Travelers Headed to Quiet, Warm Destinations for Holidays; Big Cities Lose Share
 

Travelers Headed to Quiet, Warm Destinations for Holidays; Big Cities Lose Share of Visitors

Travelocity.com Research Shows Trends in 2001 Holiday Travel

In perhaps the largest look at where holiday travelers are headed this year, research by Travelocity.com, the leading travel Web site, indicates that travelers are flocking to warm destinations more than last year, and many are heading to traditionally less-traveled destinations for the holidays.

The study also shows that a smaller share of travelers is headed to large cities during Christmas and New Years, compared with last year. The study found:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011217/dam012_1.html

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So where are you all off to?

I'm gonna be in lovely Florida, mostly MCO, for the first time since before the famed Presidential election! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I'm renting a motorhome and heading to Mexico...

Apparently, everyone and their mother is heading to PHX this Thursday and Friday. All HP flights from the EWR to PHX have been sold out for weeks. Ironically, it's been colder there than in NYC for the last week.

Posted by doc:

Travelers Headed to Quiet, Warm Destinations for Holidays
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Doc,
MCO is not such a QUIET destination,
and may not be very warm.
Actually, MCO can be quite cold in
December/January. I live in Naples,
which is much warmer.
Next, we have had a very warm Winter
so far since beginning of November.
This warm weather can end any time
soon, however, I hope not during
X-Mas/New Year, when lots of "snow birds"
are heading to Florida.
Since November we had always 80+F and
no rain in the month of November and
only 1 inch of rain in December.
BTW, when you go to MCO, make a trip
to Winterpark, just North of MCO ...
very nice little town.

I read in the Chicago Tribune or Sun Times that many Chicago hotels are almost sold out for New Years Eve.

I'm going to Australia.

USAFA: I have secured a hotel reservation at the Marriott on Marco Island for next week, now I am working on my air travel, trying to use UA miles or get some reasonable priced UA tix(still holding tix from a previously cxld trip to TPA). How is the weather typically at this time? Is is still warm enogh to swim in the ocean/hotel pools?
Thanks in advance for your advise.

After a week in BKK Mariott, am off to newer and fresher times at the JW Marriott in Phuket for a week. Warms and sunny.
No corwd at thepool like last year's great crush of tourists. Lounge chairs only about 1/3 full. Expect less at Phuket, since JW just opened past week. Even a few seats on the flight over.. The blost of travelers of the last few years makes for more relaxed travel.

Wishing everyone a Warm and Healthy Holiday Seeason!

After a week in BKK Mariott, am off to newer and fresher times at the JW Marriott in Phuket for a week. Warms and sunny.
No corwd at thepool like last year's great crush of tourists. Lounge chairs only about 1/3 full. Expect less at Phuket, since JW just opened past week. Even a few seats on the flight over.. The blost of travelers of the last few years makes for more relaxed travel.

Wishing everyone a Warm and Healthy Holiday Seeason!

cesco,

it is still unusual warm here in Southwest Florida. However, the weather people think that a colder front is coming.
This are yesterdays data:
High 84F
Low 64F
Water 77F
Sunrise 7:07AM
Sunset 5:38PM
2 fun places for your visit. Go on Sundays to Backwater Nicks in Isle of Capri. This is a restaurant/chicky bar direct on the water. And/or Stan's Idle place in Goodland.
Both are fun places. People come with their boat or Harley.
Was yesterday in Campiello, Naples, 3rd Street South. Very stylish, had a pork loin (just under $20); was almost the best I ever had.
BTW, you have to see Naples Fifth Avenue South/3rd Street South area - nice X-Mas decoration.

Thanks a lot for the great information, USAFAN. Still finalizing my air tix, RSW is virtually impossible to get into, so I try TPA, MIA maybe even MCO.

cesco.g:

Don't forget SRQ (use UA miles on Delta)...

Thanks, USAFAN! I understand! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Two of my best friends from Med School are there in Florida (lots of older folks need more Medical care as you know) so... there are some other factors and I'm not just goin' to MCO! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Great suggestion, BIM. I'll look into it.

My favorite Christmas destination is wherever my grandbabies plan to be!

Doc,
yes, we have a lot of good doctors here. Now we have a Cleveland Clinic in Naples; top doctors, rooms like Ritz Carlton, sky high prices and a lousy administration (like most of the hospitals worldwide). There is another Cleveland Clinic in Ft. Lauderdale and a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

For all Florida travellers: Since today it has become colder. In Naples - and this is one of the warmest spots in Florida - we had under 60F in the morning and 78F in the afternoon, however clear, dry and sunny.