Notes

Is there a way for me to fly to Europe cheaper? When?

Among tourist destinations, Europe is the most popular according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization; in 2019, more than half of 15 billion international tourists visited the continent. Getting to Europe will cost you quite a bit, even if you're traveling on a budget. There are times of the year and even days of the week when flying costs less.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It is usually cheapest to travel during the fall and winter months of mid-October to mid-March (although fares spike in December).

It is often cheaper to fly to Europe during the mid-week, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The best deals to Continental cities often come from flying from the U.S. to London, the busiest route, and then taking discount carriers from there.

Pick an Off-Peak Season

Peak travel seasons often mean higher airfares in Europe, while off-peak times usually mean better airfare deals (and maybe even other vacation expenses as well). The summer vacation season, from late May or early June until the end of August, is when many families travel. As a result, it is expensive to visit Europe at this time.

Flights usually cost the least during the late fall and winter months, typically from late October to mid- or late March. Despite the cold weather, winter vacations in Europe can be rewarding. In addition to less expensive airfare, there are some great ski and snowboard resorts in Europe (St. Anton, Zermatt, and Meribel are just a few). You can travel to other popular tourist attractions around Europe without being surrounded by tourists after leaving the ski resorts.

Don't Fly Direct

Most Americans travel between the U.S. and Europe by air, the most popular route being New York to London (yes, we know Britain won't be part of the European Union until 2020, but Americans are accustomed to lumping it in with other places across the pond). There are times when it is cheaper to fly from the U.S. to London and then take a discount airline to continental cities.

Here again, though, seasonality matters. Kayak.com's A search in April 2021 for round-trip tickets from New York to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) shows prices steadily increasing from May on, from $711 in mid-May to $1123 in July. As August progresses, they begin to decline to around $705.

Despite constant fluctuations in airfare prices, you can generally replicate these results when you shop for tickets. Nevertheless, https://www.bangro.co/lifestyle/10-best-places-in-europe-to-visit-in-august/ is the general trend.

Pick Your Days

If you choose to fly to Europe on a particular day of the week, you could be disappointed. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest days to fly, but sometimes you can find the same fares on Saturdays. Price differences can be significant depending on how long you stay. For the best fares, book a Saturday night stay-over.

There may be flexibility in your departure and return dates to save you money. Google Flights and other aggregators of online airfares (such as Kayak and Travelocity) allow you to search for fares based on specific dates as well as nearby dates.

How Far in Advance?

Plan ahead, but not too much. When you book too far in advance or too late, the prices can be high. Since airfares to Europe fluctuate so much (often quite randomly, as it seems), you can sign up for price alerts to be notified by email or text when fares change for the routes you choose.

The Bottom Line

It is likely that you will pay the most if you travel to Europe during the summer when everyone goes. The winter is a great time to fly (except for December), and if your travel dates are flexible, you can fly. Some of the cheapest tickets to London can be found in Europe.

You can book cheap flights from the United Kingdom with discount airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair and hop from city to city, or buy a Eurail pass and travel by train throughout 33 countries in Europe.

Since May 2021, most unrestricted travel to Europe in the U.S. will be prohibited. Nevertheless, you are likely to ease these rules soon for travelers who have received the Coronavirus vaccine and have tested negative. Be sure to check the Covid-19 travel policies of the country you are visiting before you book flights.

Homepage: https://www.bangro.co/lifestyle/10-best-places-in-europe-to-visit-in-august/