Where To Go Now: Travel Deals for Father's Day

by  Alex Schechter | Apr 14, 2014
Beach in St. Lucia
Beach in St. Lucia / IngaL/iStock

You put in an order weeks ago to make sure mom gets flowers on Mother's Day.  We even did a roundup of great travel deals, so you can whisk her away on vacation. But what about Dad? The latter holiday, which falls on June 15, tends to get lost in the shuffle between graduation season and the beginning of summer. This year, take advantage of off-season travel deals to take Dad on a trip he'll never forget. From a beachside resort in the Caribbean, to a golf-themed southern getaway, here are five affordable itineraries you can book right now:

St. Lucia
Summer is off-peak season on this southern Caribbean island, which boasts some of the region's most dramatic topography. Before you make reservations, take a look at these offers at "Book St. Lucia Now," the island's tourism board web site. Their summer sale caters to a range of budgets, from the 4-star Ti Kaye Resort & Spa (30 percent off) to popular 3-star properties like La Haut (30 percent off). Several hotels are discounted up to as much as 55 percent.

Charleston, South Carolina
For dads who would enjoy a relaxing golf excursion – but also need some off-course activities – South Carolina's picturesque, historic capital is a worthy choice. Home to the country's first golf club, Charleston offers great deals on more than 19 championship courses. (The Rees Jones-designed Charleston National Golf Club, or the Wild Dunes Resort are just a couple of examples.) Right now, in addition to reasonable airfares on JetBlue, Southwest, and American Airlines, a "Brews & Birdies" package promises three nights' accommodation, three rounds of golf (choose from eight courses), and a three-hour guided tour of local breweries – for just $149 per person, per night.

Bahamas
You certainly won't hear any complaints from dad while he's vacationing in the Bahamas, especially if he's enjoying a round of golf at Grand Lucayan's championship 18-hole course (an "Unlimited Golf" package starts at $142 per person per night, including accommodation and unlimited rounds of golf). Or, try a weekend of scuba diving, paddle boarding, and reef fishing at Deep Water Cay. The "Blue Water Adventure" package allows families to customize their own itinerary (from $2,369 per person for a 3-night stay).

Cooperstown, NY
Considering the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be celebrating its 75th anniversary next month, Father's Day could be the perfect excuse to trek up to the small, scenic upstate New York town, which lies three-and-a-half hours northwest of New York City by car. The Hall of Fame will be celebrating with a string of heavily hyped events, like a dedication ceremony (June 12), the opening of a new Babe Ruth Gallery (June 13), and a celebration concert with performances by Paul Simon, Juan Luis Guerra, and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra (August 2). Plan a relaxing stay at the nearby 133-room Otsega Resort Hotel (from $359 per night), a sprawling lakefront estate with an outdoor pool, two farm-to-table restaurants, and a wraparound veranda accented with 30-foot white columns.

Scottsdale, AZ
Summer is the best time for value-loaded travel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Though temperatures routinely climb up into the triple digits by July, June is still relatively temperate, with great deals to be found. Fly to nearby Phoenix for as low as $198 round-trip from LA, or $346 round-trip from New York City. Once you're there, wellness-oriented oases like the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa offer top-notch dining, spa treatments, outdoor activities, and "casita-style" rooms for a fraction of their high season rates. Enjoy the Camelback Inn's brand new golf course, the Ambiente, with the "Unlimited Golf" package (from $209 per night), but make sure not to spend the whole trip teeing off – the pool is mighty inviting, too.

Up next...

5 Hollywood Studio Tours for a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Tinseltown

Universal Studios
Find The Best Cruises
Find a cruise

Find the best deals!

Click on multiple sites to get the lowest prices

Click on multiple sites to get the lowest prices