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Inside the Deals: Hottest Travel Trends for Summer 2009
Thu Apr 16 2009, 10:18AM
USA Today
April 9, 2009
In 2009, everything old is new again. Travelers are being more cautious during the economic downturn, and want a summer vacation that's going to give them the best experience for their hard-earned dollars and vacation time. Family vacations, road trips, and classic destinations are popular this summer, and deals are plentiful. High supply and decreased demand has created a buyers' (i.e., travelers') market. If you can swing it, you'll be able to get a lot more for your money this year.
Great exchange rates
In previous years, I've written features about alternatives to Europe (because the dollar was so weak against the euro). This year, however, it's a different story. With economies worldwide taking a hit, the dollar is doing much better in former budget-buster destinations such as England and other Western European countries.
Your dollar will go far in Iceland this summer, from hotels to restaurants, attraction admissions to live entertainment. The country's recent economic woes create an environment that is very welcoming to tourists, and also enables a luxury experience that can be done on the cheap. Or, if you want to branch out beyond Iceland, Icelandair is currently offering an Iceland Stopover deal, which allows you to include a stop in Reykjavik for no extra charge. If you're interested in seeing Iceland in addition to another European destination, this deal is a great value.
England, prohibitively expensive in previous years, is now a good option for budget vacationers. At press time, 1 euro was exchanging at about $1.45, a very decent rate. Vacation deals are affordable, too: go-today.com has an assortment of trips to choose from, including a "London at Its Best" promo featuring round-trip airfare, six nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, and hotel taxes and fees from $949 for summer. If you also want to explore the countryside, consider the "England Fly & Drive" package starting at $849 in summer, including round-trip airfare to London, a seven-day Hertz car rental with unlimited mileage, local taxes, and airfare fuel surcharges.
Other destinations where the dollar does well include Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Liberty Travel is having a huge Summer Vacation Sale, with up to 75% off vacations around the world. At press time, offers included $179 for three-night vacations to Halifax, Nova Scotia; $479 for five-night packages to Mexico's Riviera Nayarit; and $765 for four-night all-inclusive vacations to Costa Rica, among many other deals.
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Order your brochure or download it, and you could be on your way to wonderful Iceland.
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