Tag: Budget Travel
Discount Hotel Rooms: A Rose by any Other Name?
by Alexander Basek | 04.10.09 | 10:12 AM ET
The New York Times Practical Traveler has a good how-to on using opaque booking sites like Priceline for hotel room discounts. I, for one, am not a fan (of the booking sites—I’ve got no beef with the Practical Traveler). I have a list of no-go properties in most towns, no matter how discounted their rates, so the opaque strategy is too risky for me. Plus, some people believe that the rooms booked through those sites are the worst in any given property, and that your chances of getting walked should the hotel be overbooked are higher.
How do you guys feel about spinning the wheel of fate with these auction-style sites—yay or nay?
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Yahoo! BuzzAir Travel Now, in Numbers
by Rob Verger | 04.01.09 | 1:51 PM ET
- Percentage of fewer passengers who will fly domestically on U.S. airlines in 2009, according to an FAA prediction: 8.8. (The Middle Seat Terminal reacts to the prediction.)
- Average recent cost of a domestic round-trip ticket over Memorial Day weekend, according to Travelocity and USA Today: $295.
- Percentage decrease of the cost of that Memorial Day weekend ticket from last year: About 10.
- Amount the International Air Transport Association predicted the world’s airlines could lose in 2009: $4.7 billion.
- Amount the world’s airlines lost after September 11, 2001: $23 billion.
- Number of planes American Airlines announced it would make Wi-Fi available on: more than 300.
- Number of miles a JetBlue employee traveled while in the cargo hold of an Embraer 190 after reportedly falling “asleep in a cargo bin” and accidentally traveling from New York to Boston: 200. (Reuters reports that he was “unharmed and not charged with any crime.”)
The ‘Golden Age’ of Green Travel
by Joanna Kakissis | 04.01.09 | 12:07 PM ET
That would be right now, despite the economic recession, says National Geographic Adventure’s eco tourism expert Costas Christ. Consider the evidence: Airlines are testing clean biofuels, top tourism organizations are battling climate change and defining sustainability standards and the Marriott Corporation is leading the charge to protect some 1.4 million acres of Amazon rain forest. Most notably for the humble traveler, the small outfitters and family-owned lodges of the early years of eco tourism are regaining their influence over the “$500-a-night jungle resorts” that have put eco travel out of financial reach for many, Christ says.
‘This is a Broad-Brush, End-of-the-World Fare Sale’
by Eva Holland | 03.25.09 | 2:00 PM ET
So says This Just In’s Sean O’Neill, who also dubs Southwest’s latest round of price cuts “the most amazing airfare sale since 2001.” He goes on: “This isn’t some flash-in-the-pan gimmick ... There are millions of these tickets out there, so it’s not a bait-and-switch.” Other airlines, including AirTran, American, Delta, and United, have matched Southwest’s cut-rate prices for travel throughout the spring and summer; check out the details, and book by April 6.
A ‘Twitcom’ from Southwest Airlines
by Rob Verger | 03.25.09 | 12:01 PM ET
This is priceless. Southwest Airlines’ blog, Nuts About Southwest, has posted what they call a “twitcom.” Here’s what they did: They created four characters, imagined a situation for them, and then, during an hour-long time window, Twitter followers submitted the lines the characters would speak. The incentive to participate came from the fact that Southwest picked one Twitterer in a raffle afterwards, and will send that person to the Nashville Film Festival.
The result is a 6-minute skit, acted out by Southwest employees on the airline’s emerging media team. Video below. As it says in the posting, “Please don’t laugh at our acting skills.” But isn’t that all part of the fun?
In the Budget Travel Game, Persistence Pays Off
by Eva Holland | 03.25.09 | 9:57 AM ET
I know, I know—awhile back I said that the real key to successful budget travel was to be informed. Well, here’s another absolutely critical element in the cheapskate traveler’s makeup: tenacity.
Last week I was contemplating a quick trip to Atlantic City, and while browsing hotel websites I came across a great web-only deal: $39 per night, for a premium room. But when I tried to book two nights—at $39 each, plus about $10 in taxes, coming to a tidy total of $88, right?—the total showed up as $114, with no explanation of where the extra $26 was coming from. Puzzled, I tried rebooking as “2 adults,” in case it was a hidden single supplement, but no dice. I tried opting for a standard room, also listed at $39, in case I was facing a hidden upgrade fee. Again, nothing changed.
