"We just can’t sit here any longer!" That would seem to be the rallying
cry recently for a booming number of Americans. Just a few months ago, I reported
that the amazing travel deals were becoming fewer and fewer. Why is this
happening? I would have to say one of the main reasons is that we as a nation have
began to feel safer about traveling once again. Another reason is that many
of us are starting to get a bit of cabin fever. It appears that traveling is once
again hip.
The tourist industry seems to have been caught off guard
from this recent surge in demand. A report from the California Bureau of Consular
Affairs issued this week, indicates a current wait time for passports to
run in the range of six weeks. If you are a big spender then fork over an extra
$60 and you will see your passport in two weeks. More than 8.4 million will be
issued to globe trekkers this year. European travel is sizzling while Central
America is experiencing record numbers of adventure seekers.
2004
was predicted to be another recovery year for the industry, but in all reality
could end up being a record breaker. 2000 was an explosive year in the travel
industry only to be followed by an even stronger 2001. That is until September
11th grounded just about everyone. The next two years provided a shrinking
number of flights often filled to much less than capacity. It was possible to
fly just about anywhere for $500 or less if you were a savvy shopper. This is no
longer the case since the cheap seats are far and few between. Learning where
to look can help most battles.
Knowing when to buy an airline ticket
is much like knowing the best time to jump into a stock purchase.
Based
on my portfolio performance, I would most likely be considered a failure.
But actually, most often that is not the case. I look at buying the ticket like
going into battle. First I try to assess the opponent by checking to see what
the current going fare is. I will compare the fare on a number of websites including
cheaptickets.com, orbitz.com and travelocity.com. After finding the best
fare, I then go directly to the airlines website and check the numbers. Typically
it seems as though the best fares are offered in the 8 to 12 week range before
the flight. If the price is too high I then consider a different location
or just wait and watch. Fares can fluctuate daily. I have seen $325 fares
to Jamaica jump to $625 round trip one day and then return to the lower fare the
next day. Once you feel like you are getting a good fare, book it!
The
most exciting way to travel in my mind is to actually have no set destination.
Just pick anywhere from a few days to a week out of your schedule and take
advantage of the last minute deals. About two weeks before your departure just
start scouring the web and you will most likely be shocked. Recently I have
seen round trip last minute deals to Panama, Costa Rica, Cancun and Hawaii for
$300 or less. As long as you have the passport handy the world is calling. Finding
a place to sleep once you arrive should add to the adventure.
Another
interesting way to seek out a fare if you have a flexible schedule is to
search by time periods. Travelocity offers a way to search for the lowest fare
to a destination over a time period you determine.
So say you would like
to take a vacation some time between now and October. Just enter the airport for
your destination and within seconds depending on your computer speed, a calendar
will pop up showing you which dates the best fare is available. Sometimes
huge savings can be had just by altering your travel plans a week or two.
The
recent travel surge is forcing me to rethink my travel destinations.
Since 9/11 I have traveled by plane out of the country eight times and out of
California ten times. What I have paid for all these flights would be the equivalent
of two current round trip business class seats to Australia With current
$900 fares to Paris and $1,300 fares to Hong Kong, a frugal traveler must now look
to more obscure places if they want a bargain deal. Come join me on a future
journey to El Salvador. Why the hell would I want to go to a place that is still
smoldering from a civil war? The answer is simple: El Salvador is a country
that is healing, begging for any type of tourism and offering some of the finest
beaches west of Cuba. The other reason is because adventure seekers will be
rewarded with $300 round trip flights on Taca Airlines, as well as dirt cheap lodging
and rock bottom food prices.
So come add to the 618 billion
revenue passenger miles flown by U.S. carriers this year. With the current demand
so strong, expect to pay 10 to 20% more for the same vacation next year, or
if you are still interested I would imagine El Salvador will still be hovering
around $300 next year. Bulletproof vest not included.
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