London has long been one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. With the British pound remaining consistently more valuable than the dollar, however, it can also be one of the most expensive places to visit. Between getting there, finding a hotel and paying city-center prices made all the more eye-popping by the exchange rate, even a long weekend in this capital city can seriously set you back.

Though opting for free walking tours and buying groceries instead of eating out are always great ways to save a few bucks, there are three easy tricks you can use to make your London travels downright affordable without giving up the little things. By minimizing the cost of your airfare and accommodations, you can save your undervalued dollars to spend on seeing the sights, enjoying a pint or exploring the city's rich history.

One of the most expensive parts of any international trip is the airfare. If you live on the East Coast, many airlines offer relatively cheap flights from hubs such as New York City to London. However, the best way to get to the U.K. on a budget is to take advantage of all the miles and points programs the credit card industry has to offer; this is often called travel hacking.

Any number of credit cards offer very lucrative sign-up bonuses that often translate into the price of a one-way ticket to Europe, effectively saving you half the cost of your airfare. Many cards, such as the United Airlines Explorer Card from Chase, are linked to a frequent flier program, allowing you to redeem earned points for rewards travel on the designated airline or its partner airlines.

These cards offer the best way to travel cheaply, usually allowing cardholders to travel for free using accumulated points or miles. In addition, many cards offer exciting perks, such as access to airport lounges, airline fee reimbursement and discounts on airfares booked through their websites.

Another easy way to score discount airfare is to travel during the off-peak season, called contrarian travel. For the U.K., this is often in the winter, after the New Years' celebrations have died down. In February and March, especially, flights to the U.K. on Icelandair are often $500 less, one way, even from the West Coast.

This off-season discount extends to lodging and other expenses as well. Since the height of the holiday tourist season has passed and the spring and summer break crowds are months away, travel tends to get less expensive in the late-winter and early spring months. Bear in mind, however, this means you will be in London during some of its coldest months, so be sure to bundle up.

Finding a place to stay in London can be just as pricey as buying your plane ticket, even more so if you have special requirements or particularly expensive tastes. If you are truly looking to minimize your travel budget, using a hosting site such as CouchSurfing.org can allow you to stay in London for free and make some friends at the same time. While you have to set up a profile to join this free community, once your account is active, you can ask to stay with or be invited by local Londoners keen to show you around and make sure you have an enjoyable time with no financial strings attached.

If you are not excited by the idea of staying with strangers, consider house-sitting instead. TrustedHouseSitters.com and similar sites connect homeowners who are planning to be out of town with people willing to live in their homes and keep things tidy or take care of their pets. Many people do not like the idea of leaving a house unattended for long periods or have animals that require care in their absence, so these sites have become increasingly popular, especially in the U.K. Though the hiring process requires a background check and an informal interview with the homeowner, once hired, you have a cozy home base from which to explore the city without a hefty hotel bill.

If you are fine paying for accommodations but want to keep costs to a minimum, try a short-term apartment rental site such as Airbnb.com or choose from one of London's many hostels. Read reviews carefully and consider which neighborhood is most convenient so you do not end up disappointed.

When traveling, it is important to maintain a comfortable balance between pinching pennies and enjoying the adventure of being abroad. It is possible to travel for a ridiculously low amount of money, but it requires you to sacrifice many of the small experiences that make travel worthwhile. If you can limit your biggest expenses by effectively implementing the tips given above, you can enjoy all London has to offer without breaking the bank.