Hi Dopers
I am looking to find a way to get to Europe this summer. Basically, I am trying to figure out if there is a way to fly to any part of EU with $500 to $600, and then take the train to fool around some major places.
I live near Washington DC, Baltimore. I could drive to JFK if the deal is worthy.
Just keep checking Expedia and the like, every day. Plug in every likely route, from both DC and NYC, to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan…you get the idea. Search mid-week dates, which are more likely to be cheaper. The complexity of airline pricing means there’s no way to predict what will happen to prices in the future, so when you see one that looks good (and your budget looks realistic), take it.
The best way is probably to get to London, then find your way to another airport in the area and take something like Ryan Air, or one of the other cheap flights from London. I got to London last year in late May, the last couple of days, on a Virgin flight for around $500.
After you get to London you could always take the train or ferry over to the mainland. You could also try and find a flight to Shannon or Dublin and again take the cheap flights. Dublin would be the better bet. Just remember to keep your dates open as well, flying mid-week can really help out.
Like was already said, keep trying different airport combinations.
For example, we wanted to go to Rome over Easter (it was busy, but just before the pope died, thank goodness), and leaving from southeast Minnesota. A flight from Minneapolis to Rome was around $800, but we found a Northwest-KLM “special” from Chicago to Rome for $372. It was worth a five-hour drive to save that much. Good luck.
I’ve heard there are good fares through Icelandair and Aer Lingus. Connecting through Dublin and Reykjavik respectively.
It’s true that Icelandair and Aer Lingus both heavily focus on transatlantic travel - but both have struggled since 9/11, and other airlines manage to offer similar hub systems (particularly the KLM / Northwest partnership, giving connections via Amsterdam)
Try Yahoo Travel - Dream Maps
http://edit.travel.yahoo.com/config/ytravel_dreammap?source=YD&.intl=us
You can put in max you want to pay and they show the cheapest flight to either eastern or western europe. I’ve used them to get to London for around $400 from the mid-west. Dates of travel need to be flexible.
Icelandic Air use to run ( they just still might) a special if you book them from DC or NY to go over to Europe, where if you over night in Iceland your hotel and a small rental car are included for a day’s stay. ( Usually you land there in the AM and don’t depart until the following morning. The hotel was a nice one, not a dump.)
Everyone that I use to book on this kind of trip loved it. I’ve always wanted to do it myself. Except I don’t live near DC or NY.
Might be worth it.
Search several travel sights at the same time.
Best days of the week to travel for cheapness are midweek: Tuesday/wed/thursday. Fridays-Sundays ( and sometimes Monday) are always higher.
Make sure your passport is valid through out your entire stay with an additional 2 weeks (or two months, can’t remember) on the time. You can be denied entry into a country even if your passport is valid but expiring say a few weeks before your return flight.
Also try Airline Consolidator. Online consolidator that occasionally has good deals. Flexibility w/ your travel dates, location, and time will help.
Also Travelzoo has good deals.
Your local paper’s website should run weekly airfare deals, check it regularly.
I’ve never actually flown standby so I don’t know how it works, just that you can fly for cheap if you’re flexible about when and where you fly. You might want to try that.
I did that 150 years ago (or so it seems) and I LOVED Iceland! They gave me a night in a very nice hotel for practically nothing. If you fly Icelandic, make sure you take them up on this special deal! Beautiful country, really nice people, and the experience is something you will never forget or regret!!!
Standby pretty much doesn’t exist for transatlantic flights. The cheapest flights are always ones pre-booked a fair way in advance, with zero flexibility.
Have you checked out the BUNAC work program? If you’re under…oh, 25 or 30 (I forget the age limit), you can get a temporary work permit in various places in Europe, IIRC. You’ll still have to pay your own airfare, but it’s not like you’d have to account for much of your living expenses while you were there.
It’s something you might want to consider.
I’ve seen the recommendation that your passport be valid six months after your expected return. What I don’t understand is the reasoning behind this requirement. Are they afraid that your departure would be delayed and your passport would expire before the new leaving date?
Incidentally, when I asked the OP’s question, several people recommended Zoom Airlines for Toronto to London. No idea whether they’re any good though.
I’ve several relatives who’ve used them, to/from Calgary & Edmonton, and they’re highly recommended for the prices they charge. Only problems are the flights are infrequent (once a week for many routes), and at silly times (such as departing from London at 5am).