FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Category: Travel News

  • Budget Travel Holding Up

    Within the recent economic climate, travel related industries are taking a hit. Specifically, airlines and accommodations are two of the largest travel sectors that are seeing a decrease. This was the general sentiment among professionals at the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation earlier in the year, as was their agreement on a trend that sees budget travel increasing as luxury travel lulls. Statistics among travel experts see budget accommodations weathering quite well during a time where luxury hotel occupancy is at an all time low. The budget travel demographic as a result is fairing quite well, showing the lowest decrease in popular travel sectors. Even though luxury travel like hotel accommodations are at an all-time low, it does mean cheaper prices for anyone who is traveling. While you’re booking lodging, find some of the best prices with luxury vacation packages, hostels, hotels and even airlines! If you want to travel on a budget, take a long term backpacking trip or book an around the world ticket, book now – these prices won’t last!


  • World Cup 2010 – South Africa

    Excellent news for soccer lovers and travel buffs alike: the 2010 World Cup will be in South Africa next year! Construction and maintenance on the stadiums that will house the 2010 World Cup are almost complete as South Africa gears up for an influx of thousands of visitors for the soccer tournament. This is the first time any World Cup will be held in Africa, a big deal for South Africa as well as the sport. The opening ceremonies and a number of games will be held in Johannesburg, and soccer fans and teams are already booking accommodations and flights. If you want to enjoy the 2010 World Cup start booking your flights to South Africa now!


  • Pass the time with a trip on the Alaska Railroad

    The Alaska Railroad might be that perfect summer trip you’re looking for. You may have heard about the gorgeous Alaskan countryside or read about it in countless outdoors and wilderness tales.


    So have the thousands of tourists who flock to Alaska each summer to take in the incredible display of outdoor beauty and adventure that they have heard so much about while living in the lower 48 states. But what does the Alaska Railroad offer that is so special besides a laid back and worry free trip to Alaska?

    Trips on the Alaskan Railroad are gaining in popularity because of the many things you can see along the way. It’s worth mentioning the gorgeous landscape that slowly rolls by as the train makes its way from Seward to Anchorage, through Denali National Park and then into Fairbanks. From May to September the railroad offers trips starting as low as $75 from Seward to Anchorage and $167 from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Along the way, the train stops, allowing passengers to take day trips or even stay overnight in some of Alaska’s most famous terrain and incredible cities. Hotel packages, tours and other amenities are offered when you book your tour, but what is most amazing is the incredible access you gain into the Alaskan wilderness.

    The railroad not only takes you on a spectacular trip but it offers up access to parts of Alaska that only dog-sleds, four-by-fours and backpackers are able to see. All of this with a full bar, food and a camera ready to take it all in. Because the railroad trolls through places where cars, cruise ships and hikers can’t even access you get a truly original and uninterrupted view of the Alaskan landscape. It’s a hard trip to pass up if you’re eager to get outdoors, check out some well-known Alaskan cities but then escape back into the tree line. At such low prices it’s impossible to ignore the priceless view that awaits you during your trip on the Alaskan Railroad.

    Find out more information by visiting www.alaskarailroad.com.

  • Lowest Flights Ever and Cheap Travel To Hawaii

    Rock bottom prices and a decrease in tourism means that travelers can visit one of the most sought after vacation locations in the world, at some of the lowest prices ever. Traveling to Hawaii is now significantly more affordable then it has ever been, and as a result, travelers are gobbling up flights at amazing discounted prices.

    Recently published material on the cheap airfares to Hawaii lists prices from the west coast at only about $350 per person.


    A significant drop from the $600 a Seattle family paid last year for the exact same flight. These low prices mean that a trip this summer for a family of four is about $1,000 cheaper then it was last year, starting only with airfare. The good news for travelers is that since Hawaii has seen a 12% decrease in tourism over the last year, its first ever decrease in tourism since the Great Depression, hotel deals and vacation packages are also at an all time low. This is a prefect reflection that while the tourism industry is suffering, travelers are still able to benefit by booking cheap flights and vacation packages. For a state like Hawaii however, where tourism is the main artery of its economy, the decrease in visitors and in spending is likely to hit hard. This is especially true for the smaller islands and more remote locations where travel is already less than on the big islands where most visitors spend their time.

