Considering that London tickets are currently priced at $555 on Aer Lingus, Vienna seems like a pretty fair deal. Interestingly on the flights I looked at to London, the added hassle of going through Dublin (not bad) or Istanbul (only like 4 or 5 hours past London!) were the cheapest options. But we were talking about Vienna, right?
Vienna is a great gateway city to get you right into the heart of Europe. It puts you close to Bratislava (a couple hours by bus), Prague (three or four hours by bus), and just north of beautiful Slovenia and Croatia. If you want to go east, you can also try to catch cheap flights towards Russia or beyond.
Use the usual rules of travel. One rule is already followed-no high season travel! Another will be to stay off the weekends, which will save you anywhere from $50 to $150 per ticket. If you put in March 2 through 9th, flying on two Thursdays, you can get a very good deal.
You may be wondering why Chicago. Well, it's all about the money. For this flight, there aren't other Midwest cities which are competing on price at this time. Up to a five-hour drive seems reasonable and parking isn't too crazy, though taking a bus, train, or getting dropped off in Chicago is a great idea too. This might help you know if you have packed light enough before you even get on the plane. So pack light, because it's still too late to find out you should have left the metal tipped boots back home.
Speaking of boots, though. Vienna is not always super warm in March. So bring a good coat and warm shoes. Don't plan to camp or sleep outside unless you have the right equipment. If you are a mountain person, Vienna is a great gateway to the Alps. You can ski, hike, or climb, but please consult the experts and guides before heading out, and again, make sure you have the proper equipment.Vienna has a trove of great museums which have heat, so if you don't want to spend your days outside in the cold, there are many options in town. Please do try the Wiener Schnitzel, which will probably surprise you that it isn't a hot dog.
So what is the crazy good price that we speak of? Before we spill the beans, I will warn you about one thing. It's not non-stop. Ha ha, however, the cheapest flights rarely are! It goes through Istanbul, which I was just complaining about. But, London is a lot farther than Vienna is from Istanbul. London was never almost taken over by the Ottoman Empire. You will fly a bit past Vienna and change planes in Istanbul, but the price is only $45 more than the London price. You will not be finding tickets roundtrip from Vienna to London for $45 during this season. That's right, $608 to fly to Austria for Spring Break! It really puts this deal into perspective when you see that United has a nonstop from Chicago ORD to Aspen, Colorado for $531 round trip. People getting on different planes in the same airport will be paying similar ticket prices for a 10 hour plus a 2 hour flight and for a 2 hour, 59 minute flight! One might ski the Rockies. The other can ski the Alps. Your choice this Spring. I would vote for the cheap travel to Europe. But, you might argue, that's what this blog is all about! We would agree. Whatever you choose, we are wishing you a happy new year, filled with cheap travel and good ticket prices.
Merisi's Vienna for Beginners. With thanks.
