Book Hotels Cheaper

Summer Fares Finally Slashed

As predicted, the small, every two to three weeks 'airfare sales' have not translated to more people flying. So finally the major discount airlines (Southwest and Air Tran) have announced fare reduction during the summer and to destinations never before discounted. Read the article here and book accordingly.

I still suspect this will not be the only sales offered in the summer. Hotels are not showing strong bookings for the spring and obviously neither are the airlines. The hotels MUST start thinking about what rates to set in June and July soon and from what I see and have heard, rates will be much lower than last year - until and unless reservations start to flow back in.

Which I also am not optimistic about. I suspect the deteriorating economy and mere threat of lost jobs sill cause people to cut back on vacation plans this year, which is unfortunate except for those who will travel. Because these people will travel and stay for less money than they have spent in years. Hawaii and Mexico continue to go on sale as is Europe and even Asia.

So while I still look for sales, they also may not be to places you want to go, so my advice is if you see something now that you like, book it. Prices at these levels may be re-introduced but they likely won't go lower, so you have little to lose if you book now. (Unless you cancel and they charge you a cancel fee - something I don't think SouthWest does however.)

Travel Alert: Read This If Going To Mexico Soon

As sort of a follow up to the post several days ago, I present this alert which was issued AFTER my post came out. Usually a travel blog reports fantastic sales and trips to consider. But as I said on twitter last week "I don't create the news, I have to report it". And this concerns the ongoing drug wars.

This article suggests most of the danger is being found in border cities like Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez, which actually relieves me because my brother is nearing the end of a 3 month Mexican 'vacation' and is soon to return. And at present the State Dept. has 'only' issued an alert and not a higher priority 'warning'.

But danger lurks nonetheless and for those of you about to take advantage of the great savings I am about to report for Mexican vacations (arguably for destinations like Mazatlan, Cancun, P.V. etc) it is only fair I report the danger as well. So proceed with caution, as always.

Vancouver Hotels for the Winter Olympics

Though still over a year away, the Olympics marketing packages are in full swing. And the news is "more of the usual" for consumers - prices for hotels and motels are skyrocketing. (Maybe they should introduce a new Olympic Game - Finding a Hotel Room at a Reasonable Price. The winner would get - well, a room at a reasonable price AND  a souvenir medal?)

This article informs us that rooms are going for 3-4 times normal rates. But is that a surprise anymore? Special events in cities have driven up local motel and hotel rates for years. Think Super Bowl. Indy 500. Olympics. So maybe paying $300 for a room that presently advertises for $89 is NOT a surprise to you. It certainly isn't for me but I work in a hotel and though we have never jacked up our rates 3 or 4 times over normal, I have seen other hotels do it during sold out periods. It's not a lot different from rates at Fisherman's Wharf hotels being double in summer what they are in December.

I think people pretty much expect that EVERYTHING from hotels to food to car rentals to souvenirs are going to go sky high during an Olympic event. I mean it is not like the Olympics will be back next year, or every 4 years even. This is probably Vancouver's ONLY shot at hosting the Olympic Games. 'Make hay while the sun shines' may not be a phrase that warms the cockles of your heart (or wallet) but it is every bit what hotels and businesses tell themselves when an opportunity arrives.

Remember, when business is HORRIBLE (as it is right now for the travel industry) people can walk into a local motel and hear a rate of $79 and offer $59 and perhaps get it. No one ever feels sorry for the owner who is trying to eke out a living during a bad time and has to sell rooms at below normal prices. And while no good hotel person suggests it is fair to charge $900 for a room generally selling for $100, rooms are an auction (commodity) item now and whomever wants to pay the most to get the room will gladly pay the fare and take the room. If no one will pay that much, the room won't sell at that price and will come down until an equilibrium is achieved.

Hawaii Options: Now and in the Summer

For the past few months, I have been researching and writing a 4th book, co-authored by Tim Spooner of http://www.weddingplanner.com. There is no reason I should not share some excerpts with all of you, since the book subject is honeymoons and most of you may have long since taken one.

Because the book is titled Honeymoons On Any Budget, it obviously offers me the opportunity to search out current bargains. And I am liking what I am seeing. Especially concerning Hawaii.

For instance, current airfares from the West Coast are still under $300 round trip and between $500-$600 for July (which is almost sure to come down if the recession lingers - a pretty likely event). Check Pleasant Holidays offer now extended till May where you get roundtrip for $299 per person (minimum of 2 travelers) but that includes 3 nights hotel. And you don't have to spend $200 per night once you arrive. If you are on an outer island, consider a bed & breakfast or renting a 1BR condo with a kitchen in Princeville for $479 per week. You can REALLY save if you aren't eating out every day and night. If you yearn for the happier, hippie days, you can rent a VW camper for $35 per night OR a Yurt (hut-like tent) for $25.

Oceanfront room at the Kona Tiki on the Big Island WITH  parking, refrigerator and continental breakfast for $69 per night!

This is just a sample of what I am finding. And thinking two people can fly there next month and spend no more than $125 per day for food and lodging and a week long trip would cost only $1,650 per couple (plus misc. expenses)

Countries Where You Are Most Likely to be Kidnapped

In writing about travel, it is so much more pleasurable to write about romantic hideaways, great deals on hotels and air fares and other assorted pleasant aspects about travel. But I am an equal opportunity writer and I find I MUST write travel tips about the downside of travel as well. And that means warning about countries where trouble brews.

