Last Minute (and I do mean last) minute opportunity for Europe...
 

My sister and brother have decided to hop a plane on Feb. 3rd and head to Europe (I can't believe they are beating me there!). They are headed out of Chicago (O'Hare or Midway), and truly don't care where they go, so long as it is in Europe.

They have to return Feb. 10, so it is only 6 nights, and they are looking at $600-$800 each for airfare and hotel (they'll probably share a room). I've done a quick search of my favorite sites, and to my surprise, I'm not finding any prices that are shockingly low. Where should I be looking? Or, do you have an idea for them? Neither has ever been, and is willing to find their way along as they go.

Thanks in advance!

Erika

6 night, $600-$800 pp person sounds good to me, even if you found an airfare for $400, that would mean the hotel would have to have a pretty low price for a twin room.

Take a look at go-today.com if they want a package. Otherwise, BA or Air France or Icelandic sometimes run sales at this time of year.

try ratestogo.com

Right now Lufthansa has a great winter sale going on. The fare is $600 roundtrip per person from Chicago (not sure which airport) via Munich.

Not sure about the hotels but it's low season so there should be some good deals including last minute rates.

Or you can have them check www.laterooms.com.

AA to London Heathrow. Non-stop. $463 all in.

UK in general is more expensive than continental Europe, and London is particularly expensive. But having said that, many people have been getting the 3* Thistle Marble Arch for like US$60 a night on Priceline.

That's within your budget!

Or I see $525 per person to Paris, all in. Then you could quite easily get a hotel for a reasonable rate (numerous threads on this board), and end up around the $1600 total threshold.

Another site to consider: site59.com

Another site with lots of packages:

go-today.com

I checked for Barcelona. $1,720 for two persons for the dates you want, including airfare, hotel and taxes. There are probably other cheaper deals, but I didn't look further.

Do they have...er..um...passports?

Oops, my fare is to Paris!

Hi eb,

www.kayak.com has ORD/LHR for $460, ORD/CDG for $520 non stop, ORD/FCO is 560 - one stop.

Same rates at www.mobissimo.com .

((I))

in UK and in Europe (well UK is in Europe, but for discussions sake) if one is on a budget, one could use the hostels....

http://www.europeanhostels.com/fall/listings/france/

http://www.ymca.org.uk/

two links i have used and have been used by many of my travelling friends. specially in london ymca has a wide network of hostels in central locations.

now this one is particularly popular with my indian friends as it is in heart of london and provides homemade (not indian restaurant) style food. even if u dont stay here just to taste ''indian'' food its a good idea to drop in at lunch time....

http://www.indianymca.org/

Priceline.com vacation package ORD to CDG (Paris), non stop both ways on American Airlines, six nights at 4 star Le Meridian Etoile for $858 per person, all taxes, etc included.

I just got back from London last night and would say that between the weather in early February and the British pound-go somewhere else in Europe.( Just an FYI-Midway is strictly a little airport for domestic airlines like Southwest and Air Tran and some majors like Delta and United but it really does not have international destinations other than a Mexico or Carribean flight.)Spain,Italy and France would be my choices for weather at that time of the year.

Lucky them! Dooley Vacations keeps sending outrageously low packages:

http://dooleyvacations.com/

Also, through http://airfarewatchdog.com/

was directed to

http://www.bookingbuddy.com/

for low O'Hare to Frankfurt (think it was around $344 RT) fares.

The Pound is even higher than the Euro against the dollar, so that might be a factor for them if they are looking to spend less money.

http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet

Just wanted to follow up...they got great tickets ORD - Heathrow, and are flying an European airline to Rome...2 days in London, 5 in Rome. Staying in hostels, so they should come in well under the $800. Lucky!!