Budget Travel

European Tours Cheaper in 2010

November 20th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

2009 was not a good year for many tour operators in Europe. Hotels and airlines on the continent were forced to dramatically cut costs in order to lure customers, and ultimately, in order to survive. Tour companies suffered the same setbacks. If would-be travelers considered a solo trip to Europe too expensive, then guided tours were even more out of the question.

But those tour companies that were able to keep their doors open during the slow 2009 summer season (usually the most profitable time of year) are already planning to lure more travelers in 2010 by cutting costs. Major tour operator, Thomas Cook, headquartered in Germany, has announced that it is making significant cuts to its 2010 price tags. They are also trying to ease the minds of customers who are uncertain about their economic future. Cook will lower its 2010 high-season prices by 5% on average. Part of the cuts are due to the fact that the company’s service providers and the hotels that they use are also cutting prices.

Thomas Cook is also addressing the future economic uncertainty. Next summer is a long way away, especially for those who aren’t certain that their jobs will be intact in the future. Cook will allow customers to cancel their vacation until six weeks before departure with no penalty, should they find themselves without a job or have their salary cut (http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1256895786.html).

Trafalgar Tours, another major player in the European guided-tour sector, is offering deals that are designed for couples (or any two people who don’t mind traveling together). Their eight-day guided tour of England has an option that allows any customer who purchases a full airfare to get a free airfare for their companion (http://www.froschvacations.com/promo/view/?ID=78).

Other companies will, most likely, be following Cook and Trafalgar’s lead. Travelers with European ambitions should watch over the coming months as more operators, hotels and airlines begin to offer early bird deals for summer 2010.

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Regional Cruise Tourism On the Rise Despite Economy

November 17th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

Cruise-Regional-Revenue
Even though many travelers are putting off luxury cruise and travel itineraries until the economy improves, analysts report that demand for regional cruise trips has continued to increase. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association recently reported that cruise tourism helped boost revenues for the ports and businesses in Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean throughout the major dips of the recession. The results of an FCCA-commissioned study through the Business Research and Economic Advisors showed that between 2008 and 2009, the regional cruise industry brought in about $2.2 billion in direct revenues.

Carnival Corporation reports the cruise industry is typically recession-resistant, which means many avid cruise travelers can find a number of great deals and attractive packages in even a waning economy. In addition to the revenue generated from booking cruise travel, crew members spent approximately $289 million at 29 destinations during the 2008 and 2009 season, and cruise lines spent about $279.9 million in participating destinations to cover the costs of port fees, taxes, navigation services, and ship supplies. Cruise passengers spent about $1.71 billion in the 29 participating destinations, and this included shopping purchases for clothing, food, jewelry and gifts. (Source: CruiseIndustryWire.com)

Destinations surveyed for this study included the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, Cozumel, Ensenada, Cartagena, Belize, Costa Rica, Grenada, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Regional cruise tourism options abound for U.S.-based travelers and many U.S. citizens and residents can find cheap cruise packages and airline tickets on and offline, even during the turbulent economy. Cruise operators have been offering discounted packages and incentives to generate more interest in cruise travel in the past year. Because housands of travelers have taken advantage of these deals, revenues for the major cruise lines, ports and destination countries have increased.

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The Big Easy: Easy on Your Wallet

November 15th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

new-orleans-cheap-travelNew Orleans (pronounced, “new orlins” by locals) is coming back into its own as a hot tourist destination. Though vast parts of the city were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, popular attractions like the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the Garden District remained above water. The City of New Orleans and other government agencies continue to work restoring the city as life in many parts of New Orleans has not yet been completely rebuilt. Visitors will be able to find the attractions and festive atmosphere that have always made the Big Easy a popular tourist spot.

It is easy to spend a lot of money in New Orleans, but there are plenty of ways to travel on a budget, see the sights, enjoy the food and music and have a great time.

New Orleans is a city of bed-and-breakfasts. Visitors who don’t mind foregoing big modern hotels will find warm Southern hospitality at these small family-run establishments. In addition, places like the Marquette House (a hostel with the ambiance of an old-style boarding house) often offer cheap rates. Rates start at $16.

Walking is free and travelers get a better taste of New Orleans life by walking the city. Visitors can spend a day, or maybe even two, strolling through the French Quarter, Uptown, and Carrollton neighborhoods. The historic architecture and colorful storefronts are some of the city’s most attractive aspects.  Many travelers find the colorful street life in the French Quarter to be the most memorable part of their vacation.

Riverboat cruises are pricey, but river ferries, mostly used by local commuters, are the way to go on a budget and get the same views of New Orleans from the water. Likewise, streetcar rides on St. Charles Avenue are a good way to see the city’s sights without spending a lot of money.

New Orleans is an eater’s town.  Being on the water makes seafood relatively inexpensive except at fancier restaurants in the French Quarter and Uptown. Ask the locals where they like to get their Gulf Coast specialties like po’ boy sandwiches (the original sub sandwich) and gumbo. Visitors are likely to get something that’s authentic and tastes homemade without breaking the bank.

