Spring for these flight deals.
New research from travel app Hopper shows that spring flights to Europe are the cheapest they’ve been in three years, with average round-trip fares at $637. That’s down 15% from the same time last year, and down from three years prior.
“We’re seeing airlines add more flights on a variety of European routes, and that’s helping to generate extra affordable airfare,” says Travelzoo anchor and producer Gabe Saglie. “And when flight prices drop, the cost of air-inclusive vacation packages drops, too. The fact that the US dollar remains strong against the British pound and the Euro also helps.”
And you’ll want to go now, before summer hits. Hopper reveals that flights for spring travel are 20% cheaper than for summer. “Not only are there greater savings to be had on airfare, but early May is still considered ‘low season’ in many destinations, which means you’ll also be able to scoop up hotel rooms and attractions at a fraction of the high season cost through most of the spring,” says Liana Corwin, a consumer travel expert at Hopper.
Saglie adds that while traveling in winter is usually cheapest, “the best bang for your buck will be travel in spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are thinnest.”
So where should you go and how should you find deals? Marketwatch asked some of our favorite travel experts for the scoop.
These cities are offering the best flight deals. They include London, Paris, Reykjavik, Rome, Barcelona, and Copenhagen, says Corwin. Saglie adds that “Ireland can be an affordable option, too, thanks to the fact that are now 19 gateways out of the US, more than ever before, that offer direct flights to the Emerald Isle.”
If you’ve already seen these cities, use them as a jumping off point to go somewhere new. “Once you land in Europe, you’ll have access to a bevy of European low-cost carriers that will allow you to travel the continent pretty cheaply – airlines like Easyjet, Vueling and Ryanair,” says Saglie. Just watch out for their high baggage fees, he notes.
Try these off-the-beaten path destinations too. Corwin recommends Ljubljana. This“relatively little-known capital of Slovenia,” is “easy to quickly get acquainted with and is in no short supply of charm with its many cobblestone streets, quaint bridges, and predominantly Baroque architecture,” she says -- adding that it also offers a great food scene and proximity to the Alps, which are only a short drive away.
Saglie recommends hitting up the Azores, a group of volcanic islands off the coast of Portugal, which are a “hidden gem” with “vistas that are sweeping, dramatic and unspoiled.” (Delta began offering seasonal direct flights there last year, so it’s easier to get to).
Employ these tricks to save time and money. Corwin says that it can often save you money -- almost 40% -- to add in a Saturday night stay when you’re booking flights.
And don’t be afraid to add a stop either.
“One-stop flights can often save you big over the nonstop alternative. Even better: several national airlines offer free stopovers when you connect through their hub cities – en extra night’s stay on the way there or back,” Saglie explains, noting that the European airlines that do this include Aer Lingus (Ireland), TAP (Portugal), Finnair (Finland), KLM (the Netherlands) and IcelandAir.
And if you want to save yourself some hassle, “come back through Ireland,” says Saglie: “The airports in Shannon and Dublin are the only airports in all of Europe that offers customs/border patrol preclearance – you clear customs and get your bag checks there, before you board, meaning that once you land in the States, you’re a domestic passenger. You avoid customs altogether and walk right off the plane and straight to baggage claim or your ride outside,” he says.
