After-holiday sales: Get great deals on travel

By Aimee Markwardt

Shoes and handbags aren’t the only things facing major price slashing after the holiday shopping rush. With January typically the slowest month in travel, the window just after the holidays is also a great time to score cheap airline tickets.

Smartertravel.com calls this time of year — up to the first week of January — “dead weeks” in the travel industry, marked by drops in travel. (Let’s admit it; most Americans are broke and exhausted from Christmas, out of vacation time or ready for time time away from their family drama, not more time on a family vacation.) But if your schedule and life is flexible, to you, dead week can mean bargain week.

First, however: The key to saving money on travel is being informed. Start by understanding the flow of airline sales and trends by reading Rick Seaney’s article in ABC News. Keep up on travel news by following ABC Travel’s Twitter.

Then get familiar with the on and off season schedules of destinations you are interested in visting.

Need some inspiration? Here are a few destinations to consider this time of year:

Travel and Leisure magazine says the Caribbean and most island hotels reduce rates between New Year’s Day and President’s Day, Feb. 18, (when many schools have mid-winter break). Beaches.com has a ton of specials going on right now, such as save up to 65 percent off an all-inclusive stay at the Beaches in Turks and Caicos. If the very letters T&C already has you drooling, don’t miss additional savings: One free night (after you stay six, but like anyone has to pull your leg to get you to stay an extra day) at a Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos.

In addition, pushing back your ski vacation from December to mid-January or later can save you big bucks. For example, the Austria Haus in Vail, Colorado, is currently having a “winter sale” on Hotels.com, with rates up to 25 percent off. Rooms typically $529 a night are down to $412. In addition, Hotels.com has a deal right now for $100 off booking, plus 4 percent cash back if booked through shopathome.com.

Apple Vacations is also offering discounted all-inclusive vacations, if booked before Jan. 3. Three nights, all-inclusive, lodging and airfare to Cancun, Mexico, starting at $550? It’s time to melt away some of that holiday stress and start of 2013 with a beach umbrella and sandy toes. Save even more by checking out the Apple Vacation coupons at shopathome.com.

You might also enjoy: 
Best winter travel destinations
Top US travel destinations for 2013
More travel coupons