Can you help me save some money on my trip to Europe?

Having just returned from 3 week in Portugal and Croatia I remain excited about Europe.

I've seen some amazing deals on TravelZoo.com which are all inclusive holidays at very reasonable prices. This site scans the internet to find the best deals, they sell our quickly but if you are flexible on destination you might find something. Ireland, England, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic are particularly appealing. The weather might not be great but the mood and holiday festivals are difficult to beat!

Check out some of the local air carrier's sites like Air Lingus to find packages

Airfares can be reasonable prior to about December 21st so if you can travel before that, or lock in a frequent flyer ticket you'll have helped your budget. Many hotels offer deals over the holidays due to lower number of bed nights due to the holiday vacations.

I just read an interesting article about travel to European destinations that offer value around food. To make the most of your food dollar, and if you are passionate about food, travel to destinations where food is a big part of the culture. Italy, Croatia, Portugal and Greece are just a few ... People are proud and passionate about sharing wonderful plates of local specialties. They also eat out a lot so are used to great food, good quantity and reasonable prices. My recent travel to the Netherlands proved the opposite. Eating out was incredibly expensive and is, generally, a rare occurrence for locals.

If you are doing it independently look into city apartments vs hotels for 3-7 day stays or stay in a room or smaller guest house/B&B. I had a friend who just recommended staying at hostels which often offer single or double rooms and many are quite nice.