It's not just airfares. Many cruises, hotels and vacation packages are cheaper than they've been in years.
"It looks like for January and February, we're seeing the lowest cruise fares since post-Sept. 11," said Mike Driscoll, editor of the industry newsletter Cruise Week.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, November 13, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 38 words Type of Material: Correction
Travel prices: An article in Section A on Monday about travel deals listed the starting price of a three-day Pleasant Holidays vacation package at $349 per person, per day, plus taxes. The price was per person, per trip.
Since August, he said, prices for cruises in the Caribbean, Mexico and other winter destinations have fallen 8% to 10% on average. On some ships, travelers have been able to sail for less than $50 per person per day.
Norwegian Cruise Line on Friday was offering a 12-day eastern Mediterranean cruise in January starting at $579 per person before taxes. Some Caribbean cruises cost less than $100 for three days, with $200 in onboard credit thrown in, Driscoll said.
Many cruise lines have waived or reduced deposits or relaxed cancellation deadlines.
Luxury Crystal Cruises, which typically charges $250 or more per person per day, has been throwing in free airfare from Los Angeles for some Panama Canal sailings.
Vacationing in Hawaii, always a pricey destination, has become cheaper. You can buy multiday trips for less than $1,000, including airfare.
Last week, giant tour operator Pleasant Holidays began selling three-night air and hotel packages from Los Angeles to the islands starting at $349 per person per day, plus taxes.
"If you look at Hawaii today compared to a year ago, it's less expensive today," said Susan Tanzman, owner of Martin's Travel & Tours in Los Angeles.
Even the rich can pinch pennies. The Four Seasons Resort Hawaii, Hualalai, on the Big Island, has been offering a fourth night free. So instead of paying $725 a night for an ocean-view room, guests average $544. If they spring for an even fancier room, they'll get two rounds of golf and two spa treatments.
At the other end of the spectrum, there's Las Vegas, hard hit by the travel downturn. One hotel in the gambling destination recently offered rooms for $1 a night.
For air travelers, planes are still likely to be crowded because airlines have been cutting flights to slash costs and keep fares high. But empty seats are starting to crop up, and that's alarming carriers.
To fill planes, airlines are going to have to clip fares, analysts said. "From now until March 15, there could be some really unprecedented bargains," Brancatelli said.
