First Stop For Travel Savings May BeThe Internet (NAPSA)—When it comes to saving on travel, more people find they can go farther by starting on the Internet. According to a recent study by travel analysts PhoCusWright, 61 percent of travelers are most concerned with price. How to find the best deal from the myriad of online sites is a problem that Stephen Xeller of San Francisco has experienced firsthand. “I was taking mygirlfriend back to New York for a wedding and we planned to spend the following week in New England,” said Xeller. “I was quoted prices close to $1,000 per ticket when I phoned theairlines. The cheapest fare I found online was $650 per ticket. Then I tried Hotwire, and we got two roundtrip tickets for under $500—they were just $233 each. The amazing part wasthat I purchasedthe tickets less than two weeks before we needed to leave!” As Xeller found out, discount travel can be confusingat best. Xeller used a site called Hotwire (www. hotwire.com)—a company foundedby six majorairlines that seems to actually simplify the process anddeliver great prices to boot. They’re partnered with bignameairlines, hotel and rental car companies, like American Air- lines, Hilton Hotels and Hertz, that give Hotwire specially negotiated prices on unsold seats, rooms and cars—prices that are generally more than 40 percent less than published fares, even on last minute travel. But low price isn’t everything. The Internet can take the stress out of planning a vacation or visiting the relatives. Ashley Ammon of New York City wanted to fly home at the last minute, but didn’t want to trade cost for quality. “I was able to fly home for a few days unexpectedly because the airfare on Hotwire from New York to Phoenix was only $240,” said Ammon. “And it was on a real airline—one that I trust and fly with often.” That’s where the Internet can do its job well—takingthe stress out of planning a vacation orvisiting therelatives. As the Internet evolves, new sites like Hotwire are popping up—making it a lot easier to find that elusive best price, even on last minute trips, while still traveling with the same well-known airlines and hotels. Looking for reputable companies can go a long way in making a vacation more relaxing. Vaca- tions are fun—and the planning should be too.
