Good-Value Getaways
GET MORE IN MEXICO A 15 percent drop in tourism means savings for sun seekers.
Las Vegas
Mexico
Orlando
• Sin City’s luck turned when con-
vention and meeting
bookings—a big reve-
nue source—began drying up due to
the recession. During the first three
months of 2009 alone, 340 events
were shelved, resulting in a loss of
about $131.6 million. To attract travel-
ers, hoteliers are dropping average
daily rates by 27 percent and throw-
ing in extra amenities such as food
credits and show discounts. MGM
Grand’s Maximum Escape Package
(800-929-1111; mgmgrand.com) in-
cludes rooms starting at $70 nightly,
a $35 activity credit, and 25 percent
off spa services. The Mirage (800-
374-9000; mirage.com) offers rooms
starting at $86 per night, a $50 buffet
credit, and four tickets (worth $60)
to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden
and Dolphin Habitat (877-847-4858;
visitlasvegas.com).
• What’s next— locusts? With Mexico
making headlines for
H1N1, hurricanes,
earthquakes, and crime, the country
received half a million fewer tourists
in the first half of 2009 than in 2008.
To attract travelers to safe and sunny
resort areas such as Cancún, Cozu-
mel, and Los Cabos, all-inclusive
properties—where the price already
covers meals, beverages, and some
activities—are serving up deals. Fun-
jet Vacations (888-558-6654; funjet
.com) offers four nights at the all-
inclusive Great Parnassus Resort &
Spa in Cancún for $404 per person.
Apple Vacations (800-517-2000;
applevacations.com) will fly two
people from Philadelphia for a week’s
stay at the Westin Resort & Spa, Puer-
to Vallarta ( 12 minutes from down-
town by taxi) for $949 per person.
(These rates are subject to change.)
• That’s right: even Disney is offering
discounts. Families are
still visiting Orlando
(though business travel is down), but
overall lower occupancy and an esti-
mated 6,000 new hotel rooms com-
ing this year will make competition
for your dollar fierce. The city and
its mega-attractions—Walt Disney
World, Sea World, Universal Orlan-
do—are dangling free nights, meals,
and other perks to get you to extend
your trip. And many of the area’s 176
golf courses are touting fourth-night-
free lodging specials and play-all-day
golf rates, so you can pay for round
one and get round two for free (866-
342-4782; golforlando.com). Orlan-
do’s complimentary Magicard also
offers freebies and deals for lodging,
restaurants, and activities. Get one at
orlandoinfo.com; click on “Discounts
& Promotions.” —Laura Daily