Explore New Orleans, find your favorite landmarks and neighborhoods, enjoy its people and their culture. Frommer’s Budget Travel Guide has a informative web page about budget traveling in the Big Easy.

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Win a Las Vegas Vacation Package on Us!

November 11th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | 11 Comments »

Take our survey and be entered to win a Las Vegas Vacation Package on us!Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on future opportunities to win

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Our travel experts know everything there is to know about Las Vegas, but we care what you think. Take our Vegas survey; your participation will automatically enter you into a drawing to win a free Las Vegas Vacation Package!

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USTA Expects 90,000 Travel Jobs Added in 2010

November 11th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

Even though the past two years have been fairly turbulent for the airline industry, the U.S. Travel Association reports that there will be strong growth and more opportunities for travel industry professionals in 2010. The U.S. Travel Association has released a report that states a modest increase in leisure, business and international inbound travel that translates to the addition of about 90,000 American jobs in the travel sector.

According to Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, “The travel industry shares President Obama’s goal of putting Americans back to work. Our industry is uniquely capable of adapting to economic upswings and quickly adding tens of thousands of jobs…What we announce today is based upon modest increase in travel. Given its immense potential, we call on the Administration and Members of Congress to build a plan for economic recovery that drives significant increases in travel.”

The report projects a 2 percent increase in domestic leisure travel, and a 2.5 percent increase in domestic business. The International travel market is also expected to improve, with a steady 3 percent increase in international travel to the United States.

Even with the economic downturn in 2009, the travel industry is expecting a heightened focus on value, so industry experts are expecting a slight increase in business travel next year. With an increased demand for travel, airlines will be able to open up more routes and book more flights, which means consumers will have more options in the near future. This also means that travel jobs will increase significantly over the next year.

Consumers may also experience a steady increase in the price of flights in the oncoming year, which means many of the travel incentives and special offers introduced in 2009 will become obsolete. Experts say that consumers should book their flights as early as possible when they find a great deal on flights.

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Southwest Airlines Introduces First Eco-Friendly Plane

November 9th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

southwest-airlinesSouthwest Airlines is now promoting its commitment to sustainability and ‘green’ business practices with its introduction of it’s eco-friendly, ‘Green Plane.’ Southwest calls the Green Plane “a flying testament to our philosophy that environmental decisions make good business sense.” The Green Plane is designed to combine efficiency and comfort without adding extra weight or materials to construction. The plane looks just like a Southwest Boeing 737-700 aircraft, but everything inside is made with environmentally-friendly products.

Some of the key features inside the Southwest Green Plane include: the InterfaceFlor Carpet, a carpet made with 100% recyclable materials and a carbon neutral manufacturing process; seat covers made with recyclable materials; a Life Vest Pouch designed with lightweight materials for easy stowing and weighs in at only one pound per passenger; Wind Screen designed to last longer than the current leather version, Foam Fill in the back seats that provide more comfort and are made with a lightweight Garnier PURtec fill; and Aisle Rub Strips made with recyclable materials and aluminum to increase durability.

More information about Southwest’s Green Plane is offered to passengers with printed information stored in the seat back pocket and interesting facts about the plane posted in the overhead bins. The plane is also designed with a “flying laboratory” that will contain eco-friendly products and offer pilots and staff members to maintain ongoing tests.

Southwest.com reports that the green initiative will take up to five pounds per seat off the plane load, which in turn will result in fuel and emission savings. The airline also expects that it will be able to save on materials and labor because of the greener, eco-friendly elements it plans to use for seats, carpeting and other elements of the plane’s interior.

Southwest’s Green Plane will be in regular service and will not be booked for a certain route.

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Expedia.com: No Booking Fees for Phone Orders

November 5th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

Expedia.com announced today that it will not charge booking fees on phone orders (1-800-EXPEDIA) for flight, hotel, rental car or cruise reservations. This is another substantial effort towards driving the cost of travel down for customers.

Expedia is the only online travel agency offering such a deal. Other online travel agencies can charge as much as $25 a ticket to book a flight over the phone. Same is true for several airline carriers. In May, the company got rid of online airfare booking fees and cancel and change fees on hotel and rental car reservations.

Travelers have been clearly responsive to these value propositions. Even with the steady decline in demand for international and domestic travel, some online booking sites are reporting a surge in profits and a more positive outlook for the year ahead. According to Expedia’s third quarter results, online reservations increased 23% in the third quarter, and the company expects to see a steady increase in bookings in 2010. These numbers are better than Wall Street and analyst expectations, and offer a promising outlook for the next season of travel in the United States and abroad.

Analysts report that hotel and airline ticket prices are still dropping steadily, so many travelers are able to take advantage of great deals and enjoy a vacation this season, regardless of the economy.

