Traveling to Europe without breaking the bank

This summer we are traveling to Europe and will be visiting three countries:  Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungry.  We are traveling while the dollar is very weak compared to the Euro … and most other currencies, but we are traveling anyway and intend to do so as if the dollar was strong.

Yesterday, I suggested that using Europe’s extensive rail system is one way to minimize or decrease your transportation costs and it truly is.  Of course, time is always a factor, as in, do you have enough time to take the train.

Another way travel suggestions is to stay in a neighborhood outside the city center.  Europe has an excellent public transportation system.  There are usually excellent and authentic cafes near hotels outside the city center if the hotel does not have a restaurant.  Of course, you don’t want to be 50 miles aways and you have to be smart about the area you are staying … just as you would at home.  I am a big believer in reading travel blogs about other travelers experiences.  Some you have to be judicious about believing, but they tend to be very helpful.  Expedia and Frommer’s tend to be the best sites to explore.  Frommer’s has suggested some questionable places, so always cross-reference with what other travelers have said.

So, my suggestions for lodging is to avoid the city center, American chain hotels [which typically are more expensive], and full service hotels [bellhop, concierge, and so forth].  Look for hotels that are near metro stops and that show pictures of the inside as well as the outside.  I am always concerned when a hotel doesn’t provide pictures.  I also consider it a positive if the hotel allows me to book my room through a travel service, such as Expedia or Travelocity, or if the hotel accepts credit cards through their SECURE site.

United and US Air … courting

It seems that Delta and Northwest have set off a renewed effort by the airlines to merge and get larger in the name of better service.  These mergers also are supposed to make the industry more stable and efficiently operated.  Maybe.  United and others have said that bigger is better.  Maybe.

Perhaps with fewer airlines, the industry will have fuller flights and operate more profitably than they currently do, but I remain skeptical.  Surely, the industry can be more efficient even with the current number of carriers.  On my recent flight from Atlanta to Memphis, the flight was not very full.  How might this change if there are only two or three larger carriers?  Fuller flights, more expensive tickets, and fewer options and times.

Well, one thing is certain, the airlines probably do not want to let Delta and Northwest drawf them.  So, who is American going to merge with?

Europe 2008 … travel planning

July 2008, I will be visiting three countries in Europe:  Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungry.  Of course, I am traveling during a time when the dollar is very weak against the Euro.  The last time I was in Europe, June 2007, the dollar was much stronger.  So, what are we going to do so that we travel in the style that we like?

Many think that traveling to Europe or outside their home country is expensive … and it is!  But, international travel is not prohibitively expensive.  Well, the most expensive component of most trips is actually getting there, that is, air travel cost.  So, I am going to talk about transportation in this post. 

Our trip to Europe this summer is complicated because we are traveling from one domestic airport and returning to another and we are also arriving in one international airport and departing from another.  In reservation talk, we are planning a multiple city flight.  Oh yeah, I’m making all the arrangements too … for those who do not want to engage in teh agnozing process of searching for a flight may want to consult a travel agency.  I’m not the biggest fan of travel agencies when it comes to planning an entire trip, for example, lodging, activities, and so forth.  Last year, my trip was just too complicated for me to plan myself, so I had United make my flight arrangements. 

So, in searching for the best deals, I checked Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and the major domestic airlines with service to Vienna.  This time Travelocity offered the best flights.  Travelocity was over $2,500 less expensive.  Wow!  When it comes to airlines book early, watch fares, and consider a frequent flyer program or an awards program.  Using reward points I saved almost $800.  [Yeah, there are issues with thess programs, which is why you have to do your homework.  American Express is excellent.  By the way, I do not work for American Express.]

In the past when I have visited multiple countries during one visit, I have used that countries domestic airline, but this time I thought what about using Europe’s rail.  Wise decison and much less expensive than an airline ticket.  Besides, if you have the time, you get to see more of the country this way too.  Europe’s rail system is also much better connected than what we have in the U.S.  Rail Europe provides official fares and schedules for Europe’s rail system.  Of course, you can buy your rail passes and make reservations securely at the site.  Do your homework here to find the best pass for your trip.  In our case, it is the European East Pass.  If you want to ride coach, a pass for 5 days use within a month will cost you around $220 and a first class pass will cost you around $330.  Much less expensive than an airline ticket and not much more timely when you consider having to check-in at the airport and retrieve your bags.  Remember to make your reservations.  Rail passes only provide access to trains, but does not promise you a seat on a particular train.  It’s been quite some time since I have taken an European rail, but the views are often beautiful.

So, if time permits and funds are limited, consider taking the train.  It may be less confusing and more interesting than a flight.

