With Independence Day falling on a Thursday, travelers can enjoy an extended celebration – from Los Angeles to New York City.
SAN FRANCISCO – Hotwire.com revealed its list of top five Fourth of July deal destinations. Since Independence Day falls on a Thursday, travelers can get the biggest bang for their buck by lengthening their holiday with a four or five day weekend. To help Americans get that extra vacation this year, several major cities that typically see high prices during this holiday are instead topping the list of price drops. With the break less than two weeks away, these deals will help guide travelers toward destinations where they can get their fireworks and festivities at a discount.
“Independence Day is of course a very popular – and often expensive – holiday, but there are several big cities that are actually cheaper than last year, resulting in some deep savings for those hoping to plan an affordable and fun getaway,” said Pierre-Etienne Chartier, Vice President of the Hotwire Group. “Many of these cities are business hubs as well, and since there will likely be reduced travel for the work week, hotels are dropping prices in order to attract leisure travelers. The discounts we’re seeing this year are worth celebrating, and now travelers can extend their stays instead of their travel budgets.”
Some of the best deal destinations this Fourth of July are:
|
Destination |
Avg. Hotel Price on Hotwire |
YoY Price Change in % |
|
1. Chicago |
$111 |
-11 |
|
2. Portland |
$105 |
-10 |
|
3. Boston |
$158 |
-7 |
|
4. Seattle |
$122 |
-5 |
|
5. Los Angeles |
$100 |
-3 |
Among the best destinations to score a deal for the holiday are Chicago, Portland, Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles. Those looking for big-city deals in the U.S. need look no further than Chicago, which is offering an 11 percent price drop this Fourth of July compared to last year. June was an especially busy (and expensive) month for Chicago due to conventions, but since the Fourth disrupts business travel, people should find deep discounts. By staying through the weekend, visitors can catch a Cubs game and enjoy the annual fireworks display at the Navy Pier.
Next on the list is Portland, OR, down 10 percent from last year. Many Portland-area residents use the holiday to spend their time in the great outdoors, causing hoteliers to drop prices to attract more business to the city. Visitors to Portland can kick-off their Fourth with the Waterfront Blues Festival in the downtown area or head to Oaks Amusement Park for family-friendly activities and a larger-than-life fireworks show.
Rounding out the deal destinations for the Fourth of July holiday are Boston (seven percent drop), Seattle (five percent drop) and Los Angeles (three percent drop). All three are already-popular destinations that are even sweeter given the drops in hotel prices, especially Boston which often is one of the most visited 4th of July destinations. Each of these cities sees plenty of business travel, but with the holiday cutting the business week short, hotels are dropping their prices to help fill rooms. The city of Boston will host its 31st annual Harborfest and its 40th annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular this year – two must-sees for visitors. Seattle boasts an impressive fireworks display on Lake Union, the Seafair Summer Fourth festival in Gas Works Park and the Seattle International Beer Festival at Fisher Pavilion. Finally, the skies of Los Angles will be glowing with fireworks in a variety of locations – like the Rose Bowl, Disneyland and the Queen Mary.
*The five Fourth of July deal destinations and average prices are based on hotel bookings across all star categories made on Hotwire.com on 6/3/13 for travel between 7/3 – 7/8/13.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
