Bite into Big Apple for less
New York City is a good deal for visitors, thanks to price drops. Travelzoo’s ‘Wow’ list for 2016 also includes Cuba and Norway.
Yesterday’s secret deal destination may be today’s annoyingly overpriced spot. But that works in reverse too. Sometimes destinations that seemed out of reach or too expensive suddenly become good deals, or at least better deals. Example: New York City. This year the city “has seen a sharp decline in hotel, airfare and attraction prices due to two factors: a decrease in international travelers and an increase in lodging options,” said Travelzoo, a website that tracks deal trends and has analyzed which destinations will be on its 2016 “Wow” deal list.
The Big Apple is on the recently released list.
Lodging rates in New York City have dropped by as much as 60%, partly because South American and European travelers are visiting less. For this you can blame a strong dollar, which has made visiting the U.S. from some countries more expensive.
In 2013 the average hotel rate in New York City was $290. Now, a four-star hotel can be as low as $109 a night, Travelzoo found, especially in low-season January to March (one of my favorite times to visit). About 30,000 hotel rooms and 16,000 vacation rentals have been added to the city’s hotel stock in the last seven years.
Another very interesting Travelzoo “Wow” spot for 2016: Norway. Historically, this expensive European destination is out of reach for Americans. But Norwegian Air Shuttle, a newish airline, has slashed airfare to the “Frozen” land of Elsa and Anna; fares can be as low as $174 one way (although fares in the $300 to $500 range are more common) from Los Angeles to Oslo. The low-cost airline may do for Norway what Aer Lingus has done for Ireland, Icelandair for Iceland and South African Airways for South Africa, which is to draw new visitors.
Other Travelzoo “Wows” worth considering for 2016:
Cuba: the “hottest must-see” destination for next year. More competition means discounts on packages. “Packages that cost $3,000 last year are now priced at $1,599, a 47% discount,” Travelzoo said. Look for even more cruises, charter flights and tour operators next year.
Canada: The strong U.S. dollar means Americans get a 25% discount on everything. Go, Canada.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: It escaped a recent hurricane largely unscathed. The U.S. dollar is strong against the peso. Security is more stable. And six new hotels are opening this year and in 2016. Travelzoo reported that you can get rooms at $81 a night off-season and $147 in peak (winter) season.
Unlike made-up “best of ” lists, Travelzoo has the authority to make such predictions. Its analysts don’t just publish so-called deals; they confirm that the offers are real.
So, as destinations rise and fall, and external factors we can’t control come into play, just be ready to grab amazing travel deals when they come.