Travel Trends :: Online Auctions

[trip style = adventure]

Going once, going twice, SOLD to the lady in the red hat. Have you ever used a travel auction site? I used Sky Auction a few years ago to bid on and win a week's stay at the Villa Vera Hotel & Racket Club in Acapulco [pictured above].  I paid around $300 usd for the week, which worked out to a decent savings off the $115 usd nightly rate [see my review on Trip Advisor].

For the Risky at Heart Although travel auction sites have been around since the advent of internet-enabled travel booking, they've been making a comeback with the launch of the newest auction site Off & Away. I call this trip style adventurous because it's not for everyone; booking travel on auction sites involves time, research, strategy and a quick finger to win the deal you have your eye on. At its core, the concept isn't much different from any other type of travel booking, but hey, it's one way online travel companies differentiate themselves.

Travel Auction Sites Luxury Link The oldest, if not wisest site in the travel auction mix has been auctioning off travel since 1997.  Focusing on elite getaways, they offer the largest selection of vetted luxury hotels, resorts, cruises and tours on the web. They're also enterprising; like we talked about last Thursday, they recently partnered with Travel + Leisure to create Vacationist.com, a members-only private travel sale site.

Sky Auction Almost as ancient as Luxury Link, Sky Auction has been around since 1999 and has over 966,550 auction winners. Offering the Ebay-like ability to bid or buy now, the site offers auctions for hotels, flights, packages, cruises and attractions.

Off & Away The newest online travel auction kid on the block is a little more niche, offering suites at 4- and 5-star hotels. But there's a catch, each bid costs $1 usd, and if you don't win your auction, you can apply your used bids towards another room.

My Take Like I mentioned above, I've used Sky Auction to book an auctioned-off vacation. Although it's not my preferred booking method, I would consider booking travel through an auction again. Similar to my advice for booking on sites like Hotwire or Priceline, if you like taking educated risks, do your research and go for it.

Tips Before you Bid

• like pizza or ice cream, travel auction sites can be addictive, so use restraint and the same common sense you would when bidding on eBay
• once you win a bid, you'll only be able to travel on the hotel's specified dates - which are clearly published during the bidding phase
• when you see a property you like, research the heck out of it, so you know what you're booking
• even if the price seems to good to be true, always check it against other sources
• read the fine print and make sure you aren't going to have attend a mandatory presentation or the like

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Related Content Private Travel Sales Hot for Hotwire Priceline Like a Pro Secret Hotels

A Summer Weekend Packing List

[trip style = weekend + packing light]

It's beach and cabin season!  When the clock strikes five on Friday, will you be ready to pack light and pack right for your flight or car journey out yonder?  With the summer weekend packing list tips and tricks below, you'll become an expert - and fashionable - escape artist.

Reformed Overpacker In my prior life - ok, 2 years ago - I still was a ridiculous overpacker, but last year I took the packing-light plunge on a 6-day trip to San Fran and Napa, and I've never looked back.  In fact, I'm so keen to pare down that I'm attempting to only bring a carry-on for my two-week Eastern Canada trip next month, as well as my four-week Australia jaunt this fall! Back to packing light...let's master it for a summer weekend away, with the help of Lucky Magazine.

Lucky Magazine's Summer Weekend Packing List

Summer Weekend Packing List [not including what you wear enroute]

• Plane-to-Pool Bag: use the same bag for packing & beach/lake tote
• Undergarments
• 1-2 Bathing Suits [check out this season's hottest bathers & accessories on HeatherLovesIt]
• Shoes
  • flip flops
  • cute sandals
• Bottoms
  • shorts
  • pants or a skirt
• Tops
  • tank top
  • t-shirt
  • flowy top
  • sweater-y shirt or cardy
• Dresses
  • day-to-night dress
  • dressier dress
• Accessories
  • belt
  • scarf
  • hat

*for a men's packing list, just eliminate the dresses - or substitute them with kilts :)

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Related Content Go-To Carry-On Toiletries Choosing the Best Type of Carry-On Travel iPhone Apps :: PackingPro The Art of Carry-On Travel Going Away? Packing and To Do List

[photo by the tahoe guy]

Travel iPhone Apps :: OpenWays

Open SesameOpen your hotel room with your iPhone, Blackberry or Andoid. Like a fairy with a magic wand, French company OpenWays turns your mobile phone into a hotel room key.  The French think of everything!

Following in the footsteps of Marriott, who tested smartphone check-ins in the dark ages (ok, it was only 2006), InterContinental has begun trials to enable check-in and hotel room entry at two US properties: the Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare Rosemont and the Holiday Inn Express Houston Downtown Convention Center.

