Bing Travel 2010 summer forecast: What’s the deal? by Fareologist

Dust off those bathing suits – it’s almost time for a little summer sun! With summer just around the corner, you’re probably already thinking about your next vacation and how to maximize your travel budget.

Today, we issued our 2010 summer travel forecast, and while we’d love to have better news to report, the summer travel season is looking rather bleak. The average airfare to domestic destinations is up 22% from 2009 and 4% higher than 2008 fares, averaging $303 per ticket. But don’t kill the messenger – you can still save big with your hotel stay!

On average, premium hotel rates in domestic destinations are down 10% over 2009, averaging $166 per night. Choosing the right destination this summer could allow you to make up for higher airfares. Some destinations we recommend considering are Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Honolulu, San Diego, and New York City, where hotel rates are down considerably and can help reduce your overall trip cost. Check out the full press release for some highlights on each location and average airfare and hotel costs.

Although the forecast is a bit stormy, there are still ways to save money:

• Use our Price Predictor tool to help determine whether to buy airfare now or wait and set up a Fare Alert to monitor pricing for your trip if you know specifically when you need to travel.
• Use alternative european airports for multicountry visits. Fares to London and Madrid are typically $200 less than tickets to Paris or Rome.
• Watch for cheaper fares in late summer. The second half of August and the beginning of September are ideal times to find a bargain if you can swing it.
• Travelers should buy now if they see a good fare. The likelihood of fares continuing to increase as we near the summer season far outweighs the likelihood of fares dropping significantly.
• Pack light to avoid additional fees. Be sure to consider the airlines’ baggage fees in your overall trip cost. When packing, remember less is more - airlines charge for first, second and overweight bags. Check out our guide to luggage fees.

Here’s to a great summer of travel, and let’s keep our fingers crossed that Mother Earth doesn’t hit us with another volcanic eruption. Be sure to send me a tweet with your summer travel questions and travel updates.