Europe Spring Travel: Off-Peak Prices, On-Peak Weather

Brian Handwerk
for National Geographic News

March 1, 2005

Americans needn't avoid Europe just because the dollar is in the dumps.
Spring travel can offer a less touristy experience, surprisingly good
weather—and much more bang for the buck.

"Personally, it's my favorite time to go," said Kendra Thornton, spokesperson for Orbitz, a leading online travel company. "You don't have the crowds or the heat—and you feel like you are experiencing the culture instead of rubbing elbows with other tourists."

Thornton reports that her customers are increasingly choosing to visit Europe off-season.

"In Europe, as long as [you travel] before about May 15, when prices start to skyrocket, you can find some good deals and better availability," she said. "We've seen an increase among our customers traveling at those off-peak times."

Airfares a Fraction of Summer Rates

Travelers can save significantly on airfare alone.

"I'm seeing Boston-to-London flights for [U.S.] $450, Los Angeles-to-London for $580," Thornton reports. "At peak times in June, July, and August [those fares] can be almost double."

Erin Corrigan, assistant regional publishing manager for the venerable Lonely Planet travel guides, also favors off-season travel for the both the experience and the savings.

"We use our frequent-flier miles," she said. "That's a lot easier to do in the spring, with more seats available. In the summer they release only a few seats on each plane, and you have to book really far in advance."

Corrigan also notes that travelers without miles can fly on the cheap by taking advantage of off-season fairs to European hubs like London. Savvy travelers can separately book flights to their final destination on discount European airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet or through European discount-airfare sites like www.openjet.com.

"Some of them have insanely cheap fares and are running crazy promotions. I've seen tickets for less than a pound just to get people flying," Corrigan said.

Indeed, the www.ryanair.com Web site is currently offering 99-pence (U.S. $1.86) fares from London-Stansted to many destinations including Berlin, Stockholm, and Rome. While blackout dates and restrictions apply, travel can be booked through the spring season.

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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