Each summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers and shoppers with eager cash registers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider the advantages of an off-season trip.

Given the current weakness of our dollar overseas, the potential price savings of an off-season trip are enough to brighten a gray winter day. Airfares are often hundreds of dollars less. And with fewer crowds in Europe, you’ll sleep cheaper; many fine hotels drop their prices, and budget hotels...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 388th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

Each month, this magazine presents articles and letters written by its subscribers, travelers sharing advice, adventures and discoveries. We toss in a few columns by Contributing Editors and descriptions of upcoming tours, events and products as well, plus news of interest to travelers. For example. . .

Travel agents in Hong Kong reported that authorities in China have stopped...

(First of two parts)

When ITN reader Winnie Baffa forfeited her payments after she was unable to attend her March ’07 holiday package in Spain (Dec. ’07, pg. 37), she contacted her credit card company to obtain reimbursement for some of her expenses.

She was turned down, however, and sent a letter to the Editor of ITN, who asked me to research the matter of reimbursement for a missed or canceled cruise or tour.

The Fair Credit Billing Act

Compensation for this...