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CNN Live Saturday

Interview with bestfares.com Editor Tom Parsons

Aired June 01, 2002 - 12:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Perhaps you want to take to the skies this summer? Well, prepare to pay more. Delta and American Airlines have joined Continental Airlines in -- what else -- raising fares, by $20 this time.

That fare hike applies to advanced purchase tickets, requiring a Saturday night stay. But there are some deals out there to be found, especially in time for your family vacations.

Tom Parsons, editor of bestfares.com, joins us to talk about how you and your family might be able to travel this summer and save some money too, sort of, right, Tom?

TOM PARSONS, EDITOR BESTFARES.COM: Well, I think so. Can I tell you one other thing? Continental -- Northwest and United did not go with the fare hike, and as of just a few hours ago, Continental has rescinded the fare hike. That's good news for us, so I thought I'd bring that up while we're out there.

WHITFIELD: I'm glad you did, that gives us at least one more option to perhaps find some deals, then. So does it look like families that are trying to plan some getaways this summer are likely to take the road or are they feeling more comfortable about taking to the skies?

PARSONS: I think they're doing both. I think they're traveling, I think they're taking shorter trips, and I think we're looking for bargains. If there's a bargain out there and it's enticing enough for us, I think we'll probably take to the skies. That's where -- and again, the hotel companies are giving us deals. I think the hard part, though, this summer is finding a good, reasonable car rental. So we've got to look everywhere.

WHITFIELD: OK. So there are lots of different ways to go. Let's start with some of the ideas that you've given us earlier. We want to kind of go over them. If they decide to take to the skies, already America West has some vacation packages where the kids fly free. What's that all about?

PARSONS: That's a pretty decent little deal. Now remember, it's not everywhere in the country. It starts in Chicago, St. Louis. In Texas it's not Dallas, but it's Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and most of the cities to the western part of the United States, including Denver, if you're flying with kids two through 11 and you want to go to San Diego, Los Angeles, or Orange County, kids two to 11 get to go along free.

Now, if you include Disneyland in that packet, and you stay at one of the Disney hotels, they'll also let kids two through nine, as long as the adult buy one of those park hopper passes, the kids two through nine get free ones. So that's not a bad little place to maybe go. Southern California, and again, it's from most destinations, Chicago, Saint Louis, and Texas to the western part.

WHITFIELD: All right. So be sure to check all the airlines because all of them are likely to have some deals. Now you can check some of the hotels as well, because they're likely to have some deals for everyone whether you decide to fly or drive. Intercontinental is one. What is this whole world half off promotion mean?

PARSONS: What's nice about it is, you take kids and you're trying to save some bucks, and you're putting four people in the room, you got two adults, two kids. That's why the Intercontinental hotels right now, if you come with kids, I think two through 17, they'll give you an adjoining room or another room for half the money. As a matter of fact, Sofitel hotels is doing the same thing, but they're giving kids two through 18 a free room. So it's a buy one, get one free.

WHITFIELD: Oh, so everybody's going to be happy with that, because the kids always kind of want a little freedom from the parents, but the parents want an idea to keep an eye on the kids.

PARSONS: Yes, I think I want more freedom from my kids.

WHITFIELD: I'll bet you do.

PARSONS: But that's why I like the Embassy Suites, too. What's great about the Embassy Suites, you've got two living areas. The kids can stay in the other room. But also I like that breakfast in the morning, because that can eat up some of your ching-chang too, when you're on the road. So when you wake up every morning they've got a pretty decent full service breakfast that comes along with your trip.

WHITFIELD: All right. Now pets are people too, or at least they're kids. Considered part of the family. There are also an awful lot of deals out there that are being offered to families who want to bring pets along. I like this one you got here, Hotel Rouge in Washington, D.C.?

PARSONS: Right. Again, you know, I think the folks out there figured out that people like to drive or they can also fly with their pets. Remember, this summer, if you're flying with pets, very small ones, because many of the airlines won't let you put them in the cargo area during the summertime.

WHITFIELD: That's right. It's too hot.

PARSONS: So if you're going to do it -- again, if you're going to drive to Washington, D.C. -- I'll tell you one of the best places if you're a AAA member or if you've got a friend that's a AAA a member, they've got a AAA book out there called "Pet Book," and they have over 10,000 locations around the world and around the United States where you can go and your pets -- the hotels welcome them.

Again, if you know that, I would like to take my cat, my dog sometimes, but we don't know if the hotels accept it. I think AAA has done a very good job with that.

WHITFIELD: And Tom, one thing I really like about that one feature we just had on the screen with that Hotel Rouge, I love that they have a little doggie bowl waiting there for a little bone shaped cookies -- peanut butter cookies for your dog. Everybody's going to be happy with these great deals out there.

Oh, really quick, though, Tom, I've got to ask you something, because Scotty, our director, is planning a honeymoon later on in October, and he's thinking about Saint Lucia. Got any quick ideas for him real quick? I know that's hurricane season.

PARSON: Actually -- is that October, you said? I think he can find Saint Lucias for about $378 round trip if he waits. Tell him to be patient. Matter of fact, we're seeing Bermuda and Nassau, places like that, $218 for September, October, and we're seeing Montego and Grand Cayman already as low as $298 round trip for this September, October. I think we'll see bargain basement deals for September, October. Just sit back, put your feet up, have a cup of coffee. They're coming. Believe me, they're coming.

WHITFIELD: All right. Scotty's in business now! Good planning on his honeymoon, thanks a lot. Tom Parsons with bestfares.com. Thanks for joining us from Dallas today.

PARSONS: OK, thank you.

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