Warm Thoughts: Expedia.com 2017 Summer Savings Guide

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Snow may still be on the ground in some parts of the country, but there's no better time than now to begin planning summer travel. Expedia.com® released today a guide to summer savings including an early look at trending destinations and tips on how to plan a summer of fun and adventure, without breaking the bank.

"Whether your family is large or small, traveling near or far, Expedia's incredible breadth of choice in flights, hotels, car rentals, activities and more, guarantees that travelers can book their dream summer trip, all in one place," says Sarah Gavin, vice president of global communications, Expedia.com. "There have never been as many ways to explore the world while sticking to your budget, which is why we're thrilled to partner with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to offer travelers even more ways to make a difference and save on summer travel this year."

GIVE HOPE & GET AWAY WITH ST. JUDE PROMOTION
Beginning today for a limited time, travelers can save while planning a summer getaway, and make a difference in a child's life while doing so. Expedia supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® which is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In 2016, the Dream Adventures program brought the power of travel to children who need it most, and right now, travelers have the chance to give back through the Give Hope & Get Away promotion. Details of the promotion include:

• By using the codes CURE100 or CURE200 at check out, travelers will receive $100 off select stand-alone hotel bookings of $500, and $200 off select package bookings of $2,000. From March 9, 2017 to March 26, 2017 for every stand-alone hotel or flight and hotel package coupon redeemed, Expedia will donate $100 USD to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, up to a maximum donation of $100,000, supporting the St. Jude mission: "Finding cures. Saving children." For more information about St. Jude, visit: https://www.stjude.org/?sc_cid=ptn22097. In addition, Expedia+ members are always able to donate their Expedia+ points to St. Jude. For more information and coupon terms and conditions, visit https://www.expedia.com/summervacation.

PROCASINATORS BEWARE: PLANNING = BIG SAVINGS
Travelers can score big savings simply by planning ahead. For flights, Expedia and Airlines Reporting Corporation found that generally, the best deals on airplane tickets can be found if tickets are purchased on weekends, Sunday in particular, more than 21 days in advance. A recent fare search indicated that an economy ticket between Europe and the United States fetched nearly $2,000 when booked within 21 days before departure, but decreased to less than $1,300 when booked more than three weeks in advance, savings of almost $700 per traveler.

SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE
Expedia travelers can save every day with Member Only Deals. Simply creating an Expedia+ account or signing into an existing account will open up hotel savings of an additional 10% off, on more than 70,000 participating hotels.

A tried and true method to save is bundling flight and hotel, flight and rental car, rental car and hotel, whatever the combination, together, to generate significant savings of nearly $600 per booking, on average. Booking a bundled vacation unlocks great rates – which translates to more spending money. A family of four can save up to 30% off a trip to London, or more than $2,500, or 25% off a trip to Mexico, or up to $1,450, just by booking their flight and hotel at the exact same time. Travelers heading to Florida or California this summer can save more than 15% or 20% respectively by bundling flight and hotel when booking.

ALTERNATIVE LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Staying at hotels in alternate neighborhoods when visiting big cities around the world can often yield higher savings in comparison to staying in the well-traveled neighborhoods. For travelers keen on bringing the family to New York but worried taking a bite out of the Big Apple will be tough on budget, stay in the Financial District rather than Times Square, where hotels historically charge top dollar. Staying outside of traditional tourist spots is a great chance to experience different neighborhoods where local culture flourishes – whether it's art, restaurants, or locals who are happy to interact with visitors from afar.

CITY ESCAPES AND SANDY BEACHES POPULAR FOR SUMMER 2017
Escaping to sandy seashores is still a popular choice in 2017 – destinations like Aruba, Punta Cana, Montego Bay and San Juan are top beach getaways – but the strength of the U.S. dollar is an advantage U.S. travelers should keep in mind this summer. Major European cities like Rome, Dublin, Athens and Barcelona are great options for families to inject history and culture into their summer trips. With the growing alternative accommodations space, families can opt to book a vacation rental – like a villa in Rome, or a comfortable cottage in Dublin, Ireland.

For more information on summer travel planning, and ways to save, visit https://viewfinder.expedia.com/.

About Expedia.com
Expedia.com® is one of the world's largest full service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top vacation destinations, cheap tickets, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. With the Expedia® Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.

Expedia, Expedia.com, Expedia+, Find Yours, Vacation Deprivation and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners © 2017 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST # 2029030-50.
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