From weekend state-line hopping to the epic summer abroad, vacations provide an escape. But when the planning becomes more stressful than the issues that need to be escaped from, it’s time to enlist some guidance.
Students might be logging the most travel miles. Asonta Benetti, an English junior, says “One of my biggest reasons for traveling is that my fiancé is British and lives in England, so we switch off visits. I’m probably there four times a year, though that will change when we get married.”
Marianne Shively, an English literature junior, says “My main reason (for traveling) is to get out of my comfort zone and have some great memories to look back on as I age. I learned Spanish (through traveling) and my next goal is how to tend a vineyard.”
The more traveling, the more there is to consider. From knowing how far in advance to book tickets and hotel rooms to knowing the best season for travel, students might discover extra stress when booking their vacation.
Saskia Jensen, a travel agent from A World of Travel, says the best times of the year to travel are April and early May. “But you can find lower prices on airfare and hotel rates during September, October and November because it is considered the slow season. It’s also recommended to book three to six months in advance,” she says.
Jensen also points out the best days for airfare prices are Monday through Thursday.
Christine Helfers, a travel writing instructor at ASU Polytechnic and former travel agent, says “California trips (have) lots of better deals Monday through Thursdays in beach areas. Some cities are the opposite and have better deals on the weekends since the business travelers are gone.”
Travel agents can be of great help to students since they have been trained to know the best times for vacations and best deals available for their clients.
“As a travel agent, my goal is to make sure my clients are happy and have a great time. I’m willing to work with someone over the phone, e-mail or in person if they need any help or suggestions on better deals,” says Minnie Hodge, a travel agent with A World of Travel.
“I think travel agents can be very helpful, as you can talk through your ideas before getting right to booking something,” Helfers says. “Also, they can present lots of possibilities rather than some Web sites that just list a few facilities or options.”
However, booking Web sites have given students the ability to find the best deal on their own time.
“I prefer to do as little planning as possible. If I need to fly to get to the location, I will reserve an airline ticket. That’s the extent of my planning. I go to Orbitz and the Away Network when I am looking more for a destination than a way of travel,” Jennifer Michalicek, a creative writing junior, says.
With the amount of booking sites out there, it can start to get overwhelming with all the information provided.
To get the full picture on which way to go when booking a trip, to the right are prices for trips to Las Vegas, San Diego and Cancun, Mexico utilizing a travel agent, different online booking sites and booking tickets and rooms straight through the airlines and hotels.
After pricing out each trip, the vacation packages were cheaper when booked through online travel sites. However, Hodge says there is a domestic and international fee when booking with a travel agent and “the reason for charging the fee is because airlines don’t offer commission.”
Whichever path a student decides to take, the destination is the ultimate goal.
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Sin City is a favorite spot to leave worries behind. This trip leaves for Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 3 and returns to Phoenix on Sunday, Oct. 5. The flight is non-stop aboard U.S. Airways and the hotel reservations are with the Luxor Resort.
Las Vegas Prices
Priceline $525.00
Orbitz $539.00
Travelocity $548.00
Expedia $554.00
Travel Agent $576.00
Airline and Hotel directly $642.98
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The beach and cool California air are another favorite. This trip leaves for San Diego on Friday, Oct. 3 and returns to Phoenix on Sunday, Oct. 5. The flight is non-stop aboard U.S. Airways and the hotels reservations are with the Dana at Mission Bay.
San Diego Prices
Airline+Hotel $294.00
Priceline $387.00
Travelocity $414.00
Expedia $415.48
Travel Agent $436.00
Orbitz $460.00
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It’s never too late to start thinking about Spring Break. This trip leaves for Cancun, Mexico on Sunday, Mar. 8 and returns to Phoenix on Sunday, Mar. 15. The flight through Aeromexico has one stop and the hotel reservations are with the Hyatt Cancun Caribe Resort.
Cancun, Mexico Prices
Travelocity $2,229.00
Orbitz $2,244.00
Priceline $2,284.00
Expedia $2,294.00
Airline+Hotel $2,322.38
Travel Agent $6,495.47 (all inclusive with food and drink)
$3795.97 (non-inclusive)
— theresa.dillon@asu.edu
