Europe - Travel Deals

Eurail: Travel in Style

eurail.jpgThe Great Migration happens every summer. Final exams are over, work grinds to a halt and tens of thousands of Americans head to Europe for a summer of travel and fun. Europe and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly. So do European travel and a Eurail pass.

Traveling around Europe by train is a rite of passage for travelers of all ages. It is especially popular with those under the age of 26 because it is the cheapest, easiest and most enjoyable way to see the sites. Not matter your age or the time of year you visit Europe, a Eurail pass can save you a lot of money and a lot of hassle.

Simply purchase a pass before you leave for Europe and flash it to the conductors when you are aboard the train. It is as simple as that. Of course, there are rules and regulations and the pass doesn’t allow you to go to some parts on Eastern Europe, but its convenience and cost savings continue to make the Eurail pass a hit. There are a number of options to choose from so do your research ahead of time to determine the pass that is best suited for your European travel plans.

Spring Forward: Save Money on Flights to Amsterdam and Other Destinations

coil-spring.jpgIt is always interesting to see how people react to the coming of spring. Some people come out of their winter hibernation and are full of life. Others find that the sunshine and flowers are a reason to fall head over heels in love. And then there are people who wish it were dark and cloudy all year long. I actually no someone who gets very depressed with the start of spring. Strange fellow, he is, but ours is a diverse world and we all must do our best to get along.

Spring is the season of rebirth and where optimism rules. It is also the last time that you will see decent prices on flights to Europe and other far away destinations. Come summer the prices go up and so do the crowds of people carrying their fancy new digital cameras and fanny packs. As nice as spring might be where you live, it is even nicer in Europe where you can enjoy the sights without the crowds and without the summer heat.

Northwest Airlines has a deal on spring flights to Europe and destinations throughout the United States. You can fly to Amsterdam for about $550 round-trip, for example. The offer is only good if you purchase a ticket before April 9, 2007 and if you complete your Trans-Atlantic travel by May 17, 2007.

Have a joyous and healthy spring.

Escape to Europe with Deals on Lufthansa Flights

excited.jpgThe going is still good for those looking to go to Europe without having the mortgage the house and to sell their children on the black market for babies. We are still early enough into the year that snagging a decently priced ticket to the Old Continent is more possible than winning the Powerball lottery.

This will change, of course. It always does. Summer is the time of year when backpackers, students and families cross the Atlantic in pursuit of some of that there darned culture. The summer rush means summer airplane ticket prices and that, my friends, can be uglier than a loud tourist wearing a fanny pack and screaming about not being able to find a decent Big Mac in all of Rome.

To avoid this kind of ugliness you’ll want to book your ticket early and stay far, far away from the belly pack crowd when you are in Europe. To take care of the former, I recommend checking out some of the deals that Lufthansa has on flights to Europe. They aren’t the cheapest we’ve seen in recent months, but they are still quite reasonable and it is unlikely that you’ll be able to get these kinds of prices 6 weeks from now.

While you are in the Europe planning mode, peruse the youth hostels and consider purchasing a Eurail pass. Neither of these things will make you immune from the other tourists but they will make your trip more affordable and easier.

Last Chance for Wonderful Winter Fares to Europe

frazzledoffice_1.jpgWhat are you waiting for? If you haven’t taken advantage of the amazing deals American Airlines are offering on flights to Europe this winter you need to before February 5, 2007 or you could be doo-doo out of luck until the next time there is a huge sale on flights to Europe, next winter.

Instead of kicking yourself about the blown opportunity, kick yourself into action and bump up that summer vacation to February or March. Those are the months when there aren’t as many tourists flocking across the pond and that is the reason why you can get tickets like:

Chicago to Dublin, Ireland – $298
Denver to London – $350
Houston to Frankfurt – $341
New York to Paris – $371

These are sick prices and I am sick knowing that I won’t be able to take advantage of them this year. You don’t have to be sick, though. Get your place on one of these flights today and have yourself a delightful European vacation without the crowds and without breaking the bank.

For the best deals on accommodations in Europe, check out the youth hostel search engine and the hotel search.

