Tips for Finding Good Fares

I was the guest "travel expert" on the last episode of ADOBO NATION, the weekly magazine talk program airing Sundays at 6:40pm on The Filipino Channel (TFC). In the ATM: Anong Tanong Mo segment, I talked with host Michi Valeriano about holiday travel and gave a few tips and tricks for finding good airfare deals. For those of you who missed the show or are interested in more details, I thought that I would repeat the points that I made and offer up some more advice that I didn't have time to mention on the show.

Tip 1: Look and book early

In general, you want to book your airline tickets at least 3 weeks in advance. Topaz International – a travel industry auditor - released a study in May that said you can save about 20% for international destinations and up to 50% for domestic trips if you purchase your tickets 21 days or more before the day of your flight.

For travel during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday seasons, you want to start looking for deals even earlier, like beginning around August or September. If you see a good price a few months before your trip then you should go ahead and book it if you can afford to, because the really great deals don't last very long before selling out.

It's also helpful to know that many airlines recalibrate their prices on Tuesday or Wednesday, sometimes in response to changes made by their competitors, so if you research fares on those days you are more likely to see "fresh" deals. If you make a habit of checking the price of an itinerary every day, you will be less likely to miss out on a great price.

Tip 2: Be flexible

When choosing dates for your flights, it generally helps if you aren't tied down to specific travel days. If you can, try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday -- prices will be better on those days since most people fly on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. You will also get a better deal if your trip includes a Saturday night stay. It helps to think of the days that a business traveler would want to fly to be at work during the week and at home during the weekend -- and then do the opposite!

It also helps if you are in a big metropolitan area with multiple airports and you don't mind which airport you fly out of. You should look at flights from all airports within a convenient driving distance from your home. For example, if you live in San Francisco, you should look at flights out of the airports in Oakland and San Jose in addition to ones leaving out of San Francisco.

Holiday travel requires a different kind of flexibility. For Thanksgiving, most people tend to fly out on Wednesday and come back Sunday or Monday, so try to avoid those days if you can. If you plan on spending a few weeks away for Christmas, try booking a flight out for the first or second week in December since prices will go up the closer the flight day is to the 25th. Another option is to fly on the actual holiday itself -- my husband and I have flown on Christmas morning for the last few years and we see better prices on that day than the day before (Christmas Eve).

Tip 3: Research the web

There are lots of travel search engines on the internet -- it's hard to know which one to use! Some respected websites are Kayak, Mobissimo and Bing. These are not booking sites but aggregators that pull prices from multiple airlines and travel providers’ databases, let you easily sort the information so you can find the exact flight that you want, and then send you directly to the source to complete your purchase.. Kayak and Bing also allow you to run the same search through multiple sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire and Priceline all at once – these will pop up in different windows, so you can easily do a direct comparison.

Kayak has been our favorite flight search website for the last few years, but I recommend that you try each of them to see which one you are most comfortable using and which one is easiest for you to find the best prices.

Each of the websites have additional tools that can make it easier to find good deals. For example, Kayak has a handy chart that tells you the special fees for each airline. You can automatically add baggage fees to the list of prices if you know how many bags you are checking in for your flight. Kayak also has a special "weekend" search that quickly shows you the best fares over every weekend in a specific month. The website also has "Fare Charts" that show you in a graph how the price has changed for a specific itinerary over the last 90 days.

Bing (Microsoft's travel website, which bought and integrated Farecast.com) also has fare history and takes it to the next level by predicting if the current price is going to go up or down or stay the same, and advising you if you should "buy now" or hold off for a better deal.

Priceline still has a "name your own price" feature that may provide even better discounts but may involve multiple layovers and early/late flight times.

Even if you find a good deal through one of these aggregator sites, you should still check directly on the website of the airline with the best deal, because they may have a even better deal that you can only find on their website. It's also helpful to know that fares for Southwest Airlines can only be found on southwest.com so you should always check that website too if you know they fly to your destination city.