    While this is disconcerting for the Hawaiian economy it does means cheap airfare and cheaper vacations to one of the most visited tropical landscapes in the United States. As such, prices are so low you almost can’t ignore them. It’s hard not to picture yourself sun tanning on a white sand beach at half of what it might have cost you last year. Delta, American, United and other airline carriers are all offering these low prices and travel auction sites are offering incredible vacation deals and what might be considered a steal.

    Take the trip to Hawaii this year. As FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney said, “You won’t see prices to Hawaii like this again in your lifetime. It might be worth it to take that once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

  • Fly As Cheap As $37 With American Airlines

    American Airlines is slashing prices in a nationwide promotion that means you could be booking domestic flights for as little as $37. With so much pressure on the airlines to fill seats, prices are being cut dramatically. Therefore, if you have the desire to do some domestic traveling, you can be on your way for practically pennies. The discounts do have some stipulations. You have to book your flights before their blackout date in March and you have complete your travel before May 20, 2009. Yet, if you have some relatives to visit, a spring break vacation to enjoy or simply want a getaway, now is the time to do so. You can also find cheap hotel prices through American Airlines and through various online travel auction websites. With the number of people flying at an all time low, hotels have to lower their prices as well. Book your travel plans now and fly at extraordinarily low costs.


  • Everyone Is Talking About Travel

    It seems that the current economic state of things has everyone talking about travel. What will the airlines do to cope with a smaller number of people flying? How will prices be affected? Even though the economy is in a lull the number of travel deals and cheap flight prices seems to be at an all time low. It isn’t likely for prices to stay like this when the economy rebounds, meaning that while everyone is talking about saving money and how to cut corners, if you’ve been wanting to travel now is the time to do so. FrugalMonkey has a wealth of information on travel plans, amazing vacations and our blog highlights travel deals perfect for planning your trip. If you don’t want to take our word for it, check out what the San Francisco Gate had to say about the economy and what an excellent time it is to hop on a plane and take that much needed vacation away.


  • How Travel Is Going Green

    When most people think about ‘going green’ they don’t think much about how it relates to travel. What these people don’t know is that traveling and thinking ‘green’ are closely related. The travel industry has been taking larger and larger steps toward educating the backpacker and traveling community about how to be a better and more environmentally safe traveler.


    After all, with people visiting different cultures and environments, travelers are unknowingly contributing to the environments that they visit and should be educated on how to preserve the world wonders that they’ve traveled so far to see.

    Travel is going green in amazing and incredible ways. Just recently Continental Airlines launched its first hour-long test flight using an engine that ran off of alternate fuels. Steps such as these are making the travel industry a leader in how the world deals with environmental issues. The industry is also taking steps toward a greener planet. By building new hotels and hostels that are environmentally friendly, backpackers and visitors can rest easy knowing the places that they are staying, contribute in a positive way to the world around them. Locations all around the world are suffering because tourism in the past was handled irresponsibly. Machu Picchu for example is one of South America’s premier travel destinations that has deteriorated as a direct result of tourism. But with education relating to the environment circling the industry, things are improving.

    Eco-friendly tours are available to tourists and car rental companies and other areas of the travel industry are promoting the ways in which each of them are doing their part. Tourists can decide to stay in green-hotels and choose vacations that interact minimally with the environment. Everyone is doing their part to travel safely and wisely so that Australia’s beaches, Alaska’s waters and all of our favorite travel locations around the world remain as natural as possible. Travel green and help save the planet!

  • How Will Airports and Flying Change in 2009?

    FrugalMonkey reports on the five major ways in which flying will change in 2009.

