Airfare Specials this Week

Fuel prices may be dropping, and some airlines are reducing their fuel surcharges, but air travel and vacations can be costly. This week, I am putting in links for vacations - covering how to get there and where to stay. Sometimes buying it all at once can help make a vacation really affordable, especially in a weaker economy.

Low cost airline, Spirit Airlines, offers complete vacations. There is a wide variety of packages - from air and hotel in Aruba starting at $599 for 7 nights to Las Vegas starting at $199 for 3 nights air and hotel. Spirit Vacation Deals.

Southwest Airlines has long led the pack in offering discounted airline tickets and low prices. They too, have a vacation division that can save you some dollars, especially if you are flexible with where and when you want to go. They've often been referred to as a pretty family-friendly airline, so no surprise that they have several vacation packages catered to good value for families. If you are looking at Walt Disneyworld in particular, they have some further discounts for travel during November and December that must be booked by October 30. Southwest Airlines Vacations Family Destinations

I really like Lastminute.com as someone who tends to book at the last minute fairly often, but also they have offers whether you are based in the US, Australia, the UK or one of several other countries. I have traveled to both Hong Kong and London, and booked vacation packages out of one of those cities for destinations that aren't really covered from a starting point in North America. The US division also covers those beginning travel from major Canadian cities. You don't have to be booking for this weekend to get a deal. One of the lowest priced deals I found which included air and hotel (and including all fees and taxes) was New York City to Richmond the weekend of November 1 for two nights at $167.45 per person based on double occupancy - so two can fly and stay for $334.89 total. Latest deals on lastminute.com

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed, as are plenty of opinions!

image by Arlene Fleming