Kneel down to closely inspect the intricate canal systems of La Alhambra’s ancient plumbing in Granada, Spain; climb to Piazza Michelangelo for a breathtaking sunset view of Ponte Vecchio and Il Duomo, in Florence, Italy; step inside the tiny cells at the Tower of London and imagine the torture that queens and peasants alike endured there. Experiences traveling in Europe are amazing and unmatched, and the weak dollar is leading the truly innovative to travel smarter.

Europe is still within financial reach. Tour packages mitigate the effect of a poor exchange rate, although many erroneously think these types of vacations are expensive. Think again.

Tour operators offer radically different options. These tours provide free time to roam alone as well as include dining options. The benefit is that you pay ahead of time in dollars, avoiding the wrath of the Euro.

Escorted Tours
With today’s escorted tours, you have the advantage of a well-trained guide who helps you understand and appreciate the places you are visiting, yet there is more free time for you.

Recently, my son and I visited Eastern Europe on an escorted tour. Our guide did a wonderful job of teaching us about the cultural and historic significance of the places we visited. At the same time, we had time to go back to places we had seen earlier in the day, or to discover things on our own Knowledgeable guides make the experience much deeper and richer.

As you tour, you learn the history of countless stone walls dotting Ireland’s landscape and their connection to the Potato Famine in the mid 1900s; you practice the intricate steps and rhythms of flamenco dancers in Andalusia; you discern Chianti Classico from a Chianti Montalbano in the Tuscan hills of Italy. Motor coaches today are spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom, clean restrooms and video monitors that provide background on sites as you travel. You can tour from five to 14 days or even longer.

Consider Cruising
Cruises offer a similar benefit for budget-minded travelers looking to enjoy Europe.

A Mediterranean cruise allows access to the most popular destinations including Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Greece and more. Cruises bundle hotel, transportation and meals into one easy price.

The other cruise benefit is guests often cover more “ground.” Whereas tours travel by motor coach and are generally confined to a region, Mediterranean cruises allow individuals to visit varied places such as Europe, Africa and Russia in one long trip.

Cruises are also an extremely comfortable way to travel. Ships are constantly updated and provide the highest level of comfort along with incredibly attentive service.

The Euro is transforming the tourism environment in Europe. Tour providers are finding ways to keep it reasonable without sacrificing the culture and history Americans crave.

Sarah Henshall is Vice President of Travel and Branch Operations at AAA Carolinas. For the hottest deals, call AAA Vacations at 1-800-398-0379, visit your nearest AAA branch or visit AAA.com/travel.