Travel isn’t cheap these days – especially in countries where the monetary conversion rate doesn’t work in your favor. Europe has long had a reputation for being a relatively expensive area to visit but a trip throughout the countryside doesn’t have to break the bank.

We’ve pulled together a list of travel tips designed to make travel throughout Europe a bit more economical. Keep these tips in mind and you may just find you have a few dollars left over at the end of your trip!

10. Book Lesser Known Airlines

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In the past the only airlines flying to Europe were American Airlines and United Airlines. Today there are several other airline carriers, including Continental, US Airways, Delta, Northwest, and even international carrier Air France. Choose one of these lesser-known airlines and you may get cheaper flights. Choose to fly out-of and into smaller airports and you may save even more.

9. Use Low Cost Airlines within Europe

Travel between European countries was once thought to be incredibly expensive as well. Many tourists opted to travel from country to country via train, believing it to be the most affordable option. Now there are smaller airlines, like Ryanair and EasyJet, that offer incredibly reasonable flights throughout Europe. A one way ticket from Berlin to Dubrovnik, for example, is $40 during the summer months.

8. Look for New Airlines

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Ok, so we’re talking about airlines quite a bit but there’s a good reason. There are several new airlines available now and they’d like to compete for your attention as well. Lufthansa, for example, just launched a new line called Lufthansa Italia which specializes in travel between Milan and other European cities. Prior to this addition, travel between Italy and other countries was rather limited.

7. Hourly Car Rentals

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Do you really need to rent a car for the entire day or week? Probably not. Chances are you need to get from one city to another and will then abandon your car in favor of local transportation. If that’s the case you’ll want to call Hertz to ask about their hourly rental programs in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and several other countries. They’ve also launched a program called Connect by Hertz – a car share program not unlike those you find in the United States.

6. Stay in a Boutique Hotel

Do you really need to stay in a full-fledged 5-star resort? Why not try one of Europe’s most popular boutique hotels instead. Many of today’s large hotel chains, including Citizen M, are opening smaller boutique hotels in major cities around the world. They feature smaller rooms but are still jam packed with contemporary amenities and friendly staff. Plus, they cost less!

5. Rent a Villa

Why stay in a hotel when you could rent a private villa? Villas are especially convenient for those traveling in large groups. There are several companies around the world – including Ville et Village, RentVillas, Dream & Charme, and Spain-Select- that specialize in helping you find affordable villas in the areas you wish to visit – many at incredibly reduced rates.

4. Take the Train

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Yes, we did note earlier that smaller airlines are now competing with the railway systems but that doesn’t mean train travel is out of the question. The high-speed railway throughout Europe has been growing and really is both convenient and affordable. It is especially prominent in Spain where trips from Madrid to Barcelona run up to 26 times per day, reducing your drive time from six hours to a leisurely 2 ½ hour train ride. Check out railways Renfe and Trenitalia for rates and paths.

3. Rent a Diesel Car

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Believe it or not, the cost of diesel in Europe is often less than the cost of gasoline. While gas prices in the United States have fallen, prices in Europe have remained as high as $6.00+ per gallon, especially in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Diesel vehicles like the Opel Astra and Volkswagen Golf will help you save on fuel costs.

2. Stay the Weekend at a Business Hotel

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While most hotels raise their rates over the weekend, there are several hotels that focus on catering to the business world who do exactly the opposite. They spend their time during the week catering to business travelers and then drop their rates on the weekend to draw in travelers who are visiting for pleasure. Business-brand hotels you’ll want to check out include Swissotel the Howard and Gran Melia Colon, amongst others.

1. Travel on an All-Inclusive Train

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Skip the hotels and rental cars. Just book a trip on an all-inclusive train like the Danube Express. You can book trips up to 10 days in duration with drops in London, Budapest, Istanbul, and more. Your trip will include a sleeping car, meals, beverages, tours, and even a few hotel stays.

Traveling through Europe doesn’t have to break the bank, nor should you have to save up for half of your life before making the trip. Simply explore your options before you leave and you’ll be surprised at the number of money-saving options you have!