Just thought I would ask the forum's opinion since you all are such knowledgeable travelers.

I'm planning on flying from DFW - Europe 7/18 - 8/17.

The best geographical route for places I plan on visiting is flying into Madrid and out of Amsterdam. The Best price I have found is 935 on cheaptickets.com.

The best deal I have seen period is DFW -Manchester RT for 673 on hotwire. I've seen the UK so not interested in traveling there, but getting cheap airfare in and out of Manchester is a possibility. However, I might also be able to pay a little more for the time and convenience.

My questions are

1) Does anyone know of any cheaper destinations in Europe or how this could easily be searched for. (planning on traveling Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands)

2) Does anyone know of any good websites that offer flights from different cities (I only know orbitz, travelocity, and cheapflights)

3) Does anyone have a prediction on whether these fares will increase or decrease in the future.

Basically, for those that do this sort of thing more frequently - how would you proceed.

Thanks for any input

WELCOME to FT!!

Summer IS the high season to Europe with airlines AND hotels.

You also do not mention if you have any frequent flyer program affiliations that you wish to honor with your flights. (I do not have experience with the cheapflights but some of the super super low priceline type fares DO NOT accumulate airmiles and cannot be upgraded).

Speaking of upgrade, you did not mention that as a requirement. Cuz I should think a lot of upgrades out of DFW for the high tourist season are already going to be grabbed. Look at your desired airline for more information.


Additionally, hotels may be on the expensive side at the height of summer travel. You also do not mention hotels.. am I assuming possibly a back-packing trip??

What you MIGHT consider doing is taking a package trip. Look at AA.com and their vacation link .. they may have some good options. THEN book extension with the trip .. say make the whole trip to Germany (thru the tour company getting your air and hotel in Germany). Then pickup rail passes or intra EU flights to get to your other desired locataions. At the end of the month end up back where the flight goes from (Germany in my example). Be VERY aware that 'open jaw' might prove expensive (DFW-Manchester and then Rome to DFW would be an open jaw).

I'm not trying to discourage this but you are LATE in planning for the cheap fares!

Try using dream map where price is your key http://dps1.travelocity.com/dreamMap...ce=TRAVELOCITY


I tried your proposed travel dates....with no regard to airline preference
MAN 873
LON (both) 852
FRA 959
AMS 901
PAris 1011
Rome 1124
MAD 928
Glasgow 1157
Birmingham 1097

Going a day shorter (31 vs 30) seems to have no impact.. its my assumption that height of summer will be the problem.

I also looked at a 5 night in London 'vacation' thru aa.com with flight and hotel using the 7/17 departure date. It comes out to about $1800 in a low-medium hotel .. so there is not a huge saving.

You may look into student group tours or other charters ... but for the regular airlines . this is probably as LOW as you'll find for these PEAK travel periods.

Good luck!

PS - I had to bite the bullet too on a Minneapolis to NY (then cruise to europe) and London back to minneapolis flight for August of over $1200.

Thanks for the advice. I am definitely going to be "backpacking" it. I realize that I should've planned this earlier but I just recently very fortunately fell into the position (as a law student) to have the time and money to go the 2nd half of the summer.

Thus, student fairs are an option but I have yet to find a deal from a student based website that could beat any of the others.

I guess I will just keep checking and figure out the most economical (price and time traveling) option.

Thanks and if anyone else has advice - it is much appreciated.