Hotel Rooms Scarce in Winter Hotspots

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Today's WSJ has an interesting article about bookings in Mexico and Carib resorts this winter. Here are some highlights:

Bookings to both Mexico and the Carib are up over 40% year over year at Orbitz and Cheap Tickets

Average daily rate at hotels in Mexico climbed 7.9% to $107.82 in November
(in the Carib the increase was 3.3% to $150.16)

Marriott's Aruba/Stellaris Casino Resort had its best Dec ever, with occupancy up 17% above Dec 2005

Grand Velas Resort in Nuevo Vallarta has bookings up 5% from last yer and rates up 10% from a year ago

The article also says the new passport requirement seems to not be affecting winter travel to these hotspots.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Thanks for posting this. I always feel better about timeshares when I see that hotel room rates really ARE going up.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Marriott's Aruba/Stellaris Casino Resort had its best Dec ever, with occupancy up 17% above Dec 2005

I guess that the Aruba boycott, never really came to fruition, after all.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks for posting this. I always feel better about timeshares when I see that hotel room rates really ARE going up.

I've been looking for some jan/feb deals in Manhattan, the rates are much higher than last year... Just got a Feb night at MC from a TUGger for $200.

I'm going to try Priceline for the night I want on Jan 24th...

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I guess I should be thrilled I got HGVC Southbeach for Easter break huh?

Not to mention the $214RT air that Glitter told me I'd be crazy not to by RIGHT AWAY.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

There are 2 reasons that come to mind: (1) the dollars has not lost value against the peso as it has among most other currencies (2) the lack of snow in the northeast makes going there a bit less desireable for skiing right now.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Tony, you are right as Europe is getting so expensive now for us to go to but Europeans like it and are coming here instead.

Many are starting to go to Mexico too because the travel agencies offer them such attractive travel deals, my friend from Germany told me this morning.