Las Vegas is one of the vacation spots where many great deals are available, providing you don't gamble away what you saved, and then some. By the way, this famous sign, built in 1959, has just been added to the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo by Las Vegas News Bureau/LVCVA.)
With summer unofficially beginning this Memorial Day weekend, it's heartening to know that the rocky economy isn't stopping travelers from, er, traveloing. A survey of more than 600 American Express Travel agents hints that while Americans continue to book summer vacations, they are being savvier by making slight-but-smart tradeoffs to help offset costs. Among the strategies:
* They are booking vacations closer to dates of travel to take advantage of last-minute deals.
*They are vacationing closer to home.
*They are cashing in their frequent-flier miles and credit-card reward points.
* They are choosing destinations where the dollar goes farther (see below).
Here, from the agents surveyed, are tips for saving this summer:
* Look for packages with free-night promotions. (We would add that packages, in general, are a good way to save. Even if you don't use all the features in a given hotel or hotle-flight package, you could still come out ahead.
*Consider a cruise. This helps travelers manage their budgets because costs, including that of dining, are included.
*Be flexible about travel dates. The best deals are midweek.
* Twosomes might consider a couples-only resort. Deep discounts are currently available.
And the destinations that make your buck stretch? The agents picked these U.S. Cities: Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Los Angeles. For international destinations, they chose Rome, London, Paris, Madrid and Prague.
Travel tip
Do not turn your hotel room keycard in to the desk at the end of your stay because most contain your credit-card information. It's best to take them home and shred them. And speaking of those cardes, do not put them in your pocket next to your cfellphone. The phone could demagnetize the information strip on the card.
Elope and honeymoon in Texas for under $500
The Star of Texas B&B in Brownwood has one of the most affordable wedding packages we've seen. The package includes a wedding ceremony preformed in the Garden Room or on the outdoor wedding deck by the innkeeper/chaplain, a bouquet of flowers for the bride, a small cake for two with punch, plus a photo CD. The cost is $169 plus the price of the room, with rates from $129-$169 per night.
Call 800-850-2003 or visit www.hat.org.
Old and tired travel joke
A vulture was boarding an airplane with two captured carcasses. "Sorry," said the flight attendant, "only one carrion per person."
A summer stay on the Big Island for $67 a night
Shell Vacations Hospitality has an online-only deal at Hawaii’s Kona Coast Resort on the Big Island. Guests get 40-60 percent off when they book a fully-furnished villa, and to sweeten the deal even more, Shell is offering a 10 percent discount on all food and beverage charges in the resort’s restaurant, plus a free one-day snorkel rental for two. With this special, rates begin at $67 per night. The package is valid through Aug. 1, except for July 3- July 5 and Oct. 7 – 11.
Bookings can be made only at Shell's blog.Click here.
Trivial question
In what city will you find Domodedovo International Airport? (Answer Saturday. And, yes, we know that you can google the answer, but let's play fair.)
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