Great Escapes: Winter Travel Tips
Written by Ellen Parlapiano /Yearning for a little vacation right about now? It's not too late to score sweet deals. Whether you dream of making sandcastles or snow angels, strolling city streets or rainforest trails, these expert tips will guide you on your way.
Plotting Your Getaway
Time it right. Minimize costs and crowds by traveling after New Year’s Day but before Presidents’ Week, or from late February to early March. If you must go during school holidays, but don’t mind kids missing class, tack on a day or two to the front and back end of the break to nab better airfares.
Make yourself at home. Consider renting a house or condo, for the extra space and ability to eat some meals in. Browse listings on VRBO.com, VacationRoost.com and iStopover.com, checking proximity to the beach or slopes.
Travel off the beaten path. Even when you’re heading somewhere popular, “You can save money by sidestepping super hot spots,” says Zora O’Neill, author of iPhone app “Cool Cancun & Isla Mujeres,” and Moon travel guides on New Mexico. For example, in Mexico, she suggests Puerto Morelos, a laid-back fishing town that’s a 20-minute bus ride from Cancun’s airport (no rental car needed). For skiing and snowboarding, she recommends Albuquerque as an affordable alternative to Taos or Santa Fe.
Have a social strategy. Follow resorts, hotels, visitors’ bureaus and cruise lines on Facebook and Twitter, where contests and special deals are often announced.
Shop the sales. Research options and bargains on Kayak.com, Hotels.com, Bing.com, Ski.com and SmartTravelDeals.com, registering for e-mail alerts when possible. For deeply discounted luxury properties, join free “flash sale” sites—like Vacationist.com, Jetsetter.com, Spire.com, and LuxuryLink.com—and watch for exclusive non-refundable packages. Before buying, “Call resorts to see if they can do better,” suggests Carol Porter, co-founder of TheRoamingBoomers.com.
Compare airfares. Search flights on Fly.com, Momondo.com, FareCompare.com, and AirfareWatchdog.com. “Best days to book are Tuesdays through Thursdays, when airlines run sales,” says Warren Chang, VP and General Manager of Fly.com. Cheapest fly days are usually Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. “Schedule early flights so you have more options if weather causes cancellations,” Chang advises.
Travel With the Pros
Carol and David Porter - publishers of The Roaming Boomers online luxury travel magazine; TheRoamingBoomers.com
Favorite winter getaway: Hawaii’s Big Island. Larger than all the other Hawaiian islands put together, it has fewer crowds, great shoulder-season deals, an active volcano, and wintering whales spouting right offshore.
Top secret: Turn on the charm. It’s pretty easy to get hotel upgrades when you smile and nicely ask check-in clerks, “Are there any better rooms available?”
Cheap trick: About six weeks before leaving, start monitoring sites like Groupon.com and LivingSocial.com for bargains in places you’re headed. Discount vouchers can be purchased for anything from hotels to spas to restaurants to kayaking tours.
Must-have app: Instagram (for iPhone). It turns travel photos into postcards you can share by email, Facebook and Twitter.
Nicole Hockin - Hotels.com blogger; author of TravelSmartblog.com
Favorite winter getaway: Roatan, Honduras. Since I live in Denver and can ski anytime, I love escaping to warm climates where I can wiggle my toes in the sand but still be adventurous. Roatan is a scuba diver’s paradise, and is about to explode in popularity, so get there while rates are still reasonable.
Top Secret: Talk to locals. Shopkeepers, cab drivers, and others who live where you’re visiting often have the best restaurant and entertainment recommendations, and can point you to places that aren’t swarming with tourists.
Cheap trick: Cities are a great deal in winter. I especially love New York, San Francisco, London and Rome. Bring your coat, beat
the crowds and have a great winter getaway.
Must-have app: Google Goggles (part of the Google app for iPhone and Android). Photograph landmarks on your smart phone, then get instant details on what you’re seeing.
Kyle McCarthy - Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Best Family Destinations; founder of FamilyTravelForum.com
Favorite winter getaway: Vail, Colorado. We’re from the northeast, so we do one big western snow vacation every year. Vail does a great job grooming the slopes, so we never have to worry whether ski conditions will be good.
Top Secret: Look for resorts with heated outdoor pools and fun off-slope activities like dog sledding or snowmobiling, so you have options if you don’t want to ski every day.
Cheap Trick: Opt for a major hub instead of smaller ski-town airports. We fly into Denver (more airlines go there, so fares are better), then rent a car and drive to Vail. Along the way, we stop in a Colorado supermarket for discounted lift tickets (or buy them in advance at Liftopia.com).
Must-have app: Powder Alert (for iPhone). The screaming “Fresh Powder!” wake-up call alerts you when there’s been overnight snowfall, so you can make fresh tracks.
Surprising Things Your Concierge Can Do
“Think beyond restaurant reservations and theater tickets,” says Sara-ann Kasner, Founder of the National Concierge Association.
1. Grocery shopping. Send your list and your fridge will be filled (with costs billed to your room).
2. Gift wrapping holiday presents that you ship ahead.
3. Renting sports equipment in advance, so bikes and snorkeling gear are ready when you arrive.
4. Loading CD and DVD players with your favorite music and movies.