The Best Travel Deals of the Year are in Winter Months

Savvy travelers looking for deals should plan to get away during January, February or March. Plenty of destinations are offering deeply discounted packages. Even luxury hotels, like the new Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, offer steep discounts, as much as 50 percent off room rates, during the relatively slow season.

"People aren’t booking vacation trips at the same rate they do in our peak season," said David Hart, president of Hart Hotels. "We offer reduced rates and packages to lure customers in. The surrounding wineries also are trying to capture the attention of deal hunters by promoting events like the ‘Bargain Bash’ where they slash the prices of wine during mid-January."

Hart Hotels is not alone in discounting rooms. AAA confirms that the travel industry as a whole plans and promotes plenty of travel packages during the winter months to attract customers.

"Now is an opportune time to travel because the travel industry, including hotels and resort properties, is discounting prices to attract travelers," said Tom Chestnut, President/CEO of AAA Western and Central New York. "As Upstate New York’s largest travel agency, we have also been providing AAA members with special offers. AAA knows that travelers are seeking added value with every getaway, and discounted hotel rates will certainly help lower the overall cost of a trip."

Richard Geiger, President, Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, agrees. "Now more than ever travelers are looking to stretch their money, that’s why traveling this winter can offer tremendous value," said Richard Geiger, President, Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. "For many destinations, the winter months are quieter than other times of the year, so they become creative in their pricing to entice visitors. There’s a tremendous bang for the buck for anyone looking to travel the next several months."

Hart Hotels is a Hospitality Management Company located in Buffalo, New York. The company currently owns and operates six hotels in the Greater Buffalo, New York area, and three hotels in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. It also owns and operates the Portland Harbor hotel in Portland, Maine, the Green Mountain Suites Hotel in South Burlington, Vermont, and the Yarrow Resort in Park City, Utah. For more information, visit www.harthotels.com.

Designed by architect Norbert Hausner, the hotel’s decor strives to tell a story of the region’s storied past. Throughout the hotel, guests will notice walls lined with vintage photographs of Watkins Glen in its heyday, when the world’s fastest drivers raced through its streets. Other walls adorned with rock echo the look of the gorge of the nearby State Park. Each deluxe guest room features whitewashed furniture and beautiful wood floors, and a spa inspired shower mixed with a casual elegance design. Several rooms and suites include a balcony and breathtaking view of Seneca Lake. The hotel’s Blue Point Grille features an upscale menu by head chef Chris Haskell and is complemented by a wine list featuring the region’s finest wines.

The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is located directly on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, and is just a short drive from the Cayuga and Keuka Lake wine trails. For more information, visit www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com.