Over the past few months, we’ve posted discount airfare sales, cheap hotel deals and vacation packages with one purpose in mind: to get people traveling. After months of reporting and researching the best flight deals, hotel bargains and vacation packages, I stand by my theory: it is very affordable to travel right now.
In order to prove my point, and convince other skeptical travelers, we took off to one of the more expensive cities in the U.S.: New York City. The result: cheap airline tickets, a cheap hotel suite in Times Square and affordable meals, courtesy of New York’s Restaurant Week and the hotel concierge. Read on…
Cheap New York Flights: The trip started courtesy of JetBlue. The airline announced weekend airfare sales through February. As we’ve stated before, if you can be flexible with your travel plans it’s worth booking the cheap flight, so we jumped on the fare sale. We selected our weekend from the available dates that extended over a six-week period and booked the tickets.
The total cost per ticket: $78 round-trip.
Travel lesson: When airlines announce fare sales, it’s worth booking immediately. We saved $100 per ticket by jumping on this New York fare sale.
Cheap New York Hotels: Travel deals are all over the board these days, and hotels are no exception. A little time spent online and you’re sure to find a deal that suits your bank account. Before you search for the best price, consider your hotel room needs. Will a small room do, or do you need a suite or two beds? Do you prefer concierge access on top floors, or is free Internet access more of a priority? Is location important, or will you be traveling with friends and family who know the area? All of these ‘essentials’ matter when booking your hotel room.
As there were three of us on this journey, we opted for a suite – one bedroom, two beds and a pull-out sleeper sofa. We found a rate courtesy of the Doubletree Suites in Times Square for $179 a night. After a quick call to the hotel reservations, we scored in-room free Internet access free continental breakfasts each morning. The location couldn’t be better, so we saved travel dollars by taking the subway and walking almost everywhere else.
Cheap New York Attractions: The world is at your fingertips in New York City. Take advantage of everything your destination has to offer by soaking up the local attractions. Tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows are discounted for day-of shows, and your hotel can set you up with discounted tickets for local area tours and major attractions.
Ask the concierge what restaurants they recommend, and then ask for courtesy coupons. You can save up to 20% on the restaurant bill with a hotel coupon for participating restaurants. For top attractions, find out the peak and off-peak visit times. The off-peak times are often cheaper than the peak tourist hours. Sure, the hours may be earlier or later than you would have planned, but you’ll save some money and you won’t have to stand in line too long.
The outcome: A New York weekend for three for less than $500 per person, including flights and hotel rooms. (Not including meals and shopping).
The pitch: Travel now and travel smart. The deals are out there and they are getting better every day. Now is the time to travel- especially if you’re on a budget- so don’t hesitate. Book cheap airline tickets and hotels and get away for a weekend – it’ll do you good, and you won’t break the bank.
© Cheapflights Ltd Melanie Nayer
