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Are You Still Going to Europe This Summer?

April 13, 2009 at 4:51 PM | by juliana | 16 Comments

Summer is pretty much peak tourism season everywhere and Europe is the perennial summer vacation destination for Americans young and old. But when the economy tanks, and the stock market crashes and burns and the unemployment rate keeps going up up up, travel spending takes a hard hit. On the other hand, not being employed means more time to travel and since everyone is cutting their prices these days, hotel deals and airfare sales are plentiful.

But despite these travel deals and even the considerably less-hostile currency exchange rate, we wonder will travelers still hit the cobblestone streets of European cities big and small?

So far, we have yet to hear of anyone cancelling their planned European vacations. But a few of our friends are making their way to Europe (or have already made their way) just ahead of the season to further take advantage of good deals. Indeed a friend who just returned the other day from a three week trip to Europe (flying in and out of Rome) said that the hotel he stayed in the first night in Rome was considerably more expensive when he returned on his last night because it was closer to tourist season.

Meanwhile our own hopes for another European adventure this summer were dashed by family-mandated trips to the East Coast and Hawaii. Still, we have $500 in American Airlines credit to burn and if we see an opening in our schedule, we're gonna take it.

But enough about us, what about you? Are you still traveling to Europe this summer? Are you packing your Rick Steves-signed guidebook and making your way to the Continent? Or are you sticking closer to home? Wherever you're planning on going, we want to know.

16 Comments

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  1. brooklynnomad

    Jaunted Member

    Oh yes...Krakow here I come!

    I planned a 3 week long trip to Poland and Czech Republic for June. I am staying in Raciborz, 90 minutes outside of Krakow. Plan to visit Gdanks, Zakopane Mountains and Prague. I have a 1 bedroom apartment, which was provided by my wife's uncle. Saves us money so that we may go and buy more beer and borscht. Poland has an amazing exchange rate with the US and Aer Lingus has had insanely cheap fares to the country all year.
    April 13, 2009 at 6:07 PM
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  1. Wayne Phillips

    Jaunted Reader

    leaving for Rome next week

    great deals to be had this year. I prefer not to travel to europe in the summer. too hot. I also plan to travel to europe again in the fall.
    April 13, 2009 at 7:37 PM
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  1. babysistah

    Jaunted Member

    Hitting up the UK

    I haven't pushed "purchase" on my ticket yet, but I am planning on doing a little UK adventure: Scotland and England. I'm going to wait until September, because as it was said above...Europe is hot in the summer. But the plane tickets are simply TOO cheap to not go. Keep your fingers crossed that I can get my time off from work!
    April 14, 2009 at 4:48 AM
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  1. egw

    Jaunted Editor

    Off to Rome in 2 weeks

    I don't expect huge deals, but with the money I've saved on my plane ticket, it's more of a deal than I would've expected.
    April 14, 2009 at 7:40 AM
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  1. Lee Butler

    Jaunted Reader

    England, too hot??

    England wont be too hot in the summer...trust me!! LOL Even though it's going to hit 20 degrees celsius tomorrow in London which is quite good for april.
    April 14, 2009 at 7:44 AM
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  1. zeverson

    Jaunted Member

    Jealous, jealous, jealous

    it looks like the closest to Europe I'll get will be Nantucket.
    April 14, 2009 at 11:53 AM
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  1. mcdherr

    Jaunted Member

    Travel to Europe this summer?

    Wwaiting for flights to come down (and hoping they will). We're a family of six so $100 per ticket is a big difference. We booked two of our four kids on miles (19 year olds) and they'll go to the UK and meet up with us in Italy. We're looking at apartment rentals, rather than hotels, as we'll have a kitchen and many meals there saving $ on dining out. Finding some good values but haven't booked anything yet. Flights are the biggest issue, but we'll go either way.
    April 14, 2009 at 2:48 PM
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  1. markj

    Jaunted

    Nope

    No Europe for me this summer. Yes there are deals, but going to stick stateside, plenty of even better deals here.
    April 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM
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  1. jenlaceda

    Jaunted Member

    Yes

    Back to Paris & Barcelona in 1-1/2 weeks! Also Marrakech in between. Did anybody take advantage of Alitalia's $600 CAD Toronto - anywhere in Italy promo?
    April 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM
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  1. needcaffeine

    Jaunted Member

    yes

    Spain & France possibly this year, possibly wine tours & visiting friends.
    April 20, 2009 at 1:13 PM
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  1. cannesjas

    Jaunted Member

    Yes to Europe

    Cannes and Greece. Using hotel points, so it won't cost any more than usual. Food will be cheaper than last year's trip with the USD was much weaker. Airfare looks as tho it will be cheaper as well. Yay!

    CannesJAS loves Green Clothes
    April 22, 2009 at 8:58 PM
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  1. cmb

    Jaunted Member

    Yes

    Yep, we're going to see U2 in Dublin in July.
    April 26, 2009 at 11:01 PM
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  1. Wayne Phillips

    Jaunted Reader

    just got back

    just got back from a week in rome. i had a great time. however, rome was extremely crowded with tourists. maybe that's typical for this time of year but i definitely wasn't expecting so many people. there were mostly people from germany and the UK. I ran into a few americans but not many.
    April 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
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  1. KatieHammel

    Jaunted Member

    No Europe for me this summer

    But I was in Spain and Iceland in the last 4 months and am saving up for South Africa (tickets booked!) for December. So it has nothing to do with the economy, I'm just traveling elsewhere.
    April 30, 2009 at 9:40 AM
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  1. Tony Cross

    Jaunted Reader

    come to london

    Americans looking for a deal in Europe this summer should avoid the Eurozone and head for London. While traditionally more expensive than many other European capital cities, the strength of the Euro vs the rather weak UK British Pound means shopping is stronger in London than any other major European city. Meanwhile us Brits are avoiding anywhere in the Eurozone (France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, etc) this summer because they are adding up 30% more expensive than a year ago. As for temperature, those moving onto Greece or Italy might want to avoid July or August, but if you are heading for the UK alone, the nearer you can hit the summer peak, the better.
    May 18, 2009 at 5:13 AM
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  1. Robert Watkins

    Jaunted Reader

    New Orleans; Venice

    My wife & I have already been to NO & now it's off to Venice
    July 19, 2009 at 1:19 PM
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