Sensible traveler Destinations Where they went Get in gear
Going Strong
Advice from a bargain hunter: For big savings, be flexible
By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff, 02/02/03
|
|
||
|
Sensible traveler Destinations Where they went Get in gear Going Strong
|
||
Geoff Silvers also has one word for you — flexibility.
Silvers is the deals specialist for Orbitz, the Web site developed by five big US-based airlines to sell travel and offer advice. His job, among others, is to constantly monitor changes in air fares and hotel rates to decide "which deals are the right ones to promote to the right people."
Here's where flexibility pays off. "The more you're able to move a day forward or back," Silvers said in a phone interview, "the greater the possibility of savings." A change of one day, he said, could easily lower your air fare by $100. As director of marketing — his official title — he naturally enough sings the praises of Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), which competes with such other Web travel giants as Travelocity and Expedia. Thus he noted that his Web site has a feature that allows you to comparison-search a day ahead or behind. Switching that day may well mean you travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday — the times when travel is lightest and opportunities for bargains may be greatest. But once you find a fare that looks pretty good, should you book it or wait until the last minute in hopes of snagging a super-bargain? "If you're comfortable with the price, book it now," said Silvers. "Seats can sell out and fares can change. . . . The fare could easily rise."
One change benefiting the flier, he said, is the easing of restrictions on Saturday night stays. Such a stay used to be mandatory if you wanted a bargain flight, but with the rise of low-cost airlines, the majors have eased that restriction, although rules vary from airline to airline. Silvers cited an example: He searched for a same-day fare from Chicago to New York, with no Saturday stay. "A year ago the cost would have been $1,500; instead, it was $175 round trip."
Orbitz also sells hotel rooms, and Silvers called attention to those the site marks with a blue arrow and calls "OrbitzSaver." The savings on those, he said, can reach 75 percent (a claim also made by Hotels.com about some of its rates). You must prepay for the rooms, but unlike Orbitz's partner site, Hotwire, you know the name of your hotel before booking and can get a refund if you cancel, for a $25 fee. Some recent prices cited by Silvers: $90 for a three-star hotel in Miami, $130 for a three-star in Hawaii, and $100 for a two-star in Paris.
As for cruises, January through March is known as Wave Season, a good time to book. "A lot of promotions are going on," said Silvers. "The cruise lines want to presell their year."
Vermont by train
A one-day Snow Train railroad excursion leaves on Feb. 22 from Boston and suburban stations to Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vt., on a trip where the ride is as important as the destination. The Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts is reprising the Boston & Maine Railroad trips to Snow Country that ended in the 1950s, only nowadays the trains are a lot more comfortable and there are side trips as well. After the train reaches Brattleboro, passengers can explore on their own or choose one of these optional expeditions: a tour of covered bridges along the West River Valley, with a visit to the historic village of Newfane; a sleigh ride (or hay ride if the weather doesn't cooperate); a Vermont Feast Luncheon at the Putney Inn in Putney; the Grand Buffet at the Riverside Cafe in Brattleboro; or a visit to the Yankee Candle Workshop in South Deerfield, Mass. Or, passengers can stay aboard and continue on to Bellows Falls, with two hours to eat and explore. The cost is $70 for adults and $40 for children. The optional excursions cost from $8 to $22 for the Putney Inn feast.
Call or fax 978-470-2066, write to Mass. Bay RRE, PO Box 4245-BV, Andover, MA 01810-0814, visit www.massbayrre.org, or e-mail trips@massbayrre.org.
Free phone calls
Sign up at no charge for WyndhamByRequest by June 30, and you'll get free, unlimited local and long distance telephone calls, free high-speed Internet access, free photocopying, and free fax privileges when you stay at a Wyndham hotel. The offer is a relaunch of one first introduced in June 2002 in response to an informal poll of front desk managers that revealed that telephone charges were the number one guest complaint at checkout.
The ByRequest program, which has more than a million members, encourages guests to ask for items that personalize their hotel stay. To register, fill out a profile on www.wyndham.com by selecting your favorite food, beverage, room, and leisure activity preferences from more than 300 options. You will then receive your preferences when you stay at a Wyndham property.
(The fine print: To activate the free calls, etc., you must also stay at any Wyndham Hotel, Wyndham Resort, Wyndham Luxury Resort, or Summerfield Suites by Wyndham before June 30. Once those requirements are met, there is no cutoff date for the benefits.)
Puppy love
So you and your sweetheart want to celebrate the pompatus of love on Valentine's Day but cannot bear the thought of leaving your pooch in a kennel. Fret not: The Hyatt Regency Cambridge has a package that addresses your issue. The Puppy Love offer includes a one-night stay, a festive bandana for your canine, dog-walking services along the Charles River, a doggie bag filled with puppy treats, breakfast in bed for two plus the pooch, and self-parking at the hotel garage. The cost is $159 per room, per night. The hotel also has an amenity-filled non-pooch package called the Sweetheart Weekend, which includes dinner, for $199 a night, and a spectacular Cupid Weekend that includes his and her massages in your suite, for $998 a night.
(The fine print: Packages are valid Feb. 14 and 15. Prices do not include tax or tips and are subject to availability. Accommodations for children under 18 are complimentary when sharing a room with parents, but where's the romance in that?)
Call 617-492-1234 or 800-233-1234.
. . .
For many other romantic packages at Boston hotels, go to www.bostonusa.com and click on — what else? — the big red heart.
Your health
There is no set charge to join the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at www.iamat.org and get a variety of free health publications, including a directory of physicians in 125 countries and a world immunization chart.
(The fine print: Donations are requested, and some publications cost a nominal fee.)
On Broadway
The newly redecorated Milford Plaza hotel, in the heart of New York City's theater district, has a $109 rate through February.
Call 800-221-2690 or visit www.milfordplaza.com.