Central America - Travel Deals

Even if you have no interest in traveling to the Bahamas you still might perk up when you see this deal. From now until July 31, 2007, you can book a seat on an American Airlines flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau for just $68 round-trip. If Freeport is more your scene, you can fly there for $88. That is insane.

American Airlines also has some terrific deals on flights from Miami to destinations throughout Central America. We’re talking less than $150 to fly from Florida to Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Haiti. Heck, for those prices you could easily spend a long weekend in each country and not feel an ounce of guilt over the money you spent to fly to them.

These types of prices only come around once a year at best so get booking already! Just make sure you check out the rules and regulations first so that you can get the sweet deal without the hassles.

Ahhh, super cheap flights to Central America. Round-trip airfare from Miami for $150. That must mean these are flights to Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Right?

Wrong.

TACA Airlines has forgotten that the airline business exists to punish our wallets. They are guilty of offering up some of the best deals to the other Central America – Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras – that you will likely see in a long, long time.

For my money, Central America is one of the best regions in the world to travel to. It is close to the United States, you can literally get by on a few dollars a day in many areas, and there is more than enough to see and do. Beyond that, places like Nicaragua and Honduras are not overrun with tourists. Unless you try really hard, you will be able to meet plenty of locals who will greatly appreciate having you in their country. The travel may be a little more arduous than what you’ll find in Western Europe, but a little bit of effort will lead a whole lot of reward.

The catch on this incredible deal is that you need to fly from Miami. You also need to book a ticket by June 29, 2007 and fly before Novemeber 30, 2007.

Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras or Panama. Which one of these countries would you most like to visit? Belize is so close to the United States and it has an English speaking population. It has some lovely beaches and the snorkeling/diving opportunities are some of the best in the world. It has fascinating Mayan ruins.

Costa Rica has the scenery. The country has a higher percentage of land set aside as protected land than anywhere else in this world. It too has great beaches and water. Costa Rica doesn’t have an army so you don’t have to worry about them trying to draft you.

Honduras is the wildcard of the bunch. It is a poor nation that is rich in human warmth. It has some splendid mountains and a way of life that will soothe your harried soul. It probably gets less tourists than the other three.

Panama has the canal, of course. It also has Panama City, which is the most developed city in Central America. If you like heat and humidity you could do a lot worse than visiting Panama.

Tough choice, isn’t it? Perhaps you should factor in these excellent deals from Latin Destinations into your decision.

Panama City is a place that is on the rise. The capital of Panama is home to eight of the ten tallest skyscrapers in Latin America. Many of them belong to banks which have flocked to the country because it is a popular tax shelter for people around the world. If you are looking to travel and deposit your piggy bank somewhere beyond the reach of the tax man Panama might be the place for you. Not that I am encouraging you to break any laws, of course.

If money is not your motive for traveling, but you do want to go somewhere that is not a traditional tourist destination, Panama City might be just the ticket. Situated on the Pacific entrance of the Canal that has made the country so famous, Panama City is home to about a million people. It has some excellent hotels, restaurants and just enough sites to keep anyone amused for a few days. What’s more, it is close to the rest of Latin America so this is a good place to begin and end an overland adventure.

Now is an opportune time to fly to Panama and the rest of Latin America. Travelocity has some deals that are about as good as it usually gets in terms of money. Just like the tax man, it is fun to keep your money away from the airlines if you can.

Quick, what is the largest city in Central America? If you answered “Guatemala City”, give yourself a big pat on the pack. If you answered anything else, well, don’t worry you probably weren’t alone. Even though it is the largest city with more than 5 million residents, Guatemala City is often overlooked when people think about traveling to Central America. It shouldn’t be.

Like many large cities in Latin America, Guatemala City has its share of grime, but it also has areas of beauty. The cities many old churches lend architectural charm to the bustling city with the Cerrito del Carmen, Catedral Metropilitana, Calvario and Iglesia de Santo Domingo all worth a visit.

There are also many fine museums in Guatemala City including the Ixchel Museum of Tradional Costumes, Popul Vuh Museum – which has great pre-Hispanic Mayan archaeological items – and the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, home of the famous Tikal mask.

While in Guatemala City you’ll also want to check out the textile shops, which are famous for their colorful patterns.

Flights to Guatemala City and Central America are very reasonable right now thanks to TACA airlines. Now’s your chance to see Central America’s largest city and to learn more about its residents’ dynamic way of life.

Lacking the panache of Europe or the mystery of Asia, Central America is often an overlooked destination for many North Americans. It should not be. The countries of Central America offer excellent natural beauty, warm hospitality and enough adventure to satisfy those who are looking for a vacation that is anything but ordinary.

One of the best and cheapest ways to get to Central America and South America, short of walking or riding a bicycle, is on TACA airlines. It might not be as household a name as some of the U.S. carriers that fly to Central America, but if you are serious about saving money on your ticket you should check out its Web site.

Some sample findings that I have come across in my searches on TACA.com include:

• Washington to Guatemala City for $386
• Miami to Quito for $407
• Dallas to Belize for $388
• Los Angeles to Bogota for $344

Better deals you won’t find anywhere else. As an added bonus the airline has a partnership with United Airlines so when you fly on TACA you can also pick up miles on United.

As I sit here staring out the window at the 1,234th straight day of gray clouds, I can’t help but wonder if the sun has disappeared for good. I also can’t help but feel a bit on envy towards those of you who are wearing sunglasses and sitting by the pool while you are reading this blog. Your golden tan skin is the essence of good health. Your carefree attitude the sign of relaxation. There are no bags under your eyes. You are not tired. You will live forever.

While that fantasy is playing on continuous loop in my mind, allow me to present a sunny deal for those who are not so fortunate to live in warm weather climes. From now until December 10, 2006, Priceline is offering steep discounts on flights and hotels vacation packages to warm, delightfully sunny locations. We’re talking mega bucks off of trips to Hawaii, Florida, Central America and the Caribbean. Whether you are in the mood for a short little weekend getaway or a full on vacation, this is a great opportunity to reintroduce yourself to the sun.

With the money you’ll save, you could even invest in a home tanning lamp so that you get enough Vitamin E (or is it Vitamin D?) all year long.

If you have ever had the hankering to visit Central America, now might be your best opportunity for a while. Cheap Tickets is offering up a tasty deal on flights to Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Guatemala. How tasty? Try less than $400 to fly round trip from New York to Costa Rica. You aren’t going to come across prices like that very often. The sale ends October 24, 2006 and requires that you must fly by December 13, 2006. Re-work your schedule, beg your boss for a few days off and get yourself to Central America for a memorable vacation.

And make sure you visit the Central America Travel Guide for information about where to stay and what to do.