Why Europe is a great choice for 2023

I know, Europe is pretty far away. It’s also a crazy good value right now. The U.S. dollar is almost dollar for dollar with the Euro and the British Pound, and tour companies, river cruise lines, cruise lines and hotels across Europe are offering amazing deals to fill space in 2023. This great value pricing started as soon as parts of Europe reopened to American travelers in mid-2021 and have continued through 2022. I’m finding exceptional values for 2023 in almost every vacation type too!

I traveled pretty extensively in 2021 and early 2022 and really enjoyed the lower crowds, the wider variety of tours, ships, and itineraries that have come out of the pandemic closures. With some exceptions, Europe relies much more heavily on tourism than the United States does, and that means that they need to entice Americans to travel there, so they can wow us with their amazing hospitality, history, architecture and food. Oh my goodness, the food!

Many of my suppliers have revamped their itineraries, added a wider variety of tour and cruise lengths and have built in some really interesting and immersive experiences into their offerings. I think one thing the pandemic lock downs helped us do is to focus on what really matters to us most. Travel suppliers are responding to those newly unveiled focuses with targeted experiences and options that allow you to really personalize your travel experience.

With travel restrictions, pre-arrival testing and registration pretty much gone now, it’s easier than ever to get to, in and around Europe. While I am a confessed river cruise junkie, I experienced a guided land tour through Italy & Switzerland, and a great ocean cruise through the Greek Isles in the last 18 months. I had forgotten how great going to so many destinations across such a vast distance could be, and how deep you get to dive into each destination. I experienced new supplier for each of these amazing journeys and am happy to recommend them to my clients as each were first rate, easy and enjoyable.

Another great reason to experience Europe is that most hotels, tours, river cruises and even ocean cruises have not seen substantial price increases like we’ve seen in domestic, Caribbean and Mexico. The main reason for this is the cost to get to Europe, which European destinations and suppliers take into account. Instead, Europe is happy to just get you back. This won’t last forever, as they too were very hard hit by the pandemic closures and are just as affected by the economic markets as we are.

Getting the best value for your European vacation comes down to flexibility and guidance. You can search the internet high and low and still not find all of the best suppliers, destinations and experiences that I can as a travel professional. You are also putting every single dime you spend online at risk, not completely knowing if the supplier is fully vetted and reputable or that the terms and conditions of your booking allow you the flexibility you want/need. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing deals out there, it’s just important to remember that if you don’t get what you expect or want, that “deal” can really be a dud. Working with a trusted travel advisor is adding someone to your team to ensure that you know exactly what you are getting at a price (value) you are happy with.

So where do you start when planning your 2022/2023 European getaway? Start by:

1. Reviewing your passports for expiration dates. Make sure that your passport validity is at least 6 months past your potential return travel dates. Apply for renewals or a new passport now to take the pressure off. I can help point you in the right direction

2. Create a bucket list of destinations and a list of dates you and your travel party are available for travel. Some destinations are cheaper at certain times of the year so having destination and date options helps find potential savings.

3. Start planning a budget for your trip. Take a look at airfare and estimate what your ideal budget range is so you have a starting point.

4. Set up a time to chat about your interests, dates, travel party and dates by CLICKING HERE for a complimentary Discover Call appointment

The lockdowns are over and it’s time to get back out there. It’s time to connect with the people, the history, the art, the landscapes and oh yeah, THAT AMAZING FOOD. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that time is short and there is no time like the present to do the things we’ve said we want to do.

Cheers to all of us getting busy DOING again!

xoxo Jennifer