June 18, 2003 -- The height of the European tourist season is in full swing, or at least it should be. Travel packagers continue to slash their prices, as Americans simply aren't anwsering in sufficient numbers the siren calls of savings coming from the continent. We've got a whole bundle of fears and concerns thwarting the purchase of travel: a still-weak economy, the ever-lowering value of the US dollar (making prices about 20% more expensive compared to a year ago), the continuing threat -- real or imagined -- of terrorism, and a general sense of anti-American sentiment across Europe as a result of the war in Iraq.
Package companies are leading the way with greater reductions on their products and some of the cheapest advance purchase prices that should lure travelers, not only for the summer, but for this fall and winter, as well.
Take, for example, this offer: $499 and up for six-night packages in Rome or Madrid, if you book by June 30, 2003, for travel from November 1, 2003 through March 25, 2004. That low price gets you to either city from New York's JFK, from Newark or from Boston, and includes your roundtrip airfare, as well as six nights' lodging, hotel taxes and service charges, and a continental breakfast daily.
From Washington DC, the price to either city would be $549 and up. It's $599 and up from Chicago, Detroit, Miami or Rochester NY; $679 and up from Milwaukee, Denver, Orlando or St. Louis; and $679 and up from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle or Portland ($699 and up for Madrid).
Nationwide gateways are available, with add-on airfares. Prices are per person, double occupancy, and subject to availability. Rates don't include airline departure taxes or weekend surcharges, and certain restrictions apply. Remember to book by June30, 2003, to get these prices.
For reservations and information, phone Europe Express at 800/927-3876. Or you can ask you travel agent, mentioning Europe Express' Web Deals. To see all of their fall and winter specials covering London, Paris, Edinburgh, Dublin, Berlin and more, go to www.europeexpress.com/site/webspecials_productlist.asp.
To compare prices for similar packages head to Go-Today's Winter Breaks listings page at www.gotoday.com/gt_sa.asp. For early booking discounts specifically to London and Paris, don't forget to check out Offpeaktraveler.com (www.offpeaktraveler.com), which is offering 4 nights in London starting from $373 for the winter and 6 nights in the fall from $399.