Great Off-Season Cities
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| Off-season Rome: less chaotic, more comfy, downright relaxing. |
In Europe's greatest cities the fun doesn't set with the sun...it's just getting started. Cheaper flights, fewer crowds, relaxing dinners and light-sweater comfort make off-season city getaways ideal opportunities to recharge the soul — in just a few magical days and nights. Here are some great little escapes for this fall and next spring!
Best of Paris in 7 Days 2008 and 2009: Paris stands as a symbol of the finest things that culture can offer — in art, fashion, food, literature, and ideas. All that, and it's flat-out filled with joie de vivre to boot.
Best of Prague in 7 Days 2008 and 2009: Bursting with Mozart, trilling with Vivaldi, and brewing Europe's best beer, Prague teaches good living in a zesty, heart-of-Europe style, welcoming its visitors with endless surprises and an unabashed love of life.
Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days 2008 and 2009: Italy's three greatest cities are like fine gelato — why settle for just one flavor if you can get three scoops at once? Think of this tour as a ten-day sugar-cone of travel fun serving up the very best of Venice, Florence and Rome.
The advantages of off-season travel are many. Airfares are often hundreds of dollars cheaper, and it's easier to find seats on the flight you want. You can ponder in Rome's Forum undisturbed, practice your French with students in the Paris Métro, and always find a table at a popular bar in Prague. In Venice, you can be alone atop St. Mark's bell tower and watch the clouds of your breath roll over the Byzantine domes of the church to a horizon of cut-glass Alps, as pigeons around you fidget and wonder, "Where are the tourists?" Here are a few more off-season reasons:
Rue Cler in Paris: Neighborhood market streets spring to life when the tourists thin out and merchants get back to basics.
Venetian Voices: Rick chats with local friends about their maritime city and its down-to-earth culture.
Prague's Rebirth: In this interview and video clip, Rick and Prague guide Honza Vihan talk about what it was like to witness the fall of communism.
Rome Radio Feature: Listen to tour guides Susanna Perrucchini and Francesca Caruso discuss their favorite corners of the Eternal City with Rick, and take listeners' calls. (Windows Media, 52 minutes, original air date May 10, 2008)
Need to get away now? See a list of all our remaining 2008 departures with seats available!