Everyone dreams of a European vacation, but many think it's beyond their budget. What most people don’t realize is that foreign travel can, in many cases, be cheaper than traveling within the U.S. I recently returned from a trip to Ireland, for which I only paid $200 for a round-trip ticket — cheaper than a flight to Vegas! So, how can you score such great deals? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
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Everyone dreams of a European vacation, but many think it's beyond their budget. What most people don’t realize is that foreign travel can, in many cases, be cheaper than traveling within the U.S. I recently returned from a trip to Ireland, for which I only paid $200 for a round-trip ticket — cheaper than a flight to Vegas! So, how can you score such great deals? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
Avoid high season: Not only are prices higher during peak travel times, but everything is also crowded. Instead, travel during the shoulder seasons — spring and fall. Thanksgiving is especially a great time to travel abroad because it’s only an American holiday, and the kids are off school. You can be gone for up to 10 days with the kids only missing a couple of school days. Plus, it's much cheaper. We’ve had Venice practically to ourselves, a city that’s normally crowded any other time of the year.
Be flexible about when and where you travel: If you need to be at a specific place on a specific day, you'll have to pay the price. But if you’re flexible with dates and destinations, you can save a lot. If you want to visit Europe but find a cheap deal to another city, remember that intra-European travel is very affordable and easy. Take the cheap transatlantic flight to Lisbon, or wherever the deal is, spend a couple of days there, and then take a budget flight to Paris. Just be sure to add a few extra days to your schedule in case of cancellations or bad weather. Sometimes, you can save even more by repositioning for your departure flight. If you can drive to a major international airport, you might save a lot.
Leverage technology: Google Flights offers amazing tools. You can pick a date, enter "Europe" as your destination, and it will show you the best deals. It also shows typical price ranges and how they vary depending on your travel dates.
Subscribe to a deal service: I subscribe to Thrifty Traveler, but there are several other services available. For $30 a year, I get emails with all the best deals from my chosen airports. The deals more than pay for the subscription and save me time searching. They send deals that often sell out within minutes, and that’s how I get the best prices.
Learn about where you’re going: Traveling to a foreign country can be intimidating with the new language, food, currency, and customs, but that’s the experience you’re seeking. With some research, you can find ways to save on local travel, food, and more. On a recent trip to Switzerland, I discovered that my hotel provided a free transportation pass, which allowed me to travel throughout the canton at no cost. It even gave me a discount on my return trip to Italy. I would have paid much more if I hadn’t done my research.
Learn how to use miles: The cheapest way to travel is by using your travel miles. While not all miles and points are equal, many can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and even cruises.
When you travel you get to experience so many things that you would not experience at home. You meet new people, try new foods and see sights that are breathtaking. Don’t be afraid to travel and don’t let your small budget be what keeps you home.
Silene Walters is a CPA, the owner of Walters Accounting Inc in Stillman Valley. When she is not preparing taxes she travels with her husband George and shares her experiences on https://www.facebook.com/dreamoftraveling