Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

It’s almost spring break! Pop on your Ray Bans, grab some Jose Cuervo, and try to get into the hottest beach party (did you catch the p.p?) We know that typical “girls gone wild” spring break vacations are magnets for advertisement, but college students aren’t the only revelers in this weeklong vacation. The people with more available funds (adults) want a little bit of fun in the sun as well. And where do where do they turn for advice? Many Northeastern vacation goers turn to the New York Times. Product placement, however, manages to slip into reputable media sources like the Times.

A quick look at the travel section reveals dazzling pictures and equally dazzling price tags, accompanied by helpful links to handpicked hotels and resorts. A March 11 article in the New York Times entitled “14 Easy Weekend Getaways” describes why each destination is attractive and includes a few concealed plugs. “Destin is also easier to get to thanks to Vision Airlines, a new low-fare carrier that will begin nonstop service March 25 to Northwest Florida Regional Airport from 13 markets including Little Rock, Ark., Louisville, Ky., and Asheville, N.C., with rates as low as $79 each way.” That quote, taken out of context, could appear on a television advertisement. When read with the rest of the article, however, the product placement is less obvious.