Tips on Finding Great Vacation Deals

If you want to save the most money on your next cruise or vacation, look for seasonal discounts. As a general rule, shoulder-season vacations (those that take place at the beginning or end of a tourist season) tend to be the most budget-friendly. While the weather may be less than ideal, you can often benefit from less crowded destinations and possibly more affordable airfare.

Autumn is a bargain time for vacationing in many regions, but the lowest prices are for Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico. This is notoriously a low season for cruising. Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, for example, are advertising 7-day cruises from South Florida for under $100 per person, per day (based on double occupancy). Hotels are not as full as during the summer or winter months so many are offering free nights or resort credits. CuisinArt in Anguilla is offering 6th and 7th nights free for travel until November 23. AMResorts (Secrets, Dreams and Now Resorts) are offering $200 in resort credits, just to name a few.

These low prices are partly caused by fewer people vacationing between Labor Day and Christmas but also are a result of tropical storm season. Of course, it’s impossible to predict what the weather will be on any given day or week, so be certain to get travel insurance to protect yourself against cancellations or delays due to stormy weather.

To cruise Alaska at budget rates, choose a sailing in May or September right after the ship has arrived in the region or right before it’s set to depart for warmer waters. For instance, some cruise lines offer savings of $300 to $400 per person when you sail in September rather than in July. Although the weather is typically cooler in May and September, you can still enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife for which the Great Land is famous.

In the past, most cruise ships left the Mediterranean in fall and returned in the spring. Now, more ships are staying through November and returning in March or even remaining in Europe during the winter. Cruising the Mediterranean during the winter months has several distinct advantages, including fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures, value, and unique holiday celebrations in culturally diverse settings.
Prices for winter cruises—and airfares to get to and from Europe—are a bargain. In addition to low cruise fares, this year the USD is stronger against the Euro, so your vacation dollars will go further at shops and restaurants in your ports of call.

Visiting Italy in November through March will be less expensive than traveling in April through October. Weather in Northern Italy might be a bit chillier but you can save a good amount by traveling off season. Southern Italy (Rome, Naples and Sicily) is more moderate in temperature and it will likely be very comfortable for sightseeing. Beware of booking the Greek Islands after September or before May. Many of the hotels and restaurants may be closed since their season is much more defined. You can certainly visit Athens, Delphi and mainland Greece during the winter months and have a great vacation. You can still cruise around to many of the Greek islands but staying there might not work.

A bargain is only a bargain, if the vacation you book is the right vacation for you. At My Vacation Lady, we just don't book your vacation. We help plan your vacation experience! For more info, email us at mindy@myvacationlady.com