If you're like a lot of people these days, you carefully separate your tin cans and plastic for recycling. You cringe as you watch brown car exhaust head straight for the ozone layer. You've become afflicted with green guilt: that feeling you're destroying your precious earth one plastic bottle at a time. And this new awareness drifts into your travel plans. Instead of imagining the inviting sun and languid surf of a Tahitian vacation, you're instead worrying about what all that burned fuel will do to the environment, or how your hotel might be contaminating local natural beauty.

When flying, consider

• a carbon emissions offset, which allows you to put in money to undo environmental harm. There are many organizations that will do it for less than $100. And even better, you can offset your flight, driving, or energy use --- you decide.
• a trip closer to home. Whether it's a Sun Valley ski trip in December to a Caribbean-style fest in Florida, you don't need to go far to taste new food, culture, or weather. Check out our Travel Value Index or Local trips to see ideas. Or check out our hotel page to see some deals close to home.

When staying on your hotel, you might want to

• call ahead before you check in and ask about their consumption-reducing programs. Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers, and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power.
• keep your showers short. Shut off the water while you're brushing your teeth.
• reuse your sheets and towels. You may need to write a note for the housekeeping staff or notify the front desk.
• bring your own toiletries and drinking cup rather than using the prepackaged ones provided.
• give your hotel feedback. Give them a thumbs-up for going green. If they aren't, let them know how important it is they do.

When renting a car, how about

• a bike instead of a car? Of course, this only works for small towns and quick jaunts, but you could look into renting a bike during your stay if the weather and the destination are right.

So, we hope we've put you more at ease. The green monster doesn't have to keep you at home. Get mindful. And get going!

You know the saying 'when it rains, it pours?' Well, we're soaking wet with deals over here...and this time, they aren't just in one place. You're going to have a whole slew of options. Self-planned escape or all-inclusive resort...you decide.

Why so many deals? Well, we hate to remind you yet again the economy is slowing. But also, Easter was very early in March this year (usually it's in early April). What that did was pull everybody's spring break into March or earlier. So April, a typically high-travel month, is slow in 2008. Plus, business travel is down--fewer conventions were scheduled because of the, ahem, economy (last time I mention it, promise). This makes for even MORE empty hotel rooms. And this means more deals for you.

We've been deal-hunting. And we found a few markets where the deals should be outstanding. So if you've been hankering to visit any of these destinations, now's your chance to save big:

Atlanta

Austin

Dallas

Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island)

Indianapolis

Las Vegas

Los Angeles

Mexico (Los Cabos, Cancun, Puerta Vallarta, Playa del Carmen)

Minneapolis

Orlando

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Puerto Rico

San Diego

San Francisco

Toronto

Another thing: have you had your eye on a fancy resort vacation, but thought it was too spendy? Look again. Typically, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Vegas are high-priced in April because of popularity and sunshine. They aren't that busy this April, though, so this year may be your year.

Check out all the deals for the markets listed above here.

Ahhh, spring. You can see it in the trees. Smell it in the air. It's light when you leave the office. And there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a little south-of-the-border sun, especially at these prices.

That's right. Mexico is the place to be right now, with exceptional deals just in time for your spring break. And luckily, there are deals country-wide, so whether you're looking for peace or a party, you’re sure to find your bliss. Like in Cancun – a bit of a spring-break go-to, with its resort-rich beaches and happening spots to visit in the evening. Puerto Vallarta and Playa de Carmen are also fantastic destinations, with their velvet-sand beaches and sophisticated nightlife. Be sure to be on the lookout for our all-inclusive deals when you search – these hotels will include meals and beverages in the room rate, saving you even more! If you're looking for a little more intimacy and friendliness in your vacation, try Ixtapa. And Oaxaca is another ideal off-the-beaten-path choice with its colonial charm and mountainous surroundings.

Look what we found in Mexico:

Oaxaca: 4-star hotel, $132

Cancun: 4-star hotel, $96

Puerto Vallarta: 4-star hotel, $85

Check out our Mexico deals page for these and more!

These deals should put a little salsa in your step. So let's get packing!

