My husband and I would like to go to Paris for the first time in July and explore the city independently. I know that is the high tourist season. I've been searching for airfares on the major sites (Yahoo, Orbitz, Expedia, Air France...) and getting around $1,000 round trip from Boston to Paris. I'm a little bit discouraged. Should I consider booking a leisure type of package (air and hotel included) as an alternative? Or seek the help of a travel agent? I typically book all our past vacations online. The best case scenario would be to find a good airfare and stay at a budget hotel but I wanted to know if it is realistic to wait/keep searching for the $600 to $700 price range.

Two travel agents I had checked with recently have told me the same things, that quite a few flights have been canceled to Europe and Europe being popular have made fares higher this year. Many here have said that by next month possibly fares may decrease a bit. Travel agents may be able to help you if they know good airfare consolidators otherwise you can pretty much seek out lower fares yourself.
I find air/hotel packages don't offer really good hotels all the time. If you do book a budget hotel there are many that are pretty decent and charming; you just have to do research.

you could fly to london, it may be cheaper. british airways have a seat sale at the moment. you should be able to pick up a cheaply priced flight from london to paris. try the airlines websites, ba, british midlands, ryan air, easy jet, etc, i dont know who flys there and from where but i am sure there is a good choice. hope this helps.

Hi JJ

I have had good luck with http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm

The are currently showing non-stops Boston to Paris in July for about $925.

I expect that you should be able to get down to about $750 by mid-March.

I wouldn't book right now as I'd think you could get something more around $800 in summer. There may be sales on the airlines in trouble, as usual, a little cheaper (BA, USAirways, United) or for convoluted routes, but I haven't seen a RT fare to Paris at $600-700 from where I live in Wash DC in peak summer season in many years. YOu can get a fare $850-900 right now for your route in July on Icelandair or BA.

If you know a good travel agent, it can't hurt to ask, but I imagine they will charge you for their services, of course. I just don't think there are bargains out there for summer flights on major routes like that. I don't think a package is going to save you a whole lot of money but you can look. go-today has one for about $1150 total per person in July from Boston, for example, in a medium-level hotel for 6 nights. So, that's paying about $250 per person for the hotel, which is a little cheaper than you'd pay yourself, and not a bad deal. You can stay in one of their cheaper hotels, of course, to get that down a little, but I wouldn't stay in one of their cheapest as they aren't that well located.

I would not expect air fare prices to be lower later on for July and August. The predictions are that tourist travel to Europe this summer will increase relative to last summer. The weak dollar and terrorist threats are not scaring people off.

In last Sunday's Atlanta Journal, there was an article predicting a good increase in travel this summer.

Northwest Airlines is recalling pilots because demand is growing.

I don't think airfares will drop until Octotober after the July peak.

Try this web site http://www.gotoday.com/FR_FGPZ.ASP

You can search Gotoday.com. They have specials on right now for departures up to Oct. 31. You don't have to purchase until Feb. 19 so you have some time to explore.

The Boston Paris fare was $669 with an additional $50 fee for leaving from Boston.

Good luck.

British Airways right now is showing $722 Total for BOS-LHR-CDG as long as you travel on Mon, Tue or Wed in July. Easy connection in London Heathrow both ways. It gets more expensve traveling on any other days.