1. HAWAII
Long a place commanding four-figure airfares despite its status as a domestic destination, Hawaii is now priming for a rush of budget
travelers this winter as airlines drop prices and improve comfort to
remain competitive. Hawaiian Airlines upgraded their interiors to
include “Extra Comfort” seats in 2014, serve complimentary hot meals in
all classes, and have already run an airfare sale with deals as low as
$400 roundtrip. Virgin America is due to launch flights from the west
coast to both Honolulu and Maui, attracting passengers with $199 one-way
promotional fares and their signature stylish service. American
Airlines has already begun flying their newest Airbus A321s with
brand-new interiors, on-demand entertainment, and WiFi. Joining the arms
race are Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, who have simply added
more and more flights to Hawaii, increasing the number of seats for sale
(and the potential for better deals) to the islands.
The interest in Hawaii as an easy vacation destination is only projected to grow, and not just because those of the “Instagram effect”
from travelers sharing experiences had as a result of the cheap deals
this winter; the advance press and premiere of Disney’s new Moana movie
(about a Polynesian princess) in 2016 will see a fresh surge of interest
in travel to Pacific islands. Tie-in packages for family travel to
Disney’s Aulani Resort on Oahu are a given.
2. SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is so hot right now, both literally and figuratively. Aside from the fact that the southern summer is just beginning, Trevor
Noah’s appointment as the new host of The Daily Show is bringing pop
culture cred to the country at the same time as the killing of Cecil the
Lion in Zimbabwe is sparking interest in responsible safari tourism.
Contrary to popular opinion, embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime safari is
not just for the super rich and the drop in the value of the Rand means
the currency exchange rate favors tourists. South Africa Airways has
already been discounting airfare, with round trips from the U.S.
available for as little as $600, and more airlines are sure to follow.
