LOS ANGELES, May 6 — Travellers researching summer holiday ideas may want to check out TripAdvisor’s breakdown of best value deals for 2015, which includes tips on when to visit the most searched-for destination this summer to get more bang for their buck.
After looking at the average cost of a one-week trip including roundtrip airfare from within the US, hotel and three restaurant meals a day, number crunchers concluded that the best time to visit Sin City — the most popular summer destination among American TripAdvisor users — is the first week of June, when a seven-night vacation will cost about US$1,833 (RM6,600).
Las Vegas seems to buck the trend on the list of top 10 summer value destinations as, overall, the best value holidays are found near the end of August when prices dip below their mid-summer peak.
With the falling euro and strength of the US dollar, American travellers are also looking to stretch the value of the greenback abroad: Six of the top 10 most sought-after destinations are outside the US.
The most budget-friendly destination on the list? Orlando, where a trip booked during the week of August 17-23 will cost US$1,556 all-in.
The Summer Vacation Value Report also provides highly-rated value hotels for each destination. In Vegas, the average nightly summer rate at the Desert Rose Resort, for instance, is US$128, while Paris-bound travellers can save money by booking at the New Orient Hotel during the week of August 3-10 — the cheapest period — for a rate of US$163.
Here’s a closer look at the most popular destinations for US travellers this summer, along with the least expensive periods to visit.
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
Least expensive summer week to visit: June 1-7; US$1,833
Value hotel: Desert Rose Resort, average nightly summer rate: US$128
2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Least expensive week: August 24-30; US$1,706
Value hotel: Best Western Plus Grand Strand Inn & Suites, average nightly summer rate: US$163
3. Orlando, Florida
Least expensive week: August 17-23; US$1,556
Value hotel: The Point Orlando Resort, average nightly summer rate: US$118
4. Cancun, Mexico
Least expensive week: August 24-30; US$1,729
Value hotel: Mallorca Hotel & Suites, average nightly summer rate: US$89
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Least expensive week: August 24-30; US$2,679
Value hotel: The MT Hotel, average nightly summer rate: US$94
6. Paris, France
Least expensive week: August 3-10; US$2,920
Value hotel: New Orient Hotel, average nightly summer rate: US$163
7. New York City, New York
Least expensive week: June 29-July 5; US$2,922
Value hotel: Chelsea Lodge, average nightly summer rate: US$184
8. London, England
Least expensive week: August 17-23; US$3,732
Value hotel: The Hide London, average nightly summer rate: US$157
9. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Least expensive week: August 24-30; US$1,789
Value hotel: Luna Blue Hotel, average nightly summer rate: US$83
10. Rome, Italy
Least expensive week: August 24-30; US$2,935
Value hotel: Hotel Re di Roma, average nightly summer rate: US$92
— AFP-Relaxnews
