It may be just the beginning of November, but the holidays are right around the corner. And with them, holiday travel and winter trips. As consumers aim to get away this holiday season, travel destinations and daily deal sites are already offering incentives to visitors who book their snowy season vacations early.
JetBlue Getaways recently announced a $30 travel deal good for $300 towards a vacation package of three nights or more in December. The deals went fast as consumers in Austin, Boston, New York and Washington D.C. purchased more than 2,500 of the deals.
With airline costs expected to increase by 10 percent come December, even more consumers will be looking to save where they can throughout the holidays, either by driving to their destination or jumping in on the last minute daily travel deals.
But while consumers may be looking for deals online this year, research suggests holiday spending will actually be up slightly compared to last year despite fears of a double dip recession and high unemployment numbers. According to the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, American families will spend an additional $200 per person on their trips this season, meaning more opportunities for travel destinations to recover from first quarter when weather and natural disasters hampered travel to many Midwest destinations.
With 30 percent of Americans poised to take holiday vacations this year, travel destinations that experienced a slower summer have an opportunity to reach out to winter travelers by offering trips available only in the off-peak season. By showcasing what your destination has to offer in the winter months, whether it’s snowy ski runs or a tree lighting celebration, destinations can entice visitors to get away with family and splurge on those weekend trips they may not have been able to take this summer.