News about the US economy hasn’t been too rosy lately. It seems like every day things get worse. This might cause you to think about your travel plans more conservatively this year. Perhaps you’re considering taking fewer trips, or spending less on those trips that you do take.

Well, we don't think you have to sacrifice. A slowing economy means less travel. Less travel means emptier hotel rooms across the country. And that means better Hotwire deals and more choices for you. We’re here to help major hotel companies fill rooms that would otherwise go unsold. And now these companies have more to fill, so the pickings have never been better.

This year, we’re seeing some great deals in what is normally considered "high season" for resort markets. $89 a night for a 4.5 star hotel in Cancun. $149 for a 4 star hotel in Aruba. Sure, these deals sell out quickly, but they are many of them. This means you can take a high quality vacation for less right now. It also bodes well for the wall and winter, traditionally "shoulder" or "low season" for places like Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. If they’re having trouble filling up now, the discounts may be even better later this year.

So book now or wait-- your decision. But do take that trip.

The year's still brand new (Happy New Year, again) and when it comes to travel deals right now, the West has won. What's so great about that is from fluffy snow to sparkling beaches, there's just about something for everyone in the West. (And the fruits and veggie you'll eat out there can't be beat either, but that's another story.)

In our last entry, we talked up Las Vegas, where we’re still finding 4-star hotels at prices well below $100 a night through the end of January and into early February. But now the deals seem to be moving like tumbleweed throughout the West Coast. Take a look:

• 4-stars in San Francisco (Union Square) for under $100 and 3-stars starting from $60

• 4-stars in downtown LA for $115 ... and dropping!

• 4-stars in San Diego near Sea World for a touch over $100

Now's a great time to check out Sea World in San Diego. Or how about San Francisco's cable cars? (There's nothing quite like hanging off a crowded cable car looking downhill.) Downtown LA has become a popular residence for many young stars, so be sure to breakfast at a local eatery and keep your eyes open.

But maybe you're not itching for Western adventures. Click here to check out our deals page. Not only is there something for everyone, it's updated constantly, so visit us often. Click on the city you’re interested to see the dates where the advertised price is available, as well as other deals for the next 30 days. Happy trails!

For the second year in a row, Hotwire.com™ was honored with J.D. Power and Associates’ highest ranking for customer satisfaction for booking reservations on an independent travel web site. Officially, J.D. Power and Associates’ awards are based solely on responses from consumers who have used the products and services being rated, such as hotel, airline, or rental car reservations. What that statement really means is that J.D. Power and Associates gave the award … but people like you made it happen.

We’re grateful for the trust you place in us. We appreciate the fact that you rely on us for the lowest prices from the world’s most highly respected travel brands. And we’ll continue to work hard to deliver deeply discounted rates, and so much more --including truly amazing last-minute, local, weekend, and leisure deals in fantastic destinations at extraordinary savings.

So where do we go from here? It's tempting to relax after such an honor, but that’s not our nature. After all, we are Hotwire -- a team of travel experts with a passion for delivering hotel, rental car, and airfare deals not available anywhere else. Look for new and exciting innovations from us as 2008 progresses. We’ll be working hard to make it a “threepeat” in 2009.

2008 promises to be the year of uncertainty. After all, we're deciding who'll be our new President. The price of oil remains unsettled. Subprime loans continue to burden the economy. It’s enough to make you think about rethinking your 2008 travel plans. We're here to say don’t let uncertainty put your plans on hold. Because one thing’s for certain: we'll continue bringing you incredible deals and the latest travel information through 2008 and beyond.

Speaking of the best deals...we were looking around and Las Vegas kept popping up. Have Vegas hotel rates ever been this good? Not that we can remember -- and we've been doing this 7 years! Check out:

• 2 nights in a 3-star South Strip hotel just $45 per night
• 4-star Central Strip hotel just $79 per night
• 3-star downtown hotel just $36 per night

We can't promise you winnings, but there's one thing you can bet on...you'll save a lot on your Vegas stay.

