World-class champions like Nicklaus, Woods and Singh play Disney's Palm Golf Course. You can, too.
By Amy Drew Thompson
The PGA Merchandise Show comes to the Orange County Convention Center Jan. 25-28, along with the year’s best golfing weather. Mercifully, you don’t have to be Arnold Palmer — or even staying at Disney — to experience play at Walt Disney World’s phenomenal courses, so golfers booking cheap Orlando vacations need not settle. Cool quotient: Carts come equipped with the latest GPS technology. Plan accordingly and enjoy reduced late-afternoon rates for even more savings.
Crowds at the Mt. Dora Craft Festival. Credit: mountdoracraftfair.com.
By Derek Brown
Professional golf, a juried craft show and master winemakers aren’t normally what come to mind when people think of going on a cheap Florida vacation. However, fall’s an excellent time to discover a grown-up Orlando. October 21-23 will bring all of the above to The City Beautiful, Orlando. (more…)
Resort pools at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Credit: Waldorf Astoria.
By Derek Brown
Cheap luxury hotels exist if you find the right deal. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando, which offers direct access to the Walt Disney World resort, has rates for less than $170 per night this summer. A recent deal allowed me to enjoy the Waldorf’s airy marble entrance, refined rooms and relaxing pools during the Memorial Day weekend. (more…)
Savvy travelers know the key to affording a getaway to just about any place in the world is in picking the best off-peak time of the year to visit. Pairing the right destination with the cheapest time to travel there can sometimes mean hitting the beaches a little later, the ski lifts earlier, and avoiding the rates associated with high-season hotel stays.
When it comes to top vacation destinations — those looking for cheap vacations can find good travel deals during off-peak times.
Cheap off-season travel often means fewer crowds and good travel deals on hotels and flights. So how do you know where to go? Each season we identify the top vacation destinations for off-season travel deals, and here are the latest:
Cheap Colorado vacation: As spring comes to the Rockies and prime ski season winds down, Colorado becomes a smart vacation destination for active travelers. Off-season travel in Colorado means you can hike and bike in the mountains; shop, dine and relax at popular ski resorts with a bit more elbow room; even enjoy the culture and entertainment scene in Denver — all with cheap hotel rates. One example: Hotel Teatro in Denver, rated one of the top 500 hotels in the world by Travel+Leisure magazine, is offering 35% off stays of three days or more through July 31. You'll also find cheap hotels in Aspen, Steamboat and other top Colorado vacation destinations.
Cheap Florida vacation: Sunny Florida becomes a little less crowded in the spring, as the rest of the country starts to warm up — which makes it a great time for a cheap Florida vacation. You'll likely find less crowded beaches and attractions, and cheap Florida hotels. Like the Gulfcoast Inn Naples, which is offering 20% off each night for stays through June 1; and the Regal Sun Resort in Orlando with travel deals including 50% off stays.
Cheap Puerto Rico vacation: Cheap off-season travel deals abound now in this Caribbean nation famous for its beaches, casinos and golf courses. Save 20% on stays of three days or more through September 30 at Gran Melia Puerto Rico. Or try the Golden Sands Villas, with its infinity pool and signature golf course, for 50% off.
Looking for a cheap hotel for your next vacation? Try cheap off-season travel deals and enjoy smaller crowds, better rates and amazing deals. From California to Vermont, there are plenty of off-season travel destinations to choose from.
Cheap Chicago hotels: Book a cheap Chicago hotel this winter and explore the Windy City without the crowds. For a great cheap hotel in a great location, check out the 4-star Allerton Hotel Chicago. With rooms from $79 a night, this Magnificent Mile cheap hotel offers the best for less. From free hot cider, coffee and Wi-Fi, to luxurious in-room spa services, this hotel has it all. In addition to the already low rates, take an additional 10% off when you book a 3+ night stay.
Cheap San Diego hotels: It’s always sunny in southern California, which makes winter the perfect time to visit. Shed your down jacket for flip flops when you book your cheap San Diego hotel at Kings Inn in San Diego. This 3-star pool-side hotel starts at just $66 a night and is conveniently located along Route 8 and minutes from San Diego’s hottest attractions. After spending your days exploring San Diego, relax at Amigo Spot, one of King Inn’s two on-site restaurants and enjoy live mariachi music on Fridays nights or live Spanish flamenco guitar on Saturday nights. Until January 1, 2010 take advantage of additional discounts when you book 34 days in advance.
