Plan Your Winter Vacation

Catch these winter travel deals

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

 

Beat the wintertime blahs with a vacation. Plenty of winter hotspots can help you defrost this year. Timing represents a key strategy for value travel.

Jane Biem, travel agent at Pulaski Tickets & Tours, Inc. in Pulaski, said that traveling in early December, before Christmas or in late January offers “some of the lowest rates of the season. Those are the times to travel.”

She also said that Caribbean cruises, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand offer travel deals in the winter.

“There’s always bargain travel in Europe in winter,” Biem said. “It’s less crowded and less expensive. It’s a great time to go to Europe if you don’t mind wearing a coat. It’s definitely off-season. Peak season in summer can be so hot.”

October and April represent what agents call the “shoulder seasons,” which Biem said can help save money of destination travel. If your children have left home, April can be an ideal time to escape the cold and enjoy a vacation.

It’s vital to check what’s going on at your chosen venue.

“If any popular events are going on when you want to travel, then you’ll likely pay more,” Biem said.

Check your local school district calendar for more guidance on timing your winter vacation.

“During school breaks, travel on the day of the holiday and be flexible so you can get the best air rate,” said Patty Bean, owner of Bean Cruises and Travel in Rochester.

She said that Mexico is tops for all-inclusive resorts, followed by the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. She warned that it’s important to obtain that passport sooner rather than later. Otherwise, one is limited to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

“Those places have a higher cost,” Bean said. “Now we can renew passports online and the turnaround is quick. If your passport is going to expire within six months within your return date in the US, you have to have it renewed in advance. Otherwise, the airline or country could deny entry.”

Unfortunately, travel insurance would not cover that reason for canceling the trip.

For people interested in cruising, Bean advises booking as double occupancy with a friend or loved one with whom you can split the cost.

“Otherwise, you’re paying for another person whether they’re sailing or not,” she said. “Request the beds be separated and go on a great trip with a friend.”

She’s wary of booking trips to Italy from the holidays through Jan. 6, 2025, as this is the Catholic Jubilee in Italy and during this time span, officials expect an extra 35 million people pilgrimaging to Vatican City.

“I am encouraging people to put off those trips for a year,” Bean said.

She encourages people planning trips online to see if a travel agent can match the prices.

“Many of our suppliers will price match,” Bean said. “I’m a big proponent of keeping your business local. That’s one way to do it.”