I'm hoping to go to Europe this summer. Can anyone suggest the a few affordable hotels there?

Seriously, they are all expensive. You are better off doing some sort of package thing usually. When I went last year, I traveled with Ef College break, it included round trip airfare, hotels, tour director, entrances to select attractions ect.. You should check out something like that. This was a 18-26 thing. If it does work for you though, i got a promo code for them, its hesseln1188, and it saves you like $100. You should do some research.

No WAY would I ever take one of those tours. We used to make fun of those people, with the tour guide standing there with the parrot on a stick (or whatever they used to identify themselves). It doesn't suit my style at all. I need to be free to change my mind at a moment's notice, or decide that the little café right there on the corner looks nice, I think I'll stop there, and skip the tour of the ...whatever.

I like to fly by the seat of my pants a little more than that, though I do plan things out.

For "affordable" lodging, (and I agree with John - everything is higher than it was last year), check out what's on the internet. Simeon gave you the website for youth hostels. you can also search "youth hostels", "pensions", Hotels, or just lodging. If you are travelling with friends, apartments can work out nicely, too, but those, for sure you need to plan and book in advance. They CAN be less expensive if you book for a whole week, and they are more comfortable than most hotels, and hostels. One way to budget, though, is to just take your chances and do walk ins. I probably paid three times as much as I would have travelling alone or with a girlfriend, because we really wanted to have everything booked in advance. The one time we just walked into a place, it was a third of what was on the internet.

good luck!!!! The dollar is bad and seems like everything

in Europe has gone up 3X.

Even the hostels in dorm rooms are 30-45 €.

Take a lot of $$$

Youth hostels. www.hi.com