Americans Flocking To Europe Despite Sweltering Heat, High Prices And Record Crowds

With a particularly hot end of the spring season, Americans have started early to travel in record numbers to Europe and already the crowds are filling the streets, jamming famous sights and other best-known tourist attractions at the most popular destinations.

The increase of American travelers — 55% more than last year, according to a report by the travel insurer Allianz Partner — follows a massive boost of 600% in the number of Americans visiting Europe between 2021 and 2022.

London is the #1 destination for most Americans, accounting for 25 % of this year’s bookings, according to the 2023 Allianz’s annual review of the 10 most popular destinations. Paris lands second and Dublin, Ireland, third, followed by Rome, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Athens, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Milan.

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“High demand, more volatility, and raised expectations define the peak 2023 travel season,” the company warns.

Soaring numbers, soaring heat

The soaring numbers surpassing all expectations also mean high prices for flights, hotels, resorts and restaurants, among the many other expenses related to “vacation,” as well as crowds lining up for museums and monuments.

Then there are the flight cancellations, delays and other disruptions in store for travelers.

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The hope is that with a better prepared travel industry, after the chaos of last year, those disturbances will be less extreme.

What won’t be less extreme is the weather.

Under “the new normal,” the European Environment Agency (EEA) explains, the weather in Europe is getting more extreme.

“What could this summer bring in terms of heatwaves, droughts, floods, and forest fires? The overall outlook is pessimistic as we have already seen this past winter and spring. This makes adaptation to climate change and better preparedness crucial,” EEA explains.

The National Centers for Environmental Administration has confirmed that with global temperatures already accelerating to record-setting levels this month, 2023 will almost certainly be the warmest year on record.

According to their data “May, 2023, was the third-warmest May for the globe in a 174-year record.”

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Extreme weather and summer Traveling

“Extreme weather is changing the face of Europe’s top holiday destinations,” writes Euronews as it reminds readers about last year’s summer, drought and heat waves that led to dried-up lakes, water rationing and deadly avalanches.

Already a number of countries in Europe have started to urge people to save water, as high temperatures persist and groundwater reserves are scarcer than normal for this time of year.

“Heat will persist across northern and western Europe in the coming weeks, with extreme temperatures on the Iberian peninsula by the end of June,” according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“Last summer, a life-threatening heat wave gripped the region, straining transportation networks and contributing to volatility in energy and commodities prices.”

Euronews also writes about last year’s summer when extremely high temperatures hit Northern and western Europe “making life extremely uncomfortable – both for locals and tourists.”

Many countries struggled with drought, wildfires and crop failures that were “dangerous conditions for travelers. 2023 is expected to get even hotter,” the publication warns.

“Remember that swimming pools, fountains and lakes may be impacted in water-starved destinations. Also bear in mind that souvenirs that rely on rain for their production may be priced higher or will be less available.

You can help preserve your favourite holiday destinations by traveling more sustainably.”

The American crowds already here

Despite experts and media warnings about a ‘crazy’ tourism summer, the spike in American travelers scheduling trips to Europe continues, with tourism operators booked for most of their European destinations, flights to the continent full and hotels and other types of accommodations sold out.

“In many parts of Europe, the craziness is already well underway as droves of Europe-bound tourists follow in the well-trodden footsteps of their 2022 predecessors in last season’s post-Covid lockdown surge,” writes CNN.

The most sought-after places such as Paris, Amsterdam, Athens and Rome are already swarming with visitors as crowds jam their streets under the sweltering sun this early in the season.

“The American craze to visit Europe has affected prices, which have been surging with airfares at a five-year high averaging more than $1,200, which is approximately $300 higher than 2022 (and a 26% jump from pre-pandemic prices in 2019).”

Hotel prices have followed suit, with many high-end locations doubling their prices over the past several years.

The outlook from American Express Global Business Travel, has hotel prices in Europe experiencing the largest increases during 2023.

Trains and ferries, which for many are a way to cut costs while traveling between countries, have also increased — at times more expensive than flying.

“Yet those higher prices haven’t dampened the collective wanderlust. For weeks, many European hubs have been swarmed with tourists and sold-out hotels, packed museums and overflowing restaurants are increasingly commonplace, especially in in-demand cities like Barcelona, Rome and Paris,” CNN reports.

Regardless of whether 2023 ends up the hottest on record, scientists caution that the escalating impacts of the climate crisis are now starkly evident and will not diminish until greenhouse gas emissions are radically cut.