Supply and Demand of Vacation Rentals in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Favors the Flexible
(PRWEB) July 30, 2013 -- Anyone who travels knows that there are seasons to traveling—peak season, high season, low season and sometimes even a ‘shoulder’ season. Due to the supply and demand of accommodation and other tourist services in Costa Rica, prices fluctuate depending on the season. In 2013 there has been a considerable increase in the number of vacation rentals online, creating more competition, and therefore greater pricing flexibility during the off-season.
High season in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, is generally defined as mid-December through April, and green season from May to mid-December. Lodging and other tourism-based businesses raise their prices in the high season, and slash them during the green season. Accommodation rates vary by 50% or more between peak season and green season, and there is more room for last-minute discounts, as well.
As an example, one luxury, 4-bedroom rental home in Manuel Antonio called ‘Casa de las Cascadas’ is priced at $3,500 per week during the high season of 2013, and drops to $2,200 during the green season—a 37% reduction in rates. Also, if you have a measure of spontaneity there is little risk of not finding accommodation, and therefore you can negotiate last-minute discounts of 10-20% on top of the lower rates. Flights to Costa Rica tend to be cheaper, as well. Add these up, and the savings of off-season travel are considerable.
Take a look at the attached graphic, illustrating the number of foreign visitors to Costa Rica by month. If you look more closely at the seasonality, you'll note the months with more and less tourism. The months with the most visitors (ie January, February, March and July) tend to have higher prices and less availability. The best months to negotiate a good price for a vacation rental home or condo are the months with the lowest number of arrivals—ie May, September, October and November.
There are many advantages to traveling during the off-season, and not all of them are economic. Many travelers enjoy the relative quietude and lack of crowds. The beaches in Manuel Antonio are much less populated, and shady spots under the almond trees abound. Tour groups are smaller, and restaurants less crowded. Furthermore, the off-season months also tend to be cooler than the high-season months of February, March and April.
Not everyone has the flexibility or spontaneity to take advantage of the off-season discounts in Manuel Antonio—but for those who do, luxury comes affordably. The fall of 2013 will provide some fantastic opportunities for those who understand the supply and demand of vacation rentals.
Kent Thompson, The VP Private Resort, http://VPPrivateResort.com, +506 2777-6815, [email protected]
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