Sport Vacation Packages - Travel Deals

I don’t know about you, but a trip to Miami at the beginning of February sounds like the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums. Just about any excuse for such a sunny escape would work, but it just so happens that in 2010 there’s a pretty good one - the Super Bowl is coming to town.

You don’t have to be a hard-core budget travel guru to know that this is one vacation where you’ll want to be extra-diligent when hunting for deals. Why? Because tickets to the Super Bowl are always extraordinarily expensive, and since you can’t get around paying for tickets to the game you’ll need to find ways to save money on other aspects of your trip.

And that’s where we come in.

We’ve written a series of articles designed to help you save money on a trip to Miami for the Super Bowl, and rather than risk you missing out on all the helpful information we’ve compiled we thought we’d put together a list of all the articles in one place. Which is right here. Well, by “here” I mean below. Oh, you know what I mean.

Here are all the tips we dispensed about finding Super Bowl travel deals.

One of the things you learn when you start researching the subject is that as maligned as the “vacation package” can be among people who consider themselves hard-core budget travelers, a package deal can often mean huge savings over booking each element separately. Of course, this isn’t always true, but it’s true often enough that it’s always worth looking for vacation package deals to the places you’re planning to visit as you’re looking up airfare and hotel prices.

But let’s take the Super Bowl as an example of a big event for which there are plenty of vacation packages being offered. Are they a better deal than booking a la carte? Will you save money with Super Bowl vacation packages?

The short answer is - sometimes. But there are enough cases where a vacation package is so much more costly than booking your flight, hotel, and car rental separately that it’s critical you do your homework in this case instead of just assuming the package “deal” is really a deal. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when you’re looking at Super Bowl vacation packages vs. booking your Super Bowl trip piece by piece.

If you’re a hard-core football fan, then you’ve probably got “go to the Super Bowl” on your lifetime to-do list - whether or not it’s your team in the big game. Luckily, organizers typically give the Super Bowl to cities in the lower half of the United States - so even though the game’s in the winter, fans will get the added bonus of warm weather to go along with the championship game.

The upcoming Super Bowl is in Miami, so you’ll definitely get a break from winter weather right when you need it. And, if we can help you find cheap airfare to Miami for the Super Bowl, why not make an extended vacation out of it? That way, no matter what team wins, you’ll still come out with a victory in the vacation department.

Many of the tips for finding cheap airfare to the Super Bowl in Miami are the same as we’d give you for finding cheap airfare no matter what time of year it is. But since more people will be descending upon Miami for the big event, you do need to plan ahead a bit more than normal and may need to do a bit more research before you find the best prices on things like airfare and hotels.

Here are our top tips for getting cheap tickets to Miami for the Super Bowl.

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Week Five: New Orleans, Louisiana

The historic French Quarter, the renowned restaurants, the colorful nightlife, the rich culture, the jazz, the zydeco music and, yes, the warm, sugary beignets. They’re all waiting for you in magical New Orleans.

Hotel St. Marie – New Orleans – 4 Stars – $342 per person based on double occupancy (flights + 3 nights)
The Hotel St. Marie is located in the heart of the French Quarter. Surrounded by 18th century architecture, this hotel is only half a block from infamous Bourbon Street nightlife. Experience authentic New Orleans grace and charm in our lovely guest rooms - most feature balconies overlooking the street or the tropical, private courtyard and pool.

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Week Four: Cincinnati, Ohio

Stroll along the riverfront, where views inspired the name for Cincy’s culinary contribution, Skyline Chili. Cheer for the Reds, or visit the zoo. Meander through various neighborhoods, such as trendy Mt. Adams or German-influenced Over-the-Rhine.

Millennium Hotel Cincinnati – Cincinnati – 4 Stars – $499 per person based on double occupancy (flights + 3 nights)
The award winning Millennium Hotel Cincinnati is the perfect choice for any traveler who enjoys the convenience of a prime downtown location, outstanding quality and superior service. Shopping, sporting venues and dining can be found around every corner.

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Indianapolis, Indiana
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Week Three: Indianapolis, Indiana

This revitalized downtown has an array of sightseeing, entertainment, sports and shopping options, including White River State Park, the Children’s Museum, Conseco Fieldhouse and Circle Center Mall.

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Union Station – Indianapolis – 4 Stars – $424 per person based on double occupancy (flights + 3 nights)
The Crowne Plaza at Historic Union Station - Downtown Indianapolis Hotel is housed within “America’s first union station” and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel features truly unique & spacious guestrooms and is best known for its 26 authentic Pullman TrainCar guestrooms named and decorated after famous personalities from the early 1900’s.

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Week Two: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Downtown Minneapolis offers all-weather climate-controlled walkways, scores of fine stores and theater galore - you’ll find more than 30 to choose from. With two world-class art museums and miles of public biking and hiking trails, culture-seekers and nature-lovers will both be inspired.

Radisson University Hotel – Minneapolis – 3 Stars – $315 per person based on double occupancy (flights + 3 nights)
With a prime location on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and just a mile from downtown Minneapolis, the Radisson University Hotel - Minneapolis offers the kind of warm hospitality, inviting atmosphere and topnotch services sure to please business and leisure travelers alike.

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Whether you have a passion for professional or college football, Orbitz has got you covered with getaway packages to outstanding football cities. From tailgating to cheering on your favorite team, dont miss out on great travel deals that put you in the middle of gridiron action. Getaways can be booked between August 14 and August 27, 2006 for travel between August 14 and December 15, 2006.

Week One: Dallas, Texas

Get a Texas-sized welcome in this cow town turned cultural center. Enjoy nature at the Dallas Arboretum, or take a canoe trip to White Rock Lake. Listen to the symphony. Visit the art museum. It’s not just culture that makes Dallas soar–how about that football team!

Stoneleigh Hotel – Dallas – 4 Stars – from $508 per person based on double occupancy (flights + 3 nights)
Located in the highly desirable uptown Dallas neighborhood, this hotel is within walking distance to art galleries, museums, shopping and the downtown business district. Massive stone lions stand guard at the entrance of the hotel greeting business travelers and weekenders looking for a romantic getaway.

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