If you’re interested in visiting a national park, here’s a travel deal you can rely on

It’s not often that travelers get advance notice for a sale. Usually, a bargain pops up right away and the clock starts ticking before it disappears.

But Xanterra, a travel company that manages hotels in several national parks, is encouraging travelers to mark their calendar for an upcoming sale, with savings of up to 30% off.

The company is offering online discounts July 18-26 on its collection of hotels and vacations. The company calls it Christmas in July.

Specific discounts and travel dates vary from park to park, but the best deals are between mid-October and early March 2024.

Xanterra manages resorts in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Death Valley National Park, among others.

In Death Valley, there are discounted rates available as soon as July 27. Xanterra runs three venues inside the park. Two hotels are located at The Oasis at Death Valley. The Inn at Death Valley opened in 1927. In addition to rooms at the hotel, there’s a collection of private casitas, each of which comes with a golf cart.

Golf at the lowest 18-hole course in the world — it’s just one of the activities available to guests. Tennis, cycling, stargazing, swimming, horseback riding and Jeep tours also are available, in addition to hiking and sightseeing in the park.

Regular rates at the Inn at Death Valley average $329 per night. Starting on July 18, these rates will be discounted 30 for applicable dates July 27 -Jan. 18, 2024. Rates are subject to change — and they’re a little different each night.

Nearby, the Ranch at Death Valley offers rooms for around $199 per night through July 18, when the discounts kick in for a week.

Although I’ve flown over it several times, I’ve never had boots on the ground near the Grand Canyon. Inside the park along the South Rim, Xanterra runs several hotels and lodges.

The most popular lodge is the El Tovar Hotel, located right on the edge of the Grand Canyon. It first opened in 1905, even before the park was established in 1919. There are 78 rooms — no two are alike.

The Christmas-in-July deal features a 20% discount for select dates Nov. 26-Feb. 29, 2024. Rates average about $250 per night, before the discount.

There are several other lodges inside the park, including the Maswick Lodge, Kachina Lodge and Bright Angel Lodge. These three lodges will be discounted by 30% as part of the sale, for stays Oct. 26-Feb. 29, 2024. Nondiscounted rates are $88-$213 per night.

Xanterra also operates the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in nearby Williams, Arizona. Rates for the hotel and the railroad will be discounted by 30%. The train is not that expensive (from $32 roundtrip) and brings riders near the edge of the South Rim.

Zion National Park is located in southern Utah, near its border with Arizona. It’s easily accessible from Las Vegas. You can get some incredible views from the road that goes through the park. But you really need to get out of your car and hike around for the best experience.

Xanterra runs the Zion National Park Lodge, the only hotel in the park. The lodge is uniquely situated for hikers and explorers who want a jumpstart to see the best of the park. Right now, the nondiscounted rates average $169 per month. The 30% discount applies to select dates Nov. 26-March 7, 2024.

Xanterra’s biggest footprint is at Yellowstone National Park. The company operates nine venues with more than 2,000 rooms. The “Christmas” sale includes a 20% discount Aug. 10-Oct. 8 at four lodges: Canyon Lodge, Grant Village, Lake Hotel and Lake Lodge.

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Yellowstone is open year-round — and there’s a 20% discount at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge for stays Dec. 15 -March 3, 2024.

During the winter season, the roads are closed and the lodges are accessible only by snow bus, snow machine or skis.

Xanterra also is offering a 30% discount at Cedar Creek Lodge, near Glacier National Park in Montana. Applicable dates are Oct. 15-March 31, 2024.

It’s always a good idea to visit America’s national parks. Lodges in and around the park tend to be expensive, in part because of the remote locations.

Part of the allure of this particular offer is that I have only been to one of the parks (Zion) and the rest are on my bucket list! Do you need a little nudge to visit the parks? Perhaps the “Christmas in July” scheme is just what it takes!

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