May the vacation deals be with you.
Is your tax return burning a hole in your pocket? If you filed paperwork in the nick of time this year and just received a hefty sum of money from the government, there’s a good chance you want to spend it on a last-minute vacation this month. But where? If you’re at the end of your wits and can’t pick a destination, we have a few ideas for how to spend up to $1,500 per person for a trip in May.
7 Nights in Italy Starting at $959
A travel deals website Travelzoo is offering a bargain tour to Italy operated by Fleetway. Those who live in or around New York City can book a package that includes three nights in Rome and three nights in Amalfi Coast, round-trip flights, a car rental and daily breakfast for $959 per person (based on double occupancy). Single supplements are available for another $69 per night.
May is a great time to travel to Italy—temperatures hover in the 70s, and the crowds aren’t big enough to make you feel like you’re a character in “The Hunger Games.” One departure date from Newark International Airport is available for this price: May 16. To take advantage of the deal, you must make a purchase by May 8. This is a Top 20 deal and will likely sell out quickly.
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Other dates and departure cities are available, but the cost increases to $1,099 for Fort Lauderdale and John F. Kennedy International Airport, $1,199 for Boston, and $1,299 for Miami and Los Angeles. For more available dates and cities, see the deal. (You have to sign up on Travelzoo with your email to view the page.)
8-Day Vacation in Costa Rica Starting at $949
Have pura vida (“simple life”) on your mind? Make your dream vacation to Costa Rica a reality by booking a Groupon Getaways package that includes round-trip airfare from multiple U.S. cities, seven hotel nights in a few Costa Rican destinations, daily breakfast, three lunches and three dinners starting at $949 based on double occupancy. If you’re looking to share yours adventures with a companion, each traveler must buy their own Groupon.
Multiple departure dates between May 20 and May 31 are available, and the package price varies based on departure city (check with the tour provider). Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Washington residents can enjoy the lowest price of $949. For those departing Miami, the package cost goes up to $999. Those who live in San Francisco have to pay $1,040, and those in New York City must shell out $1,149. A single supplement is an additional $450.
If you’re interested in this deal to the popular Central American country, make sure to purchase and redeem your travel voucher through Great Value Vacations no later than May 17.
A 13-Night Cruise from Rome to London for $899+
If you have a fair share of vacation days, check out this 13-night cruise from Civitavecchia to Southampton, a seaport about 80 miles from London, on Norwegian’s Norwegian Spirit. An inside cabin will set you back $899 (based on double occupancy at the time of writing). The rate for a single traveler in the cabin is $1,349.
Unpack once and wake up in a new European city almost every day! During your cruise, you’ll make stops in Livorno, Italy; Cannes, France; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Malaga, Spain; Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Bilbao, Spain; Paris (Le Havre), France; and end in Southampton, England. The ship departs May 18 and arrives May 31.
Because last-minute flights to Europe from the United States aren’t cheap, look into utilizing frequent flyer miles if you have them for a flight to Rome and back from London. Depending on the program of choice, you should redeem about 60,000 miles plus no more than $200 in taxes to cover your flights between North America and Europe. Using your miles strategically can lower the cost of a spontaneous European cruise significantly.
If you don’t have that many miles, airlines like Delta allow you to pay some of the cost with miles and the rest with cash. The same is true for flights that you book with credit cards that have flexible rewards points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Points when you book through their travel portals. If you aren’t using frequent flier miles at all, we were able to find flights starting at $600 from cities like Miami. Playing around with your departure and arrival dates may get you cheaper options.
5 Days, 4 Nights in Riviera Maya, Mexico for $659+
Looking for a chill vacation instead? Mexico’s Riviera Maya has been a go-to relaxation destination for many U.S.-based travelers for years, and right now, you can vacation their pretty cheaply with a deal for you from CheapCaribbean.com.
For $659 per person, you can book airfare out of Fort Lauderdale plus four nights at an all-inclusive Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa departing on a variety of dates in May. At a rate this low, you can cover two people’s vacation and stay under budget.
If you’re in a different departure city and want to take advantage of the package, play with the dropdown box and find your city. The deal won’t be the same, but it can’t hurt to try. You might find something in the similar price range.