Best Seasons to See Europe

Deciding on which season to see Europe is a crucial part of planning your travel itinerary. Some travelers may not have a choice (because of school or limited work leaves), but if you do have a choice as to when to see Europe, choose the season wisely. There are a few things to take into account, such as the timing of special events, crowds and comparative costs between peak and low tourist seasons. If you have already decided on which cities or countries you will visit, it is important that you look up the forecasted weather for those places and pack accordingly.

Adverse weather in Europe is rare. It's rainfall you have to be wary about, so pack a raincoat or jacket, especially if you're traveling between July and August.

1. Winter - The winter months can be very cold throughout the continent and takes place from December to March. The Scandinavian countries have winter from September to May and it can be very, very cold with nights that are extremely long. Eastern Europe also has difficult winters. The temperatures in Sofia, Prague and Warsaw usually drops below freezing. Winter is not exactly the best time to visit Europe unless you're into winter sports. In southern Europe however, the climate is milder but it's also the wettest time of the year.

2. Spring - This is usually considered to be the best time to visit most parts of Europe. Spring is from March to June and a big part of the continent thaws out and days get longer. It's a beautiful time to see tulips in the Netherlands and the gardens of different castles in bloom. In southern Europe, spring is still not beach weather, but it is already comfortable enough to go sightseeing.

3. Summer - Summers in Europe can be unpredictable. Sometimes they are beautifully warm and sunny and at times it can be stifling hot. It also rains occasionally. As a general rule, summer in Europe is from July to late August and this is the finest weather of the year. In the northern parts of Europe, the days can get exceptionally long. Even in the southern parts, there is still sunlight at 10 pm. All along the Mediterranean, summers are hot and dry and the beach gets really crowded. Most cities in Europe can get quite humid and uncomfortable in the summer.

4. Autumn/Fall - Temperatures begin to cool down from mid-September and winter starts creeping in by November. This is similar to spring climate-wise and it can also be a great time to travel. In the northern parts of Europe, the scenery turns into brown and gold as trees start to shed their leaves. In southern Europe, the days become milder but are still quite warm. Balmy nights are not uncommon in September and October.

It definitely pays to do a little research on when the major festivals are taking place in the countries you will visit. You may have to tweak your plans a little to join the party ,so you can join in the local culture and this usually turns out to be a major highlight in your trip! If you're not interested in any festivals however, try to avoid traveling through the particular city or town. Just remember that major festivals attract huge numbers of tourists and costs may also rise, so adjust your budget accordingly and reserve your accommodations in advance.

A Guide To Choosing European Vacation Packages

What do you look for in a European vacation? The romance of a Paris vacation, the buzz of some time in London, England or the relaxation and quiet peace of an alpine valley? The truth is that, with a European vacation package, you can have all of this and more.

Europe is a very diverse continent and the range of possible European vacations reflects this. In each European country you can choose from the buzz of a city visit or the relaxation of the countryside. Transport links are good and it's easy to hop from country to country by plane, by train or by road. This article sets out to help you plan a European vacation that suits you.

European vacation - travel tips for cheap European tours

If you want to travel Europe on a low budget then the two key issues are time and flexibility. There are now many cheap European airlines who offer budget airfares for travel between European countries. Almost without exception they offer an excellent service, and their prices are remarkably low. But you do need to be flexible - both in your choice of destination and in your travel schedule timings.

European budget airlines often fly between the less popular airports and may only operate one flight a day. This means that if you miss a flight or if your flight is cancelled then you could face a long wait in a rather out of the way town or provincial airport.

The Irish airline, Ryanair, can be used as an example. Their flight billed as Glasgow to Paris departs from a town called Prestwick - about forty miles from Glasgow and arrives at Beauvais, a French town about sixty miles from Paris. Coach services are provided and the service is good but you will need to add at least an hour to your journey at either end. Getting stranded late at night in Beauvais or Prestwick is not likely to be fun. You can find a list of cheap European airlines and some of their routes on the websites listed below.

If you would rather travel to Europe on a planned European Vacation Package then you will have other issues to contend with. Planned European vacation packages can sometimes be rather sterile and predictable. Some of them may almost have the effect of insulating you against anything European! The notion of being herded along on like cattle among a mass of bemused fellow travellers is not likely to appeal to many of us.

Try to find a package that will allow you the benefits of having your travel and accommodation organised but still leave time for you to branch off on your own if you want to.

Travel Europe and enjoy it. There is no right or wrong approach - simply work out what suits you and your lifestyle best. You will find plenty of choice in every European country. If you've never taken a European vacation then please do consider it - the possibilities are almost limitless.