Travel Deal of the Day (Dec. 26, 2006)

Have you thought about a European trip? Late winter and early spring may be a great time to go without spending a lot of money.

The Deal:
Save money by taking your trip to Europe before the end of March.

How:
1) Fares to Europe during the late winter and early spring can be really low. In fact, fares from the East Coast to Europe are as low as $75 each way plus taxes and surcharges. Check for incredible airfare specials to Europe until the end of March. If you are traveling to Central Europe or Eastern Europe, try traveling to more competitive, major Western Europe gateways (such as London or Paris) and taking Easyjet or Ryanair, two European low cost carriers, to your European destinations.

2) Look for incredible hotel rates in late winter or early spring - check out the deals at Starwood hotels in Europe at: Starwood Deal (HURRY - sale fares must be booked by 11:59PM (GMT) on Dec. 26).

The Inside Scoop:
The rates in winter should be extraordinarily low. Do not let a travel provider make you think you are getting an incredible deal just by stating that their winter rates are slightly lower than the peak season (summer) rates. During the winter, the weather is far less desirable in most of Europe - the rates should be far lower. Travel providers should be offering significant discounts to obtain your business during this time period.