If you’re suffering from a holiday hangover, a little chill-out time may seem like just the right remedy.
Fortunately, there are some great vacation deals this time of year — but you’ll need to act fast.
Fewer people vacation in January and early February, meaning savings for those who do. But in hot spots, prices go up for the popular President's Day (February 20) holiday period and during Spring Break, now loosely defined as early March to mid-April.
“You can get a cruise for nothing in January. If you can go right away, you'll get a deal,” said Blake Fleetwood, president of New York's Cook Travel Inc.
Weeklong Bahamas cruises from the Big Apple on the Norwegian Jewel are priced from $349 in January, but jump to $699 during the President's Day week.
The Dominican Republic continues to be a bargain spot in the Caribbean, Fleetwood said. But if you can't afford to go that far, consider seeking a little warmth in the Gulf Coast, the Bahamas, the upper Florida Keys or Bermuda, all of which have winter deals.
Traveler trepidation about drug-related violence in Mexico is leading to lower prices in such vacation hot spots as Acapulco, Cabo and Cancun. Apple Vacations has a 5-night all-inclusive package with air to Cancun priced from $659 in January.
Susan Tanzman, president of Los Angeles-based Martin's Travel & Tours, said she books a lot of New Yorkers in winter to Hawaii, where hotels reduce prices for the winter and airfares are $100 to $200 lower than other times of year.
You can also snag a winter deal to Europe, where hotels are offering all kinds of specials — in part to offset higher than usual winter airfares due to increased European taxes.
George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com, said one of the best deals from New York for January travel is Istanbul, with fares of $551, including tax, on Delta or Turkish Airlines. “It's probably the lowest international fare for the distance,” he said.
Wherever you go, you can save by booking hotel/air packages or all-inclusives, where you pay one rate that includes accommodations, meals, drinks and activities, experts said.
“At an all-inclusive, you don't have to think about money," Fleetwood noted. “And a lot of travelers are looking for a getaway where they don't have to think and can just have fun.”
Post-holiday Travel Savings Tips
n Sign up for airfare deal alerts and follow your favorite carrier on Twitter and Facebook so you can spot any flash sales. “Pounce when the fares go down,” Hobica advised.
n Book your trip with the frequent flier miles or credit card points you got buying holiday presents.
n Lock in your hotel price in U.S. dollars. This will assure the price does not change if the dollar weakens, said Maya Northen, president of New Jersey's Chimera Travel.
n Compare fares from all the New York airports, suggested Lucy Hirleman, of Berkshire Travel Inc., in Newfoundland, NJ.
n Fly midweek for the lowest fares.
n If a deal sounds too good to be true, be wary. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) advises consumers carefully research and evaluate any travel offer.
