Q: I have a $1000 flight voucher with Delta. I’d like to use it, but need to keep my costs down once I get to my destination. Do you have any tips?

B:  Thanks to the recession, a $1000 voucher will get you far. We just checked flights for late June and many roundtrip tickets to European cities–including Amsterdam and Berlin–cost well under $1000.  The same goes for many Latin American destinations. If you are willing to spend an extra $300, you can even get to Sydney, Australia.  Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, there are several good options to help you save on lodging costs. The first is CouchSurfing.org, a global organization that connects travelers with people who are willing to offer them a free place to sleep. CouchSurfing.org has several safety measures in place to protect you from staying with a wacko, but you have to be fairly sociable and interested in a cultural exchange for this option to work. Another good choice is to check out one of the new breed of upscale hostels–private rooms! private baths!– that have been popping up in cities such as London, Berlin and Barcelona. One of the best European hostel resources is Hostelling International.

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