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2011 Holiday Travel Forecast: Thanksgiving and Christmas Airfare and Hotel Prices Down Slightly in the U.S.

As summer fades into fall, you simply can no longer deny the rapidly approaching holiday season. And for travelers, now’s the time to start planning! To help get you started, the Fareologists at Bing have worked their magic by identifying the best deals on flights and hotels to get you where you need (or want!) to be this holiday season.

Below are some highlights from the 2011 Holiday Travel Forecast, which can be found here, with information also available on the Bing Travel Blog.

  • Domestic airfare is expected to be down 1.4 percent overall, with tickets averaging $302, as opposed to $306 last holiday.
  • Holiday hotel costs are staying virtually flat for 3 and 4 star hotels, but 5 star hotels are down 8 percent from last year.
  • Holiday flights to Europe have increased nearly 9 percent – from $860 in 2010, to an average of $936 this year.

While the overall travel forecast is looking relatively merry this season, the biggest savings lie in the hands of those willing to let the destination and date dictate their holiday travel plans. The Bing Travel Fareologists offer tips travelers looking to escape to someplace warm, someplace European or someplace luxurious while still saving money:

  • Celebrate in the sun. A traditional white Christmas might not be available in Florida, but getaways to the Sunshine State and other warm weather destinations are extra cheap this holiday season, with airfares to Ft. Lauderdale down 21 percent from last year and hotels in Las Vegas down almost 16 percent this year.
  • Affordable hotel stays. Travelers won’t have to skimp on their hotel stay this season, as prices for five-star hotels are down more than eight percent from last year, with the biggest savings found on luxury hotels in Cancun, Mexico; Las Vegas, Nev. and New York, N.Y.
  • Making international trips fit your budget. Overall, flights to Europe have increased on average, from $860.56 last year to $936 this year – nearly a 9 percent jump from the last holiday season. While airfares to Europe have generally increased across the board, Madrid represents the lowest average ticket price destination in Europe this holiday.
  • Don’t let Thanksgiving Travel Gobble Up Your Cash. The week of Thanksgiving is undoubtedly a crazy travel week, but the Bing Travel Fareologists note that shifting your departure dates could save you some serious cash. For example, by traveling the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and returning the Sunday after, you could save 8 percent from traveling Tuesday to Saturday.

 

Above are just a few tidbits of what you can expect this holiday season. For top destinations this holiday season, see below. Keep in mind that airlines do offer last-minute travel deals and bundled travel packages throughout the year – it’s a good idea to check Bing Price Predictor and Hotel Rate Indicator frequently to see what’s available. Even better – set up Bing Travel Alerts so you can know-on-the-go.

 

Happy traveling!

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TOP TEN HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS

Take it from me, while traveling to visit loved ones or vacationing during the holiday season is always an exciting time of year, it can also be one of the most stressful, as booking flights and finding the best deals can cause anyone a headache.

The folks and EL AL Airlines, Israel’s national airline, offers the tips below to make travel easier and more convenient for globetrotters this holiday season.

Covering everything from the best times to fly, getting the most for your money, flying with children, etc., the tips below outline ways  you can make the most of their time and money this holiday season.

But remember these tips are perfect for year round traveling!

TOP TEN HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS FROM EL AL AIRLINES

  1. Plan your trip as far ahead of time as possible – Book NOW. As the holiday season gets closer, the prices will inevitably go up – If possible, try to purchase the tickets for your flight as far in advance as possible.

  1. Try to fly during the week – If at all possible, book your flight sometime in the middle of the week. Normally, weekend departures have a much higher demand than mid week flights, and often times the best prices can be found during the week.

  1. Check for hotel/airfare deals – Many airlines offer packages and discounts on hotels, as well as combination air/car rental packages, depending on the airline and destination. Call the airline or check out the airline’s website for deals as many of these combinations are very competitively priced.

