As the evenings grow darker, many in northern climes would often be thinking about taking a vacation about now.  That is not a choice for many this year after the deep recession we have all undergone.  However for those who have funds, the New York Times suggests that it is high time to head South for hot deals.  If you are looking for a bargain vacation to tide you over until the holidays, then the article suggests you had better act fast.

While the travel industry is still hurting from the fallout, airlines, rental car companies and hotels have all been tweaking their businesses to ride out the downturn and push rates back up. And some of the efforts are working.

Bookings have begun to pick up in cities like New York and Chicago as business travel has begun to stir. That’s putting a damper on the deals that travelers have grown to expect. Meanwhile, the high season is approaching for cold-weather getaways like Hawaii and the Caribbean, which are hoping to make up for the revenue lost in the off-season months.

Nevertheless bargains are still to be found:

Expedia recently reported that air and hotel package prices for major destinations this fall have declined 29 percent compared with last season. And even with the latest round of capacity cuts, airlines continue to roll out aggressive sales. The average flier this fall is going to save about 10 percent compared with last year, said Joe Grus, the so-called fareologist at Bing Travel, the new Microsoft search engine that predicts airfare prices.

Some of the examples quoted in the article sound very promising:

• Mexico – Chain hotels, with lots of rooms to sell, are offering some of the most aggressive deals.
• Scottsdale, Arizona – Sprawling resorts, which were particularly hurt by the slowdown in conferences and meetings, are offering some of the deepest discounts.
• Florida – Florida’s heavy reliance on tourism, combined with a glut of hotel rooms added before the downturn, made it among the most susceptible places to the recession.

If you are one of the lucky ones, then you will need to consider your choices very carefully.  Exploring discount travel opportunities is clearly the first priority.  This may well help you decide which of the possible venues you may visit.  To ensure you have a great time and do not forget your choice, it is important to carefully map out your budget so that your money does not run out before the end of your vacation stay.

However it is quite clear that for those who can afford it, now is the time to be making your vacation choice. The rest of us can only hope that the winter will not be too severe.

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