September 17, 2003 -- "The Yankees aren't coming! The Yankees aren't coming!" cry the British these days, so prices to London continue to tumble. Everyone is scrambling to make up the difference. Look at British Airways' $198 roundtrip offer for September from NYC to London, if you don't believe us. Budget packagers are playing the same numbers game as well, lowering prices again in hopes of increasing the volume of paying customers they can attract. Here are the best of the best currently.
Savvy Europe ASAP has a six-night deal for you starting at just $359, their lowest season price from the lowest priced US city, which happens to be New York, naturally. You have to purchase by September 23, 2003 to get this price, but you can travel between now and March 31, 2004. The package includes roundtrip airfare to London, six nights' lodging with private bath at the Central House Hotel, hotel taxes and service charges, daily continental breakfast, a sightseeing tour, a River Thames Cruise, and optional trips at extra price. Many other hotels available, at higher prices. Contact them at www.europeasap.com.
Three fine operators have a similar six-night package with prices starting at just $399 One is Virgin Vacations, which has a booking deadline of September 22, 2003, for a deal that takes you anytime between September 20 and December 10, 2003. You get roundtrip airfare from New York's JFK on an available air carrier, six nights' lodging, continental breakfast daily, hotel service charges and taxes. You'd stay at the Westbury Hotel at this price, others at higher cost. (If you want to travel next year, between January 12 and February 23, 2004, you can get the same deal for $379 at the Westbury, or even less ($349), at the Terstan Hotel in London. Contact Virgin Vacations at www.virginvacations.com.
The second operator with a $399 package is Offpeak Traveler, which has departures available through March 22, 2004. This price would be for roundtrip air from New York to London Heathrow on Air India on Tuesdays or Wednesdays through October 29, 2003, with stays at the Mina House Hotel. The same price applies to departures from through December 17, 2003, on Tuesdays or Wednesdays via Virgin Atlantic, with stays at the Euston Square Hotel. Contact this operator at www.offpeaktraveler.com.
You must book by September 29, 2003 to get a similar deal from Go-Today for departures from November 1, 2003 through March 24, 2004 (with the Christmas/New Year holidays blacked out). If you want to go earlier, you'll pay From $499 for travel September 20 through October 31, 2003. Again, you fly to London on an available carrier, stay at the Westbury Hotel for six nights, get your continental breakfast daily, and see that your hotel taxes and service charges are paid in the package cost. This price is good for departures from New York or Boston. Add-on airfares are available from many cities, starting at $80 from Washington, D.C.or Philadelphia and rising to $250 out of Denver, San Francisco or San Diego. Contact Go-today at www.gotoday.com.
All prices listed are per person based on double occupancy and do not include service charges, taxes or security fees.
