August 11, 2003 -- Key West likes to call itself part of "the American Caribbean," though it technicallystraddles the spot where the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic meet. Official geographyaside, you can go during the winter high season in Florida during 2004 from as little as$254 for two nights, including airfare.Or if you want to go to the "official" Caribbean,Autumn can be more than pleasant, especially with bargains galore, some of which startas low as $299 for three nights, air included.
United Vacations, affiliated with United Airlines, has three-day (two-night)winter vacations to Orlando beginning as low as $254 out of Boston, New York City andWashington DC. The same deal out of Chicago costs $284, out of Los Angeles, SanDiego, San Francisco or Denver runs$384, and out of Seattle or Portland OR $464.These bargains include two nights at Days Inn Orlando Lakeside (where onechild 12 and under per paying adult eats free breakfast), roundtrip air on United, ashopping voucher (good for discount dining, too), and VIP seating at PlanetHollywood.
Vacations to Miami, also for two nights, begin at $324 from Boston, New York andDC, and appropriately higher fees from the other cities listed above, where you stay at theBest Western Miami Beach Resort.
All these United prices are valid for Monday-Thursday travel from January 1 throughMarch 31, 2004, per person in a double, and do not include airport fees and taxes.Contact United Vacations at www.unitedvacations.com or by phoning 888/328-6877.
Three-night vacations in the traditional Caribbean are the order of the day fromUS Airways Vacations for this fall, with booking deadline between now andAugust 22, 2003, for travel between August 14 and December 14, 2003. US Airwaysclaims you will save up to 40% off previous prices. All vacations include roundtrip airtravel on US Airways, hotel accommodations for three nights, roundtrip airport/hoteltransfers, hotel taxes and service charges. Here are a few examples:
You pay as little as $299 out of Philadelphia to stay for three nights at Jamaica'sCarne Ridge Resort (formerly $379). Departing from Raleigh/Durham, youpay $299 for three nights in Cancun at the Imperial Las Perlas, formerly $351.If it's Bermuda you're thinking of, a vacation there out of Boston starts at $491 at theGrotto Bay Beach Resort, formerly $606. In the Bahamas, prices out ofPhiladelphia start at $439 at South Ocean Golf & Beach Resort(Nassau/Paradise Island), formerly $516. Other deals, from many other US Airwaysgateways, are available, so just inquire. These sample rates are per person, doubleoccupancy. Departure dates vary, and there if a blackout period from November 22 toDecember 7. Airport fees and taxes not included.
For US Airways vacations, contact www.usairwaysvacations.com or phone800/352-8747.