Tip 4: Use a fare tracker

If you start looking early enough, you can use websites like Kayak and Bing to track fares – meaning you can punch in a departure and return date for a specific destination and they will continuously monitor the price and send you an email alert when it drops and/or rises.

Even after you buy a ticket, you can still use Yapta to continue tracking the fare -- if the price goes down below what you paid, you may be eligible for a voucher or credit from the airline for the price difference. There is a cost to re-book your flight for the lower price, so Yapta will only alert you when the refund is greater than the fee. This gives you some peace of mind if you are worried that you are booking too early and think that the price might drop a lot.

Tip 5: You may get a better deal from a travel agent

There are still some benefits in booking with a travel agent, especially if you have a complex itinerary with multiple destinations or are traveling in a big group. The agent may have good business connections in a certain destination and can arrange for transfers, hotel upgrades, discounts and other conveniences that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get if you did things on your own through a website.

Most importantly, if something goes wrong during your trip -- like for example you miss a flight -- the agent will be the one to straighten things out for you. Or if for some reason you need to cancel part or all of your trip, it’s easier for a travel agent to void a booking, something which is either very difficult or impossible to do if you booked online.

If you’re just buying a simple domestic flight from Point A to Point B, chances are you’re going to be able to find the best savings online. But if you’re going abroad, some travel agents have cheaper deals because of special relationships with airlines and providers. The best thing to do is shop: get a couple of quotes from some trusted travel agents and then see if you can find a better price online.

Video: Party in Manila with Mango Tours

This Travels segment on Spring Break originally aired on March 2nd. It highlighted a specific package offered by Mango Tours, the segment sponsor and travel agency specializing in trips to the Philippines. Their spring break trip kicks off on April 15th.



Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Travel Stimulus Package

It may take time for Obama's stimulus package to kick in, but the tourism industry isn't one to wait. In fact tour operators, travel agencies and other providers have been quick to come up with their own travel "stimulus packages." I mentioned one such deal in my March 9th "Travels" segment.

Priced at $999, the Philippine Stimulus Package gets you roundtrip airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas to Manila via Philippine Airlines, one-way transport from the airport to the hotel or vice versa and daily breakfast. Included is a two-night, three-day stay at one of the participating five-star hotels, namely the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Crowne Plaza Galleria, Diamond Hotel or the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. The fuel surcharge and U.S. taxes are already included in the price.

There's also a choice of excursion add-ons for three nights or four days starting at $370 to places like Boracay. Other destinations that can be added to the basic stimulus package include Bohol, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu or Palawan. Even with these extras, the Philippine Department of Tourism says this package is 30-40 percent lower than anything they've ever offered.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Spring Break Packages

Right about now college students across the country are gearing up for Spring Break, and they're not letting the sluggish economy rain on their travel plans. In fact, students are probably finding deals like never before as providers desperately try to get people to travel. If you haven't made any plans yet, there are still lots of deals to be had.

International Destinations:

Student City - Deals include $399 Bahamas Cruise Party or 4-5 nights & flight packages at the Nassau Palm Hotel in the Bahamas starting at $659

Sun Splash Tours - All-inclusive vacation package to Jamaica starting at $699

Mango Tours - Philippine packages to Boracay/Manila ranging from $1820 from the West Coast and $1950 from the East Coast. These include roundtrip airfare, transportation, 7 nights at two 5-star hotels, daily breakfast and more.

