Set Sail For Savings
While many cruisers never leave the Caribbean, bargain hunters might also consider the European option. Most cruises allow ample time for onshore activities like sightseeing and dining. They also visit locales away from the more popular metropolitan areas.
"People don't necessarily think about visiting Europe by taking a cruise, but it's a great way to experience Europe," Orbitz's Thornton said.
Europe's cruise market features a summer high season but offers many options in spring and fall.
"We think in 2005 Europe will be of particular interest to visitors on a cruise ship," said Bob Sharak, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) executive vice president and chief marketing officer. CLIA represents 19 different cruise lines, which together carry about 95 percent of North American crusiers—some 10.6 million passengers in 2004.
"There are lots of reasons [to cruise], but one big one is the cost of the dollar against the euro," Sharak said. "Take a land-based vacation where you fly, stay in hotels, [and] use [ground] transportation to get from place to place—for an American paying the 'euro penalty,' that gets pretty expensive. When you buy a cruise, you buy it in U.S. dollars and lodgings and meals are included. You kind of give yourself some insulation against the effect of the euro."
A Little Bit of Home Abroad
Lonely Planet's Corrigan finds additional value and experience by renting private homes and plans to do just that this spring in Florence, Italy.
"They are called 'villas,' but they could be private houses or different things—generally they are apartments," she said.
Many "villa" properties are available for rent—sometimes with no more than a two-night minimum. Online consolidators allow travelers to choose location, size, and special amenities that fit their trip.
"We save a lot of money," Corrigan said. "The prices tend to be comparable or substantially less then we'd spend on a hotel, but you can also save the euros you'd spend on breakfast."
For the very frugal, self-catering could extend to all meals. Corrigan doesn't skimp on restaurants, but does enjoy visiting markets to have plenty of snacks on hand at her temporary home.
"It's great fun as well," she said. "One of the great ways to get under the skin of a city is to go to the food markets. Europe has such incredible markets that we don't have [in the U.S.]. It's really fun to be able to buy things at a farmers' market and cook at home."
Family travelers can also prepare home-cooked favorites for their children—and avoid the "adults only" prices found at most European restaurants.
Value Season for All-Inclusive Tours
For the less independent minded, the package market also offers "euro-buster" tours.
"We have kind of an off-season product called winter vacations," said Steve Born, director of marketing for leading tour operators Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms. "Even though March and April aren't winter, it's the idea of off-season travel. For three years bookings have been growing by about 10 percent a year as our loyal travelers are finding the value of the shoulder season."
Born notes that his company's March and April departures are usually 20 to 25 percent less expensive than comparable summer tours.
"From a dollar sense, [spring] tours are a great way to go," he said. "But once there, you get more for your money, because you don't have the crowds. You can get around more and see more. It's a value time to be in Europe, both literally and in the sense of the experience."
Travelers should take note that Easter is expensive in Europe, and this year's holiday falls a bit earlier than usual (March 27).
In general, however, experts seem to agree that value and lack of other tourists make the spring an ideal time for a European vacation. And in many locales the weather is quite cooperative.
"I'd recommend spring and autumn as the best times to travel," Corrigan said. The weather can be great. We've heard the song about Paris in the spring, and in the south [of Europe] you can have some great weather. It may not be bathing suit weather, but for most Americans, it's very nice weather."
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