When is the most affordable time of year to travel to Europe (flight and hotel-wise)?

spiritdummy · 01-22-2008, 06:42 PM

I'll be leaving from the SE United States. I think Charlotte, NC is about the cheapest airport to leave from. I haven't decided where in Europe i want to go, but iwas thinking Germany....nothing is definite.

spkmyer · 01-22-2008, 06:47 PM

Off season time

spirit_shurtugal · 01-22-2008, 06:53 PM

If you are travelling to Germany - you will want to visit 'off season' - but depending on where you want to go depends on when 'off season' is... Typically flights are less expensive from March-May... but you will need to do some research & I would recommend figuring out where you want to go (as Germany is a huge country & there is a lot of variety in what to see). We live in the Rheinland-Pfalz state & have many great things to see (castles, vinyards, old medieval/Roman towns) - but some things aren't open during certain months or have more limited hours. If you travel to Bavaria (in the south), ski season is from late October - March (sometimes April).Some major airports in Germany: Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne (Koln), Munich.Good Luck!

spirit_shurtugal · 01-22-2008, 06:59 PM

This depends on where and exactly when you want to go to some extent. In general, tickets are cheaper until about the third week in March and then prices start to go up. I fly back to the US at the end of February for a few days every year, and that's always my cheapest trip back. August and Christmas are peak travel times, so the prices are somewhat higher.You might look at flying into Amsterdam; it's often cheaper than flying in and out of Germany. Once you're in Europe, there are good rail connections and lots of budget airlines to go point-to-point.

spkmyer · 01-22-2008, 07:05 PM

well the cheapest will be in the winter time, cuz noone really likes to ravel t europe in the winter, at least i dont. In the summer time it's ridiculously expensive...

spkmyer · 01-22-2008, 07:10 PM

Forget about flying from Charlotte. You'll likely need to leave from Atlanta or Washington, DC. Or talk to a travel agent - maybe you can get a flight from Charlotte to Germany that goes via New York. Roundtrips to Europe from Washington start at 600 USD, Atlanta should be around 700 to 800 USD (all prices are total, including taxes). Check out Lufthansa, LTU, Condor, Zoom, etc. From Atlanta look into flying to Stuttgart, from New York fly to Frankfurt or London, LTU typically flies to Duesseldorf which is in the Rhine-Ruhr Area and close to Cologne. There are no intercontinental flights to Berlin, going to Berlin by plane would require you to change either in Frankfurt or London. January and March are low season for flights across the Atlantic, November and early December can be good value too if you avoid the Thanksgiving crowds. Book either at least 2 months in advance or hop on a last-minute special. Spring (May) and fall can also be good times to go. Talk to a travel agent about getting tickets to Germany from NC for under 700 USD including taxes. Have them alert you when they can sell you such tickets, buy them and go! Cost of a typical cheap-cheap trip (staying at hostels, eating food from the supermarkets) is around 50 EUR per day and person (roughly 75 USD) in most parts of Western Europe. There is no change, whether you go in summer or winter. Hostels might have winter special rates, but this slight advantage is set off by the fact that many outdoor activities like cycling are impossible or outdoor attractions like parks are closed.If you go in winter, avoid the winter skiing resorts or typical winter destinations like Austria and Switzerland.

Joachim · 06-24-2009, 02:19 AM

My favorite place in Europe is Istanbul, There are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer.

Istanbul Hotels - 50+ Hotels in Istanbul Turkey

shubhranshu · 07-01-2009, 10:23 PM

Seasoned travelers base their destinations on seasonal considerations. For Mediterranean countries, fall starts the rainy season. Over the ages, many cities have found ways to deal with the inconvenience of a daylight rain. Many European hotels have a "menu" of prices almost as extensive as the restaurants down the street. November rates are low, December can rise one week, sink the next, with January lower still. some European inns close during the off-season, content to remodel and retool for the next tourist onslaught.

Slim Shady · 11-02-2009, 05:18 AM

there are lots of airports and lots of airlines......try to look for some websites that offer you options. You might find that the major airports have more options eg london heathrow, amsterdam ,paris, rome and frankfurt...but you might also find that some other airports may have specials..
I would advise you to look at several websites and do it over several weeks or months looking at different options., so you get an idea of what is normal,pricey or cheap. You will find there are peak seasons, so if you want cheap then you will have to go in the off peak times. summer is NOT a cheap time to go.

I would also like to point out that accommodation for your travels will be the same or more than your airline ticket, so you need to take that into consideration.check out some of these websites for help.