Air Canada Deals to Europe

Air Canada (www.aircanada.com) is offering reduced fares on many flights to Europe, provided you book by 11:59 p.m. on December 19.

Sample fares include Toronto to Athens from $1044, Toronto to Lisbon $876, and Toronto to Venice $1165. All are round trip, and similar reductions are being offered from Montreal. Certain restrictions apply, and you must book on the airline's Website. The prices are in Canadian dollars, which is now worth about six per cent less than a U.S. dollar.

It is a sad fact that fares northward of $1,000 are considered bargains, but that is the reality. You may be able to save a little bit by flying from the U.S. to Europe if that is cconvenient, but don't count on it. According to a blog post in CondeNast Travel (www.cntraveler.com) by Wendy Perrin, air fares from the U.S. to Europe are expected to remain high in 2014, though fares for travel within the U.S. may drop.

It looks as if we all will have to dig a little deeper for that European trip, so do your planning in advance to make sure you get the most out of your travels.