Farecast.com makes airfare predictions

Farecast.com makes
airfare predictions

SEATTLE — Farecast.com is now offering international predictions on airfares in 200 markets between the U.S. and popular destinations in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada.

The company says that fares to Europe during the peak summer months will average 11 percent higher this year over 2007.

Consumers can expect to pay $600-$1,500 on the lowest price airfare from top U.S. cities to most European destinations, compared with $350 for domestic travel, according to the Web site, which offers guidance on when to book in order to take advantage of the lowest fares.

Fares to top U.S. to Mexico and Caribbean markets average $360 in the low season, to over $500 in the high season.

Embassy Suites chooses
sign contest winners

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Instead of hanging a “Do not disturb” sign on your door, next time you stay at an Embassy Suites hotel, you might hang up a “Pillow fight in progress” sign.

The pillow slogan was one of five that won a contest sponsored by the hotel chain to replace “Do not disturb” signs.

The winning door-hangers will be available for use in the hotels starting Wednesday. The authors of the winning entries will receive a three-night stay at select Embassy Suites destinations.

The other winning slogans were:

U“Shh! I’m hatching a plan to bust some little soaps out of here.”

U“There are days when I wish I could wear this around my neck.”

U“I’ve built a pillow fort and I am not opening the door for anybody!”

U“Aww, Mom. Just five more minutes. Please?”

Krakow, Poland hostel
chosen best in world

DUBLIN, Ireland — A hostel in Krakow, Poland, won top honors in HostelWorld.com’s annual “Hoscar” awards for best hostels.

The Flamingo Hostel in Krakow, Poland, got the highest average individual ratings from among properties rated by some 600,000 users of the Web site.

Voting customers, who booked their hostel stays online, were surveyed after their stay and asked to grade their accommodation based on character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness.

National Geographic,
Putney offer trips

WASHINGTON — National Geographic is now partnering with Putney Student Travel to offer trips around the world for high school students.

Each trip is joined by a National Geographic expert, and students are supposed to complete projects during their trip in either photography, journalism, documentary film, archaeology, or biology.

The trips will be three weeks long, with destinations including Belize, the Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Iceland, Ireland, Mali, Peru, Spain and Tanzania.

Most of the trips run $6,000-$7,000, not including airfare.

For details, call (877) 877-8759 or visit www.ngstudentexpeditions.com.

Associated Press