Arthur Frommer Promises to Keep Digging up the Deals
by Eva Holland | 03.24.09 | 2:31 PM ET
The guidebook author/publisher-turned-blogger takes a hard look at the latest travel numbers and trends, and concludes that while overall travel is down, “nearly 90% of all Americans are continuing to travel. And when they do, they are seeking bargains and values beyond all else.” He goes on: “Though some have criticized this blog for its alleged over-emphasis on special deals and discounts, we’re going to continue to make those discoveries a hallmark of our content.”
Well, consider me a fan of that alleged over-emphasis—Frommer’s blog is a great source for must-act-fast cruise, flight and hotel deals, and sure enough, here’s his latest bargain find: a set of $750 round-trip flights from the U.S. to Australia and New Zealand.
The Long and Short of Hotel Deals
by Alexander Basek | 03.23.09 | 2:40 PM ET
You don’t have to take advice from travel gurus to find the deals these days; you can go right to the source. Shell Vacations, which has properties all over North America, has started a blog to promote discounts and deals they offer. I like the vibe. It’s a bit earnest, but they break down what the deal is at the bottom of the copy, so you can skim for savings if you’re short on time.
Two, Twitter is blowing up as a source for hotel deals.
Five Great Pod Hotels
by Jennifer Plum Auvil | 03.23.09 | 8:19 AM ET
Photo courtesy of The Pod Hotel Travelers can save big bucks at pocket-sized pod hotels. Jennifer Plum Auvil offers her top picks.
Blog to Watch: Cities on the Cheap
by Eva Holland | 03.17.09 | 10:27 AM ET
The site—which got its start simply as Atlanta on the Cheap—now covers the latest bargains and budget shortcuts in 30-plus locations across the U.S. and Canada. The emphasis so far seems to be on the Sunbelt, and on kid-friendly destinations (there’s an entire Disney on the Cheap page), but if those aren’t your bag, don’t despair: Cities on the Cheap is still expanding. (Via Arthur Frommer)
Budget Air Travel Goes Long-Haul
by Eva Holland | 03.16.09 | 12:25 PM ET
Last week marked the first long-haul flight by a low-cost carrier—99 pounds for a 13-hour flight from London to Kuala Lumpur, anyone?—and the Guardian went along for the inaugural ride. Maxton Walker sets the scene: “As we budget guinea-pigs join the queue at check-in, horror stories swirl about non-reclining seats and the lack of legroom. There’s even a suggestion that if you don’t book a meal in advance, you’ll just have to starve. I haven’t, needless to say, booked a meal in advance.” His full review of the Air Asia experience is heartening, and surprisingly entertaining.
Tough Times for Airlines: Good for Passengers?
by Rob Verger | 03.11.09 | 2:19 PM ET
Airlines are scaling back these days in an effort to stay lean. Among the airlines that have announced cutbacks lately are Delta, United, Southwest and American.
But tough times for airlines can mean there are bargains to be found. Recently, The New York Times, in a good review of TripAdvisor’s new consolidated flight fares and fees search engine (which has been getting other praise, too) put it this way: “Yes, air fares are at bargain levels on many routes, as passenger demand falls faster than the airlines’ frantic moves to reduce capacity.”
So, if you need to travel—better yet, if you want to travel—book now!
Other good news for passengers? Airports in the U.K. will soon be subject to oversight by a consumer watchdog group called Passenger Focus. I like the sound of that. Let’s keep the focus on the passenger.
Las Vegas Hotels for Every Tax Bracket
by Eva Holland | 03.11.09 | 12:52 PM ET
Over at the Los Angeles Times daily deal blog, Jen Leo has a breakdown of Vegas hotel bargains by price—and the low end starts at just $6.25 per night. The list ranges from less than $10 to a little over $100 per night, and there are some surprising deals. The Excalibur for $24 per night? That’s about how much an off-strip hostel bunk will cost you, too. (I know which one I’d choose.)