Cheap Colorado Springs hotels: Looking for mountainous adventures or Olympic action? Look no further than Colorado Springs. Located at the base of Pikes Peak and home to the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs is a unique place for off-season travel. Book a cheap hotel room at Crestwood Suites and take advantage of 10% off your 1+ night stay when you book by December 31. With current off-season travel deals starting at $44 a night, and a full kitchen at your disposal, your cheap Colorado Springs hotel stay has never been cheaper.
Kate Schwartz is a marketing coordinator for CheapTickets. When
she’s not searching for the best travel deals, she’s out taking
advantage of them! From hiking the Rockies to lounging on the beaches
of Barcelona, Kate is always looking for adventure.
The key to cheap travel is knowing the best time to find cheap flights and cheap hotels. So we created the CheapTickets2009 Value Travel Forecast, a month-by-month guide of top destinations that offer the most savings for travelers.
To help identify the best budget-friendly travel opportunities for next year, we analyzed hotels booked on CheapTickets from December 2007 to November 2008 and calculated the percentage of savings compared to peak rates.
Here are the winners (and honorable mentions) for 2009:
JANUARY: 37% savings in New York In addition to a 37 percent savings on New York hotels compared to peak rates, retailers are buzzing with post-holiday sales, and big-city attractions are easily accessible now that the holiday crowds have come and gone. Visitors can also take advantage of New York City’s Restaurant Week in January, giving them access to some of the city’s best restaurants for a fraction of the price.
FEBRUARY: 42% savings in Italy In February, Italy is just starting to come out of its winter cloak, and budget travelers will appreciate the lower airfare and savings of up to 42 percent on Italy hotels when compared to the high season. February visitors can experience one of Italy’s most famous festivals, Carnevale.
Other February cheap vacation destinations: France and Colorado Springs, CO MARCH: 53% savings in Portland, ME This historic, seacoast town is filled with galleries, one-of-kind boutiques and incredible restaurants serving everything from creamy clam chowder and lobster rolls to nouvelle New England cuisine.
Other March cheap vacation destinations: Reno, NV and Canada
APRIL: 58% savings in Brazil In April, the summer surge of tourists in Brazil is complete, which means fewer crowds, but the same great tropical weather.
MAY: 38% savings in Lake Tahoe For those who love the outdoors, Lake Tahoe is the ideal destination in May. The lake is popular for water sports and beach activities, and with 38 percent savings on Lake Tahoe hotels compared to peak winter rates, going during the off-season means affording activities like a guided cruise or dining at the many lake front restaurants.
JUNE: 38% savings in Egypt With 38 percent savings compared to peak rates, June visitors can relax on the wondrous Red Sea or Sinai coasts, take in the high culture of Cairo or even leisurely float down the Egyptian Nile on a river boat.
This week’s Deal of the Day is in Fort Lauderdale, a hot Florida vacation spot with beautiful beaches, and also great shopping, theater and art galleries.
One of the Fort Lauderdale hotels we’re highlighting is the three-star Inverrary Vacation Resort. Right now the hotel is offering 20% off its rates when you stay for two or more nights. I found discounted rates for $55 per night September 26-29.
Plus, with our Fall Beach Sale, you can save an extra $100 on flight + hotel vacation packages of four nights or more. Just book your vacation by November 23 and use the promotional code FALLBEACH100.
Finding cheap hotels just got easier. CheapTickets has identified ten beach vacation destinations where you can get great rates on hotels this fall.
CheapTickets’ Fall 2008 Off-Season Dealsinclude top vacation spots in Florida, Mexico, Hawaii and theCaribbean. You could take the family to Orlando, explore historic downtown Puerto Rico or enjoy the beautiful beaches and lush landscape of Maui. So if the fall chill starts to make you miss summer weather, just check out the low rates at hotels in these hot spots.
The top ten off-season destinations and average daily hotel rates in the table below are based on hotel bookings on CheapTickets for travel from August 18 through December 17, 2008.
When are cheap hotels even cheaper? When you book them during a less-than-popular travel time. And nowCheapTickets reveals these travel deals just in time for your summer vacation.
Phoenix, Arizona, known for its golf courses, spas and stunning scenery, can be a cheap vacation destination in the summer. The Carefree Resort and Villas is one of the Phoenix hotels with low summer rates. CheapTickets found rates of $67 a night when you travel July 14-17.
The bargain-hunter's resource for the most noteworthy CheapTickets travel deals, including hand-picked hotel offers, new sales, last-minute discounts and money-saving travel tips.
