If hosting Thanksgiving dinner seems more like work than fun, you’re not alone. Many Americans choose to travel abroad during the holidays, forgoing fine dining (not to mention crowded U.S. airports, highways, and train stations) in favor of relaxing in Europe.
In fact, TPG’s Nick Ewen will be traveling to Switzerland with his family this year to pursue the magic of European Christmas markets and the winter weather he’s never experienced in his home state of Florida. “I’m excited to spend another Thanksgiving in Europe,” he said, as 10 of the past 11 Turkey Days have been spent on the continent. “With smaller crowds, great rewards, and the ability to escape the domestic travel rush in the U.S., there’s never been a better time to go abroad.”
These are just some of the reasons why you should consider trading turkey for Wiener Schnitzel, chipotle cheese stuffing, or mashed potatoes for fish and chips during the Thanksgiving season.
Flights to Europe are relatively cheap
While flights within the United States are very expensive during this holiday season, flights to Europe can be quite cheap.
Summer is a prime time for tourists to visit Europe, with demand increasing and prices rising accordingly. Although October has become another peak travel season in Europe, November still offers affordable fares. These savings can add up quickly, especially when traveling with family or friends.
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You can use points to book off-peak travel
If you’re planning to use your points, many European airlines mark Thanksgiving (and most of November) as off-peak dates, resulting in some great deals.
Take advantage of offers such as a business class ticket from Boston to Madrid for 40,500 Avios with Iberia Club or an Aer Lingus economy class ticket from Boston to Dublin for 13,000 Avios one way.
Even American Airlines AAdvantage marks the November period as off-peak, which means you can fly to many European cities from various U.S. hubs for just 22,500 miles one-way in economy class.
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Use less vacation time
Maximize your travel time by taking advantage of the Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday holidays. You can take a nine-day trip, from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, while using only three days of vacation.
Flying on Thanksgiving Day is a treat
While airfares and crowds tend to surge in the days around Thanksgiving, flying during the holiday itself is actually pretty quiet and cheap.
If you’re traveling to Europe during Thanksgiving and don’t need to arrive in time for turkey dinner, you can still take advantage of these two free days without spending a ton of money or fighting crowds for a spot at the lounge bar.
RELATED: A normal Thanksgiving? Massive flight cancellations end as holiday rush approaches
Get great hotel deals
The end of November is considered low season in much of Europe, which means hotel prices and availability are often better than at other times of the year. Since many hotel loyalty programs use peak and off-peak pricing, you can often find the lowest rewards rates available as well.
For example, Nick Ewen’s itinerary included two nights at the Park Hyatt Zurich, booked using World of Hyatt points. This luxury Category 8 hotel still has rooms available for Thanksgiving weekend, with rates starting at $872 or 35,000 points per night. Each point is worth 2.5 cents, making Hyatt points a good use.
Just look at the scenery, not other tourists
Most Europeans won’t be traveling during this time, so it’s an ideal time to visit some of the continent’s most popular attractions, including the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, without hordes of other tourists crowding in front of your photos.
Smaller destinations without all the big attractions, such as Taormina in Italy and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, can feel completely empty.
Start the ski season
Many ski resorts in Europe are open this time of year—and, they can be cheaper than resorts in the United States.
Here are some areas where you might be able to enjoy powder skiing in November:
- Zermatt, Verbier and Grindelwald in Switzerland
- Hintertux, Obergurgl and Solden in Austria
- French Val d’Or
- Cervinia and Valsenales, Italy
Not a skier? Don’t worry. It’s also wine and truffle season, and you might even attend a harvest festival, especially in Italy, Portugal, France and Spain.
Enjoy the first Christmas market
If you want to experience some festive cheer (read: mulled wine and other delicious treats), many of Europe’s famous Christmas markets open in November. Traveling during Thanksgiving means you can start enjoying the festivities without having to deal with the freezing cold and tourist crowds of December.
bathe in the sun
While most of Europe won’t see hot and sunny weather in November, destinations in southern Portugal, Italy and Spain, as well as some Greek islands and Malta, will continue to enjoy scattered sunshine and mild temperatures. Spain’s Canary Islands are a beach alternative to the Caribbean or Mexico, with temperatures in the low 70s in November. Although the water may be cold, you can still enjoy the sun and sand.
RELATED: 13 European beaches perfect for a sunny fall vacation
You can’t miss Thanksgiving dinner
If you can’t imagine Thanksgiving without turkey, many restaurants in European cities with large expat populations offer Thanksgiving dinner and lunch. A simple Google search can determine if your destination has a restaurant or American Club that offers these special meals. (For those traveling alone, this can be a fun way to meet other travelers or even locals at the destination.)
RELATED: What Thanksgiving foods can you take with you?
Explore lesser-known destinations
If the lack of crowds isn’t enough to tempt you, and you’d rather spend Thanksgiving wandering off the beaten path, consider visiting off-the-beaten-path European destinations like Armenia, Latvia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Georgia, and Romania. These are prime destinations for learning about new cultures and seeing new sights before they flood your Instagram feed.
bottom line
Summer may be the most popular time to visit Europe, but late autumn also has a lot to offer. With prices lower, fewer tourists, and many Christmas markets and ski resorts already open, Europe may be the best place to spend the Thanksgiving holiday.
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