Feeling The Winter Blues In Chelan County?

So, with all these gray days that we have this winter, how are you feeling? Maybe your personality isn't as buoyant as it usually is, feeling a little down in the dumps, a little lack of energy. It could be Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing.  

A few years ago, I had a coworker that just couldn't deal with the Wenatchee winter. They were going bonkers. Finally, to get some relief, they went on a short vacation, visited Disneyland, came back and were good as new. 

Here's my thoughts, (as meager as they are.) If you want to get a leg up on Seasonal Affective Disorder, why not plan for a spring break. Plan it right now when you can save some money. 

According to seattletimes.com,
‘Just last week, Going airfare price alerts hit my inbox with a February $363 round trip to Jamaica from D.C., and a February trip from D.C. to the U.S. Virgin Islands for $200.
Is it a fluke? Not necessarily. Lousson Smith, a flight expert with Going, said the company has been seeing strong spring deals to domestic destinations, including New Orleans; Charleston, South Carolina; Key West, Florida; the Pacific Northwest; Denver; Las Vegas; and Puerto Rico. Internationally, deals to Northern Europe, Colombia and Iceland have been available. According to Going data, spring break airfare for domestic travel is down 4 percent year over year, while international fares are about a percent lower.’ 

Here are a few possible ideas for you to escape Chelan County, take care of that seasonal affective disorder, and get some serious spring break vacation time in. 

The first place that comes to mind for me is Mexico. 

Mexico is a favorite vacation spot for several members of my family, all for different reasons. My sister Jenny has a timeshare in Mexico. She visits there twice a year. Sometimes she will go alone, sometimes she invites some family members. The types of places you can visit in Mexico are very diverse, and so are the prices. But if you plan your trip now, you're going to save money. 

Think seriously about Florida. 

Florida has been the go-to location for spring break for students for decades, and there's a reason for this; it's affordable. Round trip airfare from Spokane to Miami and back. (Economy, one person.) Runs at around 233 dollars. Yes, you still have to figure out where you're going to stay and what you're going to eat and all that kind of stuff, but really, it's pretty affordable. With a little bit of extra time and effort, you can probably find much cheaper airfares than this. 

Colombia, yes, the country. 

If you're looking for reliable low flight deals, year-round Columbia is a place to consider. If you go to Bogota, hotel prices run about $135 a night. If you want to go to Medien, you'll save money and pay as low as $50 a night. Airfares vary depending on what days you want to fly out and what days you want to fly back, but the sooner you book the flight, the cheaper it's going to be. You might want to check with your travel agent on this one. 

Think about Portugal. 

The people are friendly; the food is amazing, your dollar goes farther, and I just love the sound of Portuguese. Depending on where you go, you're going to have a variety of terrain; their coastal towns are beautiful, and in the springtime, you'll still get some sun, but it won't be too hot. Average temperatures hovering in the upper 60s. 

How about a cruise? 

I have personally been kind of skeptical about going on cruises. But I have several family members who have gone on cruises and have had good experiences. (And one not so good experience.) The main thing to keep in mind on a cruise is that you must pay for the flight to and from where your cruise departs, so you always need to factor that into your Cost. The price of the cruise itself is usually all inclusive, but remember it never includes tips, and you always want to tip. If you're booking now, you might get a deal on a cruise for March. 

Remember, booking your spring break now will save you some money, so if you're going to go, make that decision soon so you can get it done and save those bucks and enjoy your trip. The rest of us here in Chelan County will miss you.