Americans are heading to Europe for vacation these days. This means typical tourist destinations like Venice, Paris, and London are expected to be crowded again this year. However, since this is a cruising altitude, check the air angle first.
First and foremost, if you're serious about going to Europe this summer and haven't booked yet, stop reading now and start taking action.
“We've never seen a year like this before…We're at the point where there are no more seats available,” Brigitte Armand, president of Eurobound, a tour organizer specializing in European packages, told me. “Please make your reservation as soon as possible.”
Moving method
Armando says trains are usually the best way to get around Europe, but for stops further afield, the continent's network of low-cost airlines offers travelers a reliable alternative. Masu.
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“Don't think of one airline as a network or entry point within Europe,” said Laura Lindsay, communications director at online booking platform Skyscanner.
If you're flying from the U.S. to Europe, she recommends flying across the Atlantic on a major network airline such as British Airways, KLM or Lufthansa, then booking separate flights within Europe. He said that it could also be considered.
“If you search for different airports and multiple airlines, all of a sudden Europe opens up in a different way,” Lindsay says. “It's so easy to get around that you don't have to feel intimidated by hopping around a few countries or trying out a few different destinations.”
Tips for European airlines
Lindsay said European low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air often have stricter baggage policies, as do U.S. ULCCs Spirit and Frontier.
“My number one tip is to make sure you understand the baggage allowance included in your ticket,” she said. “In most cases, don't book the base fare without checking.”
If you want to get the best deals on short-haul flights, we also recommend being flexible with your airport and travel dates.
Lindsay pointed out that Skyscanner has a tool that allows travelers to search for flights to and from nearby airports when choosing a destination, adding: “There are many places that have multiple airports.” “You just pull out a map and actually see where you want to travel and where the nearby airports are.”
Armando added that if you take the train instead, you may need to secure a reservation in advance, especially if it's on a tourist-heavy route like Switzerland's Panorama train.
Last week's cruise altitude:There was no golden age of flight. We are in the middle of it now.
Where are you going
If you really want to spend your summer like a European, you should consider somewhere a little more obscure to most Americans.
“Albania is a place that broke out a few years ago as a place that people realized offered great value for money,” Lindsay said. “Sarajevo reports its busiest April on record for tourists.”
Armando said if you want a more authentic and less crowded experience, you might want to try different parts of the country that are already popular.
“We recently arranged an entire trip for some clients in the Abruzzo region of Italy,” she said. “The Abruzzo region is on the Adriatic Sea, but people don't know about this region. I think this is the first time we've put together a package to go there.”
Skyscanner data shows that some destinations in Europe are gaining in popularity among travelers on the continent. From 2023 to 2024, he will introduce some of the trends that are rising every year.
- Ljubljana, Slovenia saw a 188% increase in searches from Spanish travelers
- Tromsø, Norway saw a 130% increase in interest from Italian vacationers
- Interest from Brits in Düsseldorf soars by 122%
According to Armando, the best last-minute bookings seem to be in Eastern Europe, such as Bulgaria and Poland.
“There are probably some good deals out there. We're also finding some decent space in the Czech Republic,” she said.
So, pack your bags.
Zach Wictor is a travel writer for USA TODAY based in New York. Please contact us at zwichter@usatoday.com.