Tim Leffel’s Cheapest Destinations

Another Reason for Americans to Avoid Europe This Summer

If you’re not filthy rich, you might want to pick an alternative to a European summer vacation this year. Even Eastern Europe has gotten more expensive for those carrying dollars, especially in the cities of Krakow, Budapest, and Prague.

In the spring and fall, you can at least find cheap airfare deals from the US to Europe. This summer though? No way. This article, which originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal, gives a rundown on sample flight prices. “Travelers who haven’t already bought tickets should be prepared to pay $900 or more round-trip for a coach seat in the summer months.” Plenty of flights are topping $1,000.

Despite the falling dollar, demand is way up. The economy is picking up a bit and the travel recession that has kept prices low the past few years is officially over. It looks like air traffic in 2005 will pass the records set in 2000. The flow of people coming the other direction probably helps: the US is one big bargain-priced mall for those coming from Europe.

(In an ironic global trade twist, some have speculated that Europeans are actually helping drive up the US trade deficit. Tourists from Europe come here and load up on lots of clothing and electronics–items we’re importing by the cargo ship-load from China. The retailers are loving it though.)

Is hope on the way? Well, not for the dollar–probably not until the next election at least, as in 2008. There may be hope on the airfare front though. As the article linked above points out, Air Lingus has transformed itself into a trans-Atlantic discount carrier and bmi runs discount flights from the US to Manchester, England. It is about to be joined by LTU (flying to Germany) and Eurofly (flying to Italy).

You’ll still have to convert your weak dollars to a strong European currency when you get there, however, which is going to sting. As for me, I’m off to Peru in June, where my dollars are still worth a chunk of change.