Winter Away - on the Cheap

The very best way to save money on travel is to do it in the off season. I have been to Spain in the summer when it was so hot you could hardly move. All the folks walked on the shady side of the streets and the consumption of water to keep hydrated was constant. Not only are the temperatures high but so are the prices and the wait times. I found that by going in the off season I could stay in very nice hotels for about 50 to 25 percent of the cost during the high season. This was a huge saving and enabled me to extend my stay. There are savings to be had on cabs, restaurants and tourist attractions which are utilized far less in the off season making site seeing much more enjoyable. I also think that the locals are more willing to help and be kind when they are not bombarded with thousands of tourists.

It is a good idea to pre-book your hotels. Many hotels totally shut down in the low season saving money on staff expenses. You can find good deals. It just takes a little more time on your computer. I have found the Youth Hostels in Europe to be very clean and reasonably priced.

Another little tip - don't book your flights within Europe through your travel agent. Do a little work on the web and find airlines that operate within Europe. I flew from Madrid to Rome for $42.00. There are many flight deals to be had by booking directly with the airlines in Europe.

The attractions of Europe have been there for a thousand years and they don't change because the weather changes. You do need to carry an umbrella. The summers in Spain are extremely hot. Too hot for my Canadian sensitivities. I found the Fall weather much more agreeable. I wore a light jacket over a shirt but many of the locals were in much heavier and warmer coats. I had the feeling that they were looking at me like I was a little crazy.

I was in Spain and Italy for six weeks in November and December. The temperatures were very comfortable and it only rained three days. It was cool in Venice on the water but that problem was solved with a light jacket and a scarf. I was told that during the high season a person can wait up to six hours to go up the tall tower in St. Mark's Square. We were able to go straight up and while at the top our view was not blocked by other tourists. I was able to walk straight into the Vatican after weaving my way through a large maze of fences that are used in the high season to control the crowds.

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