U.S. Destinations:

Paradise Parties - 5 nights at Panama City Beach's Paradise Palm Resort starting at $384 and 5 nights at the Saida/Royal Towers in South Padre Island (Texas) for $399

Pleasant Holidays - Hawaiian vacations for 3 nights with air from $299

US Airways Vacations - Vegas air and 2 nights packages starting at $108

Spring Break for Families:

CNN, Deep Discounts for Spring Break Travel

Away.com, Top 10 Spring Break Destinations for Families

Other Articles with Spring Break Deals:

USA Today, Top 5 Bargain Destinations for Spring 2009

Frommers, Spring Break Deals: Where to Snag a Last-Minute Bargain

L. A. Times, Bargains for Spring Break

There are actually loads of deals for trips to Mexico, but with the recent State Department and ATF advisories about the increase in violence, I decided not to list them. I'm not big on fear mongering, but from the looks of the reports coming out of Mexico, my message to students is to err on the side of caution. Still, I imagine many students are going to flock to Mexico regardless, and I realize there are parts that have seen more violence than others. To find out more about what's going on in Mexico, visit the U.S. State Department's website or check out some of the recent news stories.

If you're interested in seeing the actual Travels segment from Balitang Ameria, which focused on specific deals to the Philippines, you can see it here.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Cruising's Hidden Costs

When it comes to cruises, the phrase "all-inclusive" is used often. But what exactly does "all-inclusive" really mean. Don't be fooled by that phrase because while all the basics - your room, transportation (often including flight to the ship port), food and entertainment - are typically covered, the extras are not part of the package.



Extra-cost Items on Large Cruise Ships (600+ passengers):

* Shore excursions & meals (not included on any cruise ship, large or small)
* Cancellation insurance
* Gratuities
* Specialty restaurants
* Ice cream
* Alcohol
* Espresso beverages
* Soda
* Bottled water
* Laundry
* Spa services/massages
* Gambling
* Certain classes: yoga, kickboxing and others

If you want to know the price ranges of these things, Cruise Critic can give you a good idea. In any case, cruising still offers great value if you're on a budget. According to Douglas Ward, a well-respected cruise critic and author of Cruising: All Questions Answered, a seven-day trip on a mid to large-sized ship with accommodation in an outside cabin costs approximately $1,200. Factor in $100 in port charges, if not already included in the fare, and about $50 in gratuities which brings the cost to $1,350 per person. So, that's about $200 per person per day, Ward explained in his book. That amount, he pointed out, won't even get you a nice hotel room in places like New York or London.

Don't forget the economic slump has opened the door for some unbelievable deals. If you're not big on putting together a budget, Independent Traveler has a budget calculator with a list of typical cruise expenses. Type in your costs and add them up to at least arrive at a starting figure for your trip.

USA Today's Cruise Log also has some helpful information on cruising, deals and a forum where cruisers can exchange tips or experiences. Here's just a sampling of some of the discounts out there.

Deals mentioned in my Travels segment:

Holland America 7-Day Alaskan Cruise
Starting at $499/person

MSC Cruises 7-Night Trip to the Caribbean
* For seniors & those 50+, starting at $499/person
* Kids 17 and under sail free on all MSC Cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Kids and any third guest or more rate, starting at $99/person
*Persons must be sharing cabin to get that rate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Online Booking & Travel Resources

If you’re looking for travel information online, chances are you already know which sites to visit. But in case you don’t, this post will at least tell you where to start. I shared this information in my February 16th "Travels" segment, but will also include some additional websites travelers might find helpful.

1) The usual suspects: travel search engines for looking and booking

Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz – These sites allow you to search for deals and book discounted accommodations, airfare, car rentals, cruises and even vacation packages. But remember since these act like virtual travel agents, there can be fees when you book with them.

Priceline – Bid for discounted luxury accommodations or airfare and see if the price you named is right. But you won’t know the hotel name or specific location until you’ve paid, and the site won’t refund your money if you decide to cancel. For flight deals, you can adjust the date but not the return and departure times, so you need to be flexible.

Hotwire – Get your hands on discounted hotel stays and airfare, but you also have to be flexible as the site uses blind-booking as well, meaning you pay first and then you get the specific details. But deals are consistently low.

2) Just shopping around: looking but not booking.
These sites are aggregators that show you where the deals are, then you can book those deals directly with the site or provider where they came from.

