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American Morning

Fall Travel Deals

Aired September 16, 2002 - 08:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let the bargains begin. Traditionally, when school starts, temperatures fall, travel deals kick in. Right now, there's some deep discounts to Puerto Rico and other vacation paradises. This year, the deals may be even sweeter than ever. Mark Orwoll, managing director, or editor that is, of Travel and Leisure has the lowdown.
Time to go snatch some bargains?

Good morning.

MARK ORWOLL, MANAGING EDITOR OF "TRAVEL AND LEISURE": You better believe it. Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: So 3 to 4 percent of travel drops after August?

(CROSSTALK)

ORWOLL: Traditionally, everybody is finished with their summer vacations, they have not planned their Christmas vacations. The travel industry has to get people back up into the skies and in the hotel rooms. The way to do that: decrease prices. And that's what's happening right now.

ZAHN: How can we save money in the Caribbean right now?

ORWOLL: There is a great deal going on with the Wyndham Hotel Group, one of the top resorts in the Caribbean and in Puerto Rico is the El Conquistador Resort. Beautiful place, sits on a bluff overlooking both the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. They've got a deal going on right now, starts as low as $635. And it'll four nights at the hotel. Round trip airfare, two for one deals on the golf, tennis and spa treatments. Get a couple of massages, and you're going to send a couple hundred bucks right there.

So it's a great deal -- The Wyndham El Conquistador Resort -- it's being offered through Liberty Travel. You can call the hotel directly or Liberty Travel and save a little bundle on a great vacation at a deluxe property.

ZAHN: How about Hawaii? Are there some good bargains on that?

ORWOLL: Yes, I'm going to tell you what you want to do. Go on to United Airlines and look at their vacation -- package vacation branch called United vacations. They have a deal from the West Coast; $759 gives you five nights on Oahu, your round trip airfare, your breakfast everyday, airport transfers plus -- I love this -- 10,000 frequent flyer miles on United Airlines. Now that's the equivalent of about $200 right there. So this is a great savings, $759 from San Francisco or L.A. Slightly higher from elsewhere in the country.

ZAHN: That looks really good, Mark. However, what you're if not in the beach mood?

ORWOLL: Well, I'm going recommend San Francisco first off because it's one of my favorite cities in the world. I used to live there. It's a quirky, offbeat town and there's a quirky, off-beat hotel group called Joie De Vivre Hospitality Group. You can find them online at jdvhospitality.com. They have about a dozen hotels. Each one of them is a unique property.

For example, they've got the Phoenix, $99 a night, third night free. It's all done up in a retro '50s nostalgic feel. They have another hotel, it's the Rex, sort of like a 1930s literary salon, booklined, real clubby feel; $135 a night for the first two nights, third night free. It's a great deal at some really interesting offbeat properties in a terrific city.

ZAHN: Oh, we respect your San Francisco boosterism. Also, we have no time left, but there are some great deals in Europe as well?

ORWOLL: Yes, great airline deals going on right now. Look at any of the airlines that fly to Europe. You will be able to find some steep discounts to all of the major European capitals. A great time to go.

ZAHN: The trick is just getting the time off.

ORWOLL: I know.

ZAHN: We've been -- thank you very much, Mark.

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