Last call before the window closes

You’re in luck if you haven’t booked your air ticket to the convention yet.  Air fares are coming down.  If you have booked…don’t despair you’ll still save in ways you had not expected.  The Euro has now dropped to its lowest level to the US dollar since July 2010 now trading at 1.24 US to 1 Euro.  At that rate the Sokos convention hotel in Tallinn is just $90 per night including breakfast and no taxes.  WOW…That beats the local Irondale, Alabama Holiday Inn Express by over $10 when you count the local sales tax.  A strengthening dollar helps in so many other ways too.  A restaurant meal and a cup of coffee or  a taxi ride are getting cheaper every day.



1 Euro= 1.24 US

Although air fares to Europe in early July are getting incrementally better you may have to be resourceful to find the good ones and be flexible in your travel dates. Earlier today I plugged in some rough dates on http://www.kayak.com using the “my dates are flexible” option and started with July 1 returning July 7^th and got $1080 from Atlanta  to Tallinn leaving July 1 but returning July 10th.  The added night at an airport http://www.parksleepfly.com motel to park your car in Atlanta adds about $85.  If you can drive back and forth to a bigger international hub rather than spending the night then its only about $50 to park at a hotel for up to 2 weeks and use their shuttle.  Birmingham to Tallinn was a few $$ hundred more than from Atlanta but Birmingham to Helsinki was $1180 comparable to Atlanta to Helsinki at around $1160.  From Chicago and JFK rates to Tallinn were just under $1000 but then you need to drive or fly to these gateway cities. 

Remember, on Kayak, posted prices include all taxes and fees (except luggage).  The point is, reasonable fares are available if you are flexible and can travel a few days before or after the convention.  The strengthening US dollar and the declining oil prices should continue to keep downward pressure on the air fares for our booking window of the next 10 days or so.  It’s really a myth that you need to have your international ticket secured a month or more in advance.  If the plane isn’t sold out, the airlines will keep discounting till it is.  And once it’s sold out there are always  other planes and other time slots from other nearby cities that are all vying for the same customer.   

Also, the room block for our convention hotel is quickly filling up.  If you have waited to book your trip,  your patience may have paid off on airfare but we want to be sure you are able to be with us in the one of the two adjacent convention hotels. http://www.civitan.org/convention