blog post

This year will present some excellent opportunities for travel bargains and enhanced experiences, but you will have to plan in advance in order to take advantage of them. Here are my top recommendations:

#1.  Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, so the cruise lines are sticking to
their regular routes, making pricing and scheduling a lot easier for you. I
especially like the 5-night Carnival Triumph cruise out of Galveston on
December 22. Falling neatly on the weekend ahead of the holiday, it’s perfect
for that very special family vacation and surprisingly affordable if you book
early enough to qualify for the Carnival Early Saver promotion.

#2.  There are 2 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas without “holiday weekend” travel. This means that the bargain cruises and land package deals will be spread from December 1^st through the 16^th and airfares will be lower, too. It will be the perfect time for destinations like the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Tahiti, and Hawaii. Southern Caribbean cruises out of San Juan look particularly enticing.

#3.  Speaking of the holidays, with 5 ships in Galveston this year and 3 in New
Orleans, competition will keep fares very inviting for local cruisers. There
are more choices of itineraries, too, so it’s the perfect opportunity to do
something different while avoiding the extra cost and hassle of flying to
Florida, not to mention having no worries about bad weather and flight delays!
These ports are just an easy drive or short flight away, so these cruises will
be extra-popular this year. Book early before fares start going up.

#4.  The value of the US Dollar compared with the Euro will make travel to Europe this year THE hot ticket! The trick will be to plan in advance before demand surges and airfares go up. Be forewarned: the airlines will NOT increase capacity. Anyone who waits too long will be faced with a high airfare and, let’s see, how shall I put it, a “less than desirable” flight schedule. Still, Europe hasn’t been a bargain for a long time, so I say go for it. If you plan your land vacation or cruise for early Spring or in the Fall you’ll have better weather
and fewer crowds. Transatlantic cruises are exceptionally good values this
year, and some have exotic routes with stops such as Iceland and Greenland, or
Africa and South America.

#5.  Summer travelers, you can save big if you book your land package or cruise for immediately after school lets out at the end of May/beginning of June, or right before it starts up again in August. Reunion organizers should keep this in mind for members on more limited budgets. Advance planning for families and groups is a must for snagging the best deals and getting the room arrangements that you want.

#6.  Another off-peak opportunity presents itself this year between Easter and the end of school. There should be 4 or 5 weekends not considered “holiday traffic” when packages, cruises, and airfares will have lower prices. Couples without school-aged children will find this a marvelous time to travel for the best weather, natural beauty, and ultimate romance in just about any destination.