Travel Tips
10 Affordable Fall Getaways in the USA & Abroad
Fall is the ideal time to head out on a short getaway: the kids are back in school, there are fewer crowds to contend with, and in many places, shoulder-season prices are more affordable than in peak winter or summer season.
But you don’t need a practical reason to travel. When was the last time you went away “just because?”
Karen Elowitt rounds up 10 fall getaways where activities and deals abound.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is a city of beauty and sophistication, and it’s only a short plane or train ride from numerous North American cities. Considering that in just a couple of months it will be overrun with crowds seeking to watch the Olympic Games, now is the time to go, before the crush.
From the public open-air markets to the windswept beaches, gulf islands and ethnic dining options, there’s fun to be had through the fall season. Plus, fall is the season for special events and festivals: Vancouver Fashion Week takes place from November 4-9; the Taste of Yaletown food and wine event runs from October 15-31; and two separate film festivals take place between November 10 and 15. Go to Tourism Vancouver for a complete list of activities and events.
If you’re searching for a hotel deal, you won’t have to look far: 30 hotels are participating in the “Uncover Vancouver” fall promotion, offering rooms for as little as $75 per night plus breakfast. For a list of hotels and prices, click here. To get there, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air both have fares as low as $168 round-trip from LAX.
For more help, check out the Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. If you’re planning on going to the Vancouver Olympics, don’t miss Olympics 2010: Travel Planning for Vancouver.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Few cities have the air of romance as New Orleans. Bourbon Street, jazz, the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter, Cajun food, streetcars, 19th-century architecture … and the list goes on. The city is compact and walkable, which makes it perfect for strolling and immersing yourself in its gracious Old World atmosphere.
New Orleans is only a short scenic ride on Amtrak from various parts of the south and Midwest—so instead of sitting on a cramped plane, go slow and enjoy yourselves on the train. Sample round-trip rates include Memphis – New Orleans from $100, Houston – New Orleans from only $94, and Atlanta – New Orleans from $116.
In addition to many well-known hotels, NOLA has an abundance of old-fashioned inns which can make for a memorable stay. For example, the Queen Anne-style Avenue Inn in the historic Garden District has only 17 guest rooms, each with a different personality and décor. The entire hotel has been restored with period pieces, and is only minutes from the French Quarter via the streetcar, which stops literally in front of the property. Rooms are normally $109 and up, but can run as low as $89 during midweek in mid-November. Breakfast is included in the room rate, plus the dining room has a 7-foot “snack tower” where all items are free. www.avenueinnbb.com
Want more New Orleans travel information? Check out our Spotlight On: New Orleans, Louisiana as well as our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: New Orleans.
Harlem, New York
If you want to experience a New York City moment but are looking to stay somewhere a little different, why not try Harlem?
This oft-overlooked part of the Big Apple offers several local experiences: explore the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood, which was once frequented by the likes of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington; catch a show at the Apollo Theater; grab some soul food at Earl Monroe’s restaurant; or just wander around admiring the turn-of-the century architecture.
For a more intimate lodging experience than what you may expect in New York City, try the Sugar Hill Harlem Inn. Located in a 100-year-old Victorian row house, it has only 10 beautifully decorated rooms, each of which is named for a great artist associated with Harlem (Josephine Baker, Muhammad Ali and Louis Armstrong). Historical and musical memorabilia from Harlem are scattered throughout the house, which also hosts art shows and play and poetry readings. Rooms start at about $110 per night. www.sugarhillharleminn.com
Check out more cultural hotspots in New York City neighborhoods:
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington may not be on the top of most people’s travel lists, but this underappreciated city is worth checking out. Travelers seeking an inexpensive weekend getaway will love Wilmington’s gardens, ornate mansions, museums, the variety of performing arts—and the fact that it’s only a short drive from hundreds of cities on the East Coast.
Plus, Wilmington lies in the middle of the Brandywine Valley. There you’ll find historic towns that maintain a 17th- and 18th-century ambience, wineries, and numerous festivals and events like the Riverfront antiques show (November 6-8), the Second Saturday Garden Walks (ongoing), the annual artisans show (November 13-15) and the November 13-14 wine and music festival.
Hotel Du Pont is an elegant part of downtown Wilmington. Commissioned by the Du Pont company in 1913, it’s also home to the Du Pont Theater, the oldest continuously operating theater in the U.S. If you book a weekend stay (rates start at $191.30 for double occupancy) you’ll receive a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne and a dozen of the hotel’s famous chocolate-dipped macaroons. www.hoteldupont.com
We’ve got the inside scoop on Wilmington: Travel Joe Biden’s Delaware.
St. Lucia
This French-influenced island in the Caribbean offers visitors the usual sun-and-fun activities like diving, snorkeling, sailing, wind surfing, rain forest tours, and sightseeing. But the many indigenous festivals and events held in the fall make St. Lucia a bit more interesting than your usual beach destination. For example, at the Jounen Kweyol Entenasyonnal in late October, you’ll find Creole music, games and folklore. Sailing enthusiasts will want to head down in late November to watch the start of the Atlantic Rally sailing race, and the market feast and Festival of Lights are two must-see events that take place in early-to-mid December.
Travelers looking for a sophisticated hideaway will love the Calabash Cove Resort & Spa (www.calabashcove.com), a new luxury boutique hotel on the island with only 26 rooms. From November 1 through November 30, it is offering a six-day, five-night stay in an ocean view junior suite (plus breakfast and airport transfers) for only $1,888 per couple. That works out to $375 per night, which is significantly less than the $441 per night rack rate.
