Surge in travel to Europe this summer

[Pauline]

Is everyone traveling in Europe this summer? This New York Times says they are. Those of you who have traveled this year, was it crowded?

Going to Europe This Summer? You’re Not Alone.
After three years of pandemic restrictions, travelers are flocking to Europe in record numbers, despite high airfares, limited accommodations and crowded sites. Here’s what you might encounter.

Going to Europe This Summer? You’re Not Alone.

After three years of pandemic restrictions, travelers are flocking to Europe in record numbers, despite high airfares, limited accommodations and crowded sites. Here’s what you might encounter.

www.nytimes.com

Taormina and Palermo in Sicily are crowded because we all watched Season 2 of The White Lotus and that is where it was filmed. It did look beautiful.

From the article: “Venice is used to mass tourism, but what I’m seeing right now is something new — places that hardly used to be crowded are now crowded. Weekdays that used to be quiet are now busy almost like the weekends,” said Guido Moltedo, who has lived in Venice 12 years and manages the local magazine Ytali.

“There are places like Campo San Giacomo that are packed with tourists drinking spritz,” he said, referring to the square that is known to locals as the “campo of the Venetian people” for its lack of tourists. “Venice is close to saturation, if it’s not saturated already,” he added.”

 

[GailS]

I was in Venice a week in early May and found it more crowded than previous years (pre-pandemic) at that same time. With that trip and a couple of upcoming trips in Italy this July and September I have been finding that apartment prices are up quite a bit and availability is slim.

 

[Pauline]

From the article, another TV based destination:

The Croatian city of Dubrovnik, its white ramparts best known as King’s Landing in the HBO show “Game of Thrones,” is another destination that is grappling with the issue of overtourism. In the first five months of 2023 it saw a 46 percent increase in arrivals compared to the same period last year. It recently surpassed Venice as the most “over-touristed” city in Europe, according to a report published by Holidu, the online vacation home rental agency.

 

[JMichael]

We were considering heading back to Italy. However, airfare prices from the West Coast are prohibitive. With so many people flying and planes at capacity, there's little incentive for the airlines to get involved in price wars for now.

 

[NoSpin]

We are probably going to go to Vienna and Prague for Christmas and New Year's. Frankly I'm not looking forward to doing that traveling at that time of year, but we have two other couples who want to go, along with my wife, so I'm getting out voted.

 

[wco81]

I traveled in 2021, 2022, about 3 or 4 international trips each year.

This year I've gone to Andalusia, Toledo and Madrid in April, Corsica and Menton in June.

Will be going to Rome, Lake Garda and Lugano in two weeks and London, Bath and Cotswolds in September.

Looking at going somewhere in Oct or Nov/Dec.

I guess I'm not slow traveling, these trips are about 16-20 days including travel.

The destinations are a mix of places I've been to before as well as places which are new.

Crowds weren't too bad in April or the first half of June. The two trips to come may be a different story.

 

[artnbarb]

Our trip in mid September begins in Dubrovnik, with 2+ weeks in Croatia, then Slovenia. We end up in Venice but are only spending the night before heading to Umbria, where we'll just do local stuff, lunch with friends and attend as many feste as possible. Despite Croatia and Slovenia being super crowded still in Sept, we thought it might be our last chance to see Craotia (we've been to Slovenia). I'm glad we took day trips to Siena and Florence on our last 2 trips, so for now, just staying "at home" in Umbria is more than enough! Best of luck to all who are traveling this summer.

 

[Tina]

I've read about the surge in tourists but wonder if it's mostly in the most famous cities and destinations, which for Italy means Rome, Florence etc.
When we visited Umbria at the beginning of May (Spoleto, Perugia, Orvieto) there were tourists about, but not masses. School trips and coach holidays have started up again properly in Italy so there were groups around, but mostly in the morning, no queues anywhere.....
As regards Lake Iseo where I rent an apartment and in the mountains where I live, we've had a lot fewer requests than last year. Yes, I have just one apartment and it's booked, but last year we were inundated with requests. Driving along the lakeside today, just a few tourists around, lots more last year. In the mountains the same. In Novara on Sunday and Aosta on Monday just a few tourists about.....
So my theory is that up until last year people avoided the big cities and popular destinations because of Covid and that's where they're going this year. Also, many more Americans travelling but most are after the most famous cities/sights?
Just a theory ...but also consolation for slow travellers who prefer quieter destinations .
What do you think?

 

[joe]

So my theory is that up until last year people avoided the big cities and popular destinations because of Covid and that's where they're going this year. Also, many more Americans travelling but most are after the most famous cities/sights?
Just a theory ...but also consolation for slow travellers who prefer quieter destinations .
What do you think?

That certainly could be one explanation.
I think that what might also be influencing the choice of destination is the economic situation - perhaps more tourists are heading to places like Portugal, Greece and Eastern Europe, because they are apparently more affordable. It's also possible that with all the stories of over-tourism, tourists are more spread out over the spring-summer-autumn season.

 

[wco81]

I think earlier this year, airlines were anticipated to have huge demand for both domestic and international travel.

They may have increased capacity or added routes. I'm going to fly United from SFO to Rome nonstop, a route which they started this year.

Prices are high, definitely don't see the $1800-2300 business class fares to Europe like we've seen in previous years, especially before the pandemic.

But I keep getting emails to book, so there's still some available capacity. And I track prices of various flights and they're not going way out of control.

In fact, I might have at least done the same or better if I booked recently for summer and fall, rather than do all the bookings the last couple of months of 2022.

 

[JMichael]

In fact, I might have at least done the same or better if I booked recently for summer and fall, rather than do all the bookings the last couple of months of 2022.

Yes, when we first looked at flying from SFO for a trip this year, flying in J was astronomical ($10,000+). It's now down to $3200 for 2024, if you don't mind spending a night in Istanbul. Hoping for the return of prices in the $2000s, but that may be a fantasy.

 

[Lizth]

Check flights on ITA, the replacement for Alitalia. They have direct flights from SFO to Rome and prices are reasonable. I was able to get business class round trip for about $2300. (from Rome to SFO and back)

 

[wco81]

Check flights on ITA, the replacement for Alitalia. They have direct flights from SFO to Rome and prices are reasonable. I was able to get business class round trip for about $2300. (from Rome to SFO and back)

Interesting but are they using the old Alitalia planes?

I flew them a couple of times about 10 years ago and the business class pods were already old then.

Though I enjoyed them rolling down a cart with two different types of pasta and them serving you up as much as you wanted.

 

[Penn251]

Washington Post article on same subject.

https://wapo.st/3JPv7Lp

 

[JMichael]

Thanks for the tip Lizth. However, checking ITA for cheapest business class at end of April, return mid-May, SFO-FCO-SFO, Outbound is $2157. Inbound is $5943 for a total of $8100.

 

[Raacho Trekkers]

The beginning of revenge travel. It may last for a year or so.

 

[Ashertelaviv]

I was in london visiting my daughter in February 2023 and was packed with tourists!!! I agree with Raacho, this is the Year of Revange hehehehe

 

[DDTraveler]

We're headed to Italy for nearly 3 months starting mid-September. We will be in the north and not in the Big 3 but will be in the Dolomites (mid- to late September), along the Ligurian coast (mid- to late October) and then in Torino. I hope we are not inundated with crowds.