It’s already into December and you suddenly realize you really don’t want to sit at home that week after Christmas. A quick look online or a call to your travel agent will tell you, a few days in Hawaii or the Caribbean or Mexico really isn’t much of an option, unless you’re prepared to spend thousands in airfare before even beginning to look at prices for the few hotels available.
However, there are still options. Admittedly, most of them won’t be offered at those ridiculously cheap prices you see advertised for the off-season; but they exist. Partly due to the recession and partly due to the fact that some places that are pleasant enough in December aren’t big-name holiday destinations.
Here are five suggestions:
1. For those who live relatively near a port, consider a cruise. At time of writing, Royal Caribbean had some space for a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico on December 27, and Princess Cruises had some space to the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. Carnival Cruise has ships departing from Galveston, several Florida ports and even a Baltimore sailing that week.
All of these use “holiday” (read “expensive”) pricing. But, without the expensive airfare, the overall price may be within your budget.
2. Consider going to a “warm” rather than “hot” weather destination. Yes, anything tropical is going to be expensive and/or sold out. But, there are many parts of the United States where the weather will be pleasant if not quite balmy. Arizona and Southern California come to mind. And both areas are much more reasonably priced than the “hot” spots.
3. Consider a big city vacation. Okay, so the weather might be lousy. But a city like Chicago for example has wonderful museums and shopping combined with cheap hotel prices between Christmas and New Years. Even New York is reasonable if you avoid New Year’s Eve. And if you don’t want to be that cold, places like San Francisco and New Orleans may have rain but you will avoid snow.
4. If a beach destination is a must, consider stretching your vacation into the first week of January. While this may not be possible because of school or work considerations, availability increases dramatically for flights leaving say, Dec 28, 29 or 30, and returning January 5 or 6. Most hotel rates also drop after the first weekend of the year.
5. Finally, if none of these appeal, visit a travel agent or go online and start researching for 2010. Cruise and tour space is already bookable for next year, and flights will be available 331 days in advance. While the prices offered are never super bargains around the holidays, the best choice of space is available. Plus, in the case of cruises, tours and packages, only a deposit required and should the fare by some chance drop early-bookers can usually get the new pricing.
photo of mauna kea beach by s. carpenter/flickr.com/creative commons.
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