Take More Vacation Time Off

Why Take a European Vacation Over Thanksgiving Holiday

Have you considering taking an international trip for Thanksgiving week? It’s not traditional, but flying to Europe is a great way to take time off, save money on your travels, and avoid the stress of this busy holiday period. AAA publishes an annual Thanksgiving travel report which reminds us that millions of people hit the road and take domestic trips during this time of year. While Europe is hot and crowded during the summer months, November is an excellent time of year to visit. Why not do something different this Thanksgiving and go on a European vacation? Here are the top reasons why.

Spend Thanksgiving Holiday in Europe on Vacation

Regardless of whether you plan to spend Thanksgiving with a family gathering like you do most years or if you want to consider a European vacation this November. I suggest that you make a decision during the summer or just after the Labor Day holiday as people head back to school and work to get the best deals. After reading this article you might be tempted to leverage the paid holiday dates (Thursday and possibly Friday if you are fortunate to get both days off at your job) to embark on a memorable international budget Thanksgiving trip this year.

Author’s Note: After my wife and I caught the travel bug and first ventured outside of North America years back, we quickly realized the opportunity to take an international trip over Thanksgiving weekend. We have skipped the traditional Thanksgiving dinner several times for an extraordinary holiday experience in Venice, Turkey (why not?), Denmark, and Japan (another excellent option for fall foliage travel in November).

Can you really skip Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Turkey in the Oven (or time to travel?)

I realize that for most Americans, Thanksgiving is a family ritual and a welcome tradition to enjoy a bountiful multi-generational get-together. It’s also the start of the big holiday shopping season (aka Black Friday) which some find even more exciting, especially after you’ve eaten way too much.  

Don’t get me wrong… I have definitely enjoyed many years worth of Thanksgiving dinners. While I do love to travel at holiday time (and any time), I often look forward to spending a memorable time with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table. The comfort food memories are what sticks with me including the turkey in the oven with a side of sweet potatoes, stuffing, biscuits, gray, and even the jellied cranberry sauce (yes the one in the can!).

However there are several good reasons to skip town and tell the extended family that you’ll be taking a much deserved vacations instead. If you fall into the group of people who cannot ever imagine missing out on Thanksgiving, try this technique with another company holiday. This travel post is not for everybody but if you are budget minded, OK with skipping tradition at least once in a while, and like to avoid crowds, keep reading…

7 Benefits of Taking a Trip to Europe Over Thanksgiving

  1. Use up fewer vacation days as most employers offer one or two paid holidays and expect staff to take off.
  2. Avoid the mad rush of travelers hitting the road or flying within the U.S. all at the same time.
  3. Experience a peaceful flight and fewer crowds when flying out of the International terminal at major airports like Newark, JFK, Boston, Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and San Francisco.
  4. Book bargain flights and hotels which are historically less expensive during this off-season and unpopular time to travel overseas. (update: with oil prices at record highs, traveling by car or airplane are both way up this year).
  5. Enjoy pleasant weather at many European destinations, especially the countries in Southern Europe and around the Mediterranean.
  6. Toast a delicious meal in an exotic place where turkey and stuffing isn’t the only option on the menu.
  7. Offer up the perfect excuse when declining an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner.
  8. Save a ton of money when spending U.S. dollars in the Euro zone or UK, especially in 2022 when the exchange rate hit a 20 year high (meaning your American dollars buy a lot more this year!).
How about Thanksgiving Dinner in Spain - Canary Islands
What will be on your Thanksgiving dinner plate in Europe?

Now that you have decided to spend Thanksgiving in Europe, where should you go?  While I am not against visiting a colder place with fewer daylight hours such as in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, I advise sticking with big cities that are natural hubs along with countries in the southern third of Europe.  That way you will have more to do, reasonable weather, and there is less risk of tourist attractions having closed for the winter.

Destination Ideas for a European Thanksgiving Weekend

  • Italy (Venice, Rome, Sicily, Milan Lakes, Amalfi Coast)
  • Spain or Portugal (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Lisbon, Porto)
  • Rent an Airbnb for a City Break in London, Paris, Dublin, Munich, Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna
  • France (Loire Valley, Nice, Bordeaux)
  • Greece (Athens and the many Greek Islands)
  • Exotic EU Destinations: Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Madeira
  • Istanbul, Turkey (to say you visited Turkey for Thanksgiving 😉
  • Purchase a Europe Rail Pass to travel around 1 or multiple countries by train with just one all-inclusive budget ticket.

Follow the U.S. Vacation Dollar $

Pay attention to the exchange rate to make the most of your vacation to Europe. If you are saving and spending US dollars in a foreign country you have to consider the strength or weakness of the dollar. Fortunately the dollar was a strong currency as of 2018 and 2019 and as of 2022, hit 20 year highs against the Euro and British Pound. Regardless of where in the world you visit, you’ll get much more for your dollar in the near future. Look up the value of the EUR exchange rate on XE online to follow the trends and convert the cost of your trip into your own currency. While you have to pay for your flight from North America to the European continent in dollars, you can pay for hotels, tours, food, and attractions in the local currency. That is where all the savings will help your wallet.

Remember that not all countries use the Euro as money across Europe. Many countries such as the U.K. (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – not the Republic of Ireland who are in the EU and use the Euro), the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland), and many Eastern European countries (e.g. Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria) still have their own currency. Regardless when the U.S. dollar is strong globally, typically that translates to getting excellent value when converting to foreign currencies.

