Orbitz Insider Index Reveals Top 10 Destinations for Spring 'Shoulder Season' Savings

CHICAGO, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring and fall -- called "shoulder seasons" in the travel industry -- have long been known by budget travelers as the time to take advantage of significant savings and fewer crowds in popular destinations.  In this edition of the Orbitz Insider Index, Orbitz reveals the top 10 Spring Shoulder Season destinations where travelers will find savings up to 30 percent less than summer package prices.

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"It's not too late to find great spring travel bargains," said Jeanenne Tornatore, Orbitz Travel Insider.  "April and May bring mild weather, fewer crowds and lower prices on hotels and vacation packages in top destinations, from London to Bermuda."

Orbitz Insider Index – Top 2010 Spring Shoulder Season Destinations*

*Based on Hotel and Air + Hotel bookings made on Orbitz by 4/2/10, for travel between 4/1/10  and 5/31/10, compared to Hotel and Air + Hotel bookings made on Orbitz for travel between 6/1/09 and 8/31/09.

Why Spring is the Time to Go

In addition to spring savings, these top deal-inspired destinations offer plenty for the traveler who wants to beat the summer crowds, but fill their week or long weekend with an array of activities.

St. Lucia

Winter may be high season for this Caribbean island, but springtime showcases some great reasons to visit in April and May.  From May 1 -9, visitors can take in the sounds of St. Lucia Jazz, a once small event that has developed into an international music festival.  For water sport and diving enthusiasts, a spring trip presents the opportunity to enjoy the sparkling waters and native marine life after the winter and spring break crowds have departed.

Portland, OR

For those looking for a last-minute weekend escape, Portland has the deals that make it a clear choice. This eco-friendly destination offers the diversity of a city where travelers can engage in cultural experiences and easily explore some of the most beautiful natural settings in the country.   Through April 25, visitors to Portland can meander among 40 acres of tulips at the 25th Annual Tulip Festival in Woodburn, less than an hour drive from the city.  Portland also makes the perfect base city to venture out for day trips to see the beautiful Oregon Coast, wine country and Mount Hood.

London, England

From the London Eye to the Victoria & Albert Museum, the list of attractions to see in London is a long one -- and so are the lines to see them if you wait until summer.  Spring in this historic city can be one of the most rewarding times to visit if you're big on sight-seeing and tight on budget.  And there's no shortage of events this spring to fill your time.  Celebrate English Heritage during St. George's Day celebrations, April 23 – 25, and get into the spirit of spring at the Chelsea Flower Show, May 25 – 29.  

San Diego, CA

No matter what time of year you visit sunny southern California you can't go wrong.  With spring package prices averaging 15 percent lower than summer and a host of local spring events, now is the time to take advantage of a long weekend getaway.  Participate in parades and sample local cuisine at the Sicilian Festival in downtown San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood on April 23.  Take in the 26th Annual Mission Federal ArtWalk, April 24 - 25, where over 300 artists will be showing and selling their work.  Events aside, if you're looking to take the family to one of the many area theme parks, you'll enjoy much shorter lines before the summer crowds start pouring in.

About Orbitz.com

Orbitz.com (www.orbitz.com) is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its Web site to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world and has led the industry with innovations including Flight Price Assurance, Hotel Price Assurance and Total Price hotel search results. On Orbitz.com consumers can search more than 80,000 suppliers worldwide including airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide.

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About Orbitz Worldwide

Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (www.ratestogo.com), the Away Network (www.away.com), and corporate travel brand Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com). For more information on partnership opportunities with Orbitz Worldwide, visit corp.orbitz.com.

SOURCE Orbitz.com