You can fly for less!
Sick and tired of the cold weather and snow? Unless you live in a sunny clime, you’re probably desperate for some sun, and a day without a heavy coat. Why not get away for a weekend to refresh your body, mind and spirit? It is possible to fly for less and take a vacation within your budget.
Airfare prices have dropped considerably since the recession began thanks to lower demand, but with the economy showing signs of life, many people are seeing hopeful signs and starting to travel again. This, of course, is a double-edged sword: Increased demand along with rising gas prices have caused many airlines to ratchet up fares as well as impose some pretty ridiculous fees (certain airlines even charged a Super Bowl fee. And there are all those new baggage fees…). Despite all this, there are still many ways to find a cheap ticket to warmer weather if you’re diligent, and can be flexible with your travel dates and/or destination.
Airfarewatchdog.com is a great site that allows you to search for low fares from any city. If you’re not picky about your warm weather destination and have some open dates, you can certainly find a great deal. For instance, as of this post, a ticket from Chicago O’Hare to Miami will cost you $178 round trip, with a variety of dates to choose from.
Another great site is www.cheapcaribbean.com, where you can find inexpensive, all inclusive trips to resorts across the Caribbean and Mexico. Certain high traffic dates are unavailable because of Spring Break, but again, if you are flexible and patient, you can book a vacation that won’t strain your wallet.
Sites such as www.sidestep.com and www.kayak.com are well-known, popular clearinghouses for comparative airfares. A great feature on these two sites (and others) is a calendar that pops up to show you fare options for every day of the month.
So if you’re still stuck in the winter doldrums, consider treating yourself to a getaway. You can fly for less, and five nights in the Bahamas has got to be worth every penny.
Filed under: Travel Tagged: | budget airfare, budget vacations, Caribbean vacations, cheap airfare, cheap getaways, cheap vacations, discount airfare, discount vacations, fly for less, Spring Break, Travel, vacations, warm weather vacations, weekend getaways
EXCELLENT TIPS; EXCELLENT SITES.
If anyone is thinking of flying to Europe, do your research on airlines carefully. Price is not the only issue:
My luggage was lost by Alitalia in Dec and they still owe me $1465.00.
After landing in Milan in December 2009, after waiting hours for luggage that never arrived, after I realized that my luggage was lost, after waiting hours at the lost luggage desk, I was told to repurchase everything I would need for my week long vacation because Alitalia informed me that they could not get my luggage to me until one week later (the day before I was departing to return home.)
I was very accommodating but they refused to have my luggage delivered to any of the cities that we were going to be in during the week (multitude of excuses: holidays, wouldn’t pay for courier, etc…) and so we had to return to the first city at the end of our trip to retrieve it.
Because we were changing cities everyday on this “vacation,”and the luggage they lost was my ONLY piece of luggage, I not only had to buy all of my clothing, shoes, boots (it was snowing), makeup, toiletries, but I also had to buy luggage!
Alitalia assured me that I would be reimbursed as long as I kept all of my (itemized) receipts and submitted a claim when I returned to the states. (Which, of course, I did.) But after almost 4 months I didn’t hear from them, and when I followed up, they lied and told me that my luggage was returned to me the following day, and then they denied my claim. Naturally, I had proof that they were lying, (I received my luggage one week later, not one day later], and so then they made up a nonexistent reimbursement policy, (there is no such policy, I have all the paperwork from Italy, and there is no such policy on their website), and so then they offered me $225*, instead of the $1465* they owe me. (However, I have not received a penny).
*Just purchasing toothpaste, a toothbrush, comb, hand cream, makeup, deodorant, sneakers and a tote bag, which I bought and used as LUGGAGE because it was cheaper, cost me $270.00! They offered me $225 as a “settlement” (which I never received), but WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF MY CLOTHES, BOOTS, UNDERWEAR?? WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF MY CABS, BUSES (to find these stores), AND PHONE CALLS (to track down my lost luggage)??
Should I be expected to pay for replacing my clothes—I packed them—they lost them.
They broke their contract:
http://www.alitalia.com/IL_EN/Images/CGT_en_0605_final_tcm50-10352.pdf
see page 2 of THEIR document:
“…..provide the passenger with the agreed carriage according to the defined itinerary and
schedule, carrying the passenger and his/her baggage from the place of departure to the
place of destination…”
A simple search online will show you that Alitalia does not ever pay for lost luggage.
I have written to, emailed and called Alitalia 23 times. I have contacted Eyewitness News/7 On Your Side, The New York State Consumer Board, The Better Business Bureau, and Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General…..and various travel troubleshooters online……..I am still waiting for my check for $1465.00.
The other very frightening thing is that their prices are very CHEAP, and so students planning to study abroad find this very appealing….
STUDENTS BEWARE!—DO YOUR HOMEWORK—RESEARCH THIS AIRLINE BEFORE YOU BUY A TICKET! UNLESS YOU ARE PLANNING TO CARRY ON YOUR LUGGAGE CASES, DO NOT FLY ALITALIA!
http://wp.me/pXtHQ-3