We know that we’ve been talking about deals a lot lately here at PeterGreenberg.com, but they just keep coming, so we want to keep sharing them with you!
It bears repeating that the travel industry is struggling, and as a result hotels, airlines and resort operators are dropping prices like crazy.
Last night on CNBC’s On the Money, Peter talked to host Carmen Wong Ulrich about some of the bargains available around the world through the winter and spring of 2009, from the ski resorts of Colorado, to the warm sands of the Caribbean, to the cobblestone streets of London.
Here’s a roundup of the deals he discussed on the show, plus a few more.
SKI HOLIDAYS
The dollar is 20 percent stronger in Canada than it was a year ago, so you’d be crazy not to take advantage of some of the excellent ski deals being offered there.
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are dropping room rates at its seven properties throughout Canada, and throwing in with free breakfast plus two free adult lift tickets per day (worth $60-$80 each). Room rates range from $239 at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix, to $393 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. www.fairmont.com
At the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis in Alberta, kids 12 and under ski and stay free if you book by January 31. Their rates start at $209 per person and include two nights of lodging, plus two adult and two child lift tickets. Go to https://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/specials.html?hotelId=30 for details and restrictions.
CRUISES
How about a seven-night Alaskan cruise in May, starting at only $499 per person? That works out to only $70 per day, including all your meals and most onboard activities! You can do it with Princess Cruises, which is dropping prices on interior rooms and offering free upgrades for 2009 sailings to Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Canada and New England. Book by February 28.
If you’re in the market for a last-minute cruise, Princess has rock-bottom rates for January and February departures. For example you can take a seven-night Los Angeles-Mexico cruise departing January 24, for $399, or a 10-night southern Caribbean cruise from Ft Lauderdale departing January 29 for only $858. Check out www.princess.com and also last-minute sites like www.Cruisebrothers.com and www.Lastminutecruises.com
Hawaii cruises aren’t as affordable as Caribbean, but the trick is to sail from a mainland port, not Honolulu. Holland America offers super-cheap round-trip sailings from San Diego such as the 15-day Circle Cruise from San Diego to Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Ensenada, Mexico starting at $1,099. (Departs on January 21 or February 20.) www.hollandamerica.com
And here’s an offer that almost sounds too good to be true—but trust us, it’s not! Norwegian Cruise Lines is offering up to $500 worth of on-board credit on any of its sailings through January 2011, if you book by February 1, 2009. The credit can be used for spa services, specialty restaurants, gambling, onboard shopping, and even shore excursions. The credit starts at $30 and rises to $500 depending on the length of your trip and stateroom size. Mention promo code PGWAVE when you book. www.ncl.com
EUROPE
The value of the U.S. dollar is increasing little by little against the Euro and the pound, making Europe more affordable for Americans. Travel companies are trying to further encourage visitors to come by offering tempting deals such as this one.
Trafalgar Tours has dropped the rate for its weeklong London trips by 30 percent this year, which means you pay only $810 for a fully guided tour, compared to $1056 last year. The tour includes accommodations and some meals, but not airfare.
WARM-WEATHER DESTINATIONS
The all-inclusive Sandals resorts in the Caribbean are dropping rates across the board, but the best deal can be found at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios in Jamaica, where you can save up to 60 percent through December 26, 2009 if you book by January 15. That means you’ll pay only $152 per person per night for all meals, drinks and accommodations. And if you book seven nights or more in certain categories or higher by January 15, you’ll also get $250 spa credit. www.sandals.com/promos/hot-sale
Even pricey luxury resorts are getting into it the bargain game—the Mandarin Oriental on the Riviera Maya in Mexico has rates starting at $695, but is throwing in a $100 resort credit per night through April 2, 2009. www.mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya
And the Golden Lemon Inn in St. Kitts has an all-inclusive winter deal through April 15, 2009 which starts at $650 per couple and includes all meals (including gourmet dinners), all drinks (alcoholic included) and one-bedroom villa accommodations. www.goldenlemon.com
JUST FOR FUN
In late January and early February, LastMinuteTravel.com will be selling hotel rooms for just $1 per room, for 15 minutes every day. The “World for a Dollar” promotion is valid from Monday through Friday, and allows travelers to get this special rate on any hotel room in LastMinuteTravel.com’s inventory of 15,000 hotels.
The catch? LastMinuteTravel.com isn’t telling you which 15 minutes during the day the special rate is available, so you’ll just have to keep checking their Web site …
By Karen Elowitt and Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.
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