Warm Weather, Cool Prices, Less Crowds: CheapTickets.com Identifies This Year’s Top 10 Bargain Hot Spots For Spring Travel

Data Reveals ‘Splurge-worthy’ International Beach Getaways Are Significantly Cheaper This May and June

Plus, Save On Vacation Packages Using Promotion Code ‘OFFSEASON16’

CHICAGO, May 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CheapTickets.com®, a leading seller of discounted travel products, has identified the top 10 beach getaways for budget-minded travelers looking to beat the crowds as they hit the sand. Interestingly, this May and June, popular international destinations that would normally seem like a splurge top the list of those with the greatest savings.

“When it comes to affordability and heavy savings, strategy is key for those planning an unforgettable beach getaway,” said Brian Wolf, general manager of CheapTickets.com. “By opting to travel between spring and summer as opposed to the peak of winter or summer seasons, travelers can stretch their dollars and opt for destinations that are a little farther away and generally considered more expensive.”

CHEAPTICKETS.COM’S TOP BEACH-CENTRIC, OFF-SEASON TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR SPRING
CheapTickets.com is taking the guesswork out of planning on a budget by identifying destinations and travel times that won’t break the bank.¹ Data shows that the destinations with the greatest savings this year are actually all outside of the continental U.S., so there’s no better time to visit these exotic locales. The Dutch side of St. Maarten, Aruba and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands top the list with average savings of between 21 and 25 percent. Mexican cities—Los Cabos, Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta— round out the bottom three, with average savings of between 10 and 15 percent. Don’t have a passport? U.S. citizens can get to and from St. Thomas without one.

CHEAPTICKETS.COM STAFF PICKS AND SAMPLE FARES FOR WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS THIS MAY AND JUNE

Dutch St. Maarten – Known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, St. Maarten offers a wide variety of dining experiences and nightlife activities in addition to the miles of beautiful coastline. Take in all the island has to offer by catching a ride on the Lambada Sunset Sail, a 90-minute catamaran trip available on the CheapTickets.com Activities page. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $20 for children.

Sample Fare for May 9-12: Fly from New York to Sint Maarten and stay three nights at the 4-star Raintree’s Simpson Bay Resort & Marina from $490 per person.²

Aruba – Located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, Aruba is the perfect vacation spot for travelers seeking solace from daily life. Mi Dushi’s Afternoon Snorkeling Cruise, available on the CheapTickets.com Activities page, takes guests out to sea to dive into the island’s warm waters. This afternoon of exploration lets visitors get up close and personal with the tropical marine life and the three-hour adventure is $43 for adults and $27 for children.

Sample Fare for May 23-27: Fly from Chicago to Aruba and stay four nights at the 3-star Aruba Tropic Apartments from $752 per person.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – This unique island stands alone as the most mountainous in the Caribbean. Take a break from the usual beach and water activities and head up to Coral World Ocean Park’s St. Thomas Butterfly Garden to see hundreds of butterflies representing more than 25 species and six different countries. Available on the CheapTickets.com Activities page, an hour admission is a steal at just $12 per adult and $6 for kids.

Sample Fare for June 21-24: Fly from Dallas to St. Thomas and stay three nights at the 3-star Villa Marbella Suites from $645 per person.

Barbados – With its expansive sandy beaches and bright blue waters, it’s no surprise that beautiful Barbados has one of the highest visitor repeat rates in the Caribbean.³ For a uniquely Barbadian experience, check out Caribbean Dynamics’ Friday Night Fish Fry in Oistins, available on the CheapTickets.com Activities page. Enjoy the local seafood dinner and check out the work of local artists. Tickets start at $60 for adults and $35 for kids.

Sample Fare for June 1-5: Fly from Los Angeles to Barbados and stay four nights at the 3-star Gemini House from $717 per person.

SAVE ON CHEAPTICKETS.COM OFFSEASON ESCAPES
Now through May 15, use promo code ‘OFFSEASON16’ to save $50 on CheapTickets.com’s best package deals.⁴
Visit CheapTickets.com/OffSeasonDeals for packages to these destinations and check out The CheapTickets.com Blog for the CheapTickets.com Offseason Deals Guide.

¹ Destinations selected based on highest percentage savings. Percentage savings were calculated on April 5, 2016 by taking the average price for all package bookings to beach-centric destinations on CheapTickets.com in the second quarter 2016 and comparing this data with the average price for all package bookings to those same destinations purchased on CheapTickets.com in the first quarter (peak season) 2016.
²   All “Sample Fare” rates shown were accurate and available on CheapTickets.com on April 15, 2016 for travel in the second quarter of 2016 on the travel dates specified in each of the sample fares and may not represent current prices because our real-time pricing booking engine is constantly updating prices and availability. Vacation package prices shown are for one adult, based on double-occupancy, include applicable taxes and fees, and will vary by selected day of departure, departure city, length of stay, hotel selected, hotel room category, and availability.
³ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/beautiful-barbados/11586592/ten-things-about-barbados.html
⁴ OFFSEASON16 - Book a qualifying 4+ night flight + hotel vacation package between May 5, 2016 12:01AM CT and May 15, 2016 11:59PM CT, for $1000 or more for travel between May 5, 2016 and September 30, 2016, via CheapTickets and instantly receive $50 off the hotel portion of your booking through the use of the promotion code. Limit one discount per hotel room and one promotion code per booking. See complete terms and conditions here: https://www.cheaptickets.com/g/rf/offseason16-coupon-terms#terms

About CheapTickets.com
CheapTickets.com is a seller of discounted leisure travel products. CheapTickets.com provides consumers access to its collection of airfares on hundreds of airlines. In addition to cheap flights, CheapTickets.com’s family of discounted travel products includes cheap hotels, cheap cruises, cheap rental cars, cheap vacation packages, vacation rentals, last minute trips and event tickets. CheapTickets.com now offers the CheapCash loyalty program where customers can earn rewards towards hotel stays when booking flights through the website or mobile apps. Follow CheapTickets.com on Facebook and Twitter for more cheap travel deals and giveaways. Founded in 1986, CheapTickets.com is owned by Expedia, Inc., one of the world's leading travel companies.

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