I always take European vacations in February when prices are dirt cheap, the weather is lousy, and everyone welcomes me. Summers I do local things and maybe a few short trips that I priceline the hotels. Just got a 4 star hotel in nashville for $48 that way, regularly $120. In winter I never spend more than $700 for one person for a week in Europe including all package components. Summers are at least 3 times that price.