U.S. travelers who are looking to book a trip to Europe this summer should expect to pay premium prices, Hopper Lead Economist Hayley Berg claimed. The surge in travel costs is expected to be driven primarily by air travel rates.
“Travelers who haven’t booked their summer trips to Europe aren’t going to want to hear this… If you’re booking a European vacation now, you are definitely paying a premium for your procrastination,” Berg commented in an interview with Yahoo Finance Live.
Airfare from the U.S. to Europe costs $1,196 on average this summer, compared to just $500 in 2021. This is the highest average plane ticket price from the U.S. to Europe since 2018.
While London, Paris, and Rome remain popular travel destinations, Berg suggested that many tourists may decide to target alternative destinations for a more affordable vacation package. Berg mentioned Portugal as a personal favorite, explaining that the Iberian country is expected to remain cheaper than other European destinations over the next year and a half.
Berg added that in order to secure a reasonable vacation deal, travelers should consider embarking on their trip in early fall and planning three to four months in advance.