BOSTON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- SmarterTravel.com, a comprehensive online travel resource, recently released a report noting the top five summer bargain destinations for travelers ready for the upcoming holiday travel season. The report coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, which officially kicks off the season. With all signs pointing to higher fuel costs and record numbers of tourists, SmarterTravel strives to recommend great excursions at a value along with tips and advice for summer bargain travel.

"Summer is typically the most difficult season to find the best travel prices," said Christine Sarkis, contributing editor, SmarterTravel.com. "However, summer can yield great bargain trips for those who are willing to get slightly off the beaten track and take the time to find the deals that are out there."

SmarterTravel has the following tips for consumers looking to find great values for the summer season:

-- Go early or late in the summer: June and September (right after Labor Day) tend to be cheaper than July and August. -- Think counter-intuitively: Stay at ski resorts in the summer when there are great outdoor activities, fewer crowds, and reduced prices. -- Consider Canadian destinations for early summer getaways: Nearby Canada does not celebrate Memorial Day, so its high season starts much later (mid to late June) and there tends to be more availability and cheaper prices. -- Look in your own back yard: Seek out nearby destinations over those that are further a field to save on gas. -- Book off-beach destinations: Stay in towns near the beach, so you can easily drive to the shore but avoid the high prices that come with beachfront locales. -- Look for new or expanded summer airline routes: New opportunities often increase competition resulting in lower fares, plus some airlines offer introductory prices. -- Go where the deals are: Be flexible with where you want to go, and pick areas that have special offers. -- Travel to off-peak destinations: Places "down under" like New Zealand experience winter and are at their cheapest; other destinations, like Aruba, slow down while offering reduced rates and great weather.

After monitoring travel trends, industry news and sales patterns, SmarterTravel identified the top five destinations below as the best value for the season.

The top five destinations include: Brooklyn; Atlanta; Australia; Merida, Mexico; and Toronto.

-- Brooklyn. It may never have the fame and glamour of Manhattan, but Brooklyn is making a name for itself as a more affordable borough with increasing visitor appeal. In April, Brooklyn joined the ranks of cruise port cities, putting it on the map for the million or so people who cruise from New York City each year. During summer, historic houses and gardens in the area are open, and free guided tours are sometimes available. -- Atlanta. Getting to Atlanta is the easy part, since 20 airlines serve the city. Both Delta and AirTran use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta as a hub, so both of these carriers have a major presence at the airport. Atlanta's biggest draw so far this year has been the new Georgia Aquarium. -- Australia. Australia's distance from the U.S. means that it's never the cheapest destination on any list, but during summer in the northern hemisphere, sales to Australia during its winter crop up and make it the cheapest time of year to head down under. Plus, a lower number of Australians traveling within Australia mean that more providers will be offering additional incentives to visitors. So not only is it cheaper to get there, but it should also be less expensive to stay there -- Merida, Mexico. Merida, on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, has new direct air service from Atlanta that makes it even more accessible from the U.S. Add the good value on accommodations, and plenty to do in the city and surrounding area, and Merida easily swings a spot on this season's top bargain destination list. -- Toronto. This summer, Toronto has one new flight route and one being reintroduced, a major musical debut, and hotel offers that make staying cheaper. This season will likely be the last busy summer tourist season to visit Canada without a passport. And, Toronto is known for food, music, and arts festivals during the summer, many of them free. Also, expanded air service will connect more of the western U.S. to Toronto.

The complete report, "Top Five Bargain Destinations for Summer 2006" is available at http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/advfeatures/advice.php?id=1239516.

About SmarterTravel.com

SmarterTravel.com is the most comprehensive travel resource site available offering consumers up-to-date expert advice and information for their every travel need. Created by an unbiased team of dedicated journalists, the site's goal is to help travelers better manage every aspect of their travel experience by making researched, informed decisions. Unlike other online travel resources, SmarterTravel.com brings together all the best content in one place, giving consumers the tools they need to ensure a great travel experience.

CONTACT: Mel Bolton of Dotted Line Communications, +1-510-704-0870, or
mel@dottedlinecomm.com, for SmarterTravel.com

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