Another thing that's certain: fuel prices are driving airline fares skyward and there isn't anything anyone can do about it (except to buy from an online travel agent that never charges you flight booking fees -- like Hotwire!). Sites charging booking fees typically get an extra $5-$7 dollars out of you for every ticket you buy. That means you'd be spending an extra $36 or so every time your 6-person family flies -- that adds up fast! With gas prices being what they are, extra fees are the last thing you need.

How is all the uncertainty good for you? Just check out Hotwire.com. Because if everyone else is procrastinating on their travel plans, all the airline seats, hotel rooms, and rental cars they aren't buying are yours for less.

CNET recently did a short news clip on travel during the holiday season offering tips and tricks for getting to your destination without breaking the bank. Of course given the weather, crowds, and high fares, getting anywhere during a holiday season is nothing short of a miracle. But deals do exist – if you know how to navigate the system. This news report offers great advice on doing just that. And remember, getting there is half the fun. Thanks for going with us. Click here to watch the video.

Many of you have booked 3- or 4-star hotels on Hotwire (and if you haven’t, you should!), but have you ever considered a 4.5- or 5-star? Like rare, beautiful flowers, they do exist -- and they can be yours for discounts of up to 50% off retail. The catch? These typically smaller, exclusive hotels have fewer empty rooms than 3- and 4-stars and you may not always see them in search results. The trick is knowing where to look …

New Orleans

You may not believe it. I certainly didn’t when I first looked. But we have a 4.5-star in downtown New Orleans for under $75 a night for much of December and January. Sure, New Orleans as a city has had its challenges and the winter months are not peak season, but it’s rare that you get a chance to explore such a beautiful destination with such a rich heritage. And the music and food! All for $75 a night.

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver is a stunning city, and a central point for a memorable driving vacation -- Victoria, Seattle, and Whistler are all just a short hop away. Our 5-star hotels in this market are also standouts -- right in the center of wonderful shopping, dining, and sightseeing. You can’t go wrong, especially with rates between $125 and $150 in December and January … up to 50% off retail.

Boston

Boston is a our strongest “luxury” market if you will, with four deluxe hotels available on Hotwire You’ll find these properties for around $200 a night, up to 40% off retail. Stay in the Quincy Market/Financial District area, and use it (and the T) as your base of operations.

Hawaii

Now we all know that Hawaii does not come cheap. But there are great values to be had. Look on Kauai for a stunning 4.5-star hotel that’s typically 33% off retail and on Maui for one at 25% off. Both often have rooms available for about $250 a night. And remember, while the rest of the country is getting dark, cold, and snowy, Hawaii is still sunny, bright, and warm.

Las Vegas

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Las Vegas with a nearly brand new 4.5-star hotel west of the Strip for just over $100 for much of December and January. It’s rare to visit Las Vegas and stay in a premier property for such a value price, but Hotwire can help make it happen, leaving more in your pocketbook for great meals, shows, and if you like, taking on Lady Luck!

Remember, hotels are at their emptiest in December, so the rates you see right now are not the rates you’ll see in the Spring. So act now, indulge yourself, and have one last deluxe vacation to end the year.

We weren’t the least bit surprised when the November 18th edition of the New York Times Travel Magazine stated that “Toronto is the new L.A.” After all, at Hotwire, we’ve been “hot” on Toronto for a long time. It’s the 5th largest city in North America and offers the perfect balance of great attractions and great savings.

A truly cosmopolitan city – almost 50% of the population was born outside of Canada – Toronto is easy to visit with the airport only 16 miles from downtown, and it’s safer than every major city in the US. Since 2005, Toronto has undergone a cultural renaissance, with new and expanded offerings in the areas of arts and architecture, a plethora of food and wine shows, cultural festivals, and some of the best street vendor hot dogs you’ll ever taste. A few places that just opened in 2006 include:

• The Ontario Science Centre
• The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (Opera)
• The Gardiner Museum, with its focus on ceramics

Even more is scheduled for 2008, including an expansion of the wonderful Royal Ontario Museum.

Now the deals. This December, you’ll find 4-star hotels from $90 a night, and we have 4.5-star hotels as well (although they’re priced a bit more, starting from $110). This makes a quick visit relatively inexpensive. Find a car for not much more – our rates start at only $11.95 a day.

