Every Friday at 12 noon ET / 9am PT, travel expert Chris McGinnis (@cjmcginnis) and I (@JohnnyJet) host an hour-long Twitter chat using the hashtag #TravelSkills. Last week’s chat was on summer travel deals and our sponsor, @HolidayInn Resort brand, gave away two 2-night stays at any Holiday Inn Resort property (congrats @Shumpta and @curtislu)!
We are taking this Friday off because it’s a long weekend in America and most people will be traveling including us. However, here’s a quick recap of last week’s chat in case you missed it:
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR SUMMER TRAVEL DEALS!
Q1 How far in advance do you start making your summer travel plans? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A1 I never know my schedule so I’m usually flying by the seat of my pants! #TravelSkills
TIP: Usually, the best time to book plane tickets is about 4 to 6 weeks out. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A1 I made my Memorial Day plans in Feb! Early enuf to get 1 of 2 tickets using miles #TravelSkills
TIP If planning trips for July 4 or Labor Day, now is the time to lock in decent rates #TravelSkills
TIP Unless you want to take the red-eye or make 3 stops along the way, book summer tickets NOW! #TravelSkills
TIP Best last minute summer deals: Colorado Rockies, Arizona spas, big city weekends, Vegas (baby) #Travelskills
TIP Summer weekdays in #Vegas are dirt cheap- who cares about the heat? #TravelSkills
Q2 What are YOUR summer travel plans? Where are you headed? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A2 I don’t tell people where I’m going until I get there. But I’ve got a busy schedule so follow me for clues this summer! #TravelSkills
A2 TIP: One of my favorite summer destinations is Nantucket. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A2 I’m booked to New York City, Martha’s Vineyard, Tallahassee, Charleston & San Diego. You? #TravelSkills
A2 I won’t be going to Europe this summer- have you see July transatlantic fares? Wowza! #TravelSkills
TIP Business travelers avoid trips during peak vacation season June 21-Aug 10 #TravelSkills
TIP Biz travelers should always ask for a room away from squeals of hotel pool area in summer #TravelSkills
TIP Airlines say busiest days during peak summer season are Thurs and Fri #TravelSkills
Q3 Where do you look for the best deals on hotels? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A3 Sign up to hotel newsletters and follow them on Twitter to be notified of deals.
Chris:
A3 Hotel Twitter & Facebook feeds offer great last minute deals to flexible travelers #TravelSkills
TIP Hotel websites guarantee lowest rates & offer rewards/rebate if cheaper elsewhere #TravelSkills
TIP Miami, New York and Honolulu has highest hotel rates in Q1 sez STR #TravelSkills
Q4 What’s your favorite budget destination? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A4 Southeast Asia is great for travelers on a budget. #TravelSkills
A4 TIP Get a package deal. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A4 Florida panhandle is cheap & mostly unknown outside the South. White sand! #TravelSkills
TIP Convention-style hotels are super cheap on summer weekends. Great for spa, dining, romance XJX #TravelSkills
TIP Summer in Colorado Rockies is best kept secret, and DEN has cheap flights #TravelSkills
Q5 What’s your preferred way to travel? Planes, trains or automobiles …. or boats? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A5 My name is Johnny Jet. Not Johnny Boat and not Johnny Car. Or Johnny Train. #TravelSkills
A5 TIP: If you’re traveling with a family, summer is great for road trips, especially across America. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A5 Due to high fares, crazy fees and security delays, car trips are sounding pretty good! #TravelSkills
TIP Summer gasoline prices are expected moderate this summer, barely cracking avg of $3.60 #TravelSkills
Q6 What’s the best summer travel deal you’ve ever scored? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A6 Staying (for free!) at my brother’s place in Nantucket! #TravelSkills
A6 TIP: Visit family and friends #TravelSkills
Chris:
A6 Backpacking thru Europe on $25 per day back in 1984! Seriously! #TravelSkills
TIP Don’t forget “summer” lasts thru Sept 21, but rates plummet after Labor Day #TravelSkills
TIP Airlines expect 209 million passengers June-Aug, up 1% from last year (which was busy!) #TravelSkills
Q7 Who likes to cruise during the summer months? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A7 I do. I love to cruise around Europe. My favorite cruise line is Seabourn. #TravelSkills
A7 TIP Go in a day or two early to your departure city to make sure you don’t miss the boat. Literally. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A7 I would love to do a barge cruise along a European River during summer #TravelSkills
TIP Autumn is the cheapest time of year for cruises—esp last minute deals #TravelSkills
TIP Hurricanes rarely disrupt cruises. Ships are fast enough to steer clear of storms #TravelSkills
Q8 Do you rent a car when you travel? Where do you look for deals on car rentals? #TravelSkills
Johnny Jet:
A8 I check multiple websites. If prices aren’t reasonable, I put a bid on Priceline. #TravelSkills
Chris:
A8 Since car rentals are a commodity, I book on last minute deal sites #TravelSkills
A8 My first choice is usually public transport if airport has a rail/subway station #TravelSkills
TIP Car rental prices declined 8% in 2012 sez Corp Travel Index #TravelSkills
TIP If you own a car, your car insurance likely covers u for rentals. But check first! #TravelSkills
Interested in sponsoring a future #TravelSkills Twitter Chat? More information can be found here.
