Whether you’re in D.C. or Dallas this morning, chances are you are starting to feel the walls of your house closing in on you a bit. As we all know, snowstorms have been creating havoc up and down the East Coast and have now moved over to the center of the country. The first snow day is fun, but after that, things start to get a little tedious.
Well it turns out that these storms may be good for the travel business. Tim Conder, a leisure equity analyst with Wells Fargo Securities said in a note to investors that the travel industry has historically benefitted from cold and snowy weather. People get cabin fever and hop online searching for cheap airfare to warm, tropical destinations.
There are great deals to be found right now on Cancun hotels and Arizona vacations, but if the travel bug has really bitten you hard during this cold snap, you might want to consider one of these more exotic warm weather vacation spots:
Cartagena de las Indias
Remember the movie Romancing the Stone? It was set in the sexy, steamy, tropical locale of Cartagena de las Indias, Colombia. Colombia was considered too dangerous to visit at the time, so they actually shot the movie in Mexico. Now however, according to the Colombia Tourism Board, the only risk of travel to Colombia is wanting to stay. (That’s actually their slogan.)
Cartagena, located on Colombia’s north Caribbean coast, is a fascinating and romantic colonial city. Surrounded by 400-year old coral-brick walls, the seaside port has a long been a crossroads melting pot. With African, European, and Caribbean influences, Cartegena pulses with its own unique vibe. Give yourself over to the vibe by touring the walled city in a horse drawn carriage or losing yourself in the jumble of crooked cobblestone streets and breezy plazas. Nightlife options include dining at one of the city’s upscale Colombian-fusion restaurants, enjoying cocktails at one of the open-air bars located atop the walls, or dancing the night away at a salsa club. Don’t forget to toast to all your new friends with a shot of aguardiente, the licorice-flavored national liquor.
After you’ve enjoyed the romance of the city, it’s time to hit the beaches. You can enjoy the urban beach scene at neighboring Bocagrande or head out to one of the nearby Caribbean islets known as Colombia’s Islas Rosarios.
Punta del Este
Summer is in full swing in the southern hemisphere. You can take advantage of that by jetting down to Uruguay’s Punta del Este. Known as the St. Tropez of South America, Punta del Este is an upscale resort destination geared towards those who like to sleep late and party into the wee hours of the morning. With casinos, luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, miles of beaches, and endless sporting activities, Punta del Este draws high rollers from around the world. Will you be one of them?
Colombia is beautiful!
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