa Maria Formosa in Venice.) Prices and neighborhoods vary, so do your homework before booking.

Hostels are another possibility, if you're flexible about location. Most of today's "youth hostels" have no upper age limits, and many provide  rooms for singles, couples, and families in addition to the traditional dormitories. Check with local tourist offices and Hostelling International for listings of official youth hostels, private hostels, and special accommodations such as monasteries or religious institutes. (In 2005, I had a pleasant stay at the low-cost Augustinerkloster in Erfurt, Germany, where Martin Luther took his vows more than 500 years ago.)