  1. Check for special discounts – Many airlines offer discounts for families, children, and anyone over the age of 60 as well as their travel companions. Call the airline or view the website to find out discounts and special accommodations.

  1. Consider late flights or red eyes – Red eyes and late night flights offer several advantages. First of all, when leaving at night, travelers can have a full day at the office or home. On the return, when taking a late night flight, travelers have a full day at their destination and don’t have to pay for an extra hotel night. Evening flights offer early morning arrival, as well as a quieter flight that allows for a better nights sleep on board.

  1. Plan to arrive at the airport or station earlier than usual – The holiday season means many people are traveling, so there are more traffic jams and long lines. Allowing for a margin of time will pay off in reduced stress and could also mean the difference between a missed flight and one caught in plenty of time. 2 hours is ideal for a domestic flight and at least 2 and a half for international. Be sure to check with the airline prior to your flight but always leave extra time!

  1. Prepare your pets for travel – As pets are often part of the family and hence the holiday travel plans, help prepare them accordingly. Pets should exercise before the flight: taking your pet for a quick jog or walk will help calm your pet before the flight so that they will sleep easier and be more comfortable. Pets should be fed a few hours before departure.

  1. Dress airport appropriate - Wear slip-on shoes to make your trip through security checkpoints easier. Wear an outfit with plenty of layers to be appropriately prepared for various weather conditions and in-flight temperature changes. For children, get them ready for the flight by dressing in loose, easy to change, comfortable clothing and shoes. It is best to have the child dress in layers of clothing.

  1. Prepare children for travel –Leading up to any flight or planned trip, gradually adjust the child’s sleeping schedule in order to prepare for long flights or when traveling through different time zones. Have them stay up a bit later every night.

  1. Plan activities for your children while at the airport – Pack a bag with a lot of supplies to keep your child involved in fun games and activities. Bring items such as a sketch pad, crayons, stencils, books, educational games, and more.

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Epson Artisan 800

Tis the season of many pictures, now I just need to print, Oh Santa help!

I recently had fun using a Epson Artisan 800 All-in-One printer. It’s perfect for creative projects and ideas that will spice up gifts and holiday décor. From greeting cards to holiday labels to custom gift wrap, the possibilities are immeasurable. It’s black mirror-like image is slick and gives off the appearance of an high-end home theater product. Features include a built in wired and wireless networking, ultra fast print speeds (38 ppm), 6-color ink, a 7.8” cool touch panel, a 3.5” LCD screen, standalone photo capabilities, faded photo restorations, and a smart ink system. The Artisan 800 is no bigger than a tower PC on its side. It comes an ethernet cable, power cable, driver/software disc, user manuals, some sample paper, USB cable, phone cable and the necessary printer B&W & color cartridges.

It’s so easy to setup that it took me less than 15 minutes to do so. The touch screen panel pulls up at an angle and tucked away again making it easy to use as an ATM. You can load photos from a card reader and USB port.

The compartment on the bottom is for loading standard printer paper, glossy photo paper and other types, which can be adjusted for all the paper sizes and envelopes. On the top is the automatic document feeder, capable of holding up to 30 pages for faxing or scanning. Below that is the flat bed scanner that will scan and can be used as a plain copier.

The good: Prints fast supurb high-quality color photos and documents, But I really liked the faded photo restoration feature, I used to essentially clean up a yellowish 1942 photo of my mom and dad. You would swear it was taken in 2009, and was just printed. Moreover, it can print CD’s if you have a printable disc. Just push a button and the CD tray slides out.

The bad: If I had a pet peeve, it would be the cheap plastic output tray and the delicate input tray prone to paper jams. So don’t be ruff with it.

The verdict: The Epson Artisan 800 is a fun printer to use, and makes impressive color prints, photos, and text documents, and prints fast. But don’t just take it from me on a recent Rachael Ray show as part of a daily, holiday gift series, everyone in that audience received an all-in-one so they can also create unique holiday gifts for family and friends this year.
Price range: $230-$320,

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