Most people know the hot spots already - Afghanistan and Iraq would certainly top the list. But what about Venezuela? Colombia? The Philippines? These are sometimes desirable exotic vacation destinations. I fear people will let down their guard when visiting warm weather, beach type islands or locations and they forget their are militants hidden in the shadows. Strangely enough, most people aren't kidnapped for millions in ransom, this article notes the average ransom paid is just above $62,000.00.

You can access the link here and I suggest you pay attention to the fact that by no means are these the only places where you are likely to be kidnapped - reports come out of Mexico all the time about the same and many countries in Central America are target points also. In fact, just week, the British put out this alert against ALL travel to Madagscar. Lesson to be learned is to be ever aware of your surroundings no matter where you are. Be alert, be diligent and be safe.

The MOST Expensive Airport in the Nation

 To anyone living in the Midwest, this is probably not news, but a recent announcement from Delta brought to my attention exactly which is the most expensive airport in the U.S. I would have guessed Chicago perhaps, or maybe a hub dominated by a major airline, like American has with Dallas/Ft. Worth.

I'd be wrong. It's Cincinnati, identified in a recent article as the Most Expensive Airport in the Nation. Why? Delta apparently uses it as a alternative hub (after Hartsfield in Atlanta) and there apparently is little competition. There is little incentive for another major airline to establish a stronghold in a city where another major airline already has a stranglehold. So I would guess that Cincinnati has been a 'Delta' town much the same as SFO is a United airport. I've long said (living here in S.F.) that it is hard NOT to fly UAL out of SF because for years I tried. And once you book a flight to anywhere, you almost always find you can't get back without using United. I'm guessing the same occured in Cincy.

But the good news is that Delta has slashed fares out of Cincinnati, because they don't want passengers "wasting time and money flying out of nearby airports" (anymore? - paranthesis mine!) They announced not a sale but a general lowering of fares OUT of Cincinnati. Read the article here.

So my travel tip of the day those of you having driven many times to Indy or Lexington or anywhere near Cincinnati to get better fares, consider Cincy again.

Presidents Day Quotes

There is not a lot of material to use about travel on Presidents Day (except the inevitable P.D. airfare sales) so I thought I would just research some quotes by ex-Presidents and post the interesting ones (in my opinion!)

For instance, this unsettling gem came from Chester Arthur: "If it were not for the reporters, I would tell you the truth."  Hmmm - somehow that is not a good indicator of truth in government. I also liked this from Grover Cleveland: " Above all, tell the truth". Cleveland followed Arthur so maybe he had heard Arthur's quip?

Benjamin Harrison said " We Americans have no commissions from God to police the world". Wonder when that changed. And when this changed as well, from Franklin Pierce: "The revenue of the country, levied almost insensibly to the taxpayer, goes on from year to year, increasing beyond either the interests or the prospective wants of the Government." Oh yeah, that one HASN'T changed!

Andrew Johnson said: "The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people." Well, we're half way there now!

This one from James Madison actually makes the most sense for me: "The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect."

Can't omit Bill Clinton in this post - it just wouldn't be right. "We need a spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this together. If we have no sense of community, the American dream will wither."

In the end, my favorite comes from that iconoclast, Calvin Coolidge: " I have never been hurt by anything I DIDN'T say!"

Good night and Amen!

Rail Journeys for the Ages

I rarely write about travel by train so I decided this would be a good time. The last article about trains was announcing the END of a great train option in Colorado - this article was actually taken from a blog by the Hotel Club titled "Nine Best Train Journeys in the World" and it can be found here.

In casing you don't read comments, someone wrote in and suggested the Alaska Railroad train, which is world renowned also as a great rail journey. I pass that link along as well here.

Why I do What I Do

There isn't anything more nerve wracking than writing a title like I wrote - you fear people will simply say "Who Cares?" But I write this because it is a follow up to my announcement last month that I was going to be on AM radio - albeit out of Atlanta, GA. But one of my Twitter travel friends (the TripChicks) have a weekly radio show and they sent me an invitation to be interviewed on Monday Feb 4th. I of course carpe diemed (seized the opportunity) and said yes and had a great time.

Of course, beauty is in the eye (in this case, ear) of the beholder and it wouldn't be fair to just tell you it was great. You get the opportunity to hear for yourself.

On the call, I shared how and why I got started doing this, gave some good tips and advice about travel in general and answered a couple of call in question as well. I should add that the hosts are well known travel consultants and agents and are veteran travelers with now at least 76 countries visited. So if you are interested, simply click this link to the call and listen away!

Romantic Islands for Valentines Weekend

Giving you a few days head start for the last minute spouse who hasn't any idea what to do for Valentines Day. Since it falls on a weekend this year, how about scratching the candy and flowers routine and take your spouse to a romantic getaway? Can be for a night or a weekend. Can be in the U.S. or out of the U.S. Can be super exotic ($675/night) or much more affordable ($125). Cost of getting there: extra.

CNN has presented a list of 10 Romantic Island Inns that I thought I should pass along as my civic duty. Arranging airfare to the Grenadines is going to be your problem - I'm just here to present the options and sit back and work all weekend! So check out this list of exotic options (Cozumel) to perhaps local attractions (San Diego, Florida and the Puget Sound San Juan Islands).