Each year brings with it a new series of challenges and trends. Does the strategy that worked a few years ago for saving money on airfares work today? It might, but chances are also good that it will not work. Take a look at these top trends (by year) and save money on your next trip.
Gasoline prices rose to record highs and then plummeted. Airlines fighting for their financial lives imposed scores of new fees on their passengers. Customer satisfaction with budget hotels hit a 12-year low. But there were some positive events: the Open Skies Agreement should open up more budget airfares between North America and Europe.
The year 2007 brought a confusing new array of baggage fees from airlines, active travel planning via Web 2.0, a continued decline of air courier opportunities for budget travelers, unfavorable exchange rates for Americans in Europe, and an upsurge in voluntourism.
This is the year that witnessed an upsurge in luxury bookings, new rail deals in Europe, more progress in personal fuel efficiency, the increasing popularity of travel to China and an array of new Internet tools for travel planning.
Check out the decline of airfare restrictions, wi-fi charges and availability, the rise of European budget airlines, an increase in fuel efficiency awareness and the trend towards do-it-yourself travel planning on the Internet.
