Europe in the Winter? Absolutely!
Posted Sun, Nov 9th 2008, 23:14I cannot tell you how many requests I have had recently for vacation planning to Europe in the winter! I guess I am not surprised, as the word is out on how much less expensive it is and it is not as crowded.
I’ll tell you, with fuel prices having soared to heights never seen before this past summer; many people just did not have the money to pay such high rates. Well, fuel has gone down a bit and Europe is begging for our business again. If you wish that you had gone this summer and still have an interest, the time is right.
School is in session for the most part and lines at cultural attractions are not what they were during the hot months of June, July, and August. If you are not looking for a warm vacation on the Mediterranean, but would like to take in the food, wine, and culture, this winter may be for you.
Tour operators and cruise lines have some fabulous trips that can accommodate your needs in accordance to your interests, budget, and the length of time you have for your vacation.
Several major cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, Costa, MSC, and Royal Caribbean are still offering year-round sailings in the Mediterranean for a fraction of the cruise fare as you will see during the late spring and summer months.
Imagine sailing these exotic ports in January or February.
Sample Itinerary Below:
Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Izmir, Alexandria, Alexandria, Valletta, Barcelona, Casablanca, Agade, Las Palmas, Funchal, Malaga, Barcelona
With the cruise fare being lower and airfare in off-season being less than during the summer, your dream European Vacation can become a reality quite soon!
The great thing is that all of your meals, on-board activities, accommodations (splurge for a picturesque veranda!), a cabin steward to make up your room twice daily, informative “port talks”, and hours to stroll the most interesting cities filled with thousands of years of culture and history during the day. You only unpack once and your transportation to each destination is aboard a luxury cruise ship! How cool is that? No busses to get on and off. No packing up multiple times to run from one train station to another!
How relaxing does this sound?
Oh, and the food! My gosh, you may have up to 12 restaurants at your fingertips (depending on the cruise line) to eat when and what you want. It’s ALL included!
On the other hand, you may feel like just settling into a city like Rome or Barcelona for a week. I am currently planning a week long trip for my client and her friend. What a great “girl’s getaway”! I’m living my life vicariously through their vacation planning!
They are flying from New Orleans to Rome for a week. After thorough research according to their budget and limited time (one week), they have decided on a hotel in Rome near the Spanish Steps, centrally located, and then we have booked day tours to the Vatican, Naples, and Pompeii. One evening they are going to take a Night in Rome tour with music and dining.
This package is through American Express Vacations which is providing their air at a discount (cheaper than major online travel sites, I did the research), their hotel in the center of Rome, transfers, insurance, breakfast daily, and the tours. They are not on a rigid schedule; it’s just a land-based vacation with the added security of booking with American Express Vacations. (You do not need an American Express card to book AmEx Vacations with my agency)
This land-based trip can be planned for any of the major cities in Europe. We can also add rail passes if you wish to visit multiple destinations while you are there!
Call me for more ideas on what dream vacation we may create for you!
Lindsay Williams, (225) 612-8670
