Expedia: Hotel and Airfare Trends for 2 night visit

[CocaCola]

Ive been tracking expedia for airfare and hotel combo deals as I am thinking about my next trip, coming from the midwest usa to Toronto or Montreal. I wanted to report on what I see in trends.

For Montreal I have seen airfare and 2 night stay at a 4 star hotel drop from 600 down to 500 in the last month specifically for mid dec or mid jan timeframe. The Delta Montreal is now under 500.

Also for Toronto combo prices on airfare/hotel have gone from 600+ to under 400 for 4 star hotels. Westin Harbour Castle is a really good hotel and I see a deal for 351. SP rates in TO are higher than Montreal but the hotel rates seem to be way down in TO compared to Montreal.

I think expedia seems to have the best deals where they actually show you the hotel in question as opposed to priceline/hotwire.

 

[bond_james_bond]

imo, the bundled packages aren't cheaper

a) they don't give you as many options or search criteria for the flight portion

try a dedicated flight search engine, such as itasoftware

b) PL will still give you a lower rate on the hotel

but yes, with PL's lower rate, comes the sacrifice that you don't know for sure which hotel you're going to get

 

[CocaCola]

James

This ita software seems to have great rates, but how do you book the flight? What am I missing? Do you just use it as a guide then book on a different site?

Ive done some quick checking and the flights to TO are about 200 for me and to Montreal are 400+, so it must be the airfare that adds to it. Ive used PL last time and frankly it kind of sucked not really knowing what hotel I was getting then they gave me the smallest room they could find as they knew I booked via PL.

Any other travel tips out there, keep them coming.

 

[bond_james_bond]

James

This ita software seems to have great rates, but how do you book the flight? What am I missing? Do you just use it as a guide then book on a different site?

Ive done some quick checking and the flights to TO are about 200 for me and to Montreal are 400+, so it must be the airfare that adds to it. Ive used PL last time and frankly it kind of sucked not really knowing what hotel I was getting then they gave me the smallest room they could find as they knew I booked via PL.

Any other travel tips out there, keep them coming.

This is what I like about itasoftware.

They sell nothing. They simply provide information.

Once you find the flight you like at the fare you like, you contact the airline, either online or via phone.

When you click on "details" for the flight, you'll get booking codes that you can use with the airlines 1-800 number.

 

[Special K]

I just checked out this itasoftware and it seems very cool, the only problem is I couldn't find an option to be notified when a trip fluctuates in price. On Kayak.com you can sign up for daily or weekly emails showing prices of selected trips either going up, coming down or staying the same. If ITA offered this it would be great.

 

[IamNY]

I just checked out this itasoftware and it seems very cool, the only problem is I couldn't find an option to be notified when a trip fluctuates in price. On Kayak.com you can sign up for daily or weekly emails showing prices of selected trips either going up, coming down or staying the same. If ITA offered this it would be great.

Totally agree, I get an email from Kayak every week giving me great info on rates!