Economic Uncertainty Won't Keep Holiday Travelers Grounded, According to
Latest Expedia Travel Trendwatch
BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Expedia(R), the world's
leading online travel company, today released the new issue of the quarterly
Expedia Travel Trendwatch(R), focused on the holiday travel season. Most
notably, this issue of the Trendwatch predicts that the upcoming holiday and
winter travel season will not differ greatly from previous years, and with
fuel prices declining in recent months, many airfares are the same or even
lower than the 2007 season. The report also highlights the "peaks and valleys"
of holiday travel prices this year, as well as suggestions for making holiday
travel budgets stretch.
"The holidays are always the busiest and most expensive time of year for
travel," said Chris McGinnis, editor, Expedia Travel Trendwatch. "Initially,
it looked as though holiday travel prices would be significantly higher this
year, but we are finding that rates are, in fact, on par or in some cases,
even less than last year."
The complete Expedia Travel Trendwatch can be found at
http://www.expedia.com/tips. Key highlights from this issue include:
1. Holiday Prices: Up, Down and Everything Between
-- While average airfares have been trending up over the last year,
fares on some routes are actually declining. During November and December,
fares between New York and Atlanta are down six percent, and down three
percent between Seattle and Los Angeles, compared to last year.
-- Hotel rates are down in many popular destinations. For example rates
in Las Vegas and Maui are down significantly -- 16 percent and 15 percent
respectively -- compared to last year.
-- For customized snapshots of price trends in markets around the
country, check out Expedia's Trend Tracker(TM):
http://www.expedia.com/daily/trend_tracker
2. Playing Dead: Traveling During Holiday Dead Weeks
-- Good news for bargain hunters: Many of the least expensive travel
weeks of the year are sandwiched in between the most expensive. Those with
flexible schedules can reap deep discounts by traveling during what are known
as "dead weeks" when travel demand plummets.
-- This year, dead weeks run roughly December 3-18 -- where deals on
cruises, Caribbean resorts and even ski resort are best bets -- and January
3-15 -- where there are great values on Hawaii, Mexico and Europe.
3. Tips: Navigating the Best Holiday Values
-- Falling oil prices could mean compelling last-minute airfare deals
this season; however, holiday flights tend to be full, so the safest bet is
always to book early. On the other hand, if travel plans are flexible,
travelers may find extraordinary bargains by letting the deal determine their
destination.
-- One-stop flights are increasingly less expensive than nonstop
flights, so try to route through a fair weather hub like Dallas, Atlanta or
Phoenix to decrease the likelihood of encountering a weather-related delay.
-- Because most airlines now charge fees for checked baggage,
re-consider any plans to bring along holiday gifts or winter sports equipment
(e.g. skis, snowboards and boots). Many resort destinations are offering
baggage fee rebates of $25 to $50, so be sure to research whether you qualify.
Another reason to deck the halls this year -- Expedia just launched
Holiday Kickback, which awards travelers who book their holiday flight on
Expedia with a $200 coupon toward a vacation in 2009. The Expedia Holiday
Kickback is available to travelers booking and traveling prior to January 3,
2009, and includes a $200 coupon to use on a flight and hotel stay of five or
more nights between January 3 and March 20, 2009. For more information about
Expedia's $200 Holiday Kickback, or to book a holiday trip, visit
http://www.expedia.com/holidaykickback.
About Expedia Travel Trendwatch
Expedia Travel Trendwatch is a quarterly report on consumer travel trends,
plus insight and tips from Expedia, the world's leading online travel service,
and Chris McGinnis, a 20-year travel industry veteran who is the editor of the
report. McGinnis' travel industry insight and expertise, coupled with
unparalleled travel intelligence from Expedia, can be found throughout each
report, providing a treasure trove of data, trends, and tips designed to help
empower and inform travelers.
About Chris McGinnis:
Chris McGinnis is the editor of the Expedia Travel Trendwatch. Prior to
teaming up with Expedia in early 2006, McGinnis covered the travel beat in a
variety of roles, from travel correspondent on CNN Headline News and travel
columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Entrepreneur magazine, to
producer of special travel sections for Fortune magazine. Based in San
Francisco, his is also a speaker, consultant and the author of two books on
travel: The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket Guide and 202 Tips Even the
Best Business Travelers May Not Know (McGraw-Hill).
About Expedia
Expedia (R) is the world's leading online travel provider, helping
millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia
(http://www.expedia.com/) aims to provide personalized service, the latest
technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels,
rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services.
With the Expedia(R) Best Price Guarantee, Expedia promises to offer to its
customers the best rates available online for all types of travel, making it
the most comprehensive customer guarantee in online travel. Expedia.com is an
operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).
Expedia, Trendwatch, Travel Trendwatch, Trend Tracker and the Airplane
logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the
U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names
mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.
(C) 2008 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-40
SOURCE Expedia, Inc.
Ian Jeffries of Edelman, +1-206-268-2291, ian.jeffries@edelman.com, for
Expedia, Inc.; or Expedia Press Hotline, +1-425-679-4317, press@expedia.com
