How About November in Paris?

As the summer holiday season cools, deals to Europe will take a while to heat up, but patient travelers who know the rules of the game can snag the rock-bottom rates when the time comes.

Since 2001, U.S. travelers have had ample reasons to avoid Europe, be it cheap domestic airfares to the Caribbean via JetBlue and others, the specter of terror attacks, which recently rocked Madrid in March, or the slumping dollar. But after a few years of avoidance, the pent-up demand nonetheless fueled a strong European summer season this year, despite the dollar's diminished purchasing power. As a result, airlines and hotels are holding firm on fares and rates this fall.

"What the airlines have been doing is last-minute sales," said Terry Trippler, online travel expert. "Every year, more of the baby boomers become empty-nesters, and they're more willing to travel after Labor Day. They have the money and can go at the last moment. But as we get close, airlines always say, 'Oh my god, we gotta' fill these seats!' and there are good deals." ...