=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2008/01/24/DDE7U2REC.= DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, January 24, 2008 (SF Chronicle) A trip to New York? Fuhgedaboutit! Smaller cities more affordable. Ed Perkins, Tribune Media Services Travel will be a bit more expensive this year than last. Still, reasonab= ly priced vacations are available, and those of you who can still afford to travel will probably find quite a few sales and promotions. Don't be misled by the prices you see quoted in the slick travel magazines. Their reports aren't written for ordinary Americans; they're for the expense account set and a few fat cats who think a hotel rate of $300 a night in New York is a bargain. These are travelers looking around for the most luxurious business-class or first-class seats for their weekend jaunts to London or Paris. Sure, there's a disconnect between Main Street and Wall Street, but you'll find enough Main Street prices in enough places to see you through the year. One overall trend is important: the continued erosion of senior discount= s. As I've noted, they're basically gone from the airlines, and they're down to very low levels in hotels. Most other senior discounts, if any, are at token levels. More than ever, seniors should look for good deals available to travelers of any age and use senior discounts as a fallback position when nothing else is there. Here are a few do and don't suggestions for all travelers in 2008: -- Do keep looking for a desirable cruise on a mass-market line, where prices - especially last-minute rates - should continue to provide outstanding value. Transatlantic positioning cruises will again offer the best prices. -- Do consider a package tour, even if your usual mode is independent travel. Packages aren't always the best deal, but you shouldn't ignore the possibilities without checking. -- Do consider staying in the United States and sticking to smaller citi= es and the countryside. The American budget motel still represents the world's best accommodations buy. Even some bigger cities, such as Las Vegas, will offer reasonably good deals this year. -- Do consider using the "opaque" price options on Hotwire or Priceline for hotels, especially in the more expensive cities. -- Don't even think about visiting New York. A recent travel story raved about a "bargain" hotel in Brooklyn - only $300 a night. -- Do look for a vacation rental rather than a hotel, even in a city, and certainly in a resort area. The Internet makes worldwide searches a cinch. -- Do think about South America, Eastern Europe and Asia if you want to travel overseas. You can still find some reasonably low destination costs. Also Western Europe can still be OK, if you stick to the countryside. -- Don't even think about visiting London. And think twice about Paris a= nd other big Western European capitals. -- Don't rely on your frequent flier program for desirable flights unless you're willing to use the double- to triple-mile "sure thing" award levels. -- Do check the status of any important mileage accounts you might have. Airlines are cutting back on the length of time you can keep those miles without some account activity. -- Do keep your eyes out for sale prices on airfares and hotel accommodations. If I'm right about a soft market, you should see some good promotions throughout the year. Even the Europeans will strive to avoid losing the large U.S. summer market, so you may well see some good special "dollar" rates. -- Do remain flexible about dates and destinations. Always one of the prime cost-cutting strategies, flexibility is doubly important when prices keep climbing. E-mail syndicated columnist Ed Perkins at eperkins@xxxxxxxxx =A9 Tribune Media Services ------------------------------------------------------------= ---------- Copyright 2008 SF Chronicle <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".