AA Winter Fares to Europe from $298 RT! (ends 2/5)

Hertz Rental Cars Europe Deals

dodge-charger-general-lee.jpgOne of the best parts about traveling in Europe is that you often have no need to have a car. The rail system is so excellent that a Eurail pass is the best and most affordable place to get you from point A to point B. When that fails, however, there is always the option of renting a vehicle. Here is a decent deal that Hertz is offering:

United States and Canadian residents traveling to Europe this year can take advantage of special offers from Hertz designed to make renting a vehicle even easier and more affordable.

Customers who rent a Compact through Intermediate vehicle at any participating Hertz location in Europe can receive a free, one car-class upgrade. The offer is valid for a minimum one-day rental in more than 45 European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Macedonia and Belgium. Reservations must be booked and vehicles picked up by March 31, 2007. To take advantage of this offer, customers can book the reservation on Hertz using Promotion Code #989063 and print the offer coupon, which can be found in the Special Offers section of hertz.com to present at vehicle pick-up. Customers may also make reservations through their travel agent. Reservations must be made from the U.S. or Canada at least eight hours prior to vehicle pick-up. Hertz standard driver and credit qualifications for the renting location apply and black out periods may apply.

Unreal Europe Fly and Drive Packages

cinderlane-roundabout.jpgEurope is the place to go this winter. Every week it seems like there is a new deal on the old continent that is better than the last one. This week’s tasty travel enticement is a fly and drive package from New York to London for $399. Not only does that pay for your ticket across the pond and back, but you also get an economy rental car for three days while you are in Europe. The only thing not included in the package is instructions on how to drive on the other side of the road. That is something you have to learn at your own peril and, believe me, going around one of those roundabouts in England on the wrong side of the road is the ultimate definition of perilous.

For more on the dangerous, yet oddly thrilling travels in Europe, head on over to the Ultimate Resource for the Independent Traveler.

Super Package Deals on European Vacations

eurovac117.jpgIt has been a good couple of months for travelers looking for deals on European travel and the hits just keep on coming. Travelocity is offering tasty deals on flights from the United States to Paris, London and other hotspots in the Old Continent. In addition to flying across the pond for dirt cheap prices, they are throwing in 4-night stays at some outstanding hotels right in the heart of it all. With packages from Boston to Paris starting at $634, there is no better time for you to get your butt to Europe. And I mean it!

The Best Values in Europe During Fall and Winter

empty.jpgThis time of year is sometimes referred to as the “off-season” in the travel industry because the number of people who travel this time of year is far less than the numbers seen in the summer and during holiday periods. Because of the nature of economics, you know that whole supply/demand thing you slept through in Econ 101 in college, the prices for flights and hotels are greatly reduced during the off-season. The number crunchers over at Cheap Tickets have calculated the biggest price reductions in Europe and have compiled a list (PDF) of the ten places where you can save the most money if you travel during the off season this year.

1 Austria 53%
2 Ireland 38%
3 Germany 35%
4 Greece 29%
5 Iceland 28%
6 Great Britain (UK) 24%
7 France 20%
8 Italy 19%
9 Portugal 15%
10 Spain 14%

Spend your Thanksgiving in Europe

thanksgivingdinenr.jpgNothing is more American than Thanksgiving. The pilgrims, the Indians, the turkeys and pumpkin pie…Thanksgiving is a time for gluttony and a time to be thankful for football on television. If you are the adventurous type, and I suspect you are, Thanksgiving in another country can be a whole heck of a lot of fun. For one thing, no one else will be celebrating it so that makes you special. For another, you probably get days off at work so you won’t have to take too much vacation time. Plus, you won’t have to listen to your boring aunt tell the same stories over and over and over again, unless you choose to bring her along.

Cheapflights is offering up some sweet deals for trips to Europe for Thanksgiving this year. Whether you want to go to Prague, Rome or even London, you can have yourself a memorable American holiday in another country.

For the best deals on flights to Europe you can always find them here.

Autumn is a Great Time for a European Vacation

european vacation.jpgThe college kids are back in school, the summer backpackers are back doing whatever they do and the natives are back at work. Fall is an excellent season to visit Europe if you are the type of person who doesn’t like to deal with the summer crowds.

American Airlines has some excellent deals on flights to England and mainland Europe this Autumn. For about $400 you can fly from New York to Europe. Try as you might, but you probably won’t ever find a better deal than that.

Flights must be purchased by the end of September and your travel completed by the end of November. Whether you want to go for a week or for a month now is the ideal time to fly to Europe, sit at an outside café and enjoy the fact that you have the whole place to yourself.