updated November 27, 2008

David Econopouly, The Globe Merchant, freezing on the Baltic on New Year's Day, 2000

Thanks David -- After a couple of hours of searching on Booking Wiz last night I actually found a fare from Pittsburgh to Athens for my dates for $802 (including taxes). Needless to say I purchased it. It involves three flights per leg, but the dollars I save can be better spent at a taverna. It really is amazing how repeated searches (even with the same info) can turn up radically different fares. The whole process feels like some form divination to me! Anyway, thanks for your info. I find your site and your e-mails incredibly helpful. ---Jeff

	Updated list of Low Cost European Discount Airlines.... Click here....   A good place to get started is to search the multiple- search engines below....While the rates are coming up in another browser window you can explore the rest of the options on this site! The best way to get the best rates is to educate yourself! Visit Globe Merchants' Travel Blog for more travel tips, hints and updated information... Visit the Globe Merchant Travel Board for travel information. Find a GREAT FARE? Post it on the Travel Board so others can save money too! American Airlines weekend Sales Saver....click here The UK Terror Plot of August 2006- Should you be worried?... click here for one opinion
LOOKING TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE? HOPE YOU'RE SITTING DOWN!
The fares this year haev been INCREDIBLY OVERPRICED compared to the past 6 years. I guess Europe is a hot spot and the airlines see no need to lower their fares to a reasonable range. As long as people continue to pay this outrageous fares, the prices won't come down. My guess is that sometime in the next couple of months the airlines will see that they have some empty seats on their planes and then the feeding frenzy will begin(hopefully). Until then, you can either bite the bullet and purchase a ticket that is $400-600 more than last year.... or wait... in hopes that lower fares will come! Also... the last hope for low fares to Greece disappeared. I spoke with Homeric Tours that usually offers reasonable fares on charters from NY, but they have decided not to offer charter flights this years because "fuel is too high".

Getting Married or Honeymooning in Greece? Visit A Greek Wedding

Imagine Italy for $739* Special Economy Class Family Fare $1,119* for 1 $2,039* for 2 $2,859* for 3 $3,679* for 4 *Fuel surcharge included. Excluding taxes. Special Business Class Family Fare $2,319* for 1 $3,898* for 2 $5,699* for 3 $6,998* for 4 *Fuel surcharge included. Excluding taxes. Click here for more Eurofly information

AGreatFare.com deals primarily with flights to Europe, but I have also provided information and links to inter-European flights, hotel accommodations ,auto rentals, Discount Air Options..

Floored by the fact that the taxes for your flights are as high as !/3 to !/2 the cost of your ticket...find out what those taxes are?

Also, check out SKYPE phone service to contact people all over the world to help plan your trip!

And International Drivers License so you can drive once you get there....

Nowadays, Flights to Europe is a funny market(Read about how a wholesaler finds your tickets....and why you shouldn't feel bad that the Airlines are flying half full and losing money!)... Discount Airlines and low fares used to be a dime a dozen. Now, the fares are much higher than they have been in the past and the sales seem harder to come by. I suggest that you explore the links, find the lowest fare and come back to me with your best fare and itinerary. I'll let you know what I think- If I can sell the tickets for less or know where you can go to do so, I'll help you out. If you have the best fare I'll tell you to go ahead and purchase it.

Are you concerned about the state of the airlines and whether you may lose a lot of money if an airline folds before you travel... read this.

I do sell enough low cost, discount tickets so that I can afford to send you somewhere else if the fares are lower than I have. If I send you to a good fare, I would expect you to come back again when you're looking and I may have the best fare then. If I sell you an overpriced ticket, I wouldn't expect you to come back....

You'll see links for Expedia, Travelocity, Sidestep, About the Two Air Hitches(A Warning!), Air Hitch(How Air Hitch works / Air Hitch Fare Options), Wiki Travel for information on Discount airlines in Europe and other low cost discount airline ticketing sitesand EuRail Europe for Train info. I would explore those sites as some of their discounts are excellent. In some cases their discounts are better than mine, but in other cases I have better fare. My advantage is that I can search manually for the best fare while they are automated and cannot.

Interested in a charter flight on Homeric or another company? Here is some info to help you decide.

Remember- The airlines are trying to sell the tickets to you for as much as they can and you are trying to purchase them for as low a fare as you can- it's a kind of Airline Poker- with each of you trying to bluff the other. The airlines want you to think that the tickets won't be coming down even though they need the money and don't want you to go fly with someone else and you want the airlines to think that you're not going to buy tickets until the fare DOES come down even though you are afraid that the ticket fares may go up. The first to blink loses!.(My job is to help advise you as to whether you should continue to play or fold!) I can't be positive we're right, but we can at least look at past trends to get a feeling....

Worried about Failing Airlines?
If you're concerned about
the state of the airlines and protecting your investment... Click here...

Visit the US to Europe Discount Airfare page

Form to request low fare flights From the US to Europe....

Online Car rentals and Hotels for all of Europe!

Check out the links on the new discount low cost European airlines page...they can save you hundreds of dollars in airfare.......

Looking for a phone number or web site for an airline?...click here

American Airlines Netsavers If you subscribe to their Netsaver promotion service, AA will notify you of their sale fares by email as they come out. It's a good way to catch a sale early and effortlessly!.. click here	US Airways Promotions If you subscribe to their Esaver promotion service, USAir will notify you of their sale fares by email as they come out. Another good way to catch a sale early and effortlessly!.. click here
With the state of the world today, Travel Insurance is a pretty good investment.... click the banner to investigate Travel Guard Travel Insurance....
Lufthansa has launched a new program with deals aimed at getting Americans with family in Greece, Israel, Poland, Russia and India back home. The program is open to everyone at www.WeFlyHome.com (I checked flights to Greece but didn't see any great deals, but maybe at other times or to other countries there may be some bargains) Visit Matt Barrett's Greek Travel Site for tons of FREE information on Greece! www.GreekTravel.com   Insight Travel - Istanbul: offers private, tailored and small group Turkey tours and hotel reservations.