Washingtonians dreaming of a summer escape from the region’s recessionary gloom should take heart: It’s a great time for a cheap vacation. But the best deals likely won’t last for long. At the end of April, lots of hotel, airline and travel package deals run out. And, with gasoline prices rising and airlines adjusting quickly to less demand, only the most flexible travelers should wait until the last minute. For everyone else, here’s The Examiner’s guide to getting out of town and making the most of your dollars.
Airfares:
» kayak.com» orbitz.com» priceline.com» farecast.com» vayama.com (international)
Activities and ideas:» familytravelforum.com» familydaysoutusa.com» budgettravel.com» smartertravel.com» tripadvisor.com
$$$ – Hey, big spender
For the increasingly rare luxury traveler, this summer could feel downright thrifty without sacrificing a single thread count. Flights to Europe, especially in late spring and early summer, are down 30 to 45 percent from last year’s prices, said Rick Seaney, chief executive of Farecompare.com.
And by booking a package through online sites such as Orbitz or
Priceline, the cost of luxury hotel rooms and rental cars can be cut in half. A recent search for a weeklong July trip to London for a family of four showed round-trip airfare and a five-star hotel stay (two rooms) for about $1,400 per person. That equals about $200 per night, per room, after factoring in the airfare.
“The crazy thing is that Europe, in many cases, is cheaper than staying in the States,” Seaney said.
For a luxury stay closer to home, expensive rates are being packaged with “value-added” perks. At the Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island, S.C., rooms still start at $395 per night (and go much higher), but can come with hundreds of dollars in hotel credit, depending on the length of stay.
$$ – A bit strapped
For the middle-class traveler who plans to stay stateside, summer is the time to take advantage of hotel discounts and reduced prices. Airfares, however, will be less reliable.
“What’s happening is we’ve had a couple of attempted fare hikes,” Seaney said. “It’s the first we’ve seen of that since last July, so it probably means we’re close to reaching bottom fares.”
But as with overseas travel, packaging a flight with a hotel and a rental car can make the latter two seem negligible. A family of four can escape July’s heat and fly to Seattle, rent a car and stay five nights at a three-star hotel for about $3,000, according to a recent search. The cost without the car and hotel? $2,800.
And if Junior just wrapped up a social studies unit on Mayan ruins and knows that Epcot Center just won’t do, it’s a great time for the adventurous family to head farther south.
“The best place for Americans to look right now is Latin America,” said Tim Leffel, author of “The World’s Cheapest Destinations.”
From the cultural attractions near Mexico City to the Costa Rican jungle, “what you can get for your money is astounding in terms of meals, local transportation and admission to sites,” Leffel said. And airfares can be found for around $300.
a better buy
on TuesdaysCheap tickets multiplied by four or five family members aren’t quite as great a deal anymore. Here are tips from Rick Seaney of Farecompare.com for finding the best rates for a big family.When to buy
“This year, almost every airfare sale has occurred on a Monday, and it takes about a day for all of the airlines to match up. By Tuesdays around 3 p.m. Eastern time generally is when they’ve all matched up, and that’s when we’ve seen the maximum number of cheap seats.”Splitting up seats
“When you book online and put four passengers into the system, if there are only three seats left together on the flight, it’ll raise you to a higher price. Shop for one person to get the price point, and then consider buying the tickets two at a time.”Packing
“This is the first year of baggage fees. Pack light.”
$ – Shoestring traveling
Finally, if the recession has inspired a fear of heights, don’t bother with airfare at all. A quick search of Homeaway.com or VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner) pulls up hundreds of condos and cabins from the Eastern Shore to the Shenandoah Valley, both within hours of the Washington area. Fully stocked kitchens keep meal costs at a minimum.
Many of the retreats are available for less than $1,000 per week, and many have room for two families, if not three. A handful of state parks offer cabins for rent with state trails at the doorstep.
Another affordable bet is ski resorts sans snow. Canaan Valley in West Virginia is offering family packages at its lodge for less than $100 per person, per night, and Hidden Valley, Pa., has similar rates. Both boast ample hiking, biking and golf.
“The rule of thumb is to get out of the city,” Leffel said. “Small towns aren’t such magnets, so you can get some truly great deals.”