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Takin’ it to the Streets: The Best Walking Tours Around

November 4th, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

walking-tours-londonVisiting a major city can be an expensive proposition. To beat the prices of taxis, museum admission fees and $30 breakfasts, people often take to the streets (or the bus or subway). Walking around a big city can be a great way to get a feel for what life is actually like there (as opposed to experiencing only its museums, shopping malls, and hotel lobbies).

Of course, wandering a strange city can be confusing and even dangerous. The answer: guided walking tours. Sure, there are plenty of web sites offering pre-recorded tours for download to an iPod. But sometimes an actual guide, one with skin and bones, can offer a more complete, enjoyable experience.

Forbes Traveler recently published a list of the world’s best guided walking tours:

Barcelona, Spain
In Barcelona, the Barcelona Walks Modernisme tour focuses on the stunningly unique architecture of the city, especially the buildings around the famous Golden Square. This 2-hour starts at 5 euros.

New York City
For a different view of New York, the Archaeology Tour of New York City offers a glimpse into the city’s forgotten buildings. The tour features some of the oldest man-made structures in the Big Apple – many of them underground and long-since forgotten.

Philadelphia
The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia features stops at some of the most historic sites in the US, including Constitution Hall and the Liberty Bell. Guides are especially useful here because they are able to relate the historical aspects of each site. The Heart of the Freedom Trail, in Boston, offers a similar sense of history. Frequent and daily departures available; purchase an adult ticket for $17.50 and $12.50 for children.

Paris
In Paris, the Promenades Gourmandes tour leads walkers on a journey to some of the best unknown food spots in the city. Some tours end with an informal cooking class.

London
London is the king of walking tours, with literally hundreds of offerings including Dickens-themed tromps, trips through Victorian London, and even tours past some of the Beatles’ London haunts. Visit walks.com to view all of the several available tours.

The entire Forbes list can be found on the publication’s web site.

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Your Favorite Airlines Get Social

November 3rd, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and Delta are jumping onto the social media marketing bandwagon in hopes of capturing more market share and reaching a wider audience . Airlines are striking up online conversations with tools such as Twitter and Facebook to keep customers actively engaged with their latest promotions, handle venting and complaints publicly, and improve customer relations overall.

Airlines are wholeheartedly embracing the world of social media by creating interactive blogs and registering Twitter accounts so that they can improve their public relations efforts.

Some are taking things to the next level by creating highly targeted niche communities around a specific group of travelers. American Airlines, for example, will be launching a social network called BlackAtlas.com next month, which is designed specifically for African-American travelers. This site will include user-generated content and feature active bloggers who are sharing their travel tips and insights from their individual perspective.

Other airlines are cultivating relationships in a more traditional way by launching videos and webisodes on their websites, updating a corporate blog, and having celebrity spokesmen write different types of blogs for their target market. The ultimate goal is to attract new customers and retain loyal customers by keeping everyone in the loop about the latest news and updates, sending out special programs and incentives, and building long-term relationships.

Branded communities are the next step for many companies who want to be more involved with the online conversations that their customers are engaged in on a daily basis. These communities offer more value for the company than a social-network site because they are designed around a specific travel topic or activity. Airlines are among the leading travel industry professionals that are tapping into the social media realm and benefiting from improved customer relations overall.

Follow LowFares on twitter or become a facebook fan to get first wind of promotions, contests and travel deals.

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Free Holiday Wi-Fi on Virgin America, Courtesy of Google

November 2nd, 2009 | By LowFares | Posted in Budget Travel | No Comments »

virgin-america-newsGoogle and Virgin America have recently announced a partnership to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access to all passengers over the holiday season. Passengers traveling on Virgin America from November 10, 2009 to January 15, 2010 will be able to access the Internet with the Gogo In-flight Internet service system free of charge.

According to Porter Gale, the Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America, “Since the launch of WiFi on all of our planes, we’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response from travelers…we’ve found that both business and leisure travelers are using the service at a growing rate, and many consider the availability of in-flight WiFi one of the key factors in their booking decision.”

The Gogo In-flight service is currently used by about 20-25 percent of guests on long-haul routes, reports Virgin America, and more users may register this holiday season since the service will be provided free of charge.

The airline has had outlets available in every seat since its launch, and normal fees are $5.95 for flights less than 1.5 hours and redeyes $9.95 for flights between 1.5 hours and 3 hours, $12.95 for flights over three hours, and $7.95 for Internet access solely on a handheld device (regardless of flight time). A 30-day pass priced at $49.95 is also available for all travelers.

The holiday promotion is only available for a few months, and may encourage more people to become comfortable with using the Internet on their flight. The login process with the Gogo In-flight Internet system is fairly simple. Once the passenger is securely in their seat, they need to select the ‘gogoinflight’ signal in their wireless network and open the browser. Internet access on Virgin America planes is available at 35,000 feet on all flights, and the special offer is an exclusive program with Google just for the holiday season.

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