Airfare sales to capture immediately

A few of the major airlines are in the middle of a bidding war to fill seats this winter, and the big winner here is the consumer.

Leading the charge, Southwest and AirTran launched major sales this Tuesday. The fares are as low as $25 for a one-way ticket. If you are planning on traveling on busy days, like Christmas Eve or the Sunday after Thanksgiving, you will not capitalize on the sales. They are aimed at flights that would otherwise be largely empty.

Southwest Deals

One-ways sales are good for travel December 2-16 and January 5 through February 20. The sales are on for $25 on routes up to 375 miles, $50 on routes up to 549 miles, and $75 on routes up to 999 miles. Act fast! The sale expires on Thursday.

Book here

AirTran Deals

Traveling on AirTran through February 10 will save you some hard cash. One-way tickets drop to $39 on short routes. Longer routes range from $164 to $149 one-way. For this sale, you have until November 10.

Book here

The Catch

Aside from limited time to buy the sale tickets, both sales have restrictions. These restrictions include a limited number of seats, especially on the more in-demand flights. The tickets are also nonrefundable in the vast majority of cases. Southwest does have a great policy on travel vouchers, though, meaning you will likely be able to reserve the expense for another flight.

Discount Airlines

Southwest and AirTran are major competitors in the discount airline arena. Their conventional competitors do not offer the same sale benefits, and they also usually charge baggage fees and other additional penalties.

Extra charges are helping airlines get over the current travel recession, but they cost travelers about $4 billion in the first half of this year. Yes, billion. That’s nearly twice as much as the year before, and the fees are not expected to go away anytime soon.

Southwest and AirTran, though, do not impose these fees. You may opt to pay an additional charge on Southwest to jump to the front of the cattle-call seating line, but this is entirely optional. As airfares are creeping up along with penalties across the industry, these sale prices come at a needed time for consumers.

Hot TIPS

• You may also want to check out JetBlue and Frontier on routes that compete with Southwest routes. Often, these higher end competitors can offer reasonable prices that are very close to the Southwest charge.
• Priceline just created an iPhone application that will help you watch hotel fares. If you are traveling this holiday season and need accommodations, consider downloading this free app. You can even book hotels directly through your iPhone when you find a price you want to lock in.
• If its your birthday, be sure to let representatives at the ticket counter at Southwest know. They give away a lot of free drink tickets for people celebrating special occasions. People who like to travel cheap are always looking for free deals, and a free drink on the plane ride can put you in the right mood to get your holiday travels up and running!

Tags: airfare sales, priceline iphone application, southwest sales

Days Inn 15% discount

Days Inn offers a 15% discount to travelers booking at least two days in advance. Days Inn sees high walk in traffic, and this discount helps the chain book rooms ahead of time instead of at the last minute. If you know when and where you will be traveling, take advantage of this offer. You may also be eligible for park-and-fly benefits from the location.

How the Deal Works

• You have to agree to a nonrefundable prepayment at least two days before you travel. If you do, then you will receive 15% off the best rate you can find at Days Inn. It is easy to book this option online in order to enter your credit card information and receive your discount all at once. Check the 15% discount link here:  http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/special_offers_worldwide3?intcmp=special_offers_page_gbar&variant=
• To find the going rate before discount, go to a Days Inn website and select “Best Avail” as your preference. If a lower rate appears within 24 hours of booking your reservation, you can file a claim with Days Inn and will receive the discount. The claim forms are also available online, making the whole process streamlined for an Internet savvy purchaser.

Other Great Days Inn Deals

• If you have to drive to an airport some distance from your home before you fly, consider staying at a Days Inn the night before your flight. Instead of paying high prices for your airport parking, you can leave your car that the Days Inn with a park & ride option. A shuttle can take you to the airport when you need to go. You will see low rates up until December 31 of this year.
• Days Inn offers discounted rooms to seniors. You have to search for the “Senior” option on their website. Most representatives are also familiar with the plan and can assist you in booking. If you are 60 years or older or a member of the AARP, you will likely qualify.
• For reservations, visit the Days Inn website.

A Little Extra Effort

As you can see from the information above, saving money on travel may involve a little extra effort. To capitalize on the Days Inn option, you have to be willing to watch your computer for the best available rate on rooms. Even after you book, you will benefit from continuing to watch the rates just in case they drop. Filing claim forms may seem like a hassle, but you stand to save a lot of money if you are staying for more than one night. You may benefit from watching your local Days Inn (or the location where you hope to stay) on Twitter. For example, the Days Inn Scottsdale, Arizona, offers this feed of discounts and special opportunities for you to enjoy during your stay:  http://twitter.com/daysinnscottsda

Travel Insurance

Since your fees are not refundable with the Days Inn when you elect this option, you will benefit from travel insurance in the case you have to cancel. Your annual travel insurance will reimburse you for the fees you have lost for the last minute changes.

