Think Outside-the-Box (and the Big City) this Memorial Day with CheapTickets

Travelers Find Significant Hotel Savings in the Suburbs During a Holiday Weekend in the Big Cities

CheapTickets.com, a leading online travel agency that knows "the less you pay, the better it feelsSM," has identified the five most popular Memorial Day destinations for 2007. Even better, CheapTickets suggests alternative hotel locations to help budget travelers avoid being priced out of hotels in the big city.

"Outside" is definitely "in" this Memorial Day, with nearby satellite city and suburban hotels offering significant savings for travelers headed to the big cities. For example, penny-pinched vacationers wanting a long weekend getaway to Miami will find savings of up to 45% on hotel accommodations in nearby Fort Lauderdale. And those headed to the Orlando area will appreciate a 38% savings in nearby Kissimmee. With easy access to big city attractions, travelers can enjoy the heart of the action at a reasonable price.

"Memorial Day is the big summer kick-off and with so many people headed out of town for the holiday weekend, gas prices won't be the only thing putting a strain on the pocketbook," said Marita Hudson of CheapTickets' Cheap SquadSM. "Outside-the-box thinkers know there are savings to be had by staying just outside the big city."

Cheap Tickets has identified the top five U.S. Memorial Day destinations, based on advance hotel bookings. The online travel site has also identified nearby destination alternatives for each major city, which offer significant savings on hotel accommodations for savvy-travelers:

CheapTickets Top Five Memorial Day Destinations 2007

¹Percentage savings were calculated on May 4th, 2007 by taking the average price for all hotel bookings in the listed city purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel over Memorial Day Weekend 2007 and comparing them with the average price for all hotel bookings in the listed alternative purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel over Memorial Day Weekend 2007.

PICKS FOR THE BEST BIG CITY GETAWAY ON A SMALL TOWN BUDGET THIS MEMORIAL DAY:
Travelers can still kick summer into high-gear without tossing their budget out the window this Memorial Day. CheapTickets suggests the following five alternatives for a big city experience that won't break the bank.

LAS VEGAS (STAY "OFF THE STRIP") - Gambling isn't the only reason that travelers make Las Vegas their Memorial Day destination. Some of Las Vegas' best kept secrets are just "off the strip." Shopaholics beware! Off the strip hand bag and shoe boutiques are hard to resist. Play any of "sin city's" 45 championship or desert golf courses while saving up to 30%-off hotel accommodations. Nothing spells Memorial Day better than saving big and winning big in the casino capital of the world.

FT. LAUDERDALE - Visiting the Gold Coast for Memorial Day? Known for its lively beach atmosphere and weekly outdoor music festivals, Ft. Lauderdale is a great alternative. Travelers can spend the day playing volleyball with new friends, and then take Miami's nightlife by storm! Expect nothing less this holiday weekend than the perfect beach getaway.

LONG ISLAND - Avoid the chaos of New York City airports and fly directly to Islip's Long Island MacArthur Airport of Suffolk County. In minutes, visitors can be at the steps of Long Island museums, wineries and beaches. The city also offers travelers the experience of the booming Hamptons. Or, those who want the feel of the Hamptons without the price tag and crowds can try a relaxing Bed & Breakfast in North Fork's Greenport Village. If you still want to visit the Big Apple, New York City is easily accessible via Long Island Railroad, which heads straight into New York's Penn Station.

KISSIMMEE - Only 5 miles from major theme park attractions, Kissimmee is the perfect alternative for travelers looking for discounted prices, not short-changed experiences. While public transportation eases the commute to the Orlando hot spots, it can also escort adventurous travelers to the nearest marina, where sea bass fishing is considered among the best in the South.

GURNEE -This quaint Mid-Western town lies only 45-minutes outside the exciting metropolis of Chicago. Forget hot dogs and hamburgers this Memorial Day! In 15 short miles, travelers can be salmon fishing on Lake Michigan for their holiday entrée. Explore "Gurnee's greens" at one of its 18-hole public golf courses or take the kids for a day at one of Gurnee's 25 recreation parks. With savings up to 72%-off, travelers can afford to explore this hidden gem of an All-American town.

For more information on Memorial Day travel deals, visit CheapTickets.com.

About CheapTickets
CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com) is a leading seller of discounted leisure travel products online through its Web site, 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 brand. Travelport (www.travelport.com) is one of the largest and most geographically diverse travel companies, dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands.

SOURCE: CheapTickets