Italy is enticing almost any time of year, even in the throes of winter. If you’re in search of a cheap flight to the land of great cuisine and high fashion, now’s the time to buy.

Delta is offering round-trip Classica Plus deals to Milan and Rome just now. The seats are aboard SkyTeam partner Alitalia’s aircraft, in the carrier’s premium economy section. That means more room to stretch out across the Atlantic. You’ve got to book and buy no later than Wednesday, Nov. 2 to land them. Permissible travel dates vary, and there’s a Saturday night stay entailed.

• Miami flights to Milan are $1,373.
• New York flights to Milan are $1,203.
• New York flights to Rome are $1,246.

Alitalia proper is lofting an array of low winter fares in its economy cabin. Rates are roundtrip, and include both taxes and surcharges. Holiday-related blackout periods apply.

• New York/Newark flights to Turin are $824.
• Boston flights to Florence are $831.
• New York/Newark flights to Rome are $812.
• Boston flights to Rome are $861.

While the weather up around Milan can be decidedly cold this time of year (the Alps lie just to the north), the shopping is red-hot. Remember, Italians will argue that it’s Milan—not Paris—that’s the continent’ epicenter of fashion. This just could be the perfect time to bring back something special for the holidays, maybe even wear it home.

The winter weather doesn’t affect the cuisine one whit. If anything, it sharpens the senses. You may not get an outside seat at a sidewalk café, but the inside ambience is magic.

It takes a bit of a contrarian to travel abroad in winter, especially to Europe. Do you qualify? Tell us why?

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: BriYYZ)