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Jet Blue's Fare Sale

If you follow my blog, you know I have written about Air Fares tumbling for the last few weeks. They are now tumbling so fast that the ink is hardly dry on one article before I am updating a new one about the same thing. Normally I wouldn't do this so consider this just an alert because it expires within days.

JetBlue has joined the Fall Fare Freefall by offering one way flights as low as $29.00 (excluding taxes/charges) if booked by Aug. 5th. Other airlines (like Southwest) have also begun extending sales into the Fall so it is not surprising that a discount airline like Jet Blue would too.

Of course not many fares are only $29. For instance, Chicago to Boston is $89, New York to Portland Maine is $49 and New York to New Orleans is only $69.  

One of the exasperating things about seeing headlines like '$29 fares' is we tend to look at them as if they were Southwest fares, where $49 MEANS $49. In fact, the sale on Jet Blue from N.Y. to Chicago is not $89 but it is close - $99.60 each leg. (Sometimes airlines make a ticket $150 and the TAXES are $300 for a total of $450 and they advertise it as "150 plus fees".)

You can see the featured web fares here. Just remember the sale (for now - I predict it will be repeated again several times) ends Aug 5th.

How to Obtain a Passport

Because only 30% of U. S. citizens actually HAVE a passport, the new travel requirements started June 1 (see my post about that here) will most likely see a push for passports from those no longer able to get into or out of Canada and Mexico. Not to suggest information on HOW to do so is scarce or hard to find (it isn't), I just feel it appropriate to just show you an article from the Examiner in casing the whole process is new to you.

You can access it here. We'll consider it my civic duty to pass this info along. As part of that civic duty, I would caution divorced parents to be current on the rules for their kids and travel. Just having a passport for your child MAY not allow a divorced parent into Canada or Mexico, so be sure to read up on what other papers are required by authorities.

Air Fares Continue Tumbling

In mid-July, I wrote about Southwest having reduced fall airfares. Whether this was a 'trend' or a one time event remained to be seen. What one would look for is confirmation of the cuts by other airlines also reducing fares.

There is yet another piece of this puzzle which I didn't suggest - if Southwest were to reduce fares OTHER than in Fall. And both of these have now happened.

Not only did Southwest change the dates from Sept. to August but Air Tran matched the reductions. Southwest also extended the 'sale' from the original two days until July 31st, another reason for me to re-post so soon. While this is not a landslide confirmation, it is a healthy start. However, another confirming signal comes from U.S. Air's announcement of more staff cutbacks this fall - 600 more jobs. This means the historic low fares we've seen still have not matched the reduced demand for flying.

Normally I would not write about similar postings so soon but given the dates of the cuts (August), it is probably prescient for me to do this now anyway. You can read the AirTran and Southwest article from USA Today here.

A Warning about Hotel Pranks

In the old days (and I mean REALLY old days), a good prank was to call people and ask them if their refrigerator was running. When they said yes, you then tell them they better go catch it! (If they ask, 'what is a refrigerator?', you probably wanted to hang up right then)

In light of all of today's reality shows (like Punkd), the pranks played on people have escalated 100 fold. Now news is spreading of pranks being played on hotel guests from Florida to Arkansas. A caller will call a hotel room and identify themselves as a manager or hotel worker and ask them to do outrageous things. Break mirrors and windows, throw mattresses out the window, pull the fire alarms. One guest was so panicked she told her deputy husband to do some of these and he readily complied!

This rash of pranks apparently is a byproduct from PrankNET.com, where a bunch of morons sit around and think of nothing better to do with their lack of life skills than dream up how to damage property and alarm people with threats about 'gas leaks' and fires in a nearby room. They apparently post videos on YouTube also and like those in the underground world of stolen credit cards and identities, get 'boosts' from fellow pranksters for every outrageous stunt they pull.

My point is that some day you might be punked like this and end up being billed for damages instead of being given a free pass as a victim. In the article I read out of Florida, the couple was NOT charged with anything nor billed for the damages they did but one has to wonder why common sense didn't arise and inform the guest that in an emergency, you GET OUT of a room, not start throwing chairs out the window. If you really smelled smoke, opening ANY windows only fuels a fire, allows a smoldering fire access to oxygen and tends to EXPLODE a fire (ever see BackDraft?) and if there truly were a gas leak, OPENING the window calmly would serve as well as smashing it with a toilet lid. I am not trying to blame the victims but I wonder if they would blindly follow these instructions if it was their HOUSE and not a hotel room.

Just like letting in anyone off the street into your house who claims to be an employee of the gas or water company and is not wearing a work uniform or shirt nor having proper ID is not a good idea, perhaps hanging up and calling the desk first before chucking a mattress out the window would be a good idea. Otherwise, some day you may be on the business end of a $10,000 invoice for damages to a hotel room.

Air Fares Headed Up or Down?

