The soaring air fares and high hotel rates this summer could start a tailspin in the fall, says a leading travel commentator.
“But doesn’t this happen every year, as fall approaches? No, not like this,” suggested columnist Christopher Elliott.
He says talking with travelers has convinced him dramatic travel bargains are on the horizon.
“Connect the dots with what I’m hearing from travel companies, who are telling me that some rates will be on part with last year’s record-low prices, and you might reasonably conclude that things are about to get interesting,” he says.
There’s also the feeling that pundits have been talking about a double-dip recession in the past few weeks.
This was not supposed to happen. Airlines, car rental rates, cruise prices and hotel rates were all predicted to be recovering from record lows this year.
But there are exceptions. Car rental rates, for example, are rising. “The general trend we are seeing is that they are rising — sometimes substantially,” said Jonathan Weinberg, founder of a site called AutoSlash.
The same is true for cruise prices.
Elliott hopes the bottom does not fall out of the economy but the silver lining is that there will be a buyer’s market for travel once again if you want till later this year.
“So if you missed all the deals last year, here’s your second chance,” he said. But bargains won’t fall in your lap, he warns, because consumers will have to look for them.
By David Wilkening