With amazing restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions, put Toronto on your “must visit” list this December or for 2008. And go with Hotwire to save!

That’s the question this time of year, when, barring the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the travel industry is at its slowest. What does “slow” mean to you? Low, low prices at Hotwire.com. From Nov. 26 to December 21, we see truly unbelievable deals across all of our products – flights, hotels, and car rentals. Because demand is always low this time of year, our partners will often provide aggressive rates just before Thanksgiving that extend through the remainder of the year.

Here are some hotel highlights … (best rates are generally mid-week)

• 4-star hotels starting at $65 a night in smaller US cities (like Albuquerque and St. Louis) and suburbs (such as New Brunswick or Fairfax) and $85 a night in downtown areas in larger cities (Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, and more).
• A 4-star hotel in the Central Strip in Las Vegas starting at $55 a night
• 3.5-star hotels in NYC (Midtown Central) starting at $149 a night, and 4-star hotels at $239. Be flexible when searching New York – rates vary dramatically day by day.
• 2- and 2.5-star hotels across the country starting at $35 a night

And some on flights …

• Great fares to Las Vegas, starting at $194 from Midway, Atlanta, Boston, and NYC.
• Chicago is hot with rates starting at $134 round trip from Midway to La Guardia. If you’re looking for warmer climes, we have O’Hare to Fort Lauderdale from $190, Midway to Phoenix from $209, and Midway to LA from $239

To see our very best deals tailored to your home airport and to great destinations like those listed above, either login or register, and then visit our Flight deals page.

There’s no better time for that short getaway. Take advantage of the deals and get one more trip in before 2008!

Onward and upward. We’re always looking for ways to make your travel booking experience more rewarding. And these new changes are a giant step in that direction. Read on and find out more about what we’ve done. Then let us know what you think.

For a long time Hotwire was the place to get great deals on airline tickets -- sometimes. You could search and (especially if you were looking last minute) often find discounts of 50% or more off retail prices. But now, Hotwire is the place to buy airline tickets all the time. Why? Because with our recent changes, you’ll always save.

The new Airfare Savings Hub -- new way to search, better way to save.

The Airfare Savings Hub takes the leg work out of your hunt for the lowest price. First, we proactively suggest nearby alternate airports for both departure and arrivals if less expensive tickets are available. Next, we display our heavily discounted tickets (called Hotwire Limited Fares) together with standard retail fares, so that on a single screen you can see all the options. And finally, we make it easy to change your search criterion with a new set of easy to navigate menu options to the side. We’re happy to say that now about a third of our customers are using the alternatives, and that on average these alternatives save them 25% off of their initial search.

Introducing Flexible Date Search.

We launched Flexible Date Search in August, and we’re happy to say a large number of you are using it to find lower prices on airfare. This feature allows you to put in a range of dates that you’re thinking of traveling (say up to 30 days) and a trip length. We’ll return ticket prices, by departure day, in the form of a calendar. You can quickly scan to see when you can get the best price. A few other travel sites do have a feature like this, but try ours and you’ll see why it’s such an improvement.

Welcome our new airline partners.

We recently added flights from ATA, Airtran, and Frontier. More airlines mean more options and better prices for you.

Booking fees? Not at Hotwire.

Many travel sites like Priceline and Travelocity charge a booking fee per ticket. This fee often varies based on the price of the ticket and is typically between $5-15. Last summer we ran a no booking fee promotion and received strong positive feedback. We’ve extended that promotion through 2007.

Search on Hotwire. We’ll help you find the best time to fly, and the best airports to fly from. If we have deeply discounted Hotwire Limited Fares, we’ll tell you, and you can save big. If we don’t, you’ll still get the same retail fares that you’d find on other travel sites, but you won’t pay a booking fee. Any way you look at it, you save.

At Hotwire, we’re all over San Diego. Superb weather, amazing beaches, a resurgent downtown, lots to do for both kids and adults – and just this week we’ve seen rates really take a dive, which means great values for you!

