It’s time to think about autumn travel…but let’s ease into the process. Ignore the Halloween decorations already in the stores. Don’t worry about the first cold snap or the first snowfall. Instead take advantage of early fall deals to help maintain that relaxed summer vibe.
Leisure Drives for Less
Need a rental car for that weekend sanity-saving trip? Hertz has a great rate for you. Rent an economy or compact car for just $14.99 per day when you rent Friday through Monday at select participating airport and neighborhood locations. You can also save $10 a day on a weekly or
weekend rental with the promotional code 135892 (not available with the $14.99 rental). Offers are available through November 15, 2012. Visit their website for further details.
Kick off Fall in Miami
The air is crisp and clean but if you’re longing for just one more day by the pool, head straight to Miami. Starting September 22—the first day of fall—Miamiʼs chic downtown boutique hotel, Urbano at Brickell is offering a third night $84—in honor of the average fall temperature in Miami (daily high of 84 degrees). This deal boasts more than 50 percent savings for the third night stay and is available for travel through October 31, 2012. Call 877-499-5265 or visit their website.
Maple Leaves? Yes, Please.
Want to really slow it down? Take a 5-day, leaf-peeping bike tour complete with a stop at a Maple Museum? Backroads offers both fall foliage biking tours of Vermont and Quebec. Biking lets you get out in the great outdoors to smell the crisp, dry leaves and enjoy the cool autumn air. The tours take you past covered bridges, red barns, oak canopies, lakes and farms and, of course, through the brightly colored leaves for those avid “leaf peepers.” One of the tours also includes a trip to New Englandʼs Maple Museum and takes you out on the Appalachian Trail. Dates of departure begin September 9th and continue through September 30. Rates start at $700 per person including meals. Book now online.
Take it Easy in Texas
Rates are lower, crowds are fewer and the weather is cooler than summer with high temperatures in the ’70’s and ’80s.The return of cooler temperatures along with San Antonioʼs 300 days of annual sunshine delights guests of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa with both indoor and outdoor activities for you and your friends or the whole family. During October The Marriottʼs Lantana Spa will offer treatments benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Fall rates begin at $249 per night, not including taxes. Click here for more details.
Football Widows in Orlando
Football season may be upon us, but if sitting in front of the TV isn’t your thing, try a different approach with the Wyndham Orlando Resort’s Football Widows package. Starting at $119 per night you can get away from the pigskin with amenities like two “massive martinis” a day, trolley passes to outlet shops, and daily gift shop credit. This package is available through January 31, 2013. Visit their website for more information.
Sail into Savings
Virgin Vacations is offering several 2-for-1 sales on European fall cruises. An 8-day Danube River cruises between Vienna and Nuremberg (departing November 8 and November 14) starts from just $799 per person; a 10-day cruise between Vienna and Regensburg, with a stopover in Prague, starts from $999 per person. Do a 10-day cruise with stopovers in Budapest and Prague (departing November 6 and November 12) from just $1199 per person. Those rates include most meals, unlimited beer and wine with dinner, AND shore excursions. Click here for more information.
Mountain Retreats
Now is the time to seek out deals in mountain resorts that are just entering their slow season. Vail’s new boutique hotel and residence club, The Sebastian Vail, is dropping its rates this shoulder season to as low as $289 a night. Compare that to $689 in the high season and we’re talking as much as 60 percent off!
Or plan now for your winter vacation. The 10-day Pre-Season Sale starts on Friday, September 7 at noon for up to 40 percent off winter season rates at Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, Vermont. You can score mid-week rates from $139 (compared to $239) weekend rates starting at $209 (compared to $325). Travel between December 1, 2012 and April 7, 2013 and get access to Nordic skiing, downhill skiing, snow shoeing, dogsledding, and more. Click here for more information.
Hit the Open Road
Hertz just announced its global promotion, where you’ll save up to 33 percent on rentals in 100 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. You must book by September 30, 2012 for vehicles picked up by the end of the year. Use code 763130 when booking. Domestically, if you rent Friday through Monday at participating neighborhood locations you can get a rate as low as $14.99 per weekend day for an economy or compact car. You must book at hertz.com and use code FRDM.
For more travel deals, check out:
- Travel Deals: Rethink Fall Travel & Save
- Travel Deals: In Between Seasons & Holiday Savings
- Travel Deals Section
- Budget Travel Section
By Kari Adwell for PeterGreenberg.com.