Thanksgiving International Travel Booking Tips and Hacks

Thanksgiving Holiday USA - Travel to Europe Instead
  • Consider flying to Europe on Thanksgiving Day or returning on the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving, avoiding the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after when it’s peak.
  • Book your flights in September or even earlier when the Fall airfare wars are in full swing. Set up a Google Flight search alert.
  • It will be brisk in many European destinations, so pack layers to stay warm and dry or use the opportunity to do some shopping when you arrive. Make a copy of the European clothing sizes chart.
  • Research weather averages (high/low temperatures), days of sunshine and rainfall totals at Holiday-Weather.com.
  • Do go out for Thanksgiving dinner in Europe on the Thursday evening, but try to order foods which are traditional or popular during the cooler months in your destination.
  • Bring back souvenirs for family members who had a more traditional Thanksgiving holiday to share your alternative experience.
  • Have a big American turkey dinner (or Tofurkey if you prefer) with all the trimmings for Thanksgiving once you return. Invite family and friends to celebrate a second time as who doesn’t like a Thanksgiving feast?!
Your passport usually needs to be valid for at least 6 months (check expiration date)

Question: Will My US Health Insurance Cover Me in Europe?

The issue of travel insurance is often forgotten or misunderstood when it comes to foreign travel. Travel agents push trip protection insurance (because it’s profitable) when selling package tours, cruises, and flight+hotel bookings. While it is smart to protect your vacation investment in case you have to cancel, are delayed, or miss your connection, heath insurance is just as big a concern. And with covid still circulating the globe, travel medical insurance is critical coverage to buy.

The first question to ask is whether your current health insurance policy will cover you while traveling outside of the your home country. It is a critical question to ask (don’t assume) because you don’t want to risk your health or safety in a foreign country just to save a few dollars. Given them a call or go online to verify and ask questions:

  • Will they cover you in each of the countries that you’ll be visiting?
  • Are there limits to the number of days on vacation, deductibles, co-pays, or reimbursement amount limits?
  • Do they provide medical evacuation coverage in case you need to be transferred to a hospital in a different country?
  • How does the claim process work when you have to pay out of pocket to receive treatment abroad?
  • What documentation should you bring on vacation to prove that your health insurance policy covers you abroad including phone numbers to call in case of emergency?
  • Do they cover preexisting medical conditions or exclude any diseases or ailments?

Travel medical insurance policies are really not expensive compared to the cost of your trip. They are designed to cover your medical expenses when on vacation anywhere in the world outside of your home country. Plus policies with evacuation coverage will pay for the cost of transferring you home or to a capable hospital in another country in case of emergency.

Insure My (Thanksgiving) Trip - Travel Insurance Meta-Search
Search and Compare Trip Insurance Quotes with InsureMyTrip

Whether you are an independent traveler or booked with a travel agency, you have the right to purchase your own trip insurance. This is often cheaper, especially when you use a travel insurance meta-search engine like InsureMyTrip or SquareMouth. In just a few clicks you can compare policies that meet your needs to find the lowest price with your preferred insurance company. Give it a try to make sure your Thanksgiving trip to Europe includes health insurance coverage when you leave America.

Make Your Next Thanksgiving a Family Vacation to Be Remembered

It is easy to see how you can turn a busy and stressful holiday into a great vacation opportunity. Make it your work-life balance goal to leverage the free days off you get for the Thanksgiving holiday as an American to visit Europe or anywhere else in the world. This year Europe can be just as affordable as traveling far to visit family. The bonus is how you’ll experience fewer crowds as you explore the history, culture, food, and activities across the European continent.

Those of you who live in Canada can use this same technique during the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday happening on the first Monday in October. You may need to add an extra vacation day or two in order to justify flying all the way to Europe, but you’ll experience mild weather and fewer crowds versus the summer months.

Global Search for Lowest Airfares – Hint: Set Destination to ‘Everywhere’

While spending Thanksgiving on vacation in Europe is probably the best choice for most Americans this November, there are many other destinations worth considering. Asia might be an easier flight for those living on the West Coast while Central and South America are often a shorter and less expensive flight away.

Be aware that the crowds will vary based on your destination so check the official holiday calendar by country and search to check where Americans visit in droves over the holiday period. Another great idea if you have a ton of accrued vacation days at the ready to put towards your Thanksgiving adventure. Head down under to Australia or fly to New Zealand. Since the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, Thanksgiving time is the start of their summer.

Why Book Thanksgiving Travel

Missing out on a well-established family tradition (and the foods you crave this festive time of year) can be tough so you probably don’t want to follow this work-life-vacation advice every year. Consider it as an option to do something different over Thanksgiving based on your own travel goals and family obligations. Taking an international trip for the Thanksgiving holiday will always be an excellent way to:

  1. Save limited paid time off (PTO) so you can take more vacations
  2. Travel to Europe when it’s less crowded and still a pleasure to visit
  3. Maximize your travel budget, especially when the U.S. dollar is stronger
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Scott (VacationCounts)

Scott (VacationCounts)

The Vacation Days Maximizer who delivers Work-Life-Vacation Balance advice so everyone can Take More Time Off.

One Response

  1. Taking a trip to Europe over Thanksgiving sounds like a great idea. Not having to deal with the crowded grocery stores, cooking in your own house and getting a break from football sound amazing! A few years ago my husband and I went to Barcelona, Spain over Thanksgiving, and since it was off season we even ended up getting free hotel stay for a night.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read More About...




Travel PO Box Rental

Earth Class Mail

Got Travel Insurance?



Start a Travel Blog

Start a WordPress travel blog on HostGatorad

Buy the Perfect Bag!

ebags

Create Flight Fare Alert