Here are some tips for capitalizing on the best vacation and travel deals out there now:

Go For the Dream Vacation
If you have been dreaming of Paris and other other international destinations as your dream getaway, now is the time to take advantage of the reasonable prices for such travel. For instance, there are luxury African safari trips priced two-for-one. The bigger the trip, potentially the better the deal. Shop around and see where you can go that you once never thought possible.

Check Out the Conversion Rates
The US dollar is gaining more strength so traveling abroad can get you even more of a deal. Travelers can do much more on the same amount of money they might have had to spend last year around this time. Before making a final decision about where you want to go, check out the currency of some interesting countries like Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Iceland. You can get a whole lot more for a whole lot less in some really great locations.

Be Flexible
Look around at some areas of the world that have been hit hard in the tourism department. If you can keep an open mind and be flexible about the dates you can travel, you can really find a deal of a lifetime. Experts suggest you start your search with a list of places you are interested in visiting. Take that list and see which location offers you the best deal for travel.

Get Into Negotiations
Even when you nail down the details of your trip, you can still save even more cash if you are willing to ask some questions and get a negotiation going. Ask the hotel manager what extras they can thrown in for your family for their regular prices, such as free kid’s meals or tickets to local attractions.

Go Ahead and Use Your Rewards
If you have credit cards that offer rewards miles or if you have a deal with the airline for frequent flier miles, now is the time to cash them in. Airlines are looking to fill seats and so they have become more flexible about letting you exhaust your miles when you want to do it – not when they dictate the time.

While we are struggling with just surviving paycheck to paycheck, there are many ways and benefits to planning a getaway. Your frugal ways can serve you well when you make a proactive attempt to keep finding the best deals for every aspect of your luxury vacation, even if that cruise cost 60% less than it did last year.

The Recession is Opening the Doors to Big Vacation Savings was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Atlantic is calm at start of Hurricane Season. Photo Credit: NOAA

Today, June 1, 2009 launches the official start of Hurricane Season. While the 2009 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Forecast predicts nine to 14 named storms (which is a less active season compared to 2008′s predictions), it only takes one to cause catastrophic damage. NOAA forecasts four to seven hurricanes, and one to three category 3+ hurricanes for this year’s hurricane season which goes through November 30.

“Tropical systems acquire a name – the first for 2009 will be Ana – upon reaching tropical storm strength with sustained winds of at least 39 mph,” according to the NOAA Web site. “Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds reach 74 mph, and become major hurricanes when winds increase to 111 mph. An average season has 11 named storms, including six hurricanes with two becoming major hurricanes.”

Author of Smooth Landings and owner of MacNair Travel Management Michael MacNair explains that are steps travelers can employ to ensure smooth sailing throughout hurricane designated months.

“Whether you are taking a cruise or visiting an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean during hurricane season, a traveler’s two best defenses are to purchase travel insurance and to align with a travel partner,” MacNair says. “Travel agents know how to maneuver issues travelers’ face due to hurricane weather issues including airline and resort conditions.”

A GOES-12 visible image of Hurricane Katrina shortly after landfall on August 29, 2005 at 1415z. Photo Credit: NOAA

Following are seven recommended travel strategies MacNair recommends to help prepare for the onset of hurricane season:

1. Use a travel agent. Purchasing vacation packages through a travel agency will give travelers the peace of mind in knowing that travel professionals are their advocates and ready to help them through difficult travel scenarios. If a vacation is booked online, a vacationer may find they are on their own and it may be difficult to get through to one of their representatives.

2. Purchase travel insurance. Be sure to read the hurricane clauses of travel insurance policies or ask the travel agent for guidance. Depending on policy purchased, a pre-planned trip can be completely altered and rescheduled with no penalties. Travel insurance can also protect the traveler who lives in a hurricane zone and needs to return to their home after a hurricane hit area.

3. Do not make assumptions. Just because a storm or hurricane is spinning or went through the destination a consumer is traveling to, do not assume flights are cancelled or that a resort sustained damage. Always check with travel professional to check on status.

4. Be one step ahead. Always call the airport early to check on the status of your flights. Many airlines allow online check-in up to 24-hours prior to departure. Check the weather at your destination a few days before your trip. Knowing in advance what the expected weather pattern is going to be will help a vacationer to prepare and take necessary steps prior to their trip.

5. Sailing around the storm. If taking a cruise vacation, there is a good chance that a vacation will not be ruined by a hurricane. The cruise industry has state-of-the-art technology on all of their ships and they can alter their itineraries to avoid oncoming hurricanes. Be flexible when cruising during hurricane season and if the route is altered, look at is as a travel adventure.

6. Charged technology gadgets. Accessing the Internet on wireless devices, gives travelers up-to-the-minute storm tracking information. Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone and have the travel agent’s number and after-hours emergency assistance number in hand in case alternate travel arrangements need to be made. Even while waiting in line at the airport, traveler should call the travel agent as they might be able to resolve the issue before reaching counter.

