Almost everyone has them:  points that have accrued over time from airline travel.  However, using them isn’t always easy.  Infrequent travelers are sometimes stuck with a handful of points that cannot be redeemed for a full ticket.  Or perhaps the airline you use has limited availability of seats, so it’s difficult to use the points that you do have. 

Several sites are available that help users make the most of the points that they’ve earned.  Each, however, take a different approach and fill a specific type of need.  These sites include:

• ExpertFlyer.com – Intended for frequent flyers, this subscription service ($4.99 basic, $9.99 premium) allows users to search for awards and upgrades across multiple airlines from one site.  In addition, it can alert you when awards and upgrades become available.
• Points.com – Provides a single location where you can monitor your accrued points, as well as earn points through various promotions, swap points between programs, or even redeem points for gift certificates.  Probably their most interesting feature, however, is a new program called GPX that will enable users to trade points through an exchange.
• LoyaltyMatch – Still in beta, LoyaltyMatch enables users to trade points, or convert them to cash or merchandise.  Available merchandise includes everything from magazines all the way up to a luxury Porsche driving experience.
• Yapta – Currently beta-testing a service that allows users to plan potential trips; and then the service will alert them when award seats come available for fewer points.

With the economy heading south and unemployment continuing to rise, consumers have been pulling back on their spending in order to have more money available for day to day necessities.  Certain areas of the economy are more susceptible to the downturn than others; and as spending has dried up, manufacturers and retailers in those segments have started offering big discounts to entice buyers. 

The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently identified a number of different areas where spending has fallen off.  If you’re in the market for goods in one of these areas, you can likely find some pretty good bargains.  They include:

• Autos – Almost all of the automakers are hurting at the moment; and many are offering large incentives in order to move inventory.  A friend of mine recently picked up a $17,000 Ford pickup for just over $10,000.  Not bad.
• Boats – Considered by many to be a leisure expenditure, boat makers are facing not only an economic downturn, but the end of the boating season as well. 
• Furniture – Many people tend to buy new furniture when they move into a new home; and with housing in the dumps, furniture makers are feeling the pain. 
• Appliances – Like furniture, appliance manufacturers aren’t moving as many products due to the slowdown in housing.  In fact, Whirlpool just announced that they plan to layoff 5,000 workers.
• Clothing – Apparel purchases are down close to 12%; and retailers have been running sales like mad to try and make up for the shortfall in revenue.
• Vacations – According to the conference board, the number of families with plans to vacation in the next 6 months has fallen by 10.4%.  As a result, a number of resorts, casinos, and airlines have begun to run promotions.
• Dining – Off by about 4%, dining has not dried up as much as some other sectors of the economy.  However, places like restaurant.com have been offering deeper discounts on a more frequent basis.
• Sporting Equipment – Like boats, sporting equipment is considered by many to be a leisure expenditure.  Spending in this area is off by 6%
• Jewelry – Spending is off by 5.3%.  And with gold prices down and the dollar quickly strengthening against the euro, it may be a great time to buy that fine watch or other jewelry that you’ve had your eye on.

Over the past few years, online travel sites have multiplied like bunnies.  Picking the best starting point can be a bit of a daunting task; so by using a methodology similar to that used to develop the list of 15 Useful Job and Career Websites as well as the list of 16 Cool and Essential Real Estate Websites, I have compiled a list of travel booking and planning sites that can be used as a solid starting point for planning any trip or vacation.

1. TravelSearch.com – If you pick only one site off this list to remember, this is probably the one. While it is far from the largest site, it’s actually a travel “meta-search” engine that allows you to hit Orbitz, hotels.com, Travelocity, and a few other sites from one convenient location.  They’re small, but gaining traction quickly.
2. Expedia – The 900lb gorilla of the self-service travel booking industry.  Covers flights, hotels, cars, cruises, vacation packages, and more.
3. Travelocity – Similar to Expedia, Travelocity provides self-booking tools for flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, and more.
4. Cheapflights.com – Airfare search engine that provides price comparisons from a number of different sources, including: Orbitz, jetBlue, Priceline, American Airlines, cheapoair, and others.
5. Orbitz – Similar to Expedia and Travelocity, Orbitz goes a step further by providing a guarantee that you will receive the lowest fare on a flight.
6. priceline.com – Travel booking site where you bid for airline tickets, hotels, and other travel services.  Much like eBay, there are some tactics that you can use to improve your odds of scoring a good deal.  BiddingForTravel.com provides information and forums to help priceline users get the most out of the service.
7. Citysearch – Looking for a recommendation for a local restaurant or bar?  Hit Citysearch for ideas.  Another up and coming site to consider for such suggestions is yelp.

8. TripAdvisor – Provides unbiased reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions.  In addition, they provide planning and price-comparison tools to help you set up your trip.

9. Lowfares.com – Similar to TravelSearch, Lowfares.com is a meta-search engine that searches across multiple sites (priceline, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Kayak, to name but a few) in order to help you locate the best deals.

10. Smartfares – Similar to Expedia and Travelocity, provides self-service booking tools for flights, hotels, and rental cars.

11. Hotels.com – Provides deals on hotels, B&Bs, vacation packages, and more.  Named by Conde Nast Traveler as the Best Website for Booking Hotels in the US and Europe.

12. IgoUgo – Hotel and vacation reviews, photos, pictures, and travel deals.

I would normally wait and post a message a notice like this alongside the other deals, but I decided to not wait with this one.  Through August 8th, American Airlines is running a Fall Airfare Sale with one-way fares starting at $51.  Sample fares include:  Austin to LAX for $71; Chicago to Salt Lake City for $86; San Antonio to Calgary for $236.

Sound interesting?  You can view the Sale here.

• Consider shipping bags instead of checking them
• Use a small bag and pack smart
• Board early so you can grab space in the overhead bin

Ah...it is summer and time to go out and enjoy some of that vacation time that you have earned. However, many people are having second thoughts on how they will spend their time, given the reality of $4 gasoline and the extra fees that airlines are charging. With that in mind, here are some tips you can you use to make the most of your travel funds: (Read More...)