Delta & Northwest … better service is on the way

As a Northwest frequent flyer, I have been receiving periodic electronic mail assuring me that I will not notice any negative changes or impact to my status as an elite member after the merger … and I believe them.  Why would the merger negatively impact my status, when the airline can do that anytime.  Read the fine print for your frequent flyer program.  The airline can change the rules anytime they want too.

I believe Northwest when they say that I will not lose my miles or status as an elite member and that I will continue to enjoy the high level of service as a loyal customer.  This makes sense for many reasons.  The reason that frequent flyer programs are effective is that we expect to accrue some benefit.  I certainly do.  Federal regulators would also be skittish about future mergers if passengers were completely abused.  The airline would also risk losing a loyal customer, assuming that there is still competition.

I don’t know about better service, but I expect to keep my miles and status … they just may not be worth much after the merger though.  The airlines have never needed a “good” reason to redefine miles programs and the benefits of elite status, so why blame the merger.

Delta and Northwest merger … hmm

As everyone is probably aware, Delta and Northwest are merging to create the largest airline operator in the world.  As usual, the reasons are shore up the financial operations and provide better customer service.  Is this ever the result of these mergers?  What is wrong with the airline industry and why can’t they operate profitably and efficienctly?  Why do they keep doing the same thing, i.e., merge with competitors, and expect different results?  In some fields of study, doing the same thing over and over again expecting the same result is called insanity.

So, what is it about the Delta and Northwest merger that will be different from others?  Hmm, my guess is nothing.  On the face of the merger, it sounds reasonable that a merged airline can reduce duplication and ensure that flights are full (perhaps not so good for the consumer since there is less competition), but this should at the least decrease expenses for the airlines.  At least, that is the argument, but history tells us differently.  The airlines are frequently and constantly in trouble.  Maybe when we only have two carriers after all the mergers and failures, we will have a successful industry.  United and Continental may be next.

AAA Travel … okay, that was dumb

In early May 2008, I will be going to Colorado Springs, which I am excited.  Like so many of my travels, there’s a glitch.  Delta cancelled my departing flight from home.  The second glitch … I used AAA Travel to make my flight arrangements.  Since this is a business trip, it is easier to get reimbursed when I use the University’s official travel agency.

The first glitch … that happens when you travel.  The second glitch … well, that was just dumb.  Everything started fine.  I used AAA Travel to make my flight arrangements, paid for the ticket, and received my itinerary.  Some time after making my arrangements, a travel agent called to inform me that a segment of the flight was cancelled.  Okay.  She asked will it be okay to change your departure itinerary.  I asked, do I have any options if I wanted to get to Colorado Springs on the same day … of course, I didn’t.  So, the agent says you will be departing from Cincinnati on the same day.  Okay, thank you and I’ll wait for the confirmation.

I must admit that I am partly at blame because I did not ask about my return flight and probably did not attend too closely to what the agent said.  My other problem was not immediately checking the new itinerary closely.  So, I accept some blame, but who would have someone flying out of one airport and returning to another airport 80 miles away!  Apparently, the AAA agent who was trying to help me.  Now, this may make sense for O’hare and Midway or LaGuardia and JFK, because they are close and both cities, Chicago and New York City, have excellent public transportation that you can take to the airport or you could even use a taxi, but airports that are 80 miles apart.  That’s dumb!

Why don’t airlines make sense?

Recently, as in yesterday, I had to make airline reservations to Atlanta.  My reservations where under the 21 day rule for lower fares.  This I have no problem with.  Well, I have a little problems, because it cost so much more money!  But I can understand, well not really, but as travelers, we know that the later you wait the more expensive the ticket can be.  Of course, the opposite happens sometimes too where you get a great deal tickets at the last minute.

What I don’t understand is being able to offer an airline ticket and hotel room for less than the ticket alone.  This is what happened yesterday with Travelocity.  By the way, I could find so such deal on Expedia.  Using the same reservation dates, the airline ticket plus hotel room was half the cost of airline ticket alone.  There was also a car rental plus airline ticket option, but this was “sold out.”  I understand that travel agencies, which Travelocity and Expedia are, in a sense, make these types of deals with airlines and hotels and car rental agencies to help ensure the air plane is full, the hotel is at maximum occupancy, and that all cars are rented. 

So, my question is, if airlines are able to make these deals, what’s the true cost of flying?  Does the airline’s operating expenses increase the later passengers make reservations?  Is the airline industry “putting the squeeze” or taking advantage of passengers who have to make travel arrangement late?  If you are making arrangements two days prior to travel, perhaps you are desperate, do airlines see dollars to be made?  Of course, the opposite is true too, why should the passenger who wait the week before traveling get a better rate than me … just because the airline wants to fill the plane?