Hotwire.com, a website that doesn’t reveal the name of the hotel you are booking until after the transaction is completed, has a unique perspective on hotel prices. They get the deals and then sell them while keeping the brand names of the hotels secret. Unlike priceline.com, it does not engage in a bidding process. These price drops recorded here are made by the hotels themselves based on occupancy.
I found it fascinating that Napa Valley led the list with prices reported at 33 percent less than last year at this time. And look at the average price! $53! What a bargain. Dallas, no offense to the city, didn’t surprise me much and it isn’t high on my vacation list. Vegas is more of a bargain than last year and, surprisingly, the ski resort of Vail is showing a 9 percent drop in hotel rates as lift ticket prices keep climbing.
Here is the release from Hotwire. This information can always serve to point travelers in the direction of bargains. Even though airline prices are creeping upwards, hotel prices have not reached the levels of two and three years ago.
Did the stress of the holiday season leave you feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation? Fortunately, you don’t have to wait long. The long Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend is just around the corner and there are some great deals to help you take a last-minute getaway. According to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Hotel Rate Report from Hotwire.com®, which features the top ten cities in the United States where hotel rates have dropped the most, you can find great deals in popular cities across the country.
Topping the list at number one is Napa, California. With a 33 percent price drop, not only will you find some great hotel deals in Napa, but also world-class wines, spas and fine dining. In fact, January is Napa Valley Restaurant Month, meaning many of the restaurants are offering discounts and deals on some of the best food in the country.
Mild winter temperatures make this weekend a great time to visit the number two and three spots, Dallas and Las Vegas (12 percent and 11 percent price drops). Dallas boasts an array of interesting attractions and activities for families, including the Dallas Art Museum, the Dallas Zoo and Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. Meanwhile, Vegas offers a wide array of 18-and-over fun, including plenty of gambling opportunities, from penny slots to high stakes table games in private salons. Gambling aside, the city also features alternate forms of entertainment, including shopping, shows and even amusement rides. However, if you’re more of a winter-sports weekender, take advantage now of the great prices in Vail, Colorado (9 percent drop) as these deals will not last long.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