    At the turn of 2008 into 2009 the outlook on how things will change in the upcoming year becomes a popular topic of conversation. As such, FrugalMonkey is here to discuss what you’re likely to see in when it comes to changes that will affect travel in airports in 2009.


    Yahoo recently unveiled the 5 biggest changes passengers are likely to see when traveling. It’s pertinent and important information for anyone making international travel plans. Here was what they had to say:

    Security
    It can be quite a hassle trying to get through security with carry on luggage. Making sure your liquids abide by the 3-1-1 rule and that all things appropriate for carry on are safely stowed away in plastic bags. Since this rule was instigated, water cannot be brought through security and other items such as perfumes or nail polishes are commonly confiscated due to strict airport security. In 2009 however, new x-ray machines will begin phasing into popular airports. 900 of them in fact, will replace older models. These new machines can tell the difference between hazardous and dangerous liquids and will eliminate the need to put liquids in plastic bags and won’t require passengers to monitor the amount of liquid you bring through security.

    Merging Airlines
    In 2008, Delta and Northwest Airlines announced a merger. This means frequent flyer miles, passenger benefits and name changes will all ensue. While a great deal of the merger may not be in full effect until 2010 it will certainly change the face of popularly known airlines that have been in business for years.

    Pricing Changes
    While a large portion of the discussion on the matter is yet to be hammered out, American and Frontier airlines are looking into pricing changes for seats in 2009. Pricing differences like classifying seats, charging more for check-ins, on board media and refund availability are just a few of the ways seat prices may change. With the uproar regarding new fees in 2008 among international travelers going to Europe, Australia and other distant locations, this pricing scheme isn’t likely to make travelers jump for joy.

    Internet
    Airlines like Delta, American and Virgin have all made promises to include Internet on flights in 2009. Others have also made plans to start phasing in flights that provide use of the Internet.

    Paperless Boarding Passes
    With the popularity of e-tickets and online check-in comes the next wave of electronic features for passengers. Electronic boarding passes that can be uploaded to PDA’s and cell phones will now allow passengers to scan bar codes without having to bother with print outs. Some airlines have already experimented with paperless boarding passes and a number of airlines have made official plans to do so in 2009.

    While many of these changes in flying and airport security will begin in 2009, they won’t likely be widespread for several years. Changes like Internet on flights can be expected to take place quickly. Others however, may take longer to test out, price sufficiently and then put into action. Nevertheless, the face of flying will be seeing more changes as 2009 moves into full steam.

    For a look at the full article, click here.

  • Timing And Cheap Oil…

    With the price of oil back down to reasonable values, the cost of flights and vacation packages are at extreme lows.

    Two huge factors contribute to the price of flights and vacation packages. The cost of oil is one such factor and timing is the other.


    During the summer for instance, travel to Greece is more expensive than during the winter months. Time of year variances such as these usually fluctuate during high and low seasons and when weather determines an influx of travelers to a specific region. So as you can probably guess, London is more popular to visit in the summer than during the damp and chilly winters months and is also more expensive. The price of hotel packages, flight deals and even car rentals will all change based on the highs and lows of the travel season. Thus, booking your vacation based on the time of year can earn you huge travel discounts when traveling.

    FRUGALMONKEY TIP: When looking for really good travel deals, even to popular vacation spots like Europe, Hawaii and Mexico, look to book trips on the fringe of high and low seasons.


    When you book a vacation on a weekend that lies outside of high season calendars for example, you will often still get excellent weather and regional perks that are common with high season travel, but at a fraction of the price.

    Additionally this time of year (right after the holidays) is an excellent time to go vacationing because airlines, cruise ships and travel agents are offering huge discounts on popular vacations because travel is usually at a lull during this time of year. As a result, the deals are just waiting for you to find them!

    Lastly, oil prices are at a low especially from the ridiculously high prices that were plaguing travelers during the summer. So, on top of using the time of year to find good travel deals you can also find extremely low cruise vacations and flights because companies are operating at such low costs and can offer better deals to travelers. For more information on travel deals to popular locations, check out our catalog of posts.