Pros may outweigh cons of Europe in the off-season
By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services
(Tribune Media Services) — Each summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers and shoppers with eager cash registers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider the advantages of an off-season trip.
Given the current weakness of our dollar overseas, the potential price-savings of an off-season trip are enough to brighten a gray winter day. Airfares are often hundreds of dollars less. With fewer crowds in Europe, you’ll sleep cheaper. Many fine hotels drop their prices, and budget hotels have plenty of vacancies.
To save some money on hotels in the off-season, arrive late without a reservation, notice how many empty rooms they have (look for keys on the rack), and give the receptionist an excuse to win your business with a deep discount. Explain that you’re a senior (hosteller, student, artist, whatever) with a particular price limit, and bargain from there.