If you’re a 4-star sort of person, we recommend either the downtown or one of the fantastic hotels on the bay. You can book 4-star hotels at over 45% off in the historic Gaslamp district, where you’ll be surrounded by great restaurants, bars, and shopping options. If you like rooms right near the water, try the Sea World – Mission Bay – Shelter Island neighborhood, where we also have a 4-star hotel at 40% off. Not only can you enjoy the numerous well-maintained parks right on the bay, but you’re also just a short drive from Sea World. And since San Diego is such a small city, you’re less than a half hour drive from downtown, the famous San Diego Zoo, and Balboa Park, home to 15 major museums.

One of the best kept secrets of the San Diego hotel marketplace is that there are plenty of large, centrally located, well maintained 3-star hotels. Because these hotels are so big, they often have empty rooms, which they provide to Hotwire at super low rates that we pass along to you. In fact, as I do a search now, a 3-star in the Mission Valley – Hotel Circle neighborhood comes up for just under $100 a night.

Our last bit of advice has nothing to do with airfares, hotels, or cars, and has everything to do with attractions. Don’t ever, ever walk up to the gate and pay full-price for an area attraction. There are always discount coupons that you can print out from your home computer for 20% off or more for attractions like Sea World, the Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park, and Legoland. Click the links to see a few examples. Altogether (especially if you have a family) these coupons can save you as much as a night or two at a 4-star hotel.

So get out there and take that extra vacation that we know you have stored up (a recent survey by Expedia says that 35% of us don’t use all our vacation days every year!). Want to know more about San Diego? Or about how to save on travel to another destination? Email us at blog@hotwire.com. We want to hear from you!

The Hotwire hobgoblin has been scouring the country looking for worthy Halloween happenings. He’s also been hard at work shaking down our travel partners, scaring them into offering great deals in cities where celebration is sacred. His endeavors have proved successful in select cities countrywide starting with Orlando, Florida. Ordinarily a sedate city near fantastic beaches, every October it turns into a frightful sight with Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights show. This “Carnival of Carnage” claims to be one of the biggest Halloween events in the country -- you’ve got to see it to believe it! And now, for two more weekends only, you can. Because now we’ve got 3- and 4-star hotel deals in Orlando at over 50% savings. After Halloween Horror Nights, book a car rental and head an hour east to one of the more peaceful beaches. Check out our 3-star hotel deals in Daytona Beach starting at $55. Or 3.5-stars in Melbourne from $75. And all these hotels are on the beach, off the beaten path.

The beach not your idea of a hauntingly great time? Take that rental car on a road trip to Chicago and dress up for Chicagoween. Play ghostly games and see the haunted village at Daley Plaza. Just don’t let the prices scare you off -- we can offer you a 4-star, Magnificent Mile hotel from $110. Then there’s the New York’s Village Halloween Parade, where you’ll join hundreds of puppets, 53 bands, dancers and artists, and thousands of others in costumes of their own creation in the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event. Where to stay in this horribly expensive city? How about 20% or more off of hotels in Midtown? And if New York’s not scary enough for you, try the Washington D.C. area. The corny corn mazes in Maryland and Virginia, and the House of the Vampyres and Sanctuary of Insanity in Arundel Mills, Maryland are must-sees. Capitol Hill rocks and 3-star hotels in the area start at a mere $90 a night. Or go Deep South to Atlanta and stop by the Netherworld Haunted House -- voted #1 in the country by the well-respected Hauntworld Magazine. Book a Buckhead, 3.5-star hotel for $75. That price is so good it makes me shiver just thinking about it! So travel smart, be safe, celebrate the season, and don’t be afraid to save money.

It’s finally off-season for European travel – time to take advantage of lower airfares and travel abroad for less. We’re with you. In fact a few weeks ago Europe was one of our most recommended destinations this fall. But low and behold, numbers have a way of changing quickly, and now we’re seeing some data that’s giving us second thoughts. Fact is, the cost of transatlantic travel is on the rise and it’s all in the name of fuel surcharges. Last week we heard from a major European air carrier that it would soon add a surcharge of $150 per round trip. And that’s just the beginning because now other carriers are jumping on the bandwagon.

