Hotwire Includes Puerto Vallarta in Summer 'Where To Go Now & How Guide' Tatiana Rokou - Travel Daily News
go to original July 9, 2013

San Francisco - Hotwire.com announced their Summer 2013 Where To Go Now & How Guide. Each season, Hotwire leverages its research, data and industry insight to provide folks with five destinations that offer the best overall experience and value.

To form the list, Hotwire analyzes local trends like weather and tourist traffic, as well as entertainment options, cultural experiences and the available deals in each locale. This summer, the deals lead us to coastal areas across the country, including Los Angeles, Richmond and New Orleans, and internationally to Barcelona and Puerto Vallarta.

"Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for travel as the kids are out of school and the weather is great, but the downside often includes large crowds, long lines and high prices in many destinations," said Pierre-Etienne Chartier, vice president of the Hotwire Group. "However, by analyzing our data and gathering travel industry insights we've been able to pinpoint several destinations near or on the coast where there are great deals and great fun to be had."

Barcelona – vibrant city with attractive price drops
Why Now: Barcelona is in its high season during summer, but there are still fantastic deals to be had – particularly for hotel rooms. Many hotels across Europe are trying to make up for the slower than usual traffic they've experienced the past couple years due to a slow economy, which has resulted in some properties dropping prices. In particular, we are seeing some fantastic prices throughout Spain, including the summer retreat of Barcelona. Home to fantastic outdoor and beach activities, Barcelona is also a first class destination for shopping, art and culture. While there, visitors can take a cable car – or walk, if they're feeling adventurous – up to the top of Montjuïic to enjoy the breathtaking views of the city, take a stroll down the famous and beautiful Gothic Quarter or check out the architectural masterpieces of Gaudí's Casa Batlló and Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller. The city typically experiences temperatures in the 80s during the summer, so visitors can soak in some sun and then cool off in the Mediterranean at one of the many beaches along the coast. And since Barcelona is right on the water, folks can also enjoy traditional, fresh and reasonably-priced Catalan seafood in restaurants like Los Caracoles and Agut.
 
Value: Current 4-star and above hotel prices are around $100 per night on Hotwire which represents nearly a 10 percent drop compared to last summer, and deals will likely get much better over the coming weeks.

Puerto Vallarta – fewer travelers means more money-saving deals
Why Now: Puerto Vallarta experiences its peak season during the winter when travelers want to escape cold weather and again during spring break. And though prices are typically lower during the summer given that it's off-season, hoteliers are dropping prices even lower this year to try and attract visitors who may be considering other beach-friendly destinations like Hawaii and the Caribbean. Vacationers can drink, dine, shop and dance on the beach or enjoy one of the many tour options, such as exploring underwater marvels on a snorkel or scuba tour, ziplining through lush canopies, or sampling the city's surprisingly international culinary scene.
 
Value: Hotel prices are down 25 percent when compared to last summer and average hotel prices on Hotwire are a low $65 a night.

Read about Los Angeles, New Orleans & Richmond here.

Above savings are calculated by comparing Hotwire Hot Rates for select destinations during peak season (varies by location) against Hotwire Hot Rates this summer season (June through August 2013). Any note of year-over-year comparisons are comparing summer months (June-August) to the same time last year. Hotel and airfare sample rates are based on Hotwire searches made between 6/26/13 for specified travel dates for each city. All hotel sample rates are Hotwire Hot Rates. More at Hotwire.com.