Dreams take flight on the Net
Editor’s note: Klara Bowman is a graduate student at Washington State University and a veteran world traveler.
I am addicted to Internet flight deals. My habit has led to international vacations at the same price as traveling across the state to Seattle. My willpower weakens when a new special appears in my inbox.
Friends constantly question me on where such specials exist or accuse me of embellishment. Fly from Seattle to Stockholm and back for $250? One simply needs to keep eyes open and be ready when the opportunity arises.
Signing up on a few well-known international airlines’ Web sites can sometimes lead to a lot of junk in your e-mail. But, occasionally, it can lead to that one special where your jaw drops and you immediately begin to mentally pack your bags.
Each December Scandinavian Airlines offers the “24 Days of Christmas,” featuring roundtrips from Seattle for only $299. Each day, a different European city is chosen, complete with clues and pictures to add to the suspense. Many a December night I have stayed up until midnight to see which city it would be, rushing to buy tickets from Denmark to Paris.
By far, the best Web site for specials is travelzoo.com. This site contains a variety of resources for different kinds of traveling needs. Its featured deals are as close to home as Seattle or Idaho resorts, or as far-reaching as Vietnamese biking tours. These are deals that are scoured from all over the Internet and presented to you, the travel seeker.
My most amazing find consisted of a nonstop flight from Seattle to London for $99. Once in London, my traveling partner and I found another short flight to Dublin for $40. The largest expense is getting to the continent of Europe. Once there, a plethora of cheap flights can connect you to anywhere in the European Union. Though 14-day restrictions are normal, this method can save cash when compared to a Eurail pass.
Admittedly, the flight to London for $99 is not the norm and I have yet to see a similar steal since.
Another hindrance can be inflexible dates. Traveling to Europe in August or Australia in December will cost more than during a less-touristy month. One must judge how important good-weather traveling matters. And, despite my searching, I have never found a deal to South America, or Central or Southern Africa. If these locations draw you in, be prepared to spend money.
Be wary of popup ads or vacation specials (not tours) that offer more than one location. I fell victim to a deal that advertised a cheap holiday stay and Disneyworld tickets in Orlando, claiming that a similar deal in Jamaica would be mine after the initial vacation. I failed to notice the trip concurred with hurricane season and I happened to arrive one day before one of the largest hurricanes to ever hit Orlando. On top of this, extra “deposits” were needed to secure the Jamaica trip. I still have not been to Jamaica.
After buying your ticket and planning your adventure, the best way to share your travels with friends is through travelpod.com. This Web site allows travelers to write about their escapades and post photos alongside a map that tracks the course they have taken. Complete with endless resources for travelers, it can also be an excellent site to scout before leaving.
For best flight deals, register with BritishAirways.com (Europe); Flysas.com (Europe, Scandinavia); Singaporeair.com (Asia); or Qantas.com (Australia ).