CheapTickets Value Travel Forecast Unveils Top Budget-Friendly Destinations for 2011

CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- CheapTickets.com, a leading online travel company that knows "the less you pay, the better it feels®," today unveiled its annual CheapTickets Value Travel Forecast, which gives travelers insight into 2011 hotel pricing trends based on a look back at 2010 customer data.

From domestic hotspots like Miami and New York, to international markets such as Spain, Italy and France, the Value Travel Forecast reviewed all CheapTickets.com 3-star hotel bookings in 2010.  The review identified the most popular destinations on CheapTickets.com, the cheapest month in which to stay at those destinations, and, for the first time, projected the overall cheapest months for 3-star hotel stays in 2011 based on the previous year's data.  A few of the highlights include:

• January is the cheapest time to travel with the lowest average daily rate for a 3-star hotel of any month at $88.78.  In addition, 17 of the top 70 destinations had their lowest average daily hotel rates in January.  
• If seasonality trends hold true, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, could provide consumers the highest savings for off-peak 3-star hotel stays in 2011.  In 2010, consumers experienced average savings of 70 percent when booking in August (rather than February, the most expensive month).  Munich, Germany, came in second with 69 percent savings when travelers book hotel stays in November (versus the peak month of September).
• Two other popular destinations projected to offer significant off-peak savings in 2011 include San Francisco and Miami.  In 2010, travelers to San Francisco saved 40 percent for 3-star hotel stays in March (compared to peak season travel in September).  Conversely, travelers to Miami saved 48 percent in September compared to peak season March rates.

Value Travel Forecast:  Cheapest Months to Travel (1)

When it comes to finding the most valuable hotel rates, January was the clear winner in 2010.  In addition to leading the pack with the lowest average daily rate (ADR) at $88.78, January was home to the best 3-star hotel rates for 17 of the 70 most popular destinations tracked in 2010.  November was a close second in each category.  

Value Travel Forecast:  Top Destinations at the Cheapest Time to Travel (2)

The key goal for many budget travelers is to pair the right destination with the cheapest time to travel, which sometimes means hitting the beaches later, the ski lifts earlier and avoiding the cost and crowds associated with peak season hotel stays.

In order to find the best suggestions for cheap 3-star hotel stays in 2011, the Value Travel Forecast first looked at the top 70 most popular destinations booked on CheapTickets.com in 2010.  For each destination, the forecast then identified the month with the highest average daily hotel rates and the month with the lowest average daily hotel rates.  Those rates were then compared to determine the percentage savings between a destination's off-peak and peak months.  

The result is the CheapTickets Value Travel Forecast for 2011, projecting the best off-peak months to save money on 3-star hotel stays at the most popular destinations in the New Year.

"Finding the right deal has never felt better, or been more important, as consumers in both the U.S. and abroad continue to prioritize leisure travel in their daily lives," said Marita Hudson Thomas, a Cheaponomist(SM) from CheapTickets.com.  "Timing is everything, and the goal of the Value Travel Forecast is to give consumers an advance roadmap that combines the hottest destinations with the cheapest months to travel."

CheapTicket's Top Picks

To help travelers choose the best 2011 value destination, the CheapTickets team hand-picked its favorite city for each off-peak month and put together their top local attractions and hotspots to make these unique trips truly shine.  

JANUARY:  San Diego, CA – When the rest of the country is enduring sub-zero temperatures, San Diego averages in the mid-60's in January. San Diego has something for everyone: 70 miles of beaches, vibrant downtown and world-class family attractions such as Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Stay and play in San Diego the first month of the year and save 30 percent on what you would pay for peak season hotel stays in July.  

FEBRUARY:  Florence, Italy – Escape the crowds that flock to Europe in the spring and summer and enjoy Florence in February for half-off. What's more romantic than a Valentine's Day getaway to one of the most beloved cities in the world? Birth place of the Renaissance, see the most famous sculpture in the world - Michelangelo's David - and take in a panoramic view of the city at the top of the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.  

MARCH:  San Francisco, CA – The saying goes, "the coldest winter you'll ever spend is summer in San Francisco," so get away to the Bay Area in March. Spring in San Francisco is the perfect time to walk the Golden Gate Bridge, explore Fisherman's Wharf or a take a day trip up to the beautiful Napa Valley.  With 40 percent savings over peak periods, March marks the perfect time to visit one of the world's most scenic venues.  

APRIL:  Honolulu, HI –April is the start of Hawaii's dry season and one of four months boasting the island's best weather.  For most of us, Hawaii's weather is perfect year round so why not go in April and enjoy over 20 percent savings off peak season. Visit Laniakea Beach to see sea turtles in their natural habitat, swim in crystal clear waters of Lanikai Beach (also named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world) and hike Diamond Head for a drop-dead gorgeous view of the island.  

