Good times for bargain hunters.

Falling Rates in New York, Seven-day cruises for 300 Euro: A holiday in the U.S. is as cheap as ever. With many discounts and free extras to the industry at home and entice foreigners to relax - you need only track the bargain.

 

Miami - An acclaimed new president, an overall improved image, and a further weak U.S. Dollar: In other years would be the best conditions for an influx of international tourists to the United States. But the worldwide recession provides the opposite: 2009 expect the United States eight percent fewer visitors from abroad, said the new trade minister Gary Locke now at the Pow Wow travel trade show in Miami.

In the crisis is for many tourists but also an opportunity: To flights, hotels, cruise ships and amusement parks to fill, offers the travel industry in the U.S. so many special than ever before.

The price-performance ratio in the U.S. by German holidaymakers will present "as an incredibly good" perceived, is the observation of Tilo Krause-Dünow, chief organizer of the CANUSA and board member of the German Visit USA Committee (Vusa). "Increasingly, there are extras such as breakfast, dinner or spa applications in the field now for free, especially in the high-quality hotels," said the head of California Tourism, Caroline Beteta, in Miami.

And the cruise lines currently reflected great discounts: Seven nights on board with all meals are now available for 350 to 400 dollars (converted from 260 to 300 euros) to have. Since it was "for many people even cheaper to make a cruise than to stay at home".

New York's room rates have fallen

A year with great savings potential "is 2009 for George Fertitta, the CEO of Tourism New York City. The "Big Apple" had in recent years attendance record after another record, which led to sharply rising hotel prices. Now that the room for some 20 to 30 percent better position, "even though the utilization of the hotels is expected to remain high." The average room rate is now at 220 instead of $ 280 per night.

Much encouragement is hoping that New York in the saving action of "The Real Deal", in which more than 90 hotels, museums, theaters and tour operators participate: Who tourist services for two people online on the portal www.nycgo.com book gets a 50 percent ticket discount.

Miami, on the other hand is a summer action under the slogan "Four nights stay pay only three" start Sponde Suzie announced from regional tourist office while at the Pow Wow - "almost all of our members are involved." The city in Florida this summer, has a particularly large number of beds to fill, following by new openings and expansions of approximately 10,000 hotel rooms to come.

Similarly, the challenge for the Orlando theme park stronghold, where, according to the regional tourism association currently attractions and hotels for 2.2 billion U.S. dollars (1.65 billion euros) are under construction.

Foreign visitors to play on the U.S. travel market a rather small role - most tourists come from their own country. According to a forecast of U.S. travel, the American Association this summer, but 7.2 million domestic business trips less than 2008: Instead of 329.1 were 321.9 million trips are expected. In this situation, international guests are more important.

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One positive is likely that many visitors to the gasoline in the U.S. feel in the summer of 2008 at about $ 4 per gallon (about 3.78 liters) were. In Minnesota, for example, they are now back at $ 2.40 arrived, said Cheryl Offerman from the Tourism Office of the State. Car Hire-Tours were made to the German organizers are also in great demand, said Krause-Dünow. In contrast, the motorhome bookings somewhat restrained, it says: Here are the petrol prices from 2008, when many tourists with their travel plans for 2009 have started to appear after.

Fewer business travelers from Germany

In the major German broadcasters are the bookings for 2009 over the Plus has Vusa Board Krause-Dünow determined. That according to the U.S. Department of Commerce in January and February but a decrease in the number of entry from Germany by 12.1 per cent were either with the lower business travel to explain, said the German president Vusa Rita Hille.

In the main holiday period May to October these statistics will be different again: the holiday minus the figures compared with the business traveler then. Help, that shopping in the U.S. remains a strong theme was travel, "and also the 'Obama Effect' will help us still."

Whether the interest of the Germans on holiday in USA even 2010 will remain stable, but it is difficult to estimate. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke sees the number of international guests in total then again with three per cent plus. The German organizers on the other hand, pushes the question of whether the "Obama effect" nor even 2010 can be perceived and how the rising impact of unemployment in Germany.

Relatively cheap to stay, many transatlantic trips, however: At the Pow Wow, the vendor now spoken with hotel chains, their prices for 2010 reduced by at least ten percent, and in addition, there are offerings such as "Free breakfast" on top, "said Krause-Dünow . "Things that have never been possible, one sees everywhere now - from Hawaii to Miami."