Why are they doing this now? Because they can. Fuel surcharges are still buried in a tax, so raising these surcharges means they do not have to raise fares. Fuel surcharges range from $75 to $90 per long haul segment, so, $150 - $180 round trip minimum. If there are local sectors involved in the fare (i.e. connection from Germany to Italy), those will carry additional "domestic" fuel surcharges. For Asia, the fuel surcharges are even higher, averaging $100 per direction, but local taxes are lower. This results in the same $300 - $400 tax total as seen in Europe. Latin America also has fuel surcharges averaging at $150 round trip.

Keep in mind – airfare to Europe is still cheap as compared to last summer, but not so much as compared to last year. Fares didn’t drop nearly as much this September as they did last. Check out the TripStarter pages for San Francisco to Paris and New York (JFK) to London Heathrow for examples. So go if you must, just don’t be shocked by the airfares that you’ll find this off season. And make sure not to be taken in by the “teaser” prices – look at the final cost with taxes and fees included.

As always, we want to hear from you. Ping us with your questions and comments. We’re here to help you save money and travel well.

Heard about Travel Ticker? Allow us to take a few lines to explain why you need to know about this hidden gem – before we dive into this week’s big deals.

Travel Ticker is what separates the amateurs from the pros – the serious deal sleuths from the “just looking.” Travel Ticker has fantastic deals that no one else knows about. It’s your dream trip at a dreamier price … like this amazing package from Gate 1 Travel. Check this out: It’s an 8-day package to Egypt INCLUDING airfare from the west coast for $1,210 per person. And that includes a 3-day Nile cruise, internal flights to Luxor and Aswan, 4-star hotels, and 12 meals! Usually airfare alone from the west coast is at least $1,000.

And there’s more where that came from – maybe not so unbelievable, but great deals nevertheless. Want to go to Vegas? Here’s the deal – and it’s available only on Travel Ticker. Book a room at the new Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, with state-of-the-art video and plasma screens, a spa, dining, shopping, and a nightclub, for just $99 per night. Got Kids? Have the slime of your life in Orlando! Stay in a one-bedroom suite at the Nickelodeon Family Suites, a one-of-a-kind family resort in Orlando, for just $89 per night midweek and $159 on weekends. Upgrade to a 2-bedroom suite for $50 more.

We go anywhere and with prices like these, you can too. Just make sure that before you book a trip, you go to Travel Ticker first. Because when it comes to finding the best travel deals in the world, nobody goes it alone. So take a minute now to sign up for the Travel Ticker weekly newsletter and make it a must read.

At Hotwire, we’re avid travelers so we love it when the leaves turn red (the color of discount). Why? Because peak travel season ends just after Labor Day, and suddenly there are airline seats, hotel rooms, and car rentals available again. It’s a great time to go somewhere fantastic and save a ton of money.

So here we are to share our tried and true strategy for getting the best deals this Fall:

1. Plan for it. Start browsing different destinations with our TripStarter tool. TripStarter shows you historic prices for both airfare and hotel by month, so you can see when rates are the lowest. Rates are shown just above the weather and events, so you can trade off price, climate and things to do. Take Seattle, for example – sure the rain starts in September, but boy do hotel rates drop. A peak of $225 a night in summer drops to almost $125 just before Thanksgiving.

2. Stay on top of it. Subscribe to Travel Ticker by Hotwire. You’ll receive amazing hand-picked deals every week. For example, this week you'll find the 4-star Westin Maui Resort for just $259 a night.

3. Check out the deals on Hotwire. We update our airfare, hotel, and car rental deals weekly. The deals page is where you’ll find the biggest selection.

4. Be flexible. Don’t put yourself into a box where you’re forced to pay a certain price. Pick a broad range of potential dates. Or if you have set dates, have a range of potential destinations. Shop often. Prices on airfares can change every hour, hotels every day. And if you can, look last minute. At Hotwire we get our best discounts at the very last minute, so you can often get jaw-dropping prices if you’re willing to book only a few days in advance of your trip.

Have a particular place or topic you’re curious about? Email us at blog@hotwire.com.