The Travel Professor
Join me on a journey across the broad spectrum of interesting travel topics. We’ll discuss destinations domestic and abroad, some familiar and some off the beaten path. We take a look at suppliers like cruise lines, air carriers and tour operators and find their bargains and special offerings. Got questions? Email thetravelprofessor@gmail.com.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Discounted off season travel to Europe


As the travel rush to Europe and other places subsides so does the demand for passports hence the drop in waiting time. With the hordes of tourists boarding the cruise ships and jet liners and returning home the demand for over seas travel drops. Very often the drop in the numbers of tourists is very dramatic. The museums, restaurants and shops are near empty. The flights are lightly booked and many hotels have plenty of unoccupied rooms. To generate interest in off peak travel the suppliers frequently offer discount programs that can result in savings up to 50 % to 75% off of their previous high summer rates.

Low season travel to Europe generally runs from December through March which is when you typically can find the best bargains. Travel in October, November, April and May travel is frequently termed shoulder season and discounts are available but generally not as much as during low season. Of course the summer months are the most heavily traveled period and demand the higher fares.
There are always exceptions to these seasonal guidelines so I encourage you to compare dates and destinations as you seek the great buy.

A good place to start researching your European getaway is a visit to the European Travel Commission website at:
http://www.visiteurope.com/us. This is a comprehensive site of 36 European nations and offers a wealth of information. Start by visiting your country or area of interests’ official tourism web site and from here you should find links to many of the supplier deals and discounts. Due diligent research, take excellent notes then head down to your local travel for their assistance in booking your perfect European holiday.

I personally love to travel to Europe in the fall and spring. Summer is wonderful with everything in bloom and pleasant weather but the major cities and tourist attractions remind me of Disney World. That means people and crowds everywhere, queuing up for everything. By traveling during low or off season that translates into instead of standing in line at the Louve Museum in Paris you can spend hours inside browsing their collections. You can have a leisurely meal at a charming sidewalk café without being rushed through affair or waiting hours for a table. That room in that quaint little quest house on the market square in now available and affordable. Standing room only on the trains is a distant memory as there is plenty of open seating. You have plenty of space to roam, explore and discover the charms of the old world.