The Low-Cost Carrier Craze, by the Numbers
by Eva Holland | 03.10.09 | 11:02 AM ET
Ah, the low-cost carrier: love the concept or hate it, you’ve got to admit it’s brought the sky within closer reach for millions of budget-conscious travelers. (Like AirAsia says, “Now everyone can fly.”) LCCs have been with us for 60 years now, but most folks associate them with the explosion of new (often European) carriers in the ‘90s. With the phenomenon still showing no sign of abating, even in these troubled times for the airline industry, the Independent’s Simon Calder has a fun by-the-numbers breakdown for your inner stats geek. My favorite number of the bunch? 120—“The distance, in kilometres, from the centre of Frankfurt to Hahn airport, which Ryanair and IATA describe as ‘Frankfurt’.”
The Rise of Best Western Civilization
by Alexander Basek | 03.10.09 | 11:00 AM ET
The budget hotel chain with the best street cred—well, at least until Motel 6 finishes their system-wide renovations and ditches the Magic Fingers beds—is having a special limited-time sale each day this week. The names of the discounted properties are posted at noon eastern and remain on sale for a couple hours each day. And even if it’s not on sale, you could always stay at the fabulous Best Western in the Hollywood Hills for about $160 a night, one of L.A.‘s secretly good hotels. An added bonus: no fishtank models in the lobby!
‘Le Sandwich’ on the Rise in Paris
by Eva Holland | 03.09.09 | 12:45 PM ET
Good news for Paris-bound travelers on a budget: tough times mean the lowly sandwich—never a French staple—is becoming more and more readily available. Writes This Just In’s Meg Zimbeck: “The French are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the time and expense of a sit-down lunch. Restaurant groups say that the sit-down trade has plummeted by about 20 percent, while ‘le sandwich ne connait pas la crise’—the sandwich knows no crisis.” The blog post includes a list of tasty (pear-walnut-Roquefort sandwich, anyone?) and affordable bakeries where you can get your budget lunching started.
Ryanair ‘Serious’ About Charging for Bathroom
by Rob Verger | 03.06.09 | 12:03 PM ET
The AP reports that the head of Dublin-based Ryanair is indeed “serious about making passengers pay for the right to relieve themselves on flights—and is flush with interest in the idea of mounting credit card-operated toilets.” Charging by credit card is logistically easier than charging by coin, as had been suggested earlier, which “wouldn’t work in part because Ryanair operates heavily in areas using both the euro and British pound.”
I’ve said it before about Ryanair (when they had some not-so-nice words about bloggers) and I’ll say it again now: oy vey.
What about someone who needs to go, but doesn’t have a credit card?
South America: Sticker Shock at the Border?
by Eva Holland | 03.03.09 | 11:39 AM ET
I’ve heard more than a few stories of shoestring travelers in South America getting burned by three-digit entry fees that they didn’t see coming. Luckily, BootsnAll has come to the rescue, with this detailed breakdown of existing visa and reciprocity fees for Americans. The article also includes a few hints and (legal) workarounds to reduce the number of fees you wind up paying. Gracias!
A Good Time for a Flyover Vacation
by Sophia Dembling | 03.02.09 | 2:57 PM ET
Now is a great time to plan a vacation in a flyover state. Southwest Airlines and AirTran have kicked off what’s likely to be a spate of domestic fare sales and USA Today reports that convention hotels are hungry for business. This adds up to bargains on domestic vacations.
And here’s a story to clip and carry on your trip: The Chicago Tribune polled baristas at a coffee competition for the best places to get a fine cuppa Joe in several flyover cities. Very useful. (By the way, they agreed that there is no good coffee in New Orleans. Really?)
Budget Tips from the Twitterverse
by Eva Holland | 03.02.09 | 12:13 PM ET
Well, the Daily Beast may have declared that Twitter jumped the shark this week, but that didn’t stop me from collecting a few good travel tips and deals from the micro-blogging site—all in 140 characters or less, of course. NewYorkology notes that the Restaurant Week that won’t die has been extended yet again. The Snow Junkies offer up 54 ways to get discounted lift tickets in March. Jaunted points out that a round-the-world ticket from Virgin Atlantic can now be had for less than $3,000 (and asks: “Who’s in?”), and finally, in more good flight news, Conde Nast Traveler’s Wendy Perrin writes: “Experts I’ve been interviewing for my May column for @CNTraveler say airfares to Europe will remain supercheap throughout the summer.”