Kayak – Searches through more then 140 sites (including the usual suspects listed above) all at once for the lowest airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals

Mobissimo – Similar to Kayak because it just shows you the source of the deals on airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals. While it does list deals originating from U.S. travel providers, it often times leans towards international suppliers or agencies.

Vayama – Also an aggregator showing the prices and deals for strictly international flights, hotels and car rentals.

3) Monitoring airfare and travel deals.
These sites allow you to sign up for email alerts that inform you when prices change.

Farecast.com – Shows deals on airfare and hotels from various websites, but also gives you its analysis on whether prices are projected to change – drop, rise, hold steady - within the next 7 days, so you can decide if you want to wait or buy now.

Farechase.com – Just like Farecast.com, only it also shows how flight prices on or near a selected date of travel vary according to departure and return times, the airport you fly from, along with the airline you choose and whether it’s a non-stop flight. So, by adjusting any of these options, you can try to get cheaper airfare. NOW DEFUNCT

Farecompare.com – Finds deals on airfare and has a calendar illustrating the price differences according to the day of travel, even spelling out the best time or month to buy airfare for your particular destination.

Yapta.com – Finds the best airline deals, but also tracks airfare prices for your specific flight. If you’ve already purchased a ticket for that flight and the price drops before the trip, Yapta will work to get you a refund or travel credits from the airline.

There are so many other websites that function in very similar ways to the ones I’ve listed. These are just some of the more known sites out there. But like anything else on the vast worldwide web, you need to zero in on what exactly it is you are looking for or hoping to achieve. Hopefully, these sites will at least get you started and on your way to that next great trip.

To see the actual Travels segment that aired on Balitang America, check it out here.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Last Minute Valentine's Day Deals

Uh-oh! Haven't made Valentine's Day plans yet? Well, have no fear because as I mentioned in my Balitang America Travels segment yesterday, there are still some reasonably priced hotel packages out there for under $300. Notice I didn't use the word "cheap" hotel packages. Number one, cheap is relative because what one may consider cheap might not be for others. But mostly, "cheap" in the context of making Valentine's Day plans, isn't going to earn you brownie points with the ladies.

Remember V-Day falls on a Saturday this year and Monday is President's Day, so what do you get - a long, romantic weekend. Unless of course your company is lame and they don't give you Monday off. ;-)

I know you don't need to go away for the weekend to have a great Valentine's Day, but with hotel occupany rates the lowest they've been in 30 years, properties are slashing prices left and right. Believe it or not, even five-star hotels have been brought to their knees, offering deals unheard of during good economic times. If you can, take advantage!

Here are just some of the romantic getaways mentioned on Balitang America and others you can still get your hands on from all over.

Hotel Packages Under $300 (per night per couple)

Apple Core Hotels (New York)

Art & Love Package $199:

* Accommodations in the heart of New York City

* Two priority-entrance guest passes to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

* Complimentary bottle of champagne

* Free breakfast and in-room coffee

Affinia Hotels
New York $289
Chicago $209
Washington, D.C. $189

Naughty and Nice Package:
* Accomodations and room customizable by you through My Afffina
* Rose petal turn-down service
* Champagne
* Box of Jacques Torres hand-made chocolates
* Agent Provocateur Strip Poker Set
* Romantic in-room movie
* 4pm late check-out

Intercontinental Hotel (Chicago)
Rates start at $249 (one-day advance booking required)

* Accommodations
* Welcome amenity of premium Champagne and strawberries upon arrival
* 30-minute in-room Swedish massage for two
* Decadent wine, cheese and chocolate tasting for two
($50 credit will be provided by ENO loung on lobby level)

JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
Rates start at $279

Romance Package includes:

* Deluxe Guestroom
* Champagne and Strawberries delivered upon arrival
* Buffet Breakfast for two at Ceres
* One, 50-minute European Facial or Swedish Massage for that special someone

