Hottest Vacation Cities for Cheapskates
Save by picking a fun city to fly to that also happens to be inexpensive.
— -- Where in the world do you want to go this summer? I've got some ideas, especially for the cheapskates among us.
That's no slur. I'm a cheapskate, too.
Unfortunately, the deck appears to be stacked against us frugal flyers, partly because airlines are riding so high these days. Profits are up, fuels costs are down. Things are so good in fact that American Airlines' CEO is foregoing his salary in favor of stock-compensation only (don't feel too sorry for Doug Parker, though; last year's stock awards came to $7 million).
It's a little bleaker for passengers: Fares for flights in the U.S. will rise about half a percent over last year and demand for European travel remains, as are the normally high summer prices. So why not save by picking a fun city to fly to that also happens to be cheap? Here's the line-up of cheapskate-friendly destinations in the U.S. and Europe.
Northeast
Boston: Raise a glass of Sam Adams to a city that's generally cheap to fly to year-round. Perfect for history buffs and those who enjoy a fun nightlife. Also nearby: bewitching Salem and the charming string of beaches that make up Cape Cod.
Washington, D.C.: Beginning this spring, we've been seeing some very cheap fares to the nation's capital especially from cities such as Detroit and Hartford. For visitors, the memorials on the Mall are reason enough to go but we also like the Newseum and the incomparable Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
South and Southwest
Ft. Lauderdale and Miami: These Florida cities, only about 25 miles apart, take turns being cheapest, depending on your departure city. Watch prices drop a bit toward the latter part of summer as we move deeper into hurricane season (June 1 to Nov. 30); the storm jitters of others can be your ticket to savings for a relaxing beach vacation.
Dallas: Big D has been a big deal since the demise of the Wright Amendment; this allowed hometown airline Southwest to fly long-haul non-stops to/from Dallas and prices sank like a stone. And ticket prices remain low, but for how long? If you've ever wanted to see the Cowboys' new stadium, pioneer-era homes, city views from the Geo-Deck at Reunion Tower or dine on excellent chili con queso, the time is now.
West
Denver: Like Boston, the Mile High City has been cheap for years so raise a Coors to the savings and come see the breathtaking Colorado scenery. Explore natural wonders like Rocky Mountain National Park, go white water rafting, take in an art museum, or visit Buffalo Bill's final resting place atop Lookout Mountain.
Seattle: Yet another city with very reasonable fares (thanks, Alaska Airlines) and a lot going on; mingle with the happy shoppers at Pike Place Market, see the so-kitschy-it's-cool Space Needle, ride on the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry, take in the view from the waterfront, enjoy some excellent coffee and maybe even tour the colossal Boeing factory in nearby Everett.
Europe
Dublin: Still the reigning champ for cheap destinations of Europe and the perfect place to jump on a discount carrier to visit other cities. But why leave, when Ireland offers everything from ancient castles, poetry and song, and all those inviting pubs?
Milan: We'll call this Italian city the new kid on the block because suddenly, it's cheap. A recent U.S. to Italy airfare sale featured Milan as its best-value destination from a wide range of U.S. departures. In some cases, it was 30 percent cheaper than Rome. This could be the year to visit La Scala or see da Vinci's masterpiece, "The Last Supper."
Scandinavia: Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm are cheap this year mainly thanks to aggressive moves by Norwegian Air Shuttle, and the inevitable matching of lower fares by competing carriers. Besides the fjords and mountains, Viking museums and fairy tale castles, all three countries ranked in the top ten of the United Nation's 2015 list of happiest countries on earth.
Paris: OK, so Paris isn't exactly cheap, but this summer it's a little cheaper than the others in the travel and tourism industry's Big Three (London, Paris, Rome). As for attractions, if you can't find something fascinating to see, do or eat in Paris, you might want to check your pulse.
Any opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author.