MAY:  Buenos Aires, Argentina – Fall in love with this gorgeous city that's a mix of the sophisticated yet laid-back ambience of European cities and the fiery passion of South American hot spots.  The tail-end of autumn, May is one of the best times to travel to Buenos Aires to avoid the summer heat and winter rainfall plus you can save over 65 percent compared to peak season rates.

JUNE:  Portland, OR – Recently named North America's "Best Big City," Portland has something for everyone. From a bustling music and art scene to a wine lover's paradise, Portland has the amenities of an urban paradise while still maintaining its relaxing, small town roots.  There is no better time to check out the "Rose City" than June, when Portland holds its award-winning Rose Festival which includes fireworks, the Grand Parade and Dragon Boat Races.

JULY:  Amsterdam, Netherlands – July is one of the two best months to visit this city, commonly known as "The Venice of the North" because of it many canals.  With almost 30 percent savings in comparison to peak season, you can take an enchanting and romantic canal tour, admire art at the Van Gogh Museum and experience the city's cafe culture without breaking the bank.

AUGUST:  Scottsdale, AZ – If you're looking for hot temperatures with hotter prices, look no further than Scottsdale. Often considered a shopping oasis, you can use the 50 percent you'll save on your stay in one of Scottsdale's more than 2,500 air-conditioned stores. If shopping is not your bag, Scottsdale is also home to a host of world class golf courses and more than 50 wine bars, lounges, dance clubs and performing arts venues right downtown.  

SEPTEMBER:  Miami Beach, FL – As fall creeps across the U.S., Miami continues to enjoy ample sunshine and beach weather in September.  For those looking to stretch their summer an extra month, Miami is a perfect fit with close to 50 percent in savings off peak prices. Plus, you can double-dip on the savings by taking advantage of Miami's Spice Restaurant Month, which gives you access to the city's finest restaurants for a fraction of the price.  

OCTOBER:  Denver, CO – The Mile High City is home to more than 300 days of sunshine and October is the perfect month to take advantage of all the city has to offer before tourists take over in November. With beautiful fall foliage as a backdrop, you can enjoy music, dancing and, of course, German beer at Denver's world-famous Oktoberfest, or take in a Broncos game at INVESCO Field with the 25 percent savings off peak rates.

NOVEMBER:  Toronto, Canada –With average temperatures in the mid-40's and hotel savings of more than 30 percent, November is the perfect time for a crisp, cool (but not yet cold) visit to Canada's largest city. Home to the Royal Ontario Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame and one of the highest concentrations of restaurants in North America, Toronto has something for everyone. November visitors can get an early start on the Christmas season by checking out the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, one of the largest and longest running parades in the world.

DECEMBER:  Barcelona, Spain – What better way to spend the last month of the year than in Spain's most seductive seaside capital.  Get lost in Antoni Gaudi 's dreamlike landmarks such as Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia, and take advantage of over 35 percent in savings to indulge in all the delicious restaurants and nightlife the city has to offer.

(1) The CheapTickets Value Travel Forecast Cheapest Months to Travel was calculated on 12/1/10 by taking the average price of three-star hotels bookings on CheapTickets.com by travel month for stays between 11/30/09 and 12/1/10.  

(2) The CheapTickets Value Travel Forecast Best Destinations at the Best Time was calculated on 12/1/10 by first establishing the top 70 most popular destinations with 3-star hotels based on CheapTickets.com bookings for stays between 11/30/09 and 12/1/10.  For each of the top 70 destinations, the highest and lowest monthly ADR was compared to determine the percentage savings for a given month.  

About CheapTickets.com

CheapTickets is a leading seller of discounted leisure travel products online through its Web site, www.cheaptickets.com. CheapTickets provides consumers access to its collection of airfares on hundreds of airlines. In addition to cheap flights, CheapTickets' family of discounted travel products also includes cheap hotels, cheap cruises, cheap rental cars, cheap vacation packages, condo rentals and Last Minute Trips. Founded in 1986, CheapTickets is a brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW). OWW also owns and operates Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com), ebookers (http://www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/), RatesToGo (http://www.ratestogo.com/Hotels-Last-Minute/EN) and the Away Network (http://www.away.com).

About Orbitz Worldwide

Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (www.ratestogo.com) and the Away Network (www.away.com).  Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution (http://corp.orbitz.com/partnerships/distribution) delivers private label travel solutions to a broad range of partners including many of the world's largest airlines, and Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed corporate travel solutions for corporations. For more information on partnership opportunities with Orbitz Worldwide, visit corp.orbitz.com.  Orbitz Worldwide uses its Investor Relations website to make information available to its investors and the public at http://www.orbitz-ir.com. You can sign up to receive email alerts whenever the company posts new information to the website.