Personality Hotels San Francisco
Rates start at $139

XOXO Package:
* Deluxe accommodations
* "The Best Places to Kiss in Northern California" book
* $25 gift certificate to the Farallon Restaraunt
* Late checkout upon availability

The Campton Hotel (San Francisco)
Rates start at $275

Leave Your Heart in SF Package:
* Deluxe room accommodations
* Champagne and strawberries upon your arrival
* Daily special breakfast in bed for two
* Special bath amenities
* Wine tasting and a special dinner prepared by the chef
at the Campton Place Restaurant once during your stay

Tampa Bay Online
Links to article with hotel packages and romantic getaways in Florida


Links to Nationwide Deals & Packages

Hotels.com
Valentine's Day Promotions

Budget Travel Magazine
U. S. Valentine's Getaways, From $140

Away.com: Where Next?
Article about Valentine's deals around the web

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Scouting Out Travel Deals at the Bay Area Travel Show

Longing for a vacation but not big on researching destinations or seeing what’s out there? Well, if you live in the area, you may want to check out the Bay Area Travel Show where local, national, and even international travel companies are sharing the lay of the land on deals and destinations. I attended the show today to interview some travel experts and professionals for my Balitang America Travels segments.

While I’ve never been a fan of going to trade show-type events, I found that many of the exhibitors had good information to share. Not only about their services, but also about the resources available to help travelers find that perfect vacation. Speakers like European travel guru Rick Steves and Bay Area Backroads’ Doug McConnell are on hand to share their experiences and give people ideas on everything from budget travel to itineraries.



It’s a buyer’s market right now and travel agencies, outfitters, cruise lines and the like are working in cahoots trying to get your business: partnering to create packages and prices that will entice people to book that trip. And, maybe that’s not so bad because in the end the consumer wins. You name it: upgraded rooms, amenities, bundled services, discounted prices are up for grabs. All because the sluggish economy is cramping the travel industry’s style.

Oh, one more thing: it’s only $6 if you buy the ticket online ($12 at the door) and parking is free. Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day. You can catch Rick Steves or Doug McConnell who will be giving talks starting at noon. For a full schedule, visit www.bayareatravelshow.com.

Balitang America Travels: New Year Airfare Sales

It's time to start thinking about that next vacation! But you better be quick because "winter airfare sales" will be over soon. The skinny on these deals was part of my recent travel segment that aired Monday, January 12th, on Balitang America's 5:30pm newscast. Below are highlights of some of those hot deals arranged by the dates that the offers end, and keep in mind these are one-way prices (but even then, it's still a bargain):

- Jet Blue: West Coast escapes for $39 (ends Jan. 14)

- Air Tran: Fares for as low as $39 to select U.S. cities (ends Jan. 15)

- American Airlines: Fares starting at $39 (ends Jan. 16); international fares to popular spots for as low as $90 (ends Jan. 16); European sale includes destinations like London for only $168 (ends Jan. 21)

- Southwest Airlines: Fly for $49 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and $59 on other days (ends Jan. 19)

- Virgin America: West Coast flights for $59 and transcontinental routes for $139 (ends Jan. 20)

- Alaska Airlines: West Coast routes starting at $59 (ends Jan. 24)

Most of these airfare specials are good for travel through Spring and some even until early Summer. This is just a partial list as many airlines have promotions right now. Typically, airlines offer lower prices around this time, but the industry is making an extra effort because of the economic slowdown. However, even if we're in a recession don't expect to see killer deals throughout the year.

In my segment and interview with CEO Beatrice Tarka of Mobissimo.com, she said airlines will be reducing the number of planes in their fleets to cut costs. Translation: deals will be scarce. If you find a really awesome deal now for Spring or Summer vacation, grab it!

Here are some great sites that track airfare and travel deals:
Mobissimo.com
Fare Compare.com
Farecast.com

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.