The airlines (or maybe I should say the pilots) have to battle uber-winds and thunderstorms when flying and if possible map a route away from turbulence. Now the airlines have to battle turbulence on the ground as well. While they are busy cutting routes, staff and equipment, they find the need to slash fares AGAIN. This apparently on the heels of reports that fares had risen for summer travel (on some routes - particularly to Europe) and there was talk of fares finally having hit bottom with nowhere to go but up.

I even wrote this very thing on July 1st and while I cautioned the rising prices had yet to be accepted by ALL airlines, I added that I thought fares in the fall were not headed DOWN, yet not up either. Now comes news that the leading discount airline (Southwest) had offered one of their largest sales EVER on travel from Sept 9 to Nov 18. Which means all the cost cutting and downsizing STILL is not enough to lure travelers back to flying. (It also means I was wrong - fares are dropping for Fall, at least at this early stage) As you can read here, Southwest announced their sale and some airlines followed suit and others didn't. Aviation expert Michael Boyd commented; "There is a free fall in demand".

While this supports my comment that experts suggested fare sales would start anew after school starts up again, I thought maybe fares would hold steady because they are at rock bottom prices now. Apparently not. More bad news for airlines but good news for those few who are traveling.

As always, conditions can change rapidly and there is every indication now that some airlines may RAISE rates and some may slash them. It pays to shop around will be my mantra from here on out.

Power Pass for Las Vegas Available Here

I received this email recently and wanted to alert of you to it. I often get asked if I have any knowledge about Las Vegas so anything that helps you save money serves as knowledge for me. Power Passes (allowing you unlimited access to the many attractions, rides, etc.) are now available through my link at a discount. See the below e-mail for more information about a Power Pass.

If you are interested in the Power Pass, simply click on my referral link (Best of Vegas)in the right hand margin and find the Power Pass information and sales.

 

Las Vegas Power Pass

2 Day ADULT ticket: Regular = $97.50, Our price = $88+tax = $93.72

 

2 Day CHILD (Ages 2-12) ticket: Regular = $62.50, Our price = $57+tax = $60.71

 

3 Day ADULT ticket: Regular = $125, Our price = $113+tax = $120.35

 

3 Day CHILD (Ages 2-12) ticket: Regular = $82.50, Our price = $74.50+tax = $79.34

If you are truly looking to experience the BEST OF VEGAS, this is it! The Las Vegas Power Pass grants you access to the best attractions that the city of Las Vegas has to offer, all for one low price! With access to more than 20 popular sights, tours, rides, and more, the Las Vegas Power Pass is the original most comprehensive and cost effective pass provided in Las Vegas! Power Passes grant you one admission a day to the top participating attractions in Las Vegas.

What Hotels.com DOESN'T Tell You

I make no apology for having written a book critical of Third Party 'discount' sites like Expedia, Hotels.com or Travelocity. I post occasionally about matters like how to find the lowest prices online but I have noticed people are loyal to what they know best. Even friends of mine (who I refer to my link which can get a better rate than what you see on Third Party sites) have returned to those sites 'because it is just easier'. Meaning 'they have my info already. (Not true - your COMPUTER has your stored info)

In any event, I wish no ill will against these sites - heck, maybe someday one or all will advertise on my site. Whether I would accept the money and run is a story for another day - for now, I am passing along an interview I came across from the 'expert' at Hotels.com. I pass along the link here (which happens to be from Chris Elliott) in order to present both sides of my coin to you. Read the interview, see what you think. Maybe it will get you to use H.com in the future.

What I will do here is address the 3 points the expert evaded (in my opinion) because he obviously had to be loyal to his company. You will soon see he didn't really answer the questions - he went around them.

Specifically, he responded to Chris' questions (such as "Other than booking a hotel through your site, how do you land a deal this summer?") with some nonsense about researching your choices and looking for package deals - both of which you conveniently do on Hotels.coms site. What he didn't say was "CALL THE HOTEL - tell them you got a rate of $XX on line and can they beat or match it." THAT is how you get the best rate available. Now that Third Party sites are no longer charging a service fee, there may be no big price break for you but sometimes a hotel will entice you NOT to book through a Third Party by beating their rate by $5 or more.

The expert was then asked; "What advantages does someone have booking through a site like Hotels.com, versus a travel agent or directly through a hotel?" His answer was comical, again in my opinion, but mostly for what he DIDN'T say. Great, they have a rewards program - so does every hotel chain I know. Rent ten rooms or nights, get one free is also fine but if you overpay for those 10 rooms by $5-$10 to begin with, the free night is anything but. Every chain ALSO has a 'book a (predetermined) number of nights/rooms and get a free one' policy with their programs. He then promoted the fact that you are entitled to post a review "where feedback is critical in helping travelers make right property choices." Wow, what a treat! You get to spend time writing a review. If you like writing, you can do the same on Tripadvisor for any property and more people will probably read it.

Vancouver Olympics 2010: What to Expect in Room Rates

 It should not shock anyone to realize that special events bring higher room rates for hotels. When the special events are likely once-in-a-lifetime events, the rates may seem out of reality. The Olympic Games are no stranger to gouging by businesses in and near the events either - unless they are help in a city like Los Angeles, where there are SO many hotels that it would be impossible NOT to find a reasonable rate if you really looked.

