Holiday Airfares Expected to Climb, But Winter Travel Deals Abound

Christmas ornament If you’re a last-minute holiday shopper, this message is for you: book your holiday flights now, before fares start climbing.

Keep reading to find out when you should finalize your plans, and while you’re at it, check out some year-end deals to add to your holiday wish list.

Fares have remained steady recently, but experts say you can expect prices to go up if you don’t book your seats at least 21 days in advance of your flight.

Tickets from Los Angeles to New York City have already jumped 11 percent in the last week, and that trend will likely continue the longer you wait.

If you haven’t finalized your holiday plans yet, Priceline.com travel expert Brian Ek suggests you find an excuse to visit friends or family in Florida. If you needed more of a reason to visit the Sunshine State this December, fares to Florida have dropped 7 -15 percent in the last week and roundtrip from Minneapolis to Orlando is now just $348.

Florida isn’t the only discounted warm weather destination. More than 15 Los Cabos, Mexico resorts are offering special deals through the end of the year.

Learn what else Mexico is doing to attract visitors: Mexico Unveils New Health Insurance Scheme to Lure Back Travelers. Or find out about how Mexico Tourism Uses Deep Discounts to Entice Travelers.

The Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort package starts at $169 per night with 25 percent off food, beverage and spa treatments (valid through December 23).

The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort has rates from $219 per night plus a free fourth night for every three nights booked.

American Airlines currently has a number of discounted flights to Mexico if you book by December 31 and travel by February 11, 2010. One-way rates include San Antonio to Cozumel for $151, Miami to Ixtapa for $180 and Orlando to Los Cabos for $251.

For more ideas, visit our Mexico & Central American Travel section.

Not interested in Mexico? Try Costa Rica instead.

According to Fly.com, you can find reasonable round-trip fares to Costa Rica, even during the peak Christmas-to-New Year’s timeframe.

If you leave December 24 and return the 30th, you can fly from Chicago to San Jose, Costa Rica for $461, from Boston for $593, from New York City for $544 and $541 from Washington DC.

If you’ve always wanted to go to Australia, you can make the most of your visit with the Qantas Airways South Australia Airpass. For $999, you get round-trip airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Australia, an additional three flights within the continent, and a round-trip flight to Kangaroo Island.Even if you can’t get away to some place warm, you can save up to 30 percent if you book your hotel with Hotels.com by December 28. Starting today, you can find deals in more than 100 markets including big cities like New York and San Francisco, as well as beach and ski destinations. This deal includes peak travel between December 14-28, 2010.

By Dan Bence and Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.

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new years flight deals

It looks like Los Cabos is the place for me. I love the scenery from the pictures and I am a golfer so killing two birds with one stone seems to be happening. This article is great because now I know what airlines to use to travel here. As long as there are some great traveling deals.