Tags: days inn, hotel discount, park and ride

Gateway to the West … and free stuff

St. Louis may sound like a boring travel destination, but taking into account the rich history, cultural attractions, and free stuff … it is worth the trip. St. Louis lauds itself as having the most free attractions of any U.S. city other than the capitol. The city is very family-friendly, and many “priced” attractions are still on the cheap side.

Getting to St. Louis

The central location of the city makes it an easy trip from nearly any destination. It is near the population center of the U.S., which actually occurs closer to Kansas City. Flying into St. Louis is made easier by the fact Southwest flies direct to the city from most locations. Further, there is a metro train that runs directly from the airport to deep into the suburbs. This same train services most of the metropolitan area, making getting around once you are there very affordable.

Free Forest Park

Forest Park is among the largest city parks in the U.S. The exciting part about this park is the number of attractions packed into the area. The St. Louis Zoo is in the heart of the park, and it is 100% free. The zoo boasts more than 6,000 animals and is regarded as one of the best in the country.

Also in the park is the St. Louis Art Museum, which sits atop a stately hill. You will note the fact the city was the home of both the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games based on the unique architecture. Much of the fair was held in the art museum. The exhibits include German Expressionists and a sculpture park.

The Science Center and Planetarium is also free, no matter how many members of the family you pack in. Kids will enjoy an extensive outdoor playground and exhibits for exploring once you get inside.

The Missouri History Museum also calls Forest Park home. A unique architectural site, the Jewel Box, is a glass facade in the center of the park. You may also enjoy a visit to the Boat House restaurant to rent paddle boats for a $20 charge.

Home of Beer & Baseball

Anheuser Busch and Schlafly Bottleworks both call St. Louis home. Here, you can sample beers and take tours for a minimal fee. Sampling beer is a fun activity at the brand new Busch Stadium, home to the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. In the down town area, you will enjoy “baseball village,” a collection of shops and restaurants, the “landing” a historic area of restaurants and bars, and even get to travel up the St. Louis Arch. Underneath the Arch is a free western expansion museum to view while you wait. The trip up the arch does cost a few dollars, but the views and the experience are well-worth it for most visitors.

For Families:

• The Magic House - a donated home full of places to explore and activities for an entire family to enjoy
• The City Museum - fun for both adults and kids. An architectural work of art that serves as a giant indoor/outdoor playground

Tags: free museums, free zoos, st. louis travel

Cheap Student Travel

Students are in a unique position when it comes to traveling the world: they often have the most amount of time to do it and the least amount of money to spend. The student travel budget may not be very high, but the market is big enough that whole travel agencies are dedicated to getting students on spring break trips, European back packing adventures and semesters at sea. When you are a student considering traveling, follow a few golden rules to get the best deals.

Work with a Student Travel Agency

Travel agents may seem costly, but the savings you recoup on deals in flights and hotels often make the expense worth it. Student agents often bundle travel packages around school breaks, meaning you will be able to piggy back off of the work they have done. You will also capitalize on the other students who are taking the same trip as you, making your trip less expensive. While other travel agents may offer deals, they are often out of touch with the unique needs of students. You will find that student agencies better understand where the best places to be are for people in your situation.

Buy Student Travel Insurance

Students are often targeted for theft and crime. They also often have the highest claims for injury and illness. The crime problem follows students because they stick out in foreign countries. Foreigners know when American breaks are each year, and they know that students will be off their guard because they are taking a fun-filled vacation. Further, students are often involved in accidents because they are more likely to engage in risky behavior. Whether you plan on bungee jumping or bar hopping, insurance will cover you if something goes wrong. The worst case scenario is to end up in a foreign hospital without travel insurance.

Consider Study Abroad like a Vacation

If you are studying abroad for a semester, do not treat it as if you are moving to another country for that time. In reality, the abroad experience is more like an extended vacation. You will have the same feeling of never truly settling in to your destination. You will likely be taking advantage of weekend trips, meaning you will have to easily pack up and head out at a moment’s notice. Treating the time like a vacation will give you valuable guidelines like: travel light, pay attention to your spending, and look for the cheapest way to get from point A to point B.

Carry a Student ID

Most everywhere you go on a vacation will offer student discounts. Museums, theaters, and even transit companies have reduced fares for students on a budget. You will need to have your student ID to receive these reductions at most locations. You can consider purchasing a “student pass” up front in some locations. For example, historical societies in whole cities or countries will offer you a pass to visit a multitude of locations on the cheap if you purchase a student pass through their headquarters.

Tags: student travel, student travel insurance, Travel insurance