Cheap Europe travel deals

Unless you’ve been living in a fallout shelter for the past 18 months, you are quite aware that we are in an economic recession. And, with news swirling around about layoffs, failed businesses, foreclosures and more, it may be no surprise that the travel industry is also hurting. The result has been lower airfares and cut-rate hotel rooms. In fact, an article from the Business Standard reports that global hotel prices drop 17% to their lowest in 5 years—and hotels in Europe and the U.S. have been especially hard hit.

So, what does this mean for us? Now is actually a great time to take advantage of some stellar travel deals and travel. If you take advantage of some of the low prices on airfare to Europe, Priceline is now offering discounted hotel rooms at many European hotels. PricelineEurope.com - Discounted Hotels in 63 Countries Worldwide

Hotel Deals in Europe

News about falling hotel room rates seems to be everywhere. Bob Diener, co-founder of Getaroom.com, a new booking site that specializes in hotel deals in 20 cities in North America and Europe, recently talked with the Washington Post about how to find the best hotel deals.

Diener points out that Europe’s recovery from the recession has been slower and he points to $99 rooms in London’s Padddington and Kensington where cheap London hotel rooms used to cost much more just a few years ago. On not waiting to take advantage of these cheap Europe hotel deals, Diener says, “When we look back from 2010 or 2011, we’re going to kick ourselves and say, ‘I should’ve taken that trip.’ Or hug ourselves for being savvy bookers.”

Package deals in Europe

Hotels are also not the only thing that are discounted in Europe either. Last week, I wrote about a fall Avis Car rental sale that was offering a 20% discount on European car rentals. There are also some great deals to be found on European vacation packages. MSNBC ran an article on Friday detailing affordable European escapes, which included a London shopping package for $376 and a 4-night Rome vacation package (including airfare) from $799.

For less than $800, the Rome package includes a half day guided tour of the Spanish steps and Trevi fountain, a room in the Siviglia Hotel located on the famous Via Nazionale, a daily complimentary breakfast, all hotel taxes and gratuities and round-trip airfare from New York on Alitalia. To get this deal, you have to book by October 31 for travel from November 15 to March 25, 2010.

River Cruise deals

Canal cruises, river tours and barge cruises in France have long been a favorite way for many to see the European countryside by boat. Viking River Cruises is now offering an amazing deal on 2-for1 rates on five of their holiday voyages in Europe, including 3 brand new itineraries. One itinerary includes the 8-day Christmas on the Rhine, which cruises round-trip from Cologne, Germany and stops at Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, Alsace and more. Prices are now $1,456, down from the original price of $2,799, and that price includes all shore excursions, port charges and meals.

Other Europe Travel Deals/News:

• British Airways airfare sale on flights to Europe
• Global Air Travel May not Recover until 2011
• How to Tweet Your Way your Amazing Travel Deals