Europe is inundated with stampedes of tourists during warmer months, driving up costs for flights and hotels and blocking your view of the Mona Lisa. Accordingly, winter's the natural choice for the crowd-phobic and cash-strapped. But there are plenty more pros to a low-season jaunt across the pond, which I discovered during a trip to snowy Amsterdam a few weeks ago. We're still in the thick of winter, so pack your bags and take advantage of the following 10 unexpected benefits of traveling to Europe in the off-season.