It's time to start thinking about Spring Break travel and this year there is good news and bad news according to Hopper.com. The good news is overall prices for spring break flights are down about 8 percent compared to 2014, but you will pay up to 40 percent more for flights to the most popular destinations. Here are a few tips to help you save:
- You can save some money by traveling to destinations like Miami, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, Hilo (HI) and Montego Bay which saw the biggest price drops from last year. Acapulco, Daytona Beach, Bermuda, Pensacola and San Juan are all more expensive this year.
- Flying on a Tuesday will save you five percent, according to Hopper data, while a Friday or Saturday departure will cost 18 and 19 percent more respectively.
- The best dates to travel are this week or April 20. The more expensive weeks are the week of March 23 and March 30. If you are traveling during the more expensive weeks, a trip to a city in Florida or Myrtle Beach would be your most affordable option. For travel outside the U.S., consider San Juan, Cabo or Montego Bay.
- Try to book at least two weeks in advance and as always, monitor prices for fluctuations to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Hotel deals are heating up as well. Here are just a few to consider when you are making your travel arrangements:
Best Western: Now through March 15, Best Western Rewards members who stay two separate times can choose a gift card for travel or shopping. Choose gift cards from Amazon, Best Buy, iTunes, Dunkin Donuts and more, in addition to saving up to 20 percent at participating Best Western hotels when you book the best value rate at bestwestern.com. Register for Best Western Rewards and the free promotion at bestwestern.com/spring.
Red Roof Inn: Use the Promo Code 618909 when booking a room a the renovated Red Roof Inn hotels get up to 20 percent off with their Snowbirds promotion.
For millennial travelers: Millennials represent 20 percent of international travelers and big hotel brands have responded with accommodations that appeal to this group including new entrants such as Moxy (Marriott), Tommie (Commune Hotels) and Radisson Red, as well as more locations of existing millennial friendly hotels such Aloft (Starwood), Andaz (Hyatt), CitizenM and Hotel Indigo (InterContinental Hotels).
Millennials visiting New York, have discovered the affordability of Pod Hotels which offers high-tech amenities, public spaces and more for a low price point. Pod 39 is on East 39th Street and Pod 51 is on East 51st Street. Each offer fun communal spaces and access to walking tours and dining options.
A guest room at the Pod Hotels in New York.
Loews Hotels & Resorts: A new partnership between the hotel brand and the children's network, Sprout, offers families a fund deal. Guests traveling with children five and under will enjoy perks including: custom Sprout themed activity books upon arrival; Sprout place-mats to color and play on at all three-meal restaurants; and the chance to try out the new Sprout Channel Cubby Tablet preloaded with full Sprout show episodes, music videos, and recommended apps.
You can also reserve a "Sprout Dream Stay Welcome Package" which includes a custom Sprout backpack, toothbrush, water bottle, activity book and mini Chica Plush toy. Sprout-branded wristbands will allow kids to eat for free at hotel restaurants. You can reserve it now through October 2015 by calling 1-800-23-LOEWS or visiting www.loewshotels.com. The package is not available at Loews Hotel Vogue, Loews Regency Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, or Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
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