The travel industry is shuddering as frugality becomes fashionable and a new word, "staycation," creeps into our vocabulary. So, to spur sagging sales, operators are offering steep discounts to entice you to leave home. Add the savings typical of shoulder season -- the period between the low and high travel seasons -- and you'll find a bumper crop of outstanding bargain vacations this spring.
Resort hotels are offering some of the sweetest deals. Bob Jones of travel-industry research firm PhoCusWright recently spied a seven-night stay for the price of four nights at the Marriott on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. As the economy worsens, hotel deals worldwide will get better, Jones says.
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The plight of airlines isn't as dire, but they're feeling the pinch, too. Carl Schwartz of Cheapflights.com says recent airfare bargains portend a good spring for travelers.
"Airlines care about winning back travelers at the expense of profits," he says. "And if fuel stays in the $70-per-barrel range or less, there will be more good deals to come."
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Take an early summer
The act of summering need not be confined to the middle of your calendar.Sneaking a shoreline visit into the less-popular spring months will afford you not only good flight and hotel deals, but more beach and boardwalk real estate to call your own.
Deals in California
You can't beat the scenery in Monterey, Calif., where the climate is mild year-round, with high temperatures usually between 60 and 70 degrees. And you can take advantage of relatively cheap rates at the four-star Clement Monterey, an InterContinental hotel that opened in May 2008. In March, weekday rates start at $179 a night; you might pay a lot more in summer.- MSN Travel: Airfare deals and more
The hotel is right on historic Monterey Bay. Walk outside and you can peruse the shops or savor a wine tasting in Steinbeck Plaza on Cannery Row. A few steps away, you can rent a horse carriage (complete with the fringe on the top) to ride the coastal trail, or grab a kayak and paddle the sea. And the family will love the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium down the street.
The flight can be a bargain, too. For example, we recently found April round-trip flights from Baltimore/Washington International Airport to San Jose International Airport (an hour from Monterey) for $210. Flying into Monterey Peninsula Airport was running about $350 from Baltimore/Washington for April.
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Head to Hawaii
If you'd prefer fun that's a little more tropical, Hawaii has some springtime bargains as well. Given that its high temperatures remain in the 80s all year -- as Mark Twain described it, the islands' climate offers "one long, delicious summer day" -- shoulder season doesn't really exist in Hawaii.By traveling now, you could save a bit on airfare. On Kayak.com last week, we found the round-trip fare between Boston and Honolulu was $594 for a trip in July. The same flight was $461 in March.
For a secluded Hawaiian retreat, consider the island of Kauai. Airfare from Boston during June can cost more than $700 round-trip, but we found mid-April fares starting at just $575.
For your stay, try Poipu Beach Resorts, where the standard rate for bed-and-breakfast suites starts at $145 per night. Between May 1 and June 15, you can get 5% knocked off the already low rates, which include an island-style breakfast featuring guava-bread French toast. At the three-star Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa, a stay during either month will cost just $135 per night for a room for two.
Continued: South of the equator
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