See the world, save a bundle: Eight ways to travel Europe cheap

I graduated college on May 17, and less than 24 hours later boarded a plane for a two-week tour of Europe. London, Paris and Madrid are exciting, but expensive. Even such a short trip can prove financially draining, so here are some tips for anyone looking to travel across the pond this summer.

• RAIL NEVER FAILS. The length of your trip as well as your chosen destinations determine whether it's best to travel by train or plane. If you go by train, Rail Europe and Eurorail are the best providers. They offer express speed trains and have package deals for students and different age groups, such as the Eurorail "Global Youth Pass." However, if you plan a shorter trip with multiple countries, flying may be a better option. It can cost about the same as a rail pass and although the trains are fast, they can still eat up entire days out of your trip whereas flying only takes a few hours.