|
Now, more than ever,
budget-conscious travelers need to
be in-the-know to plan a great
vacation. According to the Travel
Industry Association of America, the
average U.S. lodging cost is up 4.3
percent from a year ago.
It turns out that planning when
to go is just as important as
planning where to go, if travelers
are to keep their budget intact.
While the major online travel
agencies often highlight tips for
travelers and special deals, one
online leader in travel,
CheapTickets.com, recently made 2007
travel planning even easier. The
CheapTickets Travel Cheapometer
forecasts the best months to enjoy
savings at the destinations that
were most popular among travelers in
2006.
CheapTickets.com compared average
daily room rates at destinations
around the globe during 2006 for
each month to the average daily room
rates for the year. Here are some of
the highlights.
1. Travelers looking to explore
the Big Apple should dive right in
during January. Yes, it's cold, but
travelers could find a savings of 43
percent on hotels. To take the chill
off, they can cozy up in one of New
York City’ls 18,696 restaurants.
2. A 50 percent savings in the
Netherlands would make anyone warm
and fuzzy in February, and places
such as art-rich Amsterdam are easy
on the eyes and the wallet.
3. Families could eat up savings
of 49 percent on an April getaway to
Jamaica, including great
all-inclusive resorts to match any
budget.
4. Though the snow has melted by
June, Park City, Utah, remains a
perfect escape for hikers and
outdoor enthusiasts in the spring,
and a 69 percent savings would be
enough to melt your heart.
5. Far-off destinations such as
Japan aren’t out of reach,
especially in September when savings
could be at 58 percent and autumn
colors are in full bloom.
6. Ready to hit the slopes? Try
Lake Tahoe in November, when you
could find 60 percent savings on
your hotel.
If you do book online at sites
such as www.cheaptickets.com,
consider combining a purchase of air
tickets with a hotel and car rental
package for added savings. With a
little bit of creativity and
ingenuity, hot travel destinations
in 2007 are within reach for
budget-minded consumers.
|