With the peak of summer vacation season coming to a close, the time has come to start taking advantage of excellent travel bargains that we’ll start seeing in the fall. Fall is a great time to travel, if it’s feasible for you to do so: Kids are back in school, meaning that most families are back to their ordinary routines and not crowding the vacation destinations, and the temperatures in the northern hemisphere are starting to moderate after the hot summer.
One travel spot that attracts everyone from honeymooners, to young families, to older travelers looking for a relaxing getaway, is Hawaii. The weather is warm year-round, and the peak travel seasons are during the summer, when people are traveling while the kids are out of school, and during the winter, when folks want to get away from the cold and snow. The good news is that if you want to travel to Hawaii, you can do so less expensively if you go within the next several months, during the fall.
Right now, for example, Hawaiian Airlines is offering lower-cost plane tickets from the west coast to Honolulu. These are available for a limited time and have date restrictions, of course, but if you live in California, you could travel to the island for under $400 this fall. You can save even more by taking advantage of bundles which include airfare, hotel, activities and even food. A travel agent can help you with this; you are likely to save money by working with a professional, who can use wholesaling to get better rates than an individual vacationer could.
Here are a few deals to ask about for fall 2012:
- Pleasant Holidays has some new-this-year family packages to help families save money. For example, at the Sheraton Waikiki, guests might be able to enjoy breakfast, free kids’ meals, and other extras with the purchase of a vacation package.
- Travel Impressions is promoting some amenities such as free breakfasts and free nights in order to boost tourism to the islands.
- There are some great deals on Hawaii cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. This ships sails Hawaii year round so they run lots of promotions to ensure they stay booked.
- The Kahala Hotel and Resort on Oahu is offering half-price connecting rooms for families who need more than one hotel room.
- Napili Kai Beach Resort is offering free nights, lower room rates and reimbursed luggage fees during the value season.
- You may be able to get a free night at Mauna Kea Beach Resort; they offer this every spring and fall.
There are other ways to save money by combining special fall-travel deals with other budget-friendly tips. Consider camping or staying in a condo instead of a hotel; both of these options are usually less expensive. Also, take advantage of any special prices that you can find on activities. Call ahead for off-peak dates and special rates. Also, take advantage of the coupons that you find in brochures available at the airport, car rental agency and hotel; these information-packed pamphlets will also give you a good idea of what there is to do that might be off the beaten path.
Although Hawaii is not normally considered a budget-friendly vacation destination, you can go for less if you travel off-season. And with gorgeous weather on the islands year-round, you won’t be missing anything other than high prices and summertime crowds by going this fall instead!
