The Roving Reporter
Friendlier, cheaper skies
Posted by: Amy Reiter
Monday, March 24, 2008 2:37 PM
I love to travel but, especially in the last year or so, I've found flying prohibitively expensive. Three or four years ago, I could find a trip to Europe for about $600-$700 in just-off-peak season. Last summer, I was looking at $1,300 round-trip for Paris - and there's my vacation budget right there.
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I don't like the idea of cutting out travel - my annual vacation is when I get inspired and recharged with curiosity about the world - but in this economy (which you can read about on the front page of today's News-Gazette), it has clearly started to feel like a luxury item when compared to paying my heating bill.
With that penny-pinching in mind, it was with lots of excitement that I read about airports in Europe and the United States opening up to more trans-Atlantic flights. In a nutshell, the possibility is that more flight options equals both lower costs and more direct flights, including a new daily route between London and Chicago from Virgin Atlantic, according to this article in The New York Times.
With snowflakes coming down in what feels like the 170th month of winter, the thought of travel - especially cheaper travel - is distractingly wonderful. I've been skiing in Wisconsin - I'd love to try it in Switzerland one day. And I keep hearing that Croatia has awesome architecture and beaches at half the cost of Italy.
In the meantime: to save, perchance to dream.
Where would you go if you had the time and money?
Amy
Comments
It's nice that airfare is going down, but it's hard to afford travel to Europe because the dollar is so weak.
But, if you get the chance to go to Croatia, GO! And while you're there, visit their northern neighbor, Slovenia. It's one of Europe's best-kept secrets.
Next on my own list is Africa, I hope. It might not happen for a while, though.
Posted by mthilmony on March 24, 2008 at 5:25 PM
