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Clem Bason Archive

  • Top 5 retirement dream destinations

    Published June 12, 2013

    I’m sad to say that this will be my last FOX News post. Following seven amazing, travel-filled years at Hotwire, I’m stepping down as president and into a very exciting, full-time role with my family. I had the privilege of visiting a crazy collection of destinations while running our little travel company, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using my experience to create a travel dialogue with readers like you. Honestly, it was one of the best perks of the job.

    As a fitting farewell, I’d like to share the top five destinations that I’m most excited to visit with the extra time I’ll have with my wife and two sons. While these destinations vary significantly, all of them share some similarities as well – they all offer the attractions and affordability for any family looking to create lasting memories without the need for a huge budget. Turns out that discount travel wasn’t just a passion while I was on the clock.

  • Most-Booked Cities for Memorial Day Weekend 2013:

    Published May 22, 2013

    Memorial Day is just around the corner, bringing with it the unofficial start of the summer season. Typically offering warmer weather and an extra day-off, Memorial Day weekend also gives folks the chance to commemorate our country’s proud history of service. And with many cities holding special Memorial Day events, this is the perfect opportunity for travelers to combine both the unofficial and official holiday traditions in an exciting way. Millions of people travel on Memorial Day weekend. Where should you go?

    To lend a hand with the decision-making process I’ve put together a list of Hotwire’s top 10 most popular destinations this Memorial Day Weekend. With Hotwire’s “Great Weekend Sale” offering discounted hotels up-to 70 percent off across the site throughout May, it’s the perfect time to pick a place to celebrate and nab an amazing deal.

  • Top 10 Mother’s Day weekend getaways

    Published May 10, 2013

    With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, many families will be thinking about the best ways to indulge mom on her special weekend. Pampering is one the most popular, and appreciated, thank-you’s that a mom could ask for, but there are so many different ways to do it. Breakfast in bed, spa days, relaxing getaways, an amazing dinner; these are all great choices, but which is best? Well, why not go for all of the above this year, but do it without a huge price tag. At Hotwire, we’re seeing low prices and great hotel deals in even our most popular Mother’s Day destinations for 2013. This means the whole family can get away while saving enough money to pamper mom with a plethora of big-city activities. And let’s be honest, few things will make mom happier than spending quality time with her loved ones.

    To help you get planning, I’ve compiled our top-10, most-booked destinations for Mother’s Day weekend this year.

  • Top 10 European sleeper cities

    Published April 17, 2013

    With warmer weather on the horizon, folks are already beginning to dream about – and plan their trips to – far off destinations. Traveling abroad is an exciting adventure that can conjure up images of rich history, scenic beauty and possibly, an empty wallet.  There’s no doubt about it, heading “across the pond” can be an expensive endeavor. This is especially true if you’re like most travelers who visit popular tourism hubs like Paris and London, cities with both high demand and hefty prices during the peak-summer season.

    However, a European summer trip doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg if you look beyond the more established tourist cities. Earlier this year, I shared a list of my favorite U.S. “sleeper cities,” a title the travel industry gives to up-and-coming destinations that feature big-city attractions without the big-city price tags. The list was so popular, and created so much conversation, that I decided to highlight similar cities for European-bound travelers.

    As the president of a travel company, I’m lucky enough to see trends as they develop, and I’ve found that visiting an off-the-beaten-path destination is often the right mix of value, revelation and respite. These cities offer a ton of history, incredible sight-seeing and great hotel deals (most under $100 per night). Plus, more and more European properties are recognizing the benefits of working with discount hotel sites (like Hotwire) to help them fill their unsold rooms, and that includes established international hotel chains. This means you can be sure you’ll get a great room for a ridiculously low price, leaving you with extra cash to spend on immersing yourself in the local culture.

    By visiting some of the following “sleeper” destinations, you can get your European adventure for a fraction of what it might cost to visit London or Paris, all while avoiding the copious summer crowds that come along with them.

  • Luxury travel on a shoestring budget

    Published April 05, 2013

    Travel providers know that today’s globetrotter is more budget conscious, and they’re discounting heavily to attract them.

  • 10 off-the-beaten-path destinations for foodies

    Published March 25, 2013

    Now that spring has officially started, many folks will be taking some time off to vacation in warmer climates. Spring also tends to be the time when people’s inner foodies come out, excited for fresh seasonal produce and the culinary delights they help create. That’s why many travelers will be using part of their travel time to explore restaurant menus that should be revamped with new recipes and exciting seasonal ingredients. As the president of a travel company, I’ve enjoyed my fair-share of meals in a variety of food meccas across the nation, including mainstays like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. While these cities do serve up some unforgettable dishes, I’ve had some equally impressive meals in lesser thought-of cities across the country, often at a fraction of the price. These cities not only have extraordinary eats, but some great hotel deals as well, so you can use the money saved on your hotel to splurge on your meals once you arrive.

  • Top 10 US value destinations for 2013

    Published March 07, 2013

    It’s that time of year. The weather is getting warmer, folks are itching to plan their spring and summer trips, and we at Hotwire are taking a thorough look at the most popular domestic destinations to come up with the top 10 places where folks can get the best overall value. Every year, we perform this analysis – we call it the Travel Value Index – in order to steer travelers toward the cities where they can get the most out of their travel budgets. We evaluate the top U.S. leisure markets, scoring them across three individual categories -- discounts on air, hotel and car, low prices on air, hotel and car, and affordable entertainment options. Think of the this list as your guide to the best travel values, and keep the money you save in the bank, or use it to have even more fun at your destination.

  • The state of the cruise industry today

    Published February 20, 2013

    For the industry overall, we’ve seen everything from the expected influx of cruise bookings, incredible discounts, flash sales and flight credits, to the unexpected distress in the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Popular Caribbean deal destinations with eclectic offerings

    Published February 05, 2013

    With most of the country bundled up in down jackets and snow boots, it’s no wonder the white sand beaches, waterfalls and laid back life-pace of the Caribbean calls to millions of travelers each winter.

  • How to make this ski season budget friendly

    Published January 22, 2013

    With a little creativity and flexibility, people can still catch a break when planning their next winter adventure.