CHICAGO, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The signs of fall are quickly approaching. The kids are back in school, the temperature is dropping and the leaves are turning into their autumn colors. But, for those who want to soak up the last remnants of summer, prized vacation spots continue to offer mild weather and welcome travelers this fall.

CheapTickets.com, a leading online travel agency that knows "the less you pay, the better it feels(SM)," releases the second edition of the CheapTickets Travel Cheapometer. The Cheapometer is a monthly pricing guide that assesses and compares the average price of all hotels, airfares or vacation packages purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in a specific timeframe to the average price of all hotels, airfares or vacation packages for specific destinations purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in that same timeframe.

Additionally, each month the CheapTickets Travel Cheapometer Survey tracks American's economic attitudes towards travel, based on the U.S. economy and their own personal finances.

This volume of the Cheapometer highlights beach and desert destinations that offer significant value during September 2006.

CheapTickets Travel Cheapometer Volume 2: Beach and Desert Package Analysis

What type of destinations do vacationers prefer for fall? CheapTickets.com fielded a recent survey regarding the choice of beach or desert destinations, using MarketTool's online survey panel. It found that 70% of travelers prefer to relax and rejuvenate on the beach.

Although most vacationers prefer to head to the beach, the Beach/Desert Cheapometer demonstrates that both spa getaways in the Southwest and sun- soaked beach retreats are well within reach for adults looking for a long weekend reprieve this fall. This analysis compares the average price of all flight plus hotel vacation packages purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in September 2006 to the average price of all flight plus hotel packages in five popular beach and desert destinations purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in September 2006.

Volume 2: CheapTickets.com Beach and Desert Cheapometer(1) Destination Average Price Average Price Percentage for Specific for all Packages Difference Package in the U.S. - Destination - September September Beach/Nautical Destinations vs. All Destinations Virginia Beach, VA $780.70 $1,158.78 -32.63% Miami, FL $891.68 $1,158.78 -23.05% San Diego, CA $939.72 $1,158.78 -18.90% Myrtle Beach, SC $966.55 $1,158.78 -16.59% San Francisco, CA $1,007.19 $1,158.78 -13.08% Desert/Spa Destinations vs. All Destinations Albuquerque, NM $546.17 $1,158.78 -52.87% Tucson, AZ $683.86 $1,158.78 -40.98% El Paso, TX $747.95 $1,158.78 -35.45% Reno, NV $759.83 $1,158.78 -34.43% Phoenix, AZ $934.29 $1,158.78 -19.37% (1) Percentage savings were calculated on August 18, 2006 by taking the average price for all air plus hotel package bookings in the United States purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in September 2006 and comparing them with the average price for all air plus hotel package bookings in the destinations included in the Cheapometer table above purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel in September 2006.

"Many beach resorts and spas in desert destinations are offering more attractive pricing because they are entering their shoulder season," said Marita Hudson of CheapTickets.com's Cheap Squad(SM). "The beaches still offer all the great nautical and economical fun that comes with summer, and spa- saturated desert destinations feature value and tons of outstanding activities."

SEPTEMBER CHEAPTICKETS TRAVEL CHEAPOMETER SURVEY FINDINGS

In addition to the survey finding mentioned earlier, other important survey information to note includes:

-- 53% of Americans plan to take a vacation in the next 90 days. -- 82% of travelers responded "No," when asked if current economic conditions were impacting their vacation and travel plans over the next 90 days. -- As the summer travel season ends, the plan to travel declines 28% among vacationers. SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This study was fielded by CheapTickets.com from September 6-7, 2006 via the Internet using MarketTool's online survey panel. 363 U.S. adults aged 18 or older were surveyed. All survey participants had traveled for leisure at least once in the past twelve months.

About CheapTickets

CheapTickets ( http://www.cheaptickets.com/ ) is a leading seller of discounted leisure travel products online through its Web site, http://www.cheaptickets.com/ . CheapTickets provides consumers access to its collection of airfares on hundreds of airlines. In addition to air, CheapTickets' family of discounted travel products also includes hotel accommodations, cruises, rental cars, vacation packages, condo rentals and Last Minute Trips. Founded in 1986, CheapTickets is a Travelport Inc. brand. Travelport Inc. ( http://www.travelport.com/ ) is one of the largest and most geographically diverse travel companies, dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands.

CONTACT: Marita Hudson, CheapTickets.com, +1-312-260-8304, or
marita.hudson@cheaptickets.com

Web site: http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.travelport.com/