Early Show: Summer Vacations on a Budget
Want to go on vacation this summer but still have enough money for back-to-school time? The Early Show shared some tips for how to maximize your fun while minimizing the impact on your bank account. The good news? You don’t have to stay in your own backyard to save!
Anne Banas, the executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, pointed to five bargain destinations: Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale, Mexico, Aruba, and Jamaica. Here are her suggestions:
Las Vegas - Rates have been unseasonably cheap this spring and the summer season is expected to be even more affordable! Online travel agencies like Expedia and Orbitz have launched discounts on air-and-hotel packages. For example, Expedia reduced rates by 30% across-the-board.
More after the jump!
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - You can almost always find good deals anywhere in Florida, but Fort Lauderdale happens to have some of the best ones this summer. And to sweeten the pot, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a “Summer of Discovery” promotion lasting all summer long. It includes two-for-one offers for a wide range of activities such as cruises, boat rentals, museums, and diving and snorkeling trips.
Mexico - There are so many great destinations on sale in Mexico that it’s really hard to choose. If I had to, the old beach standbys such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta are great options, especially for families, since kids can stay, play, and eat for free at resorts. However, if you want something a little different, Mexicana airline is celebrating its new service from New York to Monterrey (a metropolitan city in the country’s northeast) with nonstop fares from starting at $115 round-trip, through the end of June. You can’t get much better than that!
Aruba - Aruba, along with two nearby islands in the southern Caribbean - Bonaire and Curacao - are often referred to as the “ABC” islands. What makes them so special is that they fall outside the “hurricane belt,” so it’s less likely they’ll be affected by storms, which can often threaten during the summer. Plus, because it’s off-season, deals are abundant, and steady warm temperatures and cooling trade winds make them viable destinations year-round. Aruba is an especially great deal, since it receives a high volume of tourism, which translates into more hotels and flights available for discounting.
Jamaica - It’s pulling out the stops to lure visitors this summer. Like many Caribbean islands, Jamaica is affected by a slower summer season, hurricane fears, and new passport requirements. To help lure visitors, hotels and other travel providers are offerings bargains galore, often up to 50-percent-off rates. Perhaps the best deals are the 50-percent-off rates at the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort (available on Orbitz), and the debut of Sandals’ new value property, the Grand Pineapple Beach resort, which will have more affordable rates than other Sandals properties.
image provided by Newscom
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POSTED IN: Daytime Talk Shows, Expert Advice, The Early Show
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