7. Take an extra day. Particularly when cruising out of southern ports such as Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami and San Juan, consider spending a pre-night prior to cruise in the departure city. This has multiple benefits including a day to unwind and get into vacation mode and gives a cushion in case of delayed flights due to inclement weather.

Hurricane Season Launches Quietly Today was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The health and safety of travelers and those they come in contact with should be the first priority of all parties. Airlines and various tour operators have waived or at least reduced penalties normally incurred when changing travel plans. This may not signify a cash refund, rather the ability to change destinations or dates of travel which normally would cost extra money or higher fares. For example under normal circumstances consumers who purchased non-refundable airline tickets are subject to $150-$250 itinerary change penalties in addition to paying more for the new flight. Some tickets paid in advance offer zero refunds when canceled or changed, which makes even a small amount of leeway appreciated by many travelers who have been forced to alter their travel plans.

Unfortunately a health warning from the government does not negate your contractual obligation which means travelers have little protection if the travel industry decides to NOT offer refunds or exceptions to the contract. If that is the case, the following tips may help consumers recover money from a canceled trip.

• When looking for refunds consumers should contact the same agencies or organizations that were paid in the first place. For example, if you booked and paid through a third party (travel agent, travel website) you must seek a refund from the same location. Contacting the hotel or airline directly will likely result in a run-around as they were not paid directly from you and therefore cannot issue the refund.
• If a government warning changes to a government action preventing you from traveling to your destination, you have the right to break your contract without penalty.
• Negotiate- In some cases you may not be able to receive a full refund however this should not dissuade you from trying to negotiate a deal. The travel and airline industry which are suffering from the recession and consumers who are traveling less may be willing to work on a deal that is mutually beneficial to all parties involved.

If all else fails and you are unable to secure a refund or exchange for a trip paid in advance you will be forced to decide if you are willing to risk your health or take the loss financially.

Refund Policies More Lenient Due To Swine Flu Outbreak was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Earlier this summer, it is reported by a TripAdvisor survey that nine out of 10 consumers are planning a leisure trip this summer. Forty-one percent of worldwide travelers, and 51 percent of U.S. respondents, said the high price of fuel is going to affect their travel plans this summer. Thirty-one percent of travelers (37 percent of U.S. respondents) said they will take fewer car trips to save on fuel and 15 percent (18 percent of U.S. respondents) plan to take shorter distance car trips to save on fuel.

Still, 64 percent of travelers (73 percent of U.S. respondents) are planning to travel via car this summer. Seventy-two percent of travelers (71 percent of U.S. respondents) said they are planning to fly this summer. This coincides with a recent travelhorizons^TM survey co-authored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership, reporting that nearly 60 percent of Americans currently planning a trip this summer using a car, truck or SUV are not going to change their plans regardless of gas price increases.

Yet, as reported by last week’s AAA survey results, 95 percent of AAA auto travel managers say that high gas prices will cause travelers to alter their vacation plans this summer. However, this alteration does not translate to cancellation. AAA auto travel managers cited travelers taking trips closer to home, taking fewer trips, and reducing the number of vacation days traveled as the top ways that Americans will adjust their travel plans this summer.

Survey respondents pointed to Las Vegas; Orlando, FL/Walt Disney World; Branson, MO; Anaheim, CA/Disneyland; and San Francisco, CA as destinations providing bargains and value this summer. Internationally, respondents cited the Caribbean; European Cruises; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; South America; and Costa Rica as top bargain and value vacation options.

Oddly enough, Disney World is a more expensive vacation than some trips to Mexico or Canada, however there are ways you can get affordable Disney World tickets. Your Walt Disney World Vacations don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, just stay at a non-disney hotel, look for discounts such as AAA or AARP, and avoid buying food and gifts at the theme park. With a decent discount card, you can save 20% to 30% on Disney Theme Park Tickets.

Travelers are also taking advantage of travel savings this summer and fall by purposely traveling to hurricane prone destinations. Another TripAdvisor survey reveals 64 percent of U.S. respondents said they would be likely to visit a hurricane-susceptible destination this summer or fall, for a significant savings.

Eighteen percent of the TripAdvisor respondents said they are most likely to cut costs on their summer travel in their choice of accommodations. Twelve percent plan to eat in more often, 11 percent will save money by using less fuel/traveling a shorter distance, and another 11 percent will save money by taking a shorter trip/shorter trips.

“High gas prices, a weak U.S. dollar and the struggling economy are conspiring against Americans, but travelers refuse to stay home this summer,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

According to AAA, the top five domestic vacation destinations via air include Orlando, Las Vegas, New York, Las Angeles and Washington, DC. Internationally, top destinations via air this summer include Rome, London, Cancun, Dublin and Vancouver.

Other domestic “hot spots” for summer travel include New Mexico; San Antonio, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Oregon; and Miami, Florida/South Beach. International “hot sports”, according to AAA, include Croatia; Montenegro; Vietnam; Cinque Terra, Italy; and Douro River, Portugal.

Have you changed your summer vacation plans as a result of soaring gas prices?

Rising Fuel Prices Cause Travelers to Adjust Vacation Plans was created by and is property of American Consumer News.