As the contrarian traveler, I’m all about traveling in the off season. Not only do you avoid the crowds, but you also get better deals and often times, a much better experience. Here’s where it’s the off season in summer.
Let’s start with the Gulf Coast. Yes, you’re dealing with heat and high humidity, but the savings can be significant. At the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, you’re looking at summer rates starting from $199 a night, or about 55 percent off rack rates. Not only that, but the entire month of August is New Orleans’ restaurant week, where top restaurants offer three-course lunches for $20 and dinner for $34.
Or how about South Florida? Sure, you may want to consider travel insurance in hurricane season. But the deals abound.
Check out The Breakers Palm Beach, where rates from June to September are as much as 45 percent less than winter prices.
Then there’s Arizona. Not only do hotels drop their rates, but what’s cool here are all the nighttime activities.
Think evening tram rides through Sabino Canyon in Tucson or stargazing in Flagstaff, and night golfing all throughout the state.
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