Americans Rushing To Europe

Europe is expecting you. And this is the time to make the most of planning a visit.

The European Travel Commission is predicting 9 million Americans will visit the continent this year - the fourth year in a row for record numbers of Americans to cross the Atlantic.

And there are good reasons for making the journey. Exchange rates are stable and the dollar is holding its own against European currencies, air fares are still attractive, there are many festive and special anniversaries to participate in, many money-saving ideas ranging from hotel discounts to travel packages, and it is relatively safe.

For those thinking of or bound for Europe, the US Travel & Tourism Administration has produced profiles of travelers to the continent. Among revealing items found in the most recent survey, done in 1994, were that almost one-third of Americans traveling overseas had incomes averaging between $20,000 and $60,000, which proves most Americans can easily afford a trip; almost two-thirds of the visitors held their visit to one country, while about 17 percent visited three or more countries - gone are the days of “if this is Tuesday, it must be Belgium”; and the main activities planned were touring the countryside, sightseeing in cities, shopping, dining and visiting museums.

Most of the most popular activities do not require warm, sunny days, which is why another statistic shows that since 1981 the number of Americans heading for Europe in the off-season - October to April - has more than doubled. Americans are obviously discovering that Europe can be as enjoyable in fall and winter as in summer, less crowded and a lot less costly.

Europe indeed does not have to be any more costly than visiting North American destinations. While air fares are always the first concern of travelers, look at the total package. With more competition for air travelers, fares should remain stable. Many European hotel chains are cutting costs for summer travel, and there is a growing number of familiar American names on the European hotel scene.

Traveling in Europe is becoming easier. Trains now connect Paris, Belgium and London in less than four hours; you can even get day trips out of London to Paris or Belgium. Rail passes that allow unlimited and low-cost travel have more options - BritRail, which primarily covers Great Britain, is offering free travel for those under 18 with an adult paying the regular fare.