(Nexstar) — As Americans feel the pinch on their finances becoming increasingly tighter, some households might decide against traveling this year to cut costs. However, for those who still wish to leave home, various bargains are available.
As the tourism industry
braces for a tough year
American tourists might hit the jackpot with discovering great bargains or lesser-known destinations that aren’t as packed.
“It has dual aspects,” stated the Senior Editor from The Points Guy.
Becky Blaine
On one side, many destinations and hotels will provide special offers to lure travelers. Conversely, we may experience a decline in total visits, implying spots such as your national parks could remain relatively uncrowded.
Recall the initial summer of 2020 during the pandemic,” she said. “I decided to take my family on an extensive nine-day journey exploring the western national parks. Our adventure led us from one end of Utah right up into Wyoming, visiting iconic places like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Arches National Park. At the time, I believed this could be our last chance to witness these areas so uncrowded due to halted global tourism. Now though, although international travel has resumed, it lacks public interest.
We’re not seeing travel disruptions as severe as those in 2020, yet significant doubts persist about how underwhelming tourism will be for this year.
“We’re pretty much facing this uncertain summer in many aspects,” stated Blaine.
Communities located close to national parks are worried that a decrease in summertime travel could result in reduced tourism revenue.
Other locations that depend significantly on global tourism are likewise preparing for consequences.
Las Vegas tourism report
Released just last month, the data indicated that both visitation numbers and hotel occupancy rates had decreased compared to the previous year.
Blaine suggested that when searching for hotel deals, consider aiming for “tier one” locations.
When we refer to ‘tier one,’ it typically means that when someone new arrives in the United States, they often put checking out one of those major cities at the top of their list.
Places like New York, California and Florida are popular with international travelers, but may now be looking to draw in more domestic tourists with lowered prices. The Western U.S. and its impressive landscapes are also usually a big draw for European travelers – who may or may not show up this year.
From what I gathered while planning my personal getaway for early June, you can still reserve lodgings in Grand Teton National Park,” Blaine shared halfway through May. “Camping sites at Grand Canyon National Park are also available. This is quite unusual.
Those looking for cheap travel need to keep their eyes peeled for sales and limited-time deals, Blaine said. She rattled off several hot sales happening in May, such as a New York to Hawaii roundtrip flight for $449 (usually over $800). For those booking with points, American Airlines had great values to Barcelona and Air France had a deal to Athens, she said.
The Points Guy
and other
travel publications
share details about such offers frequently.
To significantly reduce your travel expenses this year, being flexible is essential. If you’re willing to be adaptable regarding both when and where you go, consider looking into ongoing travel deals and choose accordingly. Additionally, you might want to investigate further.
Google Flights
This allows you to search for affordable flights departing from your local airport to destinations worldwide.
You could utilize the exploration map to browse throughout the U.S. and think, ‘I simply want to go anywhere; I’m open-minded.’ Looking for affordable flights? Start from there when you don’t have a specific destination in mind.
People who do not have children enrolled in schools might want to plan their summer trips for sometime after the season, perhaps in September or even October, as this is typically when prices generally decrease universally. Additionally, according to Blaine, booking flights on holidays such as Independence Day could help cut costs significantly.
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