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‘Off-Peak’ Season Getting Crowded

Figure you’ll dodge the tourist crowds in Europe by going in the “off-peak” season? Apparently lots of other Americans have the same idea, so prepare to compete for airline seats and hotel rooms year-round.

Americans made 5 million trips to the Continent between October 1997 and April 1998--nearly as many as the 5.25 million who visited from May to September 1997, according to the European Travel Commission. The strong U.S. economy and winter air-fare sales were among the factors.

Determined off-season travelers might bundle up and try February, when only 528,422 Americans visited Europe, less than half the number who visited in June, the peak month, last year.

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