Summer travel is peak season, but even in the midst of the high airfares and hotel rates, there is still a window of hope for scoring a deal. This week Peter helps readers plan cross-country flights, hotel stays in Santa Barbara and a trip this summer’s most unforgettable yard sale.
You can talk to him at 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, tweet questions to @petersgreenberg (use #askPeter), or post questions on his Facebook page.
Bob tweeted Peter, “End of summer cross-country flights seem very high now. Do you think they will come down?”
Right now there’s not an airline computer out there that’s programmed to give you a discount for trips less than 45 days out. So in 45 days, we’re not at the end of summer, we’re right in the middle of it. For me, September is the magic month. Anytime after September 4 or 5, when the kids go back to school, you can get some great deals.
If you’re looking for summer travel, I would say between August 1 and August 10, you’re going to start seeing some limited airfare deals that will be slipped in late at night.
You’ll see them on the web, but you can also pick up the phone . The biggest myth about airline deals and airline fares in general is that you think all the inventory is available on the web. It is not. It’s the inventory that’s made available online by the travel providers and only what they want to make available on the web.
For more information on summer airfares, check out Peter’s tip on summer airfare.
Stephanie in Santa Barbara asked: I am traveling with a friend who insists on staying at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara. I want to go, but I want to get the very best price I can on a room. Right now the best rate is $595 night. That’s steep for me. Do you have any advice on how I can get a better rate on a room?
Here’s the bottom line on Four Seasons: The hotel is probably has at least 80 percent occupancy. It’s in Santa Barbara in the summer and it’s a Four Seasons, so there is zero incentive to discount the room.
If you want any kind of discount or perk, you’re not going to find it any cheaper online ― especially for a hotel like the Four Seasons. I have yet to see a Four Seasons hotel actively discount online.
When you call them directly, ask to speak with either the manager on duty or the director of sales. Those are the two people at the hotel who are the best arbiters of their inventory. Now, if you want to stay the on a weekend night, you’re in trouble because that is when that hotel is almost always 100 percent full. It’s not for just regular guests, but weddings.
You’re best chance of getting a deal is to go midweek and to make clear to the director of sales that you are looking to build a relationship. Relationships mean you don’t want to just stay there once. You want to come back again. You want to get to know them. If you have this conversation, there is at least a chance you might get a slight discount or an upgrade.
Go beyond hotels and check out the Ask the Local’s Travel Guide to Santa Barbara.
Cathy from Baltimore asks, “I’ve heard people talk about the World’s Longest Yard Sale, and what’s the best way to do it?”
The World’s Longest Yard Sale is taking place this year from August 2-5. It’s an amazing route of yard sales, antique shops and other second-hand sales that connects a lot of small communities.
It’s a great way to see parts of the country that you never get to see otherwise. The best part is that the yard sale is 690 miles long. It goes just north of Addison, Michigan, all the way down to Gadsden, Alabama.
Now, here’s what I’d do. I’d start at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Alabama on top of Lookout Mountain and then drive north, because you’ll find better stuff there. Bring a big car, sunscreen, sunglasses and mosquito repellent, because we’re talking about the deep South in August. And bottom line, bring cash. This is not a credit card deal. Most venders don’t take credit cards or checks, and there may be a dearth of ATMs on some of the long stretches of the road. Even bathrooms could be hard to find in some areas, so look for campsites. Book your lodgings now, because hotels and motels book up early along the route.
Check out our profile of the World’s Longest Yard Sale.
By Peter Greenberg for Peter Greenberg Worldwide