How it Works

OpenWays App Details

• Free
• Works with iPhone, Blackberry and Android
• Download software to your smartphone from OpenWays
• When you check in online, the OpenWays system sends you an encrypted audio code that unlocks your door, and texts you your room number
• When you arrive at the hotel, bypass the front desk and unlock your door with your phone
• The technology uses "crypto acoustics", which generate a unique sound set to unlock your hotel room door using a system that could work with almost any existing electronic hotel lock

What this Means

• Assuming testing goes well, this could be a huge shift in the way we interact with hotels
• No more checking in at the front desk, and no more worries about losing a key or keycard, just, um, losing your phone
• The hotel can remotely eliminate any code that might be a security risk, and codes expire when you check out
• Hotel room keys or keycards won't make a complete disappearing act for the time being due to situations like travelers arriving at their hotels with a dead phone battery or the like

Other Travel iPhone Apps we’ve Reviewed

• TripIt
• Trip Advisor
• StayHIP
• Trip Journal
• Bug Spray
• CameraBag
• Convert Everything
• GateGuru
• Kindle for iPhone
• Packing Pro
• Skype
• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Medical Concierge
• Tourism British Columbia :: Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat’l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

[photo by bwchicago]

More Aloha Coming Right Up!

[trip style = beach + sun]

Editor's Note {Jan 5, 2011}: See update in grey below.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air has done it again - they've stolen my heart, taken me to where sun and sand abound, and kept money in my pocket with their low fares!  Does it get any better than this? Well maybe if Allegiant were Emirates and I always flew first class. But I digress...

{Aug 8 Update - Alaska Air recently announced they'll fly to Honolulu from Bellingham. Details here.}

Mahalo Allegiant for Announcing Service to Hawaii Recently the discount airline announced the purchase of six Boeing 757s that they plan to use for service to Hawaii. According to the press release, "Allegiant is acquiring this fleet with the express purpose of serving Hawaii, a major leisure destination that it cannot serve with its existing MD-80 fleet. Allegiant Air expects to launch service to Hawaii once appropriate regulatory requirements have been met."  Allegiant plans to have two of the six planes in service by the fourth quarter of 2010, and rumor has it that Bellingham, WA and Stockton, CA will be the first two departure points for service to Hawaii.

Why Bellingham? According to the Vancouver Sun, Bellingham's airport is currently undergoing a $29-million runway and terminal overhaul to handle 757 planes (seating: 220 people). The upgrades are slated for completion this fall, and at that time runway upgrades are going to close down the airport for three weeks.  How convenient.  Here's another interesting fact: 55% of Bellingham's ridership is Canadian.

My Prediction No details have been released about routes, start dates or schedule, but I suspect that Allegiant's Hawaii service will be 1 - 3 times/week, direct (from Bellingham at least), and will fly into Oahu.  Stay tuned for more info!

When the service is likely to start: I read a few articles (one posted as recently as Jan 5, 2011) nothing that Allegiant would be beginning its service from Bellingham to Hawaii in mid-2011, but dismissed it given the bad seasonal timing (ie - flying to a hot destination during summer). But since it's January 2011 and there's been no announcement, the summer is the next best bet.

The destination: When I flew to Long Beach, CA with Allegiant in December, I asked the check-in agent about the pending Hawaii route. They confirmed it was happening (but didn't say when), and also mentioned they thought it would be going to Maui versus Honolulu. If this is true, it would be smart given that Alaska already flies from Bellingham to Honolulu.

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Related Content How to Avoid Extras with Allegiant Air Snowbirds Rejoice :: WestJet Flies Non-Stop to Kauai High/Low :: Booking a Vacation in Maui

[Image by Allegiant Air]

Using Hotel Room Amenities Like MacGyver

[trip style = any]

Sometimes travel requires MacGyver moments: using what you have to do what you need. I loved watching MacGyver (1985-92) navigate any circumstance with his eternally optimistic troubleshooting skills---something we often have to do while travelling. Since we can't bring the whole kitchen sink with us on vacation, here are some alternate MacGyver-like uses for common hotel room amenities:

Hotel Room Amenities for Everyday Needs

• The shower: Hang garments on the shower curtain rod or towel rod and run the shower on hot to freshen and de-wrinkle them [preferably you're in the shower so you don't waste water].
• Coffee maker: If you're travelling with a baby, warm or sterilize their bottle in the coffee pot filled with boiling water [a Gadling tip].
• Shoe: No wine bottle opener in the room? No problem. Use your shoe to open the bottle of wine. 
• Laundry bag: Use for dirty clothes or wet bathing suits.
• Shower cap: To cover dirty shoes or protect your phone and/or camera at the pool or beach [see hotelchatter for additional tips].
• Ice bucket: Sans fridge? Use the ice bucket filled with ice to keep groceries, take-out or leftovers cool.
• Vodka in the mini-bar: Does the underarm area of your shirt need a pick-me-up? Mix vodka and water on a washcloth and apply to affected area to freshen the scent. Also apply directly to the armpit if you forget your deodorant. If using the dual-pronged approach, don't be surprised if someone asks if you had a 'rough night' in the hotel elevator.
• Shower gel: Use in place of bubble bath or use to wash undergarments.
• Shoe shine gloves: Clean your dirty laptop or phone screen [a HeatherLovesIt tip].
• Sewing kit: The original MacGyver in-case-of-emergency travel tool.

Hotel Room Amenities for Beauty Needs

• Tea bags: Run under hot water to cool and de-puff your tired eyes [a Jauntsetter tip].
• Hand lotion: Use as a makeshift hair smoother and de-frizzer.
• Conditoner: Forgot your shaving cream? Using conditioner in its place won't dry legs like soap or clog your razor like lotion... yep, I've tried both.

[photo via paramount]