For more ideas on where to stay in St. Lucia, check out The Virtuous Traveler on the Green, All-Inclusive Resorts of the Caribbean.
Virginia wine country
The state’s motto is “Virginia is for Lovers,” so why not put it to the test with a couples package? Better yet, fall is harvest season, which is the best time of year to indulge in one of the state’s most delicious exports: wine!
From the Northern Neck to Charlottesville, Virginia boasts more than 140 wineries, and October is Virginia’s official Wine Month. To help you appreciate the vintage and the good fall weather, hundreds of festivals and events are happening, from gourmet food tastings to art shows, to live classical music performances. You can even take a kayak trip on the Chesapeake Bay to the historic Chatham Vineyards.
Virginia also offers historic sites such as Monticello and Montpelier, polo matches, outdoor recreation, and numerous inns and hotels. Dozens of B&Bs and inns are offering package deals during the autumn, including the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast (www.orchardhousebb.com) in Lovingston ($280 per couple); the James Marshall Manor House at Marriott Ranch in Hume ($385 per couple); the Inn at Westwood Farm (www.innatwestwoodfarm.com) in Orange ($575 per person); and High Meadows Vineyard Inn (www.highmeadows.com) in Charlottesville ($525 per couple)
Get more Virginia travel information with our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Irvington, Northern Neck & Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Monterey Bay, California
Most people think of Napa or Sonoma when they think of California wine, but the “alternate” wine country of Monterey Bay is a close rival, with more than 40,000 acres planted to 55 different grape varietals. In fall the weather is warm and dry, so when you get tired of sampling the goods, you’ll have no trouble checking out the other attractions Monterey has to offer.
The seaside town of Carmel is worth exploring for a day, as is the famous Pebble Beach golf course, the John Steinbeck museum, the 17-mile drive, and the Monterey Aquarium.
The Deer Haven Inn in Pacific Grove is only a couple of blocks from Asilomar State Beach, and is a few minutes’ drive from just about anywhere else in Monterey Bay. Rooms start at about $107 per night and include continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and most include a fireplace. Plus, the hotel allows dogs for a nominal fee, which is a big bonus (Asilomar is one of six dog-friendly beaches in Monterey). www.deerhaveninn.com
Check out more places like this with Dog-Friendly Destinations.
Kona, Hawaii
The Kona coast on Hawaii’s Big Island is one of the state’s most beautiful and celebrated regions. Lush forests give way to tiny seaside towns, antique shops, art galleries, secluded beaches, and historical sites. Plus, the 39th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Hawaii’s oldest and most successful food festival, is scheduled for November 6-15, 2009. Spanning dozens of Big Island venues, the event includes food and coffee tastings, art tours, parades, farm tours, workshops, and a “best coffee” contest.
To tie in with the Coffee Festival, Keauhou Beach Resort is offering ocean view rooms from $119 per night, including a free breakfast buffet. This offer is valid through December 21, 2009. Keauhou’s Kahaluu Beach Park offers one of the best snorkeling sites on the island along with shallow tide pools that give you a bird’s eye view of the resident sea turtles. An outstanding golf course is practically next door, and the town of Kailua-Kona in only a 10-minute drive away. www.outrigger.com
Hawaii’s never been cheaper. Check out Hawaii Celebrates Its Big 5-0 Dealing With Downturn & Offering Travel Deals. Or check out another island with the Ask the Locals Island Guide: Oahu, Hawaii.
Mammoth Lakes, CA
In October this out-of-the-way ski resort town in California’s Eastern Sierra range offers fantastic fall foliage framed by snowcapped peaks. Although skiing opened early this year, fall is shoulder season, which means you can practically have the whole place to yourself. In addition to the many fine dining options and live music venues, there is the Mammoth Lakes art center, and the hot mineral springs in Benton. Backwoods snowcat tours of the Minaret range come complete with a gourmet picnic lunch and champagne.
There are several lodging packages available at Mammoth Mountain this fall. The First Tracks lift and lodging packages start at just $119 per person per night, and entitle you to a free lift ticket for each person for each night stayed if you book two or more nights (available in November and December). The Fall Colors lodging package gets you three nights for the price of two at participating hotels and resorts from now through November 22. Click here for more information. www.visitmammoth.com
And don’t forget that you can now fly directly to Mammoth from various West Coast cities via Horizon Airlines. You can either go non-stop or direct from various L.A./-area airports, as well as San Jose, Reno, Seattle, and Portland.
Spring is also a great time for deals at ski resorts. Check out 10 Springtime Ski Destinations and Travel Deals You Can’t Miss.
Tahiti and Bora Bora
Ahhh, Tahiti. The ultimate couples playground, nested in the far reaches of the South Pacific. Its pristine beaches, hospitality and laid-back island vibes are legendary—but often pricey.
However, this tropical getaway isn’t as unreachable as you think. If you take advantage of the Couples Retreat package by Tahiti Legends you can get accommodation, plus round-trip airfare from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui starting from $3,999 per person. The package includes one night in Tahiti at the InterContinental Hotel in a Motu Overwater Bungalow, four nights in Bora Bora at the St. Regis in an overwater villa, inter-island airfare to Bora Bora, one breakfast, one three-course dinner, one couples massage, and a two-hour guided jet ski tour in Bora Bora. (Book by March 31 for travel November 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010.) www.tahitilegends.com
And if you’re feeling lucky, Tahiti Tourism’s “Invest in Your Love” video contest will send six winning couples to Tahiti. Send in your video explaining why you deserve an island getaway-the best return on your romantic investment-and six winners will receive international airfare, inter-island transport and accommodations. (https://investinyourlove.com/)
By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com.
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