From Eveningsnews.com
Spring Fling on a Budget: Hitting the Best Beaches Before Summer Crowds and High Prices Take Over
By Spring Fling on a Budget: Hitting the Best Beaches Before Summer Crowds and High Prices Take Over
Apr 27, 2007, 23:13
(ARA) - As we bid farewell to winter, tropical hotspots bid adieu to the tourists looking to escape the chill. Low-occupancy makes spring one of the best times for the budget-minded vacationer to hit the beach. Off-season travelers looking for a warm-weather respite in April, May or June will miss the masses of college spring breakers and beat the onslaught of summer’s family vacationers. Moreover, avoiding winter and summer’s peak prices doesn’t mean a forfeit of great weather and activities.
Useful tips for scoring a low-key spring vacation in the sun without busting the bank include:
1. Be Strategic
Off-season deals and non-peak booking periods vary. Try using online travel sites such as CheapTickets.com -- your wallet will thank you. For example, while Ixtapa, Mexico offers an average savings of 17 percent on travel packages in the spring off-season, those headed to Cozumel, Mexico will find savings of 22 percent according to CheapTickets.
2. Be Creative
Grand experiences don’t have to cost big money. In Acapulco, travelers will not only find great savings and beautiful beaches, such as prized Caleta Beach, but unique opportunities that don’t cost a dime. At sunset, visitors can gather at the Cliff of La Quebrada to watch professional cliff divers demonstrate their expertise. Travelers to the Turks and Caicos Islands, which offers an average savings of 21 percent on travel package in the spring season, can bring their own snorkel gear and explore over 65 miles of stunning coral reef, costing nothing more than a sense of exploration.
3. Be Flexible
Considering weekday versus weekend travel is just as important for price-conscious vacationers. Many business-oriented hotels feature prime beach-front real estate, and as their professional clientele depart for the weekend, room rates drop. Likewise, leisure-focused resorts see a sharp increase in business over the weekend, and prices reflect the flow of demand. Most online travel resources offer flexible search options to help customers pinpoint the best times to travel and save.
4. Be Informed
New passport rules are in effect, and travelers will get an unwelcome damper to their trip if not prepared. Travelers, including U.S. citizens, are now required to present a valid passport for travel by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Getting a great deal on a dream vacation involves more ingenuity than luck. So instead of fighting the crowds to score prime sandy real estate on the beach, off-season travelers can enjoy a peaceful spring getaway, all the while saving big bucks.
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