Here’s when trips to Europe will be cheaper
According to the Wall Street Journal, US travelers could benefit from a drop in airline prices for trips across the Atlantic.
The newspaper reported that multiple new non-stop routes from the US to different European destinations are likely to be scheduled.
Thrifty Traveler reported that “everybody wanted to go to Europe this past summer, and pretty much everybody did. And they paid to do it.”
Extra demand has reportedly prompted airlines like United, Lufthansa and JetBlue to try to meet the demand of US customers.
Research conducted by Newser shows that the costs of transatlantic flights to Europe in March are coming in at approximately $500.
Flights to southern European cities, like Athens, Madrid and Lisbon, are 20% more expensive than last year, pushing the average ticket price up.
October and November 2024 is believed to be the ideal time to book, thanks to a huge dip in demand compared to the summer months.
“Think of it like a hangover for the airlines after the incredibly busy summer. As Americans tune out travel before heading on holidays, airlines are eager to start filling seats through the end of the year and deep into 2024,” said Gunnar Olson of Thrifty Traveler.
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Amsterdam continues to crack down on overtourism by prohibiting the development of new hotels and limiting the number of travelers allowed to stay overnight in the city.
“We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors,” the Netherlands city said in an announcement last week.
Amsterdam has had strict policies for new hotels since 2017, but the new initiative seeks to “ensure that the number of hotel stays does not increase even further,” according to the announcement.
Under the new regulation, a new hotel may only be built “under certain conditions, if a hotel closes elsewhere,” the city said. This way, the number of accomodations in the city will stay stagnant. The hotel must also “be better,” like being more sustainable.
Traveling to Europe soon? Barcelona is another popular European city increasing its tourist tax to battle overtourism
Twenty-six previously approved hotel projects will proceed with their construction as planned, according to the announcement. New hotels are being encouraged to be built outside the city center.
Along with the hotel ban, the city is also limiting the number of overnight stays to 20 million for the year.
The limit comes after residents complained of the effects of the high number of tourists. In 2023, the city experienced 20,665,000 overnight stays in hotels alone, not reflecting holiday rentals, bed and breakfasts and cruise nights.
The regulation is the latest in a string of moves by the popular European destination to address rowdy visitors and mass tourism. This year, the city’s tourist tax increased from 7% to 12.5% – the highest in Europe. The city also banned guided tours through its famous Red Light District in 2019.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
