Archive for March, 2012

ExpertFlyer Hot Topics – Where the Rubber Meets the Runway

Portugal, the bargain travel gem of Europe, is the final theme of our Value Travel Hot Topic Series.  Jayme Simões, Communications Partner for the Portuguese National Tourist Office, shares offers that are hotter than a plate of Chouriço sausages. Check out our previous Value Travel installments on Good Dollar Destinations; Grand Golf Getaways for Not a Lot of Green; and Luxury for Less.

Jayme Simões, Communications Partner, Portuguese National Tourist Office

Portugal Offers Top Travel Value

For travelers looking to get the highest rated room for the least amount of money, Portugal is the place to look.  With an average of 84 euros per night, Portugal is the sixth most affordable country in Europe. With 5-star properties averaging a daily rate of less than $200, Portugal’s capital of Lisbon is the ninth least expensive city in Europe.

According to the New York Times, Lisbon has been seen as the charmingly faded city in which tradition dominates the tourist scene, but Lisbon is getting fancier every month.  By day, ambitious startup museums and renovated industrial districts offer an infusion of contemporary art and design.  By night, a beginning wave of neo-Portuguese restaurants, stylish nightspots, and innovative hotels provide places to stay.  And the best part is, the city remains a terrific bargain.

Most of the hotels in Portugal are Portuguese-owned and operated.  The cuisine is Portuguese, the culture is unique, and as the oldest nation in Europe, Portugal offers a wealth of poetry, history, monuments, and events that make the country an authentic travel destination.

Beach in Portugal

As an example of the value of traveling to Portugal, here are some current packages being offered:

• At the Bairro Alto Hotel, take advantage of their “Discover Bairro Alto” package, which includes 3 nights accommodation, breakfast served in the hotel’s restaurant, transfer between the Lisbon airport and hotel, VIP welcome, 1 dinner per person (Chef’s choice), and a 3 hour walking tour with an official guide, prices starting at     €295 (~$393) per night in a Superior room.  Valid thru 2012 – subject to availability (and excluding new year’s eve)
• The Douro Azul is offering a 7 night/ 8 days cruise on the Douro River, which runs through some excellent wine making parts of Spain and Portugal from €995 (~$1,327) per person.   A shorter excursion of 4 nights/ 5 days is also available for € 449 (~$599) a person.  Departures only occur on July 29, August 5, 12, 19
• Spring Package – 5 nights at Arteh Hotels and Resorts – Estalagem da Ponta do sol in Madeira Island. Do not miss this opportunity to discover the beautiful Island of Madeira. Enjoy the stunning landscape from Estalagem da Ponta do Sol. From 65 EUR (~$87) per person/night in a double room, valid through May 31, 2012
• Long Stay Promotion – 3 or 5 nights at Pousada Infante in Sagres, Algarve Region. Take advantage of the special long stay discounts of Pousada Infante to enjoy a short break in Sagres.  Rates from 38,25 EUR (~$51) per person/night in a double room. Valid through October 31, 2012  

ExpertFlyer Hot Topics — Where the Rubber Meets the Runway

In part 2 of our Value Travel Series, golf aficionados scored big with top-ranked golf resort getaways for not a lot of green.  This week, Diane McDavitt, President & Co-Founder of Luxury Link Travel Group, gives us the real deal on “Luxury for Less.”

Diane McDavitt, president, Luxury Link Travel Group

Luxury for less. We hear the phrase a lot, but what does it mean?  In most cases it’s code for “distressed” inventory that can’t be sold at regular prices — Last season’s handbag, a whole shipment of designer shoes with scratches on the heel, a spectacular suite at the Ritz…for tomorrow night.  That said, recent economic challenges have changed the definition of “distressed” for many retailers and that’s been a boon for buyers, particularly in the travel sector where the inventory is perishable.  Rooms at some of the finest resorts in the world – in high season, no less – have shown up on sale sites around the web.  But what happens next, as the economy improves, supply tightens up and demand increases, but we’ve all been spoiled into expecting 50% off or more? The good news is there will always be exceptional travel values available, regardless of economic conditions.  Will you have to look a little harder for them?  No doubt.  But they will exist.  Here are a few ways to find them.

1)      Flash Sale Sites – this phenomenon exploded on the web a couple of years ago.   Offering  night-only, limited time room sales to a private membership group, the deals on these sites can be amazing though the selection is narrow.  Some of these upstart companies have already shuttered, but the big ones will remain standing because hotels will always have seasonal holes or last minute cancellations.  Tip: Sign up for the top 3 (Vacationist, SniqueAway, Jetsetter) and be prepared to pounce when you see a great deal.  Save now, travel later should be your mantra.

2)      Travel Auction Sites – The advantage here is a shot at an exceptional deal; the ‘disadvantage’ is you might be competing for it.  Nevertheless, the wait and  bitten fingernails are often worth it – Luxury Link offers high-end vacations, including luxury room accommodations, meals, spa services and other extras you can’t find anywhere else; average winning bids are 50% of the best available rate.  The good news is Luxury Link’s deals are offered year round regardless of the economy – luxury hotels use the site for exposure to an affluent audience.  For less fancy fare, SkyAuction and Priceline offer the opportunity to bid for hotel stays in the mid to lower end range.  Tip: Do your research.  Check the hotel’s own web site to verify rates to be sure you’re getting a deal.

3)      Off Peak – Take a serious look at shoulder and off season for the destinations you wish to visit.  Rates are lower, crowds are smaller – you can stay in some of the finest hotels in the world for a relative song if you’re willing to travel off peak.  And let’s face it, regardless of your budget, do you really need to pay double to stand in line?  Tip: Remember “off peak” is not only related to time of year; for some destinations it could mean Sunday to Thursday (Napa, anyone?) or weekends (New York City).

Come back next week when we wrap up our Value Travel Series with a trip to Portugal, Europe’s bargain travel gem.