Don’t look now, but it’s tax time. The good news: the IRS says the average refund is $3,129 this year. Here’s where it gets interesting: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics puts the average domestic airfare at $361 for the third quarter of 2011, the last period for which data’s available.
That leaves plenty of room for hotel, car rental, food and fun.
Cheapflights delved a bit further into BTS’s stats and found the airports with the lowest average airfares. They’re all leisure-oriented. Let’s focus on a couple of them: Long Beach and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International. The average domestic rate to LGB was a mere $240; to Fort Lauderdale it was $256.
JetBlue Long Beach is the low-fare airportal to Los Angeles. Among the hottest things to do in LA just now:
Journey through the world of cinema at IRIS. This is a Cirque du Soleil production, and you’ll find it at the Kodak Theater in LA. IRIS melds aerobatics, dance, projections and live music into something mesmerizing. The fine line ‘twixt live performance and moving images is imaginatively blurred.
Kick back with King Kong 360 3-D at Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour. This iteration of the giant ape is the creation of Peter Jackson, the Lord of the Rings director. Get caught up in a struggle between Kong and a 35-foot T-Rex. So good is this attraction that the International 3-D Society (yeah, there is one) gave it their Outstanding Achievement award.
Out on the East Coast the folks in Fort Lauderdale are serving up summer savings, the better to further stretch your tax refund. Twofers include spa treatments, SCUBA diving, sunset cruises, kayaking swamp safaris and such.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: kenteegardin)
