Travel writers have spent the last nine months remarking on the strong comeback of the U.S. dollar versus foreign currencies while encouraging travelers to put overseas destinations back on their travel wish lists. But lately the dollar has been slipping, and it’s time to consider ways to travel that can make up for that reversal of fortune.

Last summer, while shooting my public television series in London, the crew and I had the distinct displeasure of having to spend $2 to buy a single British pound. It cost us $8 per person for a short, one-way trip on the London Tube while the meter on even a quick taxi ride easily hit $15. Much to my disappointment, several of my dinners consisted of take-sandwiches and salads because returning to favorite eateries such as Le Caprice, The River Cafe, Chez Bruce and even The Wolseley was just too expensive to contemplate.

But by last December, it only took $1.49 to buy a pound. Unfortunately, the trend the last couple of months has not been our friend, at least if you make you living getting paid in dollars—today it’s creeping upward again: the dollar is $1.60 to the pound.

The trend has been even crueler in other countries, such as New Zealand, where a U.S. dollar bought NZ$1.83 last November; today, a greenback only fetches NZ$1.61. And American travelers cheered when the Euro that cost us $1.67 to buy a year ago slipped to $1.32 just two months ago; it’s now $1.40, reversing that downward trend. (You can check out current exchange rates—as well as historic rates—here.)

So if you’re headed abroad this summer (even Canada’s dollar is strengthening), here are some tips for keeping your costs down:

—Get out of town. Everything is more expensive in London, Paris, Auckland, Rome, Dublin and Barcelona than it is in the countryside. Hotels and meals are almost always cheaper in small towns.  Especially if you’ve already seen the big cities, it behooves you to grab a car or take the train and go exploring.

—Lease, don’t rent. If you are planning on staying 17 days or more in Europe, never rent a car. If you lease one—and the word obviously means something different there than it does in the US—you avoid paying the Value Added Tax (that can be as high as 20 percent). You get a new car. You may be able to pick it up in one location and drop it off in another without paying an extra fee. And insurance should be included as well. You can easily save one-third by leasing rather than renting. Check out companies such as Europe By Car, but remember you must make arrangements before you leave the U.S., and you must keep the car at least 17 days.

—Consider alternatives to hotels. Look for B&Bs, hostels and college dormitory rooms available in the summer for rent by visitors as well as lodging in convents and monasteries. If you’re going to stay in one location for a week or so, rent an apartment or home. There are hundreds of companies that specialize in rentals around the world—just type in “apartments to rent in Paris” in a search engine such as Ask.com or Google.com. Reputable names include Vacation Rentals By Owner and Rentalo. In the U.S., consider HomeAway.

—Buy a transportation pass. Big cities all over the world often sell discounted passes for use on public transportation. It’s a lot cheaper than buying individual subway or bus tickets. And, of course, for getting around Europe, the Eurail Pass offers an array of travel options that can be less than buying multiple rail tickets individually.

—Mooch. I have friends who host dozens of fans of the web site CouchSurfing, which lets travelers find folks willing to put them up for a night or two gratis. They swear they’ve always had interesting guests, some of whom became friends. Then there's CrashPadder, which claims nearly 1,500 rooms in homes in 36 different countries available at modest charges that can range from $10 to $100, that last for a private bedroom in a Manhattan apartment. US Servas is aimed at older travelers while GlobalFreeLoaders is a favorite of younger travelers. Or you can swap homes on sites such as HomeExchange.

—Go during shoulder season. Most people travel in the summer when school is out. Or during holidays such as Christmas. Avoid the holidays, and go early or late to summer destinations. You can still swim in the Mediterranean in late September and early October off Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Autumn is a gorgeous time to visit Asia and Europe. It’s summer in South American when it’s winter here. And the cherry blossoms come out in Tokyo and Kyoto in late March. Try to avoid the months of July and August if you’re going on vacation in the U.S. or Canada.

—Look for students. In every city or town, university students know where the bargains are. They especially know where to find cheap places to eat. Look for a campus, and ask around. If you are a student, get yourself an International Student Identity Card, and tap into discounts (such as student restaurants in Paris known as “restos U,” where meals cost about $3.65) in more than 100 countries.