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Travelers are flocking to vacations in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean at a record pace this year.
In fact, as of the end of March this year, more than six million visitors have already headed to the area to enjoy a vacation getaway in the sun, sand and surf.
The latest news from the major online travel portal Expedia is showing that what has been considered the slower travel season in the hot tropical weather period of the summer won’t quite be as slow as it has been in prior years.
Sizzling Cancun Summer
During the summer, the weather heats up, the topical weather pattern gets rolling, and times are a little slower than the peak spring and winter holiday travel periods in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean.
The trade-off is that travelers heading for a vacation getaway during the school summer break period sometimes can find some great deals on flights and accommodations in the area.
However, that may not be the case for tourists this year.
According to data provided by the online travel company Expedia, Cancun is the second most searched international travel destination by United States travelers for summer travel this year.
It was even more popular than Rome, Paris, Tokyo, and even Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Time to Book is Now
Because of the popularity of Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean as a summer travel destination this year, the online travel portal is recommending that visitors should book flights 21 to 60 days before the vacation date.
With Memorial Day, the unofficial start to the summer travel season a few weeks away, the clock has started on the booking window for the Cancun summer vacation getaway period.
In fact, the window for the best deals for that weekend will close about May 2.
According to the analysis by Expedia, travelers missing the priority booking period could miss out on savings of about 15 percent on their flights.
More Cheaper Flight Hacks
There are a couple more things travelers can do to save themselves money on their summer vacation in Cancun.
Expedia suggests departing on a Monday for international flights to destinations such as the Mexican Caribbean.
That can save around 15 percent as opposed to a Thursday or Friday departure.
Flying mid to late August can save travelers an amazing $256 on average roundtrip tickets as opposed to the last week of June when airline fares typically peak.
Finally, the Fourth of July is on Thursday this year. The days leading up to the holiday that week are expected to be the busiest travel days of the entire summer travel season.
What Travelers Need to Know
As busy as Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are projected to be this year, based on Expedia searches and other popular surveys, warns travelers that a bit of some advanced preparation will really pay off in the travel budget.
There are several steps travelers can take now to save some money, including booking on certain days as opposed to others and even choosing August over June.
The most important point about all these money-saving hacks is that travelers can now book their travels while the most flexibility is available on flight schedules, and airfares could be the most reasonable for the season.
One other important factor to consider is the significant competition among the four different airports in the Mexican Caribbean.
Smart travelers should not only search for deals in Cancun, which would make the most sense but also consider Cozumel and, of course, the brand-new Tulum International Airport.
Also, don’t forget the airport in Merida for really good deals. Otherwise, the cost of transportation between Merida and Cancun using the new Maya Train may not offset the fare difference.
Happy traveling! See you this summer on the beach in the Mexican Caribbean.
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