Margo Classe's "Hello Budget Hotel Guides" can help you find inexpensive European digs

From CNN TravelGuide Correspondent Lori Waffenschmidt

(CNN) -- Many flights to Europe are packed this summer, and if you don't have a reservation yet, getting there -- especially on a budget -- could be a challenge.

There are a few tricks to swinging a summer European vacation, even this late in the season. One is to look for alternatives to major carriers and major airports.

Low-fare international carriers such as City Bird or LTU International Airways offer fares that can beat U.S. carriers by $200 to $500. City Bird's Web site quotes economy-class fares of $309 from Orlando, Florida, to Paris and $348 from Los Angeles to Berlin. LTU's Web site offers special fares of $798 round-trip between Miami, Orlando or Phoenix and Berlin, Frankfurt or other German cities for travel through the end of August. Fares drop to $598 through September and to $448 in October.

You can also find deals by flying U.S. carriers into low-cost European gateways, such as Frankfurt, Madrid or even London.

"London seems to be always the cheapest gateway," said Tom Parsons of Best Fares Online. "(S)pend a day there or just make a connection."

Getting there is one thing, but then, where to stay? Margo Classe's "Hello Budget Hotel Guides" can help you find deals. Her books include "Hello Italy!" ($40-75 rooms for two) and "Hello France" ($50-90 rooms for two).

"In the Paris section alone, I have 170 hotels that are under $90 per night, and that includes a private bathroom," said the author.

Travel experts say surfing the Internet and working with a travel agent are also great ways to find bargains for a summer trip to Europe.