Strategies for saving on holiday travel

Strategies for saving on holiday travel
Seniors on the Go
by Ed Perkins - October 19, 2007

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Holiday meal (Photo: IndexOpen)

If you haven't already made your arrangements for this year's holiday
season travel, you probably already know that finding good deals--or
even deals of any kind--will be tough. Every year at about this time,
the online travel seller Priceline issues its forecast of the best and
worst days to fly, along with a few other suggestions. I'm adding a
few of my own, as well.

As a major player in selling airline tickets, Priceline has a pretty
good handle on what are shaping up as the best and worst days to fly:

* Lowest prices: Before December 19, or on December 24, 26, 27,
28, and 31.
* Mid-level prices: December 19, 23, 29, and 30, January 1, 2, and
3.
* Highest prices: December 20, 21, and 26, and January 4, 5, and
6.

I don't see any big surprises here, but it's nice to have
confirmation. Given that scenario, how can you find the best airfare
deals? As usual, flexibility remains the best single strategy. Start
on one of the big online sites to compare airfares. Priceline operates
one, and lots of industry mavens recommend Kayak as their top choice
for wide-ranging airfare searches.

Most big sites let you search for flights and fares several days on
either side of your preferred dates. Many also allow you to look for
deals available to and from alternative airports at either end or both
ends of your trip.

When you have a choice, opt for a nonstop or direct (a stop but no
plane change) flight--that minimizes your chances of delays, missed
connections, or lost baggage. Also, try to fly early in the day--delays
tend to pile up as the day progresses--and avoid connections at delay-
prone airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis-St Paul, and
Detroit.

Priceline doesn't issue a similar report on the hotel scene, but the
situation is also about what you might expect. Hotels and resorts in
vacation centers--especially beach or winter sports centers--will be at
or near their yearly high occupancies. Some are already booked solid,
so expect to pay top dollar for what few accommodations remain
available.

On the other hand, accommodations at off-season destinations may be a
bit less expensive. Also, many up-market hotels in city centers find
their usual business clientele dwindles down to nothing over the
holidays, so many of them offer some combination of attractive rates
and special shopping or theater packages to lure leisure travelers.

Search for hotel deals as you would for airfares. If you're sure you
won't have to cancel, and don't demand a specific hotel, the lowest
prices are almost always on an opaque site such as Priceline or
Hotwire.

Check locations near a popular and crowded destination, rather than
right in one. Consider a condo rental rather than conventional hotel
or resort. And when you need airfares and hotels, consider buying both
as a package. For a popular vacation destination, a tour packager may
still have attractive air-hotel packages, even when the individual
airlines and hotels say they're fully booked. Either check around some
of the big online sites, or ask a travel agent what's available.

In sum: Although bookings are already tight, you still stand a chance
of getting where you want to go--and finding a place to stay--if you
show a bit of ingenuity and flexibility. And those are good rules for
vacation planning just about any time.

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-...6&u=SL4F6B4DC5