By Gary Gosselin
HPR Media Services

As expected this time of year, warm weather destinations are all the rage, although, for the heartier souls, skiing is still an option.

To illustrate the emphasis on warm weather wanderers, Detroit Metropolitan Airport has approximately 35 nonstop flights to destinations in Florida on four different carriers: Northwest Airlines, Spirit, USA 3000 and American Airlines.

“Typically during this time of year, we also see an increase in the number of charter flight operations to many popular vacation destinations...like Mexico & the Caribbean,” airport spokesman Brian Lassaline said.

The post holiday lull is over and although the days are getting longer, Michiganders are readying for the annual migration.

“Over the next month, more than 80 local school districts will be enjoying their annual mid-winter break,” according to an airport statement. “The combination of attractive fare sales by many airlines, and the desire of families to plan vacations while their children are out of school, typically means busier than normal activity at the airport this time of year,” it added.

“This is a busy time for us,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. “As soon as mid-winter break begins to wind down, spring break and Easter vacation follow shortly thereafter. Fortunately, we now have the parking, gate and runway capacity to make flying easier than ever before.”

Places like Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic are hot, said Penny Hawkins, manager of Lakes Area Travel Plus in Commerce Township and Travel Plus in West Bloomfield.

A lot of people are skipping what many consider an over-commercialized Cancun, she said, and are opting for spots like Puerto Villarta and even St. Lucia.

“It’s tough to get to but people want to go,” she said of St. Lucia, which requires an additional flight, often originating in Florida.

She’s also seeing a lot of advance booking on cruises, both to warmer climes in the winter/spring season and Alaska cruises in the summer/fall season.

“Cruising is really doing well, it’s priced pretty low now, especially when you figure the all-inclusive nature of the package; food, entertainment, room and destinations – it’s a good deal and people are taking advantage.”

It doesn’t hurt that the cruise industry is also recovering from a wobbly economy and post 9/11 skittishness, as well as somewhat of an overcapacity problem.

According to an ASTA travel survey, the hottest domestic travel spots are:

• Las Vegas, 17.2 percent
• Hawaii, 14.8 percent
• Orlando, Fla., 7.8 percent
• New York, 5 percent
• San Francisco, 3.6 percent
• Alaska, 3.2 percent
• Miami, Fla., 2.5 percent
• Maui, 2.1 percent
• Honolulu, 1.6 percent
• St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 1.6 percent

The hottest international spots are:
• Cancun, Mexico, 6.1 percent
• London, 3.8 percent
• Paris, 3.5 percent
• Jamaica, 3.4 percent
• Mexico, 2.6 percent
• Europe, 2.5 percent
• Aruba, 2.5 percent
• Bahamas, 2.4 percent
• Puerto Vallarta, 2.3 percent
• Italy, 2.2 percent

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