November 9, 2004 -- Now that the hurricane and election seasons are both over, it's safe to travel to Florida again. And prices are dropping in welcome. Jet Blue and USAir are offering the best airfare deals, but almost every major carrier, as well as several tour operators, are advertising a package deal or two. Here's the rundown:
Jet Blue (tel. 800/538-2583; www.jetblue.com)
- Boston to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa or Fort Myers, from $138 round trip
- Washington, D.C. to Fort Lauderdale: $138
- NYC (JFK) to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Fort Myers: $138
- Burlington, VT to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Fort Myers: $158
- Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Fort Myers: $158
- Rochester to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Fort Myers: $158
- Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Fort Myers: $158
- Long Beach, CA to Fort Lauderdale: $178
Jet Blue SuperFly fares require a 7-day advance purchase and must be booked on Jetblue.com. Travel must be complete by February 15, 2005. Fares do not include some fees and taxes.
USAir (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usair.com)
- Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale: $158
- Boston to Fort Lauderdale: $72
- Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale: $178
- Cincinnati to Fort Lauderdale: $198
- New York LaGuardia to Fort Lauderdale: $128
- Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale: $158
- Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale: $198
- Providence to Fort Lauderdale: $138
- Washington, D.C. to Fort Lauderdale: $158
For travel on/after February 13, 2005
- Fort Lauderdale to Key West: $138
- Fort Lauderdale to Orlando: $98
- Fort Lauderdale to Tampa: $98
These Go-Fare prices are for round-trip airfare but do not include taxes and fees. No Saturday-night stay required. Additionally, the carrier is currently holding a two-day sale featuring Florida destinations with the lowest roundtrip fare coming in at $78 before taxes (that's for some flights out of Philly, Pittsburgh and D.C.). For the details page, visit www.usair.com/pro/specials/two_day_fla_sale.htm.
American Airlines (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com) has several package deals to FLA. All prices include airfare and 3 nights' stay per person, based on double occupancy. Taxes not included.
- New York to Fort Lauderdale: 3 nights from $256 (at the Best Western Oceanside Inn) to $394 (at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper)
- New York to Miami: 3 nights from $256 (Deauville Beach Resort) to $563 (Loews Miami Beach Hotel)
- New York to Walt Disney World: 3 nights from $464 to $787
Continental (tel. 800/523-3273; www.continental.com) is running many last-minute package specials to numerous cities in Florida, including Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Boca Raton, Tampa, St. Petersburg and more. From the Continental home page, click "specials," then "last-minute getaways." Tickets must be purchased in the next few weeks. One we like is four nights in Naples/Gulf Coast (Fort Myers) starting from $473, depending on departure city, at the 4-star Best Western Naples Plaza Hotel. Price includes taxes and fees.
Delta (tel. 800/654-6559; www.delta.com) is also offering some great bargains for travel completed in the next week or two. From the home page, click "Special Offers," then "Last-Minute Deals." New York to Orlando, $295/person (including three nights' hotel, air, taxes, and fees) is from November 12 to November 16. See additional fares to Miami, St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville, and more.
Liberty Travel (tel. 888-271-1584; www.libertytravel.com) is offering several fabulous air/hotel packages to Florida. On the home page, click "Vacations" then "Florida" under Destinations. Prices do not include taxes and fees.
- Four nights in Tampa, at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, are $339 from New York/JFK, $339 from Boston, $339 from Philadelphia, $319 from Providence, $339 from Hartford/Springfield, $315 from Baltimore / Washington Intl, $419 from Pittsburgh, and $379 from Los Angeles.
- Three nights at the Edison Hotel in Miami South Beach is $375 from New York Kennedy, Boston, Baltimore/Washington, and Buffalo; $449 from Pittsburgh; $365 from Rochester; $449 from Albany; and $439 from Syracuse.
One of this week's top 10 specials from Eleisurelink (tel. 888/801-8808; www.eleisurelink.com) features airfare, car, and 4 nights at La Playa Beach Resort, on the Gulf of Mexico in Naples, starting at $489 (from Buffalo and Rochester). Departures from other cities are slightly higher but still a bargain: JFK New York $515, Boston $515, Buffalo $489, Albany $619, Pittsburgh $595, Baltimore/Washington International $515, Rochester $489 and Syracuse $515, The land-only offer is $369. Travel is valid from October 30, 2004 to December 22, 2004 and all trips must be booked by December 15, 2004. Prices do not include taxes.
Know a Florida bargain we missed in this report? Tell us on our Florida Message Boards today!
