Last year we stayed @
http://www.pierresblanches.com/main.htm apartment cost about 330euro for the week - saved food cost by shopping & cooking ourselves.
Rental car was a VW Golf, 45-50+mpg saved more cash
When out traveling we ate where the locals ate- ask them whats good & cheap.
We flew into Frankfurt, Germany which saved ~$500, even with train cost it paid off.
Oh yeah go off-season

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The last trip >8 days cost $4800 total:
airfare-Martin Air from orlando to amsterdam
Krasnapolsky apartment in amsterdam,
train tickets all over NL and a trip down to antwerpen,
concert tickets,food, lots of beer, Xtra stuff
gas & parking fee`s for car in fl. airport