But when they come to smaller cities or are scattered around different cities, it is not as easy to get a decent rate. This would appear to be the case for Vancouver B.C. in the next Olympics. Not a small city but not a Chicago or Montreal either. So one should expect somewhat pricey accommodations (don't get mad at the hotels, get mad at the people who PAY the higher prices!) around the Olympic time and that is what I see now.

A tour company in Canada is suggesting 5-6 hotels and motels and it appears that hotels are going for about $300 per night and up. Some of the ones listed here (like the Ramada or Howard Johnson) have '6-7 night packages for pretty much $2950 (What a surprise. They are ALL quoting $2950!) which works out to about $400 + per night! In contrast, the same Howard Johnson on Expedia is $137 in July 09 and the same Ramada Inn is $155.

If you read my book discussing how and when to book reservations, you would recall that hotels dangle rates they would LIKE to get until they reach a point where either panic sets in and they slash rates or they sell out and become unavailable. If I intended to partake of the Olympics and faced the dilemma of booking early (at high rates) or waiting to see if rate come down, I would wait and watch rates. But I would also search for hotels/motels about 5-10 miles out of town and seeing if their rates are more amenable to me. If I had to pay $3000 for just a bed, I would look into 2 other options as well. Short-term apartment rentals (where at least you could dine in and save another $1000) or house swaps. There HAVE to be people in Vancouver who want to get away from the area during the Olympics and if you have something worthwhile to offer (like you live in New York, Miami, San Francisco for instance) or a large house to swap, you might be able to just pay your rent or mortgage as normal and save thousands.

Shoes for Traveling

One of the important components to traveling happily is to be comfortable. In my Travel Tips book, I write about such things as dressing for where you are scheduled to arrive (not for where you depart from), dressing appropriately (in case of emergencies) and other such items that lend themselves to your being a happier traveler.

I recently came across a great article from a homeopathic doctor that is titled "How to Keep Your Feet Happy When Traveling". I thought it not only had a lot of common sense to it but it added something to the premise of being comfortable when you travel. The doctor advises to wear appropriate shoes so you don't develop blisters or sores at your destination and to make sure the shoes have adequate support. This will avoid sore feet when your trip is over or nearly over.

The one thing I would have added if I wrote the article is to wear shoes on the plane that are appropriate in case of emergency. Wearing high heels may look fashionable but would be inappropriate if you landed in the Hudson River and had to walk on the wet wing of the plane. The same for hiking boots - you would sink to the bottom is case of a water landing if you had heavy boots on. Taking them off is no answer either - in cold water or weather, you would risk frost-bite or hypothermia if only in bare feet or socks.

For that matter, wearing proper clothes is important too but not the subject of this article so I will forego any more 'preaching'. Follow the link to the article to see what advice he offers and you can thank me later!

Hotel Reviews: Who Reads and Who Writes

Many of you (OK, maybe SOME of you) know I write and comment on hotel issues most of the time. That is the reason for my being in fact. Even fewer of you know I wrote a book dedicated to Understanding Hotel Reviews. I have written posts about these topics from time to time and have even posted links to valuable articles or other posts I have discovered when I think they will be of value to you.

I am SO SURE you are all falling down with appreciation also that I post this little tidbit written by a REAL author. John Newton, once of Travel+Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler fame, wrote a short piece that I have included as a link here (if you want to see the whole article) but I condensed his research/knowledge and pass it along because I have a special prize for you who are reading my post. More on that below.

Research has varied on the topic of Hotel Reviews. In fact, I recall a big magazine suggesting that upwards of 2/3rds of all travelers read reviews. Some people have said it is 80%. His passed along research says only 20% do. What is of more interest to me is WHO writes them. I wrote in my book that people are more likely to complain than laud a hotel but in reading hundreds if not thousands, I do have to say there are far more positive responses than negative ones. So his sources are probably right. He notes:

• One in five travelers reports reading reviews before traveling; almost one in ten posts reviews after their trip.
• Travelers who post reviews tend to be more satisfied guests than those who do not and more likely to return to a hotel or resort.
• Luxury hotel and timeshare guests are more likely to post reviews than guests in other lodging categories; casino guests are the least likely to post about their stays.
• Older travelers are more likely to post reviews; younger travelers are more likely to read them.
• Travelers headed overseas read reviews more often than those traveling domestically. Nearly half of travelers headed to Mexico and other parts of Latin America reported reading online reviews before reserving a room.

Since age is not defined (who or what is young or old?) it may not matter but I would have suggested that YOUNGER readers who are more internet and Social Media savvy types would post more than older travelers. But again, the point is moot. I do know this - hotels (ours included) NEVER advises unsatisfied guests to go online and post a review but if they LOVE us, we will give them the name and internet address. It's just good business sense, so don't shoot the messenger!