I just found a $975/person roundtrip fare from Los Angeles to Rome for April 12 (Holy Thursday) to Monday April 23. The times are perfect! We want to go to Tuscany (drive the hill towns & see Florence) for our tenth anniversary and thought Rome would be too expensive at that time because of Easter, but this fare is cheaper than any I've found for Pisa or Florence. Should I purchase the tix, spend Easter in Rome & then drive/train it to Florence or wait to see it if goes lower? Thanks!

That rate seems very high to me. <BR>I live in Louisiana, and have to pay a supplement to fly to Europe. Therefore, I wouldn't think that I would have to pay much less than you just because I am closer to Europe. <BR> <BR>We have always been able to find fares to Europe for under $600. Normally, we pay about $450. We go at different times of the year. I realize this may be high season, but check again. Also, check with several travel agents. One should be able to get you a better deal. <BR> <BR>If you can get a much cheaper rate into a different destination than you planned only do it if you have extra days to travel. Also remember to factor in the extra costs for train tickets, food, car, hotel etc. <BR> <BR>Also, consider this: Two years ago my family of 4 flew to Rome two days earlier than we intended because we saved $225 each on airfare. We spent some of the saved $900 on our hotel, food and sight-seeing instead of on the airline ticket.

Way to much, look for something in the range of $450-500

You are planning to travel to Rome...on Easter weekend--important Catholic holiday--, so prices are bound to shoot through the roof! That being said, the fare looks suspiciously high to me and you should be able to save at least $300 by doing a little more research, checking with the airlines direct and traveling to other places such as Florence. I don't know whether you have frequent flyer miles with any specific airlines but from LAX (I live in South Cal, too), I would recommend American or Delta/Air France with a transfer in Paris, I've done it several times and it works well.

That fare does seem a little on the high side. Make sure you check with Alitalia...they have the best deals by far. <BR> <BR>Check out my website if you'd like to see some photos of the areas you're planning to visit:www.jimtardio.com/italy.html

I've just done a couple of searches on some of the cheap airfare websites, and I think that $975 turns out to be a very good price. I agree that it seems to be on the high side, but it's probably that way because of the holidays. If you have some flexibility in your dates, you'll probably find some better fares; if those are the only days available, it seems to be a good price right now.

We're waiting for lower Spring fares to Italy ourselves, however if you have frequent flyer miles and the $975 is upgradeable with miles to Business or First Class, you may want to take it and upgrade. (Check the Business and First rates and you'll see what a bargain it may be to upgrade with miles on a pretty much "normal price" economy ticket). Of course, if I can upgrade a $600 ticket in a couple of months....that's quite a savings over what's currently quoted.

That price is high! <BR> <BR>Buying tickets this far in advance offer very little value. Airlines are currently offering low fares thru March but have not published their bargin fares for Spring yet. Once they have an idea about how many people bought expensive advance tickets they will lower the fares to fill the seats. <BR> <BR>Wait a month or two.... <BR> <BR>Have you tried Travelocity? They have a function where you just enter the origin and destination without a date and it bring up a list of low fares, when you select an airline it shows a calendar of when seats are available at that low price. Currently they offer low fares thru March 31, which tells me that low fares for Spring have not been established. <BR> <BR>www.travelocity.com

Carin, <BR>I am flying from LAX to Paris and returning from ROME to LAX next April. I got a fare of 776 through rockbottomrares.com I booked our flight by calling them directly, they were very friendly and helpful. Also they located in Glendale. Hope this info helps.

Carin- Airlines price fares to Europe as follows: Nov 1 to March 31 is Winter season pricing and the lowest of the year except they raise the price for the Xmas holidays. April 1 to April 31 is Spring Shoulder season fares and generally go up from winter prices by about $150 for a RT fare. Then May 1 to May 31 is a little yet because its full on Spring pricing. From June 1 to June 15 they raise them a little more- higher than Spring but lower than high season summer pricing. From July 1 to August 31 is the higest pricing of the year. That is when I would expect to see your $975 price. Then Sept 1 to Oct 31 is Fall season and pricing is always about the same as Spring pricing- <BR>Rome is cheaper to fly into than Pisa or Florence which generally add about another $80 or so to the price. I don't know of blackouts for higher Easter pricing but its possible. I did a quick fare search on www.tiss.com (they have the price to be beat) and on US Airways the price is $670, on Northwest the price is $705 and on Finnair the price is $755- these are all RT without tax added yet and for one person- I used your exact dates! <BR>You can also go to www.smarterliving.com and give them your iteniary and they will notify you of sales and pricing on your route- they do this once a week as will www.expedia.msn.com <BR>and <BR>come visit the Cheap Flight Forum at <BR>www.eurotrip.com <BR>Tricia

Oops- left a word out- where I said May 1 to May 31 is a little yet I meant, a little higher yet (higher than April prices, but lower than June prices) <BR> <BR>Airlines like to keep us confused don't they!

You don't say what airline but I think that price is about right for Easter. I checked British Airways and it was 900-something (can't remember at the moment) from LA to Rome. I am assuming this is for a schedule that meets your needs too. Some of the cheaper flights may have you coming and going at very odd hours or with several changes, so beware of that if you go that method. We normally fly in April from LA to London & Paris and the fare is about $756 or so, $200 more to go to Rome sounds about right to me. Travel over holidays can be a little higher then other times too and April is a "shoulder" month travel wise.

Thank you, everyone! I'm going to keep checking. The dates we can go are set (I'm an elementary school principal), so I just have to find the best price for that time (4/12 - 4/23). I really appreciate your advice! Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year!! Carin