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It’s Not Too Late to Take Advantage of These Labor Day Travel Deals

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Labor Day travel
Many people are looking forward to the long weekend Labor Day provides. For many Americans this means road trips and travel plans. If you haven’t made your Labor Day travel arrangements, don’t worry. There are still a few last-minute deals you can take advantage of without breaking the bank.

Affordable Labor Day Travel Destinations

Where you decide to travel this Labor Day will have an impact on how much your trip will cost, of course. According to KAYAK, these will be the most affordable Labor Day travel destinations.

St. Louis 

St. Louis budget hotels hover around $105 per night. Flights into St. Louis are also extremely affordable at this time of year. You may even be able to find flights as low as $131 round-trip if you book through a third-party site. Many of the hotels in St. Louis also offer special packages for your stay. For instance, the Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta Hotel offers families a package with movie tickets, parking, and breakfast.

Washington, D.C.

There is plenty to do in D.C. for the Labor Day holiday. If you’ve ever visited the nation’s Capitol you know there are a plethora of museums to visit. On Labor Day, the National Symphony Orchestra also puts on a free concert. Because there are plenty of airports nearby, you should be able to find an affordable plane ticket without much of a problem.

Local hotels are normally a bit pricey. However, the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill is offering rooms from $112 per night. If you’re a member of AAA you’ll get an additional 10% off and free breakfast for two.

New Orleans

New Orleans is generally an affordable trip all year long. Through Labor Day weekend you should be able to find flights from $149 round-trip and you’ll be able to see New Orleans’ LGBT festival in full swing. Because of the festival, there will be plenty of deals on activities, events, and hotels in the area. If you’re finding everything is booked, you may want to consider an Airbnb.

New River Gorge

Individuals living around West Virginia may consider a drive to New River Gorge. It is a short weekend drive from a number of locations on the East Coast. Adventures on the Gorge, an adventure resort in Fayetteville, W. Va., is offering a buy one outdoor activity, get one free special Labor Day weekend. You’ll pay just $149 for two people to go whitewater rafting and $99 for ziplining for two (the regular price for one). You can choose your accommodations based on your budget as well. The resort has campsites from $15 and cabins available (up to $1,150 per night for a luxury cabin).

Hershey Park

Families may be looking for something that everyone will enjoy. If that’s the case, consider a trip to Hershey Park. Once again, many people on the East Coast can easily drive there for the weekend. A price tag of $458 per night (for a family of four) will get you free breakfast and free admission to Hershey Park for kids under the age of 17.

Labor Day Flight Deals

If you’re less concerned with the destination and just want a quick getaway you may make your decision based on the price of a round-trip ticket. According to CN Traveler, there are still some great deals to be had when booking your Labor Day weekend flight. Here are some of the best prices still available.

  • Dallas to Los Angeles: You may find round-trip tickets to L.A. from Dallas for as little as $277 with Delta airlines.
  • New York to London: Fly with Wow Air from NY to London round-trip for $380.
  • Houston to San Diego: Round-trip flights to San Diego from Houston Labor Day weekend on United are running about $233.
  • L.A. to Austin: Fly into Austin from L.A. and back for just $262 with Delta.
  • Atlanta to Cancun: You can get an amazing deal on flights to Cancun from Atlanta with American Airlines. Average round-trip ticket prices for Labor Day weekend are hovering around $286.
  • San Francisco to Honolulu: Get away to Hawaii for just $397 round-trip from San Francisco. (Hawaiian Airlines)
  • Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale: Ft. Lauderdale is a popular Labor Day travel destination. You can get a round-trip ticket from Chicago for just $294 with United Airlines.

It is important to note that, for the most part, a good deal on travel is going to occur when you’ve booked far enough in advance or are able to fly in or out of an international airport. You can also save money by making travel plans within driving distance of your home or finding events closer to you.

These are just a few of the best travel deals this Labor Day. Readers, are you traveling over the holiday weekend? Did you score a good deal?

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Free Travel Discounts Offered for Veterans Day 2015

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Veterans Day Travel

Veterans Day is fast approaching and there are many establishments who want to participate in thanking our veterans by providing discounts. The companies who are offering these types of deals for veterans are doing so to show their appreciation on a day devoted to just that.

Below are travel and recreation discounts for veterans that will be available Nov. 11, 2015. Take note that that most businesses require proof of military service, which can include a VA Universal Access Card, Military I.D., DD-214 (Discharge Papers), Veterans Service Organization Card (VSO’s include groups like the VFW, DAV, AmVets, MOAA, FRA, and the American Legion), or in some cases businesses will accept a picture of the veteran in uniform. If you plan to take advantage of these deals, please contact the nearest establishment to make sure they are participating in the offer.

• 9/11 Memorial and Museum – Veterans will receive free Museum admission from Nov. 7 to Nov. 11.

• Army Corp of Engineers Recreation Areas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will waive day use fees for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families at the USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide on November 11.

• Colonial Williamsburg – Active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, and their direct dependents receive free Colonial Williamsburg admission for Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 6–11).

• Harley-Davidson Museum – The Harley-Davidson Museum is offering free admission to active military, veterans and their families on Nov. 7, 8, and 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

• Killington Resort – Active Duty, Retired and Honorably Discharged members of the military receive a complimentary lift ticket on November 11.

• Knotts Berry Farm – Knott’s Berry Farm is offering free admission for veterans and active duty military personnel and one guest, as well as 6 additional tickets for a discounted price from Nov. 1, 2015 to Dec, 20, 2015.

• Mariners’ Museum – Military members receive a special $5 admission price on Nov. 11.
National Parks – On Veterans Day, November 11, veterans will have access to over 100 National Parks that require entrance fees for free.

• National Veterans Day Run – The National Veterans Day Run on November 11 offers veterans and active duty military a reduced-rate entry into the race, as well as discounted rates to their spouses and children between 13 and 18 years of age.

• Westgate Resorts – Starting Nov. 11, the first 2,500 eligible service members who complete the online military appreciation form will receive a complimentary three-day, two-night vacation. Veterans who don’t qualify are eligible for a 25 percent discount.

• UFC GYM – Veterans and active duty military as well as their families get free total gym access from Nov. 11-15 at participating UFC GYMs. UFC GYM is also offering a special Basic Training themed Daily Ultimate Training class on Nov. 14.

• World of Coca-Cola – Active duty, reserves and retirees get free admission year-round, and Nov. 5 through Nov, 15, members of the Armed Forces may also purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets for their friends and family.

If you plan to take advantage of any of these free and discounted deals for Veterans Day 2015, be sure to call the location to insure that you can benefit from it.