As a result airlines are dropping their ticket prices to the lowest I have seen since I began teaching over seas in 2001. Last year the least expensive round trip ticket I could find to Rome was $1,100. and that was flying out of San Francisco not Sacramento. Now you find round trip tickets to all the big airports in Europe for $700. - $800. right out of Sacramento. Just search on http://www.kayak.com/ and you will find bargains!
Tour companies are offering discounts to fill their trips too. Toscana Americana is offering a $200. discount per person for those who book my Watercolor Workshop in Santorini by June 26, 2009. The dates of the workshop are September 26 - October 3, 2009. My workshops are for small groups and are priced to include everything accept air fare. So, for US $2,549.00 per person double occupancy or US $2,649.00 per person single occupancy if booked by June 26, you could join me in Santorini, Greece (pictured above). Here is the link for all the details www.toscanaamericana.com/delehantysantoriniwater.html.
Some students that have taken my workshops add extra days in Paris, Tuscany or wherever and I have to tell you this is the year to do that too. You will not find the hotels you choose to be full, in fact you can probably negotiate for a lower price than quoted on their websites.
I am not getting any younger, and I love these prices so I am off to Europe to teach, paint and explore for a whole month this fall. Consider joining me now; because when the economy improves and we Americans start traveling again, prices will go right back up again. Now is the time to travel!