Travelers Flee the Cold and Cash-In On Lower Flight Prices This Spring Break, According to Orbitz Insider Index

CHICAGO, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring Break travelers should move quickly to finalize plans and take advantage of lower airfares in many major markets, coupled with finding the remaining deals for hotels, where prices are up over 2012 because of a shortened spring break travel season related to an early Easter holiday, according to the travel experts at Orbitz.

With Easter falling in March this year, a compacted spring break season is creating more demand within a smaller window for hotels with prices on an upward trend when compared to spring break 2012. However, travelers will find refuge in cheaper flight costs than last year, according to the new Spring Break Orbitz Insider Index. The Index, which reveals the top 10 destinations for Spring Break based on hotel bookings, tracked year-over-year drops in average airfare in nine of the 10 markets on the list; with the biggest deals found in Los Angeles and New York (-13 percent) and Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers (-12 percent).

While the early holiday has created a condensed travel window, travelers can still find average daily hotel rates under $150 a night in three of the top 10 destinations – Orlando, Las Vegas and Tampa. Potentially because of low hotel prices, Orlando and Las Vegas took the top two spots respectively, followed by Cancun. After a winter that battered much of the country by storms, it comes as little surprise that nine of the top 10 spring break spots are located in warm-weather destinations.  That bodes well for those looking for bargains on spring ski and snowboarding trips.

"After a winter that has packed in one snowstorm after another, a sunny Spring Break is high on the wish list for most travelers and it helps that so many of these hot spots also offer affordable travel deals and a plethora of family activities," said Orbitz.com Senior Travel Editor Jeanenne Tornatore. "Whether families are contemplating international travel or staying domestic, the common denominator is the majority of the top spring break destinations offer wonderful weather and activities for every family member, from toddlers and the hard-to-impress teen crowd, to parents hoping to find some relaxation during their family vacation."

Spring Break Family Destinations

Orbitz also identified the most popular family spring break spots based on destinations with the most family bookings (three or more people) and provided picks from Orbitz travel experts for locations that truly offer something for everyone.

Orbitz editors hand-picked the following destinations for families looking to avoid the Spring Break college crowd:

St. Pete Beach – The "sunset capital" of Florida features everything from white sand sunbathing, to one of the only renowned surfing spots on the Gulf. Spring Break travelers will find affordable airfare into nearby Tampa or St. Petersburg and a wide-range of accommodation options. Orbitz experts recommend the TradeWinds Island Resorts, an activity-packed pair of hotels where kids can choose from two water parks and adventurous adults can literally soar above the gulf on a water-propelled jet pack.

London – London is the top spot for families looking for a European spring break getaway. March in London means the picturesque Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on the Thames, blooms in the Royal Botanical Gardens and a massive St. Patrick's Day parade. Moms who time it right can also catch England's edition of Mother's Day – Mothering Sunday on March 10 – and spoil themselves with a lavish afternoon tea, a show or some of London's world-class shopping.

Disney Cruise – Many hear Disney and only think small children, but Disney Cruises have become a favorite for all ages thanks to amenities like the teens-only Chill spa, secluded adult pools and Broadway-caliber live shows and entertainment. Last year saw the launch of the Disney Fantasy ship, which merged 20^th century design from the heyday of ocean liner-travel with cutting edge technology and touts 1,900 more beds than other Disney cruise ships. Disney Cruises have budget-friendly prices as low as low as $88 per night for Bahamas-bound cruises so families won't have to break the bank to get a fun vacation for the whole family.

Bahamas – Crystal clear water and fine sandy beaches present a host of fun for the whole family in the Bahamas from casinos to snorkeling. Orbitz experts recommend booking an all-inclusive hotel such as Atlantis this spring break because it truly has something to fit everyone's fancy, including a 141-acre water park with complimentary admission for guests, a Las Vegas-style nightclub, Aura and a one-of-a-kind marine habitat at Dolphin Cay. For families lucky enough to spend Easter at Atlantis, the resort is celebrating with an "Egg-citing Easter Weekend" with egg hunts, festive brunches and custom Easter basket sales. With average temperatures hovering just around a perfect 80 degrees in March and April, the Bahamas provide a great retreat for escaping this year's extra chilly winter.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Puerto Vallarta has a number of family-friendly accommodations and activities at affordable prices. Children of all ages and adults alike will enjoy exploring the Boca de Tomatlan beach jungle paradise by jeep safari or horseback. Those looking for water adventures can check out the magnificent humpback whales through March 23 in the bay where these great mammals have chosen for their breeding grounds. For those who want to get up close and personal with sea life, families can take a day trip to swim or dive with the dolphins at one of the many Dolphin Discovery locations.

Click here to find more great ideas and deals on Spring Break getaways.

About Orbitz.com 

Orbitz.com is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book an array of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Since launching its website 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 the Orbitz Matrix Display and Orbitz Price Assurance. The Matrix Display revolutionized the way the travel industry displayed fares and makes it quick and easy for consumers to compare flights, rental cars and vacation packages. Orbitz.com also offers "Insider Steals," a weekly, members-only flash sale that provides exclusive deals of 50% or more off of handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world as well as "Mobile Steals," exclusive hotel deals of up to 50% off in the most popular destinations around the world, available to mobile consumers via m.orbitz.com and the full suite of Orbitz mobile apps. On Orbitz.com consumers can search a broad range of suppliers worldwide. Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide. Stay connected to Orbitz.com with sale alerts, exclusive promotions and engaging conversations by following Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and the Orbitz Travel Blog.

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) and the Away Network (www.away.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution (corp.orbitz.com/partnerships/distribution) delivers private label travel solutions to a broad range of partners including many of the world's largest airlines, and Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed corporate travel solutions for corporations. For more information on partnership opportunities with Orbitz Worldwide, visit corp.orbitz.com.

SOURCE Orbitz