The less busy fall and winter travel seasons could make things seem a little more reachable if you put off arranging a trip to Europe after observing how many people swarmed to airports over the summer.
Certainly, some of the fares are more affordable.
Dublin is a good example.
You can get round-trip flights for as little as $450 or less, depending on the city, starting in October for some and soon after the new year for others.
If you're prepared to choose a budget airline in Europe, your ticket price could even fall well below $400.
Just be sure to look out for any hidden "add-on" expenses.
Sure, you might not get the ideal weather during the period between January and May when some of the best availability occurs, but you might also miss some of the busiest crowds at popular locations and attractions.
This could be an excellent chance to travel to the other side of the Atlantic for a reasonable price, whether your plans are to spend your time exploring the Irish capital city or traveling to other regions of Ireland, including fantastic "second-city" options and incredible sites like the Cliffs of Moher.
Basics of deals
Airline: Icelandair, TAP Air Portugal, Play, and Aer Lingus.
New York, Boston, Washington, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco are the routes available to Dublin.
Direct booking with the airlines or using Google Flights are the two options.
Travel dates: January through May 2023; moreover, you should check for availability in October and November 2022.
Flight examples
Although there are some even more affordable possibilities as well, the discounts we discovered entail round-trip flights between the United States and Dublin for roughly $450.
These rates are typically offered in cities served by a mix of Icelandic carriers Icelandair and Play, Portuguese carrier TAP, and Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus.
You should be able to find a nonstop ticket at a reasonable price if your flight is on Aer Lingus.
However, if you're flying TAP, you'll need to connect in Lisbon, Portugal, and if you're flying Play or Icelandair, you'll need to make a layover in Iceland.
It's a good idea to look at more than just the cheapest flight because of this.
On one of the non-Irish carriers, for example, you might see a $380 ticket with a lengthy stop.
On the other side, the nonstop ticket can be worth an extra $50 to $60.
On the other hand, if you're up for it, you might be able to tinker with your itinerary and plan a layover of around 24 hours via your connection if you're interested in seeing Iceland or Lisbon for a day or two. If you're up for it, this is a terrific opportunity to see a second city for the price of one.
In the end, it boils down to striking a balance between your choices for cost, nonstop flights, and getting the most out of your sightseeing.
The good news is that you have options because of the low price point and reasonably open availability.
We found the following options:
• Aer Lingus offers a flight from New York to Dublin for $453.
• On Play, you can travel from Washington to Dublin for $344.
• Take TAP for $425 from Chicago to Dublin.
• On Play, you can go from Boston to Dublin for $344.
• TAP offers a $438 flight from Miami to Dublin.
• TAP offers a $434 flight from San Francisco to Dublin.
Let's start by taking a look at the Aer Lingus schedule leaving from New York.
Travelers seeking to book a trip for March may want to consider this.
Your overnight flight takes out from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 5:20 p.m., and it lands in Dublin quite early the following morning.
On the way back, there is a flight that departs in the morning and arrives at JFK at 1:50 in the afternoon.
Many choices exist for leaving the Washington, D.C. region, including TAP flights from Dulles International Airport (IAD).
However, the Icelandic airline Play's rates were the most affordable, departing from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Just be sure you're okay with any additional fees you may be required to pay.
For this early March itinerary, you would leave BWI shortly after 6 p.m., fly to Reykjavik for 100 minutes the next morning, and then take a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Dublin.
On the way back, the stopover is about the same length.
Here is a final alternative for Chicago-based travelers throughout the middle of winter.
It's a trip of just under eight hours to Lisbon on TAP, leaving late at night from O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
After a brief stop of around an hour, you board a new aircraft to continue your journey to Dublin.
On the return schedule, the stop is just over three hours.
Enhance your purchase
Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on travel when using the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to pay.
When using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to purchase flights through Capital One Travel, you will accrue 5 miles for every $1 spent.
For travel that is booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel, you can earn 5 points for every $1 spent with The Platinum Card® from American Express, up to a maximum of $500,000 per year.
In conclusion
Early 2023 travel to Europe may have fewer tourists and lower costs compared to current summer.
This offer may be a fantastic chance for visitors seeking to save money to plan travel to Dublin, whether they choose to stay put and experience the city or venture elsewhere in Ireland (or, perhaps, other parts of Europe).
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