My husband and I want to travel to Europe with our 12 year old son. We have enough frequent flier miles to fly for free and now are seeking ways to save money on accommodations in some of the European cities we wish to visit. Cities we hope to visit are Florence, Milan, Paris, London. I wonder if it would be better to rent a car and spend some time travelling to an outskirt or perhaps staying in hostels. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Dear Lee,

The answer here depends on your time of travel. Currently with the strong dollar and low season (from now until late March) you can find some incredible deals. For average accommodations, but differently a step above a hostel, you can look at the Best Western. This past summer I had the opportunity to check out their properties in Vienna, Prague, and Venice, and in my opinion the properties where clean, nicely ran, well located, and had a slight flair of luxury. Rates, including breakfast ranged from $35 U.S. to $65 U.S. Moreover it is my recommendation that you choose to use a rental car. Sixth Car Rental is offering great rates; I rented a Mercedes C-Class for $24 U.S. a day. Make sure to inquire about the special Hilton Rate (you do need to stay at a Hilton, however, if you are a HHonors member you will receive 2500 points). Driving in Europe will provide you greater flexibility and allows you to visit some very charming small European towns and villages not typically seen by the average traveler. In addition, a car provides convenient and secure storage for your luggage while you're in-between hotels. Further, a car becomes cost-effective especially when you have three train fares to pay and whatever taxis fares you might incur.

All the best,
Joel