Kayak Auctions

Wow, Kayak has been busy lately adding Luxury Travel Auctions to its ever-growing arsenal.  Partnering with Luxury Link, Kayak is able to offer another and perhaps slightly more risky/exciting way to book travel versus the regular: search flight/hotel listings > book a trip. In the online travel booking space, two auction sites share the biggest amount of traffic/recognition:  Sky Auction and the aforementioned Luxury Link.   I used skyauction.com 4 years ago to book a week at 5-star The Villa Vera Hotel & Racquet Club in Acapulco, Mexico.  I paid $300usd for an entire week, which proved a significant savings off regular high or low season rates.

Although booking travel through an auction site can seem scary, it's all about educating yourself: peruse the deals; read the details, terms and conditions carefully; and place a bid you're comfortable with at the last minute.  Online travel auctions have been around since 1999, but perhaps Kayak partnering with Luxury Link is a sign of the times.  Are the masses ready to adopt this type of travel booking?

How Kayak's Luxury Travel Auctions Work

• listings are posted to the luxury auctions page
• each listing details
  • hotel name & description
  • location
  • current bid price
  • savings off retail rate
  • valid travel dates
  • time left
• research your preference (location, number of stars, type of property, dates, terms and conditions)
• place your bid (hint: do so at the last minute if it's something you really want a chance of winning)
• monitor your bid
• win or lose bid

Making the Most of Kayak Auctions

• closing soon: peruse the closing soon auctions if you want the best deal possible
• geo area: you can also search by the geographic area where you'd like to travel.  Narrow down your search, choose your preferred hotel, bid and start saving!

Will I use Kayak Auctions in the near future?  Probably not.  Kayak is providing a great service, but since it's in the luxury travel space, I can still find other semi-luxury properties on priceline or hotwire.  To each their own.  Check it out!

Access Airline Lounges with your Credit Card

[trip style = luxury]

Further to yesterday's post about enjoying Airline Lounge entry with a day-pass, we wanted to further expand on the topic and review which credit cards also allow access.  Generally, lounge access is a benefit for most platinum or equivalent card holders.

Credit Card Access to Airline Lounges

• American Express Platinum - $395 Annual Fee.  USA - Access to Continental, Delta and Northwest lounges. Canada - Access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges plus free membership to Priority Pass, the world's largest independent lounge access program.
• Visa Signature -  Fee varies.  Cardholders get a subscription to Priority Pass.
• MasterCard Black - Fee varies. Cardholers get a subscription to Priority Pass.

Relax in an Airline Club without a Business-Class Ticket

[trip style = lux]

When travelling, there is nothing better than escaping the airport crowds and waiting for your flight in the peace and quiet of your Airline's Lounge. Yes, I would like a glass of Pinot Gris please; yes, I would like a mini chocolate mousse pick-me-up; oh and yes, I would like to watch TV and surf the internet from my plush chair. All this makes me want to get the airport well before my flight.

Are you delayed or have a long layover but lack a business or first-class ticket or status with your said airline? Most airline clubs offer a day pass for $30-$50 giving you a great place to relax in comfort and style.

Airline Clubs Allowing Day Access Air Canada - $30-$45 with same-day ticket and purchase of permissible fare class Alaska - $30 American Airlines - $50 Continental Airlines - $45 or 10-pack for $350 Delta Airlines -  $50 with same-day Delta or it's Connectors' Tickets Northwest Airlines - $55 or $85 for 60-day trial. United Airlines - $50 US Airways - $40 Find the Complete Chart here.

More tomorrow on What Travel Credit Cards allow Airline Lounge Access...

An In-Your-City Christmas Vaca

[trip style = urban + staycation]

Even though this is a travel blog, I don't want to discount the activities one can do in their city over the Christmas Break or in the Winter. Rather than dreaming of the Turks and Caicos, a mini Vacation can be created in your own city. Often when we clear our schedule and  focus on the good times to be had locally, a travel-like escape can be just what the Doctor ordered!

Ideas: [each item below sounds much better if you add "& hot chocolate"]

• ice skating/hockey outdoors - on a lake, river or an open-air rink in the city
• tobogganing
• snowshoeing
• christmas bake-a-thon
• shopping and eating out
• play tourist for a day, visit sites and take pics as if you were visiting
• spa day
• movie and popcorn day/night
• theater night -- seeing what's playing on the local stage
• making a gourmet meal at home and invite friends to share it
• throw a theme party
• games night
• cozy-up on the couch, drink your favourite tea or coffee and read in front of the fire
• find a spot to have an outdoor fire and do a winter wiener and marshmallow roast
• go on a day trip to a local town or fun spot
• last but definitely not least: helping the homeless through a local organization or by getting some friends and family together to make sandwiches and hand them out

Give the Gift of Travel this Christmas

Avoid giving "stuff" this Christmas, and give an "experience." Stuff is sooooo out, experiences are sooooooo in. Stuff sits around; experiences cause you to get out!

Travel experiences are not often something people think of gifting, but they are easy to give as well as appreciated by sun-seekers and adventurers alike.

Here are some travel experiences you can give this Christmas: Fairmont Gift Card How it works:

• pick up a gift card at any fairmont location
• use it toward a stay, at any restaurant within any fairmont
• PLUS, from today until December 20th, the Fairmont Southhampton in Bermuda is offering a $99/night sale.  I don't know about you, but if I got this gift for Christmas, it would be something I NEVER forget!

Your Airline Miles How it works:

• login to the airline with whom you have the points you wish to gift
• navigate [or search] transfer or giving miles
• as an example, here's how to transfer and give away miles with Alaska Airlines.  Alaska is having a big sale for bookings between some of their fave Canadian and US destinations.
• if you are feeling like you want to give away more miles you can also give to charities

Travel Agencies How it works:

• contact your travel agency
• see if they have a gift certificate option (some do, but unfortunately don't advertise it)
• [make sure their business is stable so you won't lose your money in 6 months]
• buy the travel gift certificate in your preferred denomination
• example