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Travel deals abound for the holidays: Go for that dream vacation
The downward slide of the economy is creating an upswing of excellent opportunities for less expensive travel. Because people are holding off on making their holiday plans, the travel industry is cutting prices to attract customers. That's true whether you are into luxury travel or the budget version.
That's the buzz as reported in this article from The New York Times. Reading the article is like a trip to the travel candy story.
Want a ski vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Other places in the Colorado Rockies? There's a deal. How about a luxury beach vacation in Bermuda? To St. Lucia? Perhaps Las Vegas entices you. Or Miami. What about Aruba, Mexico or the Cayman Islands? The article outlines details about each.
Sure, you have to have some money in order to plop down dough for a plane ticket and a hotel room in the first place, but bargains range from free nights, and are along the spectrum of several dollars to 30% off. One popular reduced rate offer is that if you stay in a hotel on the actual holiday, the holiday is free. That means if you're in the hotel for Christmas Day, Ho! Ho! Ho!, Santa has brought you a present.
The hitch is you have to bookend your free night with nights you are paying. Still, bring out the spiked eggnog and give yourself a toast to your good fortune on at least one day of the year. Many deals also apply for Thanksgiving.
The article points out one adage that I've also found to be true. Don't assume a trip is beyond your means unless you check first and check often. If you can wiggle around dates and desires, a vacation could happen.
A couple years ago, we flew to Ft Lauderdale, Florida for much less than it would have cost to drive there, about $160 per person RT from Columbus. I just happened to check airfares on a whim about this time of year and was pleasantly surprised. Our hotel room, complete with an efficiency kitchen, was $75 per night. That flight costs about $100 more today, but I bet the room rate still holds. Ft. Lauderdale does not hit tourist season until after the holidays. If a bargain could happen for us, it could happen for you.
Filed under: Skiing, Business, Airlines, Budget Travel, Travel Deals
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeremy Oct 26th 2008 5:15PM
The correct link to the New York Times article is:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/travel/26holiday.html
Robert Blackie Oct 26th 2008 5:20PM
Agreed - my friend and I were patient and kept checking airfares to and from Managua, Nicaragua, for January and after several days of $1,000+ prices, suddenly we found one for $377 RT with ALL taxes and fees included. We snapped two of them up within minutes!!
With a nice hotel in a great area of the city (Le Pyramide) at only $58/night, We're getting a one-week vacation for just a little more than $1,200/person (which includes rental care and spending money). Can't go wrong!
travelgal Oct 27th 2008 7:38AM
Saw on http://www.cityskoop.com that Westin and W chain have 50% off your second night. Seems to be at a bunch of their hotels. Travelzoo has some good stuff, too