October 13, 2004 -- Just when you thought that airfares and packages to Europe couldn't get any cheaper, along comes a selection of fall and winter specials that will make you forget that the Euro was once worth less than the dollar!
Go-Today (425/487-9632; www.go-today.com) has Thanksgiving holiday travel on sale and many Christmas vacation specials. Why slave over a hot stove -- give the turkey a miss and enjoy traditional European fare instead.
A Dutch style Thanksgiving is yours for the stuffing. This package includes roundtrip airfare from New York, three nights at the Tulip Inn Art Hotel, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges all for a "poultry" $429 plus taxes of approximately $99. Valid for departures on November 24, 2004 only.
A getaway to historical Prague will make you really thankful this year. The $529 price tag includes roundtrip airfare from New York, six-nights at the Diplomatic Hotel, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Taxes of approximately $160 are additional. Valid for departures on November 22, 2004 only.
$499 will get you a Madrid Thanksgiving getaway that includes roundtrip airfare from New York, three nights at the Principe Pio hotel, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Taxes of approximately $99 are additional. Valid for departures on November 24, 2004 only.
Christmas in London or Paris is just a keyboard click away. Six-night packages to London start at $579 plus taxes and Paris from $599 plus taxes. Fixed departure dates apply and bookings must be made for Christmas packages by October 28, 2004.
Book online and save the $20 phone service fee.
1800-Fly Europe (800/359-3876; www.1800flyeurope.com) has some chillingly cool fares this fall/winter, valid for departures from November 11 to December 13, 2004 and December 25, 2004 to March 12, 2005. Hurry -- all bookings must be ticketed by October 22, 2004.
A roundtrip flight from Boston to London is a super-low $189 plus taxes or $249 for airfare and three-day car rental. Other cheap European roundtrip airfare options include:
- New York to Rome $309
- Chicago to Frankfurt $317
- Miami to Munich $329
- San Francisco to Zurich $369
- Los Angeles to Amsterdam $387
Other departure cities and destinations are available. Taxes are additional.
If shopping is number one on your travel agenda, British Airways (877/4-A-VACATION; www.britishairways.com) is offering a special shopping package. Starting at $399 plus taxes of approximately $110 from JFK or Newark, the package includes roundtrip airfare between New York or Newark and London, three nights hotel accommodation at the Corus Hotel Hyde Park, daily Continental breakfast, a $36 Harrods voucher and afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason.
Bookings must be made by December 31, 2004. Valid for travel November 1 to December 16 and December 24 to 31, 2004. Three-night shopping packages to London are also available from 17 other USA gateways including:
- Boston $419
- Baltimore/Washington, D.C. $460
- Tampa/Orlando/Miami $560
- Chicago $512
- San Francisco/Los Angeles $574
Other travel periods through March 2005 are available at slightly higher prices. Eight-day advance purchase and three-day minimum stay required. Travel must be completed by March 31, 2005. A weekend travel surcharge of $30 applies for travel Thursday to Saturday.
United Vacations (888/328-6877; www.unitedvacations.com) is offering travelers free nights in Europe this winter -- stay three nights and get the fourth night free. Vacations include roundtrip airfare on United Airlines to various European destinations, four-nights accommodation (the fourth night free), daily breakfast, 24-hour traveler assistance, hotel taxes and service fees.
Sample prices to London staying at Hyde Park Towers:
- $529 from New York/Boston
- $594 from Washington, D.C.
- $629 from Chicago
- $684 from Portland
- $694 from Los Angeles
- $709 from San Francisco
Paris staying at the Moderne St. Germain:
- $679 from New York/Boston; $709 from Washington, D.C.
- $744 from Chicago;
- $809 from San Francisco/Seattle/Denver
- $814 from Los Angeles
Prague staying at the Novotel Prague City:
- $714 from New York
- $724 from Boston
- $814 from Chicago
- $854 from San Francisco
Fees and taxes of up to $170 are additional. Other departure cities, destinations and hotel choices available. Prices are based on double occupancy and are valid for most departures January 2 to March 5, 2005. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply.
