Europe in the spring is both enticing and affordable this year. Here are a few discounted airfares and offers to sweeten the deal.
Lufthansa (tel. 800/399-5838; www.lufthansa.com) is currently offering a European Spring Special for departures from the U.S. to certain European destinations from February 17 to April 2 and returning anytime before May 1, 2009. There are a few conditions, though, like you have to purchase by March 1, 2009 and at least seven days advance purchase plus a Saturday night stay are required. The cheapest prices are for mid-week travel. Strangely when I searched for available flights, I found several that were even cheaper than the advertised specials. Sample round-trip fares in March include:
- New York to Frankfurt from $466 including all taxes
- Los Angeles to Brussels from $575 including all taxes
- New York to Munich from $460 including all taxes
- Washington, D.C. to Manchester from $556 including all taxes
- Boston to Madrid from $517 including all taxes
American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) is likewise having a Europe fare sale for travel during the early spring with several choices per day for flights o dozens of European destinations. The rules are quite simple -- purchase by March 2, depart the U.S. midweek by April 2 and return by May 2, 2009, plus stay a Saturday night. Round-trip fares include:
- New York to Barcelona from $384 plus taxes of $69
- Boston to Manchester from $332 plus taxes of $144
- Washington, D.C. to London from $356 plus taxes of $159
- San Francisco to London from $406 plus taxes of $159
- Chicago to Rome from $554 plus taxes of $92
1800 Fly Europe (tel. 800/359-3876; www.1800flyeurope.com) has a selection of spring airfares and package deals. These airfare and hotel package deals are valid for travel from April 1 to May 15, 2009 and include round-trip international airfare, airline fuel surcharges of $200 to $496, two nights accommodations at a three-star hotel, breakfast daily and hotel taxes. Only airport and airline taxes are additional. Samples include:
- Boston to Dublin from $759
- New York to Paris from $767
- San Francisco to Frankfurt from $859
- Washington, D.C. to Nice from $827
- Philadelphia to Rome from $839
- Atlanta to Amsterdam from $889
Get 10% off these package prices as an early booking discount if you book by February 28, 2009
European Destinations (tel. 877/267-2247; www.europeandestinations.com) has put together a number of multi-city vacations that are perfect for those looking to spend a few nights each in several tourist hot spots. For example, their Prague, Vienna, and Budapest trip includes round-trip international airfare, two nights' accommodations in each city at three star hotels (the Comfort Hotel, Airo Tower, and Hunguest Hotel Platanus), high speed ICE train travel between cities, daily breakfast and hotel taxes. In mid March this trip is priced from $872 plus taxes of $122 per person out of New York. The Irish Sampler trip gives travellers international round-trip airfare, one night's accommodations in Limerick at the Two Mile Inn and two nights each Killarney (at Eviston House) and Dublin (at Jury's Christchurch Inn) including hotel taxes, breakfast daily and a rental car for six days. This adventure in late March out of New York is priced from $672 plus taxes of $107 per person.
Go-Today's (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com) packages to European destinations are attractively priced throughout the spring. Their six-night Paris at its Best package is priced at $799 per person plus taxes for departures from March 26 to May 31, 2009. It includes round-trip airfare from New York, six nights' accommodations at the Comfort Hotel Dayout Nation, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges and airline fuel surcharges. Add $50 from Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., $80 from Chicago or $100 from Dallas, Denver, and Atlanta. From now until May 24, 2009, the London Vacation package which includes six nights' accommodations at the Apollo Hotel, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges and airline fuel surcharges is priced at $649 plus taxes per person. This price is valid for departures from Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C.
