THE PEAK TRAVEL SEASON

is almost upon us, but the weak dollar, down about 8% against the euro this year, means visiting Europe will be a pricey endeavor. Yet not even $5 gelatos and $8 beers will keep Americans away from the Continent this summer. Indeed, Europe is expected to receive more travelers from the U.S. in 2006 than the record 13.2 million who visited in 2000, according to the European Travel Commission.

For travelers reluctant to sacrifice braces for their kids for a trip to France, there are ways to finesse the slumping greenback, according to Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations". For one thing, if you're planning to hit Paris or Madrid, consider traveling to the countryside as well. Lodging and food outside major cities are usually less expensive. Now might also be the perfect time to try an alternative destination like Turkey, he says, that offers a more favorable exchange rate. Thanks to Europe's network of low-cost airlines, it's easy and affordable to hopscotch from one destination to the next.

"I say still try to look for destinations in Europe that are not as expensive," Leffel says. "Even going into the countryside instead of the city can save you money. If you go into the rural parts of France, for example, instead of Paris, will save a lot of money."

Also, the simple act of locking in rates before departure by prebooking certain arrangements like day trips or even package deals that include hotel stays will protect you from a falling dollar while on the road, says Leffel, whose new book, "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler's Guide to Getting More for Less," comes out in July. Some overseas lodging operators will guarantee rates in U.S. dollars rather than local currency. Ask when you reserve.

And although most travel and currency experts agree that putting big expenses on a credit card is the best way to go, Leffel says be aware that most cards will charge an exchange fee as much as 3% that you'll only see once you get your bill. Call credit-card issuers before you go or scan the fine print of your cardholder agreements to find the one with the lowest fee. Here's what other tips Leffel had to offer.

SmartMoney.com: Why do you think there hasn't been a dropoff in travel to Europe by Americans? What can people do to minimize the pain of the weaker dollar vs. the euro?

Tim Leffel: If people have their hearts set on going to Europe in the summer of 2006, they're going to go. A few predictions from travel-agent types I've heard from say [bookings to Europe] are not falling off [from last year]. Some people may be going for five days instead of seven to compensate for the higher prices. I don't think many people are calling off their trips.... I say still try to look for destinations in Europe that are not as expensive. Even going into the countryside instead of the city can save you money. If you go into the rural parts of France, for example, instead of Paris will save a lot of money.

This isn't as true as it was maybe a year or two ago that you can still get a better deal booking it here, in the U.S. in dollars. I usually tell people to wait until they get there to arrange certain things. But now, often you can get a better deal here. If [the dollar-euro picture] gets uglier by July when you take off, you still have your rate locked in. I'm usually not in favor of package deals. But if you're going to Europe on a package tour you can save a lot of money that way because they have a group rate for the hotels, so you're not paying so much. I think people are going to have a lot of sticker shock when they get there.

SM: Are there any hotel breaks to be found in the big cities?

TL: It always pays to sign up for deal emails, like ones from Travelzoo and Shermans Travel. Things pop up all the time. For deals to Europe, a lot of times you see a hotel trying to unload its leftover inventory to lock in rooms before it gets too close. Anybody who isn't positive on where they're going yet, keep an eye out for these deals.

With hotel deals, they're all over the map. It depends a lot on destination. With hotels and restaurants, I tend to tell people if they can avoid well-known tourist trap places, they'll be better off. A lot of times they're in a better location as well. With restaurants that's incredibly true. If you go to a place filled with tourists, it's going to be more expensive. And I suggest you ask locals for recommendations you usually get better food that way.

SM: The consensus opinion on how to pay for things is use a credit card. Is that true across the board?

TL: Credit cards' rates have gone up on foreign exchange. A lot of them are hitting you for a 3% fee. The only one that isn't is Capital One. The credit-card companies don't show it as an additional fee; it's buried in the exchange fees on the bill. You'll get back and only realize it then. I think American Express and Diners Club charge 2%; MasterCard and Visa are going to charge 3%.... [The alternative is to] take money out of an ATM and use cash all the time. It's good if you have an arrangement with a bank that has branches all over the place, so you can withdraw money with a good exchange rate and no fees. That's the way you're going to give up least in fees. But there are sometimes you just have to use a credit card.

SM: Do city passes that offer reduced fare to museums and other attractions deliver the savings they promise?

TL: With city passes you really have to do the math; some are a better deal than others. I know of one in Amsterdam that lets you in every museum in the city and lets you ride the tram for 24 hours and includes a canal ride for $30. You only have to go to a few museums for it to pay off. The one in Paris is like that, and you can go back, so if you didn't finish in the Louvre, you can go back the next day. With some others, you really have to run around like a maniac to get your money's worth.

Eurail passes used to be a better deal but there are so many smaller airlines in Europe now. So you can hop a jet like Ryan Air for $40. Planes can be cheaper than trains now. But one caveat is that they can be strict with luggage restrictions on planes.... We Americans tend to overpack, so that can be an issue. Some regions have Airpass. I know in South America it allows you to visit four different countries for a set price. I know Indonesia has that. I'm in the midst of doing that calculation for Argentina; there's one pass for flights just within Argentina for a set price. I'm trying to figure out if that's worth it.

SM: Does having a good plan always mean arranging every part of a trip before you leave? Some things are cheaper when you book in advance, others not.

TL: A big piece of advice I give is to pay for big excursions at the source, rather than ahead of time with an adventure tour company. If you're going to do a four-day hike, or even a city tour, it's almost always cheaper to book it when you're there than through a tour company or travel agent. I did a trek in Nepal and it cost next to nothing. But if you'd have booked everything in the U.S., it would have cost thousands. There were little lodges along the way for $2 a night. We just carried light packs. You don't need a guide. If you don't do research and sign up with an adventure company, you sleep in tents, not even in a lodge. And [you'll] spend 10 times or more for the same experience. It's the same with cruise ships. Some people book excursions on the cruise ship rather than just winging it when they get off the ship. And the same with guides; you can always find a guide at the hotel, rather than booking in advance. We tend to approach our vacations the same way we approach our jobs: too much enthusiasm. If you save the decisions for when you actually get there, you spend less.

SM: What's your verdict on rental cars?

TL: My main advice is don't. That's the easiest answer, in Europe especially.... I've seen a lot of travel magazines where people write in with problems, and it seems every issue people have problems with European car rental agencies. My suggestion is to rent from someone you know, an American company. Then you have someone to complain to. You get home and you have a $300 extra on your bill. No matter how careful you are, it seems you get extra charges. An automatic is $20 to $30 more a day, so learn to drive a stick shift. Keep in mind, gas is $6 to $8 a gallon there. We've got it easy in comparison.