It seems straightforward - plan a trip several months ahead, do some price comparisons online or via the phone and pack your bags. But common sense doesn't always prevail, if it did we wouldn't have the Mark Six or the Kardashians permanently appearing on prime-time television.
Passenger traffic increased 8 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 at Hong Kong International Airport, compared with the previous year's quarter.
Bigger appetite for travel attracts greater competition and more choice from airlines, hotels, travel agents and online booking sites, as well as third parties selling package deals and cruises. But this isn't always beneficial, says Jacqueline Tang, hotel sales manager for HRS, an international hotel reservation service. 'Travellers are getting more choices, but whether it's a better deal depends because with so many choices they have to make more judgments.'
The truisms of planning ahead and shopping around remain constant but, fortunately, there are tricks to tracking down good deals. The following are pointers to keep in mind when booking your next trip, be it a Mediterranean cruise in 2014 or a long weekend in Bangkok, starting tonight.
To save on a summer vacation start by looking beyond the major carriers. In June and July, premium airlines are heavily booked on popular routes to Europe but lower-tier firms still have economic options and good connections available, says David Fraser, general manager of Flight Centre Greater China. A round trip from Hong Kong to Paris in early July, for instance, costs around HK$13,800 direct on Cathay Pacific. The same journey on Qatar Airways is about HK$3,000 cheaper.
While daring travellers are prepared to wait for last-minute deals from premium carriers, Fraser says there is no way of knowing when an airline will launch a special. 'Airlines do tactical promotions when loads are looking low and that's not set to a certain cycle.'