Steal These Deals: Travel

In-Box Bargains

Hotels and airlines keep you posted on falling rates.

Airlines and hotels want you—bad. With travelers tightly grasping every penny, the travel industry is slashing prices. “Last summer, we saw $2,000 fares for peak summer travel to Europe,” says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. “Now, we’re seeing fares around $400.”

Prices inched up for early-summer travel, but Hobica predicts that price cuts will return for the late-summer season, which starts in the second half of August. So you may see deals similar to the ones you could have grabbed in the spring—such as a $297 round-trip fare from Los Angeles to Dublin.

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How can you catch a cheap ride for that last wave of summer? Sign up for free frequent-flier programs and newsletters, and airlines will shower you with promotional codes and discount coupons. Southwest Airlines, for example, often sends 50%-off deals to e-mail subscribers, and JetBlue recently offered $50 discounts, says Hobica.

You can find amazing e-mail deals on the ground, too. Marriott, for example, is offering rewards members a night’s stay for $1 when they book a vacation at one of its seven resorts in Hawaii, Guam and Australia for four or more nights between September 1 and December 20 (booked by October 10).

Flexible travelers who can take off on a whim will bag the best bargains. For last-minute lodging, check Hotels.com, which lists new quickie deals every Thursday. In early June, we found a nightly rate of $52 at Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino & Resort for trips taken within the week. And Priceline is a bargain hunter’s dream if you’re comfortable bidding on airfare, hotel rooms, cruises and rental cars.