SkyAuction Deals and More

I don’t know about you but I am and have always been a big fan of the Olympic Games.  The thought of people coming from all over the world to represent their country is always a highlight for anyone who loves sports and  loves competition.  I have always found that watching the television coverage has become a really good way to become familiar with the different destinations in which these games are held.  This year is certainly no exception.  China as a country is huge, diverse and bustling with life and activity.  This years Olympic venues are the perfect addition to the city of Beijing which has grown and evolved so much over the past 25 years.  The Chinese people are doing such a fine job of showcasing both their hospitality and pride in their nation that it really makes me wish I could simply take off and make it to the games before they conclude!

This, of course comes as no surprise to the thousands of our members who have purchased a trip to China from Skyauction.com over the last 10 years.  I have had hundreds of comments from you that range from surprise over the affordability of our offers to deep gratitude for encouraging travel to such a wonderful destination.  I would encourage anyone who is watching the games to come to our site and check out our offers to this fantastic country with so much to offer to any traveler.  (I don’t think you will get there in time to go to the games, but if you hurry you just might)

See our China Offers on Skyauction.com

I have been reading many articles lately about available discounts on luxury travel to destinations all over the world.  One of the problems with luxury travel discounts is that they come and go very quickly and no site I have ever seen has been very consistent in their offers.  At Skyauction.com we have been building our luxury product line from day we opened our doors in 1999.  We have been auctioning top level properties, first and business class airfares, and luxury cruise products everyday at discounts that you won’t find anywhere else.   We had to develop a new way to auction these products called, “Hidden Bid” because the values that these products represent are so extreme that we can only show them to the participants of the auctions themselves.  (So if you want to see you going to have to jump in and bid for yourself!)

The reason we can do this is because we work with our suppliers to develop a strategy to fill inventory during specific periods without discounting their prices in the marketplace.  This allows them the ability to keep marketplace prices higher and work with us through the auction process to fill as much, or as little inventory as they need to, when they need to.  We call it, “creating demand” for products because we can focus sales in a way that few other companies really can. 

So if you are interested in luxury travel and you like saving money, check out our offers and if you haven’t done so before, I am sure you will be quite pleased.

Check luxury offers here.

On this Father’s Day I will be remembering the man who introduced me to travel and helped put me on a career path that while difficult has been rewarding and a lot of fun as well.  My Dad was kind of an aviation pioneer, of sorts.  He began his airline career back in the 1950’s before it expanded into the mass transportation system it is today.  He wasn’t CEO or even an executive, he was guy who worked the ramp at a very small airport in Newark NJ for that great by-gone airline Eastern Air Lines.  As a child I remember riding the tractors with him across the ramp (pre-high level security) and how cool it was to pull up to the airplane and watch the well dressed people climb the stairs to all kinds of exotic destinations. (Miami)  I can still remember how proud I was of my Dad and how special I felt to be there with him working on giant airplanes.  I used to dream of being one of those people capable of traveling anytime to virtually anywhere in the world without boundaries but I knew how expensive it was and that the only way a kid like me could accomplish that was to get a job like my Dad working for an airline, preferably Eastern Air Lines. 

I am happy to say that I was able to do that and much more.  Working for many different airlines I always enjoyed being able to follow in my Dad’s footsteps in basically working in a business that allowed people the freedom to live their lives by moving from place to place for any number of reasons. The excitement of the business and the constant urgency that seemed to be “ever present” I feel was the perfect lead into our fast paced online travel present day.  Although I have left the airline business behind, I still have great respect for the difficulty, responsibility and the pressures they have to keep themselves afloat and provide jobs for the hundreds of thousands of guys (and Girls), who like my Dad, worked so hard so all of us could simply, fly.  I salute them all and my Father’s Day wish is for the return of better days for the aviation industry so they will be able to continue to do exactly that.  Working for an airline isn’t easy, but sometimes, it can be really cool!  Thanks Dad.

My Dad had a fondness for traveling in First and Business class so please check out our offers to destinations in the USA and the World over.

Skyauction.com First and Business Class offers.

Usually I don’t paraphrase our Federal Government but here is one concept that I happen to like.  When it comes to stimulation, what could be better than a fun way to save money on travel?   It makes prudent economic sense to “invest” your money in one of our many vacation or lifestyle auctions where you, the consumer determine the amount you want to spend.  Hey, if you’re flexible, there are many, many bargains to be won on Skyauction.com.  We don’t require that you take a lifestyle cut to experience real value because we have hundreds of offers to choose from, many of which are for very upscale products, resorts, cruises and air line tickets!

So in closing, it is our position that we can stimulate your personal economy by allowing you to decide where and how you want to travel and the amount of money you want to spend (or save) by bidding at Skyauction.com.  It may not be the same as getting a check from your very rich uncle but the money you save will look just as nice in your bank account at the end of the auction!

I will save you $50 on any of these right off the bat!

Since we started our blogs the number one request I have gotten for new product has been for European river cruises.  I asked Carla, our top product publisher to go out and find some and it’s taken a few weeks but she came back with some really good values.  I also asked her to write this blog in the hopes that all of you who asked, will now get excited and bid!

“At Skyauction, we are always looking for new and exciting “steals and deals” for our customers.  Well, we’ve done it again! Skyauction.com is proud to introduce our new European River Cruise Tour Packages, cruising either the Danube River or Rhine River, and including sightseeing in Germany, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Vienna and more! 

On our 11 Day Escorted Tour Package of Czech Republic, Austria & Hungary, you’ll spend plenty of time sightseeing the magnificent city of Prague before you board the enchanting MS Royale for your Danube River Cruise thru Germany, Austria & Hungary.  If you’re just interested in a Danube River Cruise, check out our 8 Day/7 Night Danube River Cruise from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.

Our 11 Day/10 Night Rhine & Main River Cruise Tour Package from Nuremberg, Germany to Amsterdam starts off with a few days of some amazing sightseeing in Prague before you board the MS Royale for a Rhine & Main River Cruise through Germany and ending in Amsterdam.  The cruise only option is our 8 Day/7 Night Rhine & Main River Cruise from Nuremberg, Germany to Amsterdam, Holland.

All cruises mentioned above are aboard the MS Royale - a deluxe cruise vessel offering panoramic views of Europe’s most scenic landscapes as well as luxurious features and amenities.

These new River Cruise Tour Packages can be added as an excursion to your European holiday or can be booked as a complete and unforgettable vacation on their own.  The best part is, this is just the beginning! Be sure to check Skyauction.com in the coming weeks for more new European tour and cruise packages.”

 See our new European River Cruises

People always ask me if the present economic environment is having an affect on the travel habits of our customers specifically and all consumers in general. I am not an economist but generally when times are tough, people spend less money. Spending less, however, doesn’t necessarily mean not traveling at all, it means finding a place to purchase your travel that gives you a better value at the end of the day. This plays right into the heart of what we do at Skyauction.com. Our entire being is cemented around the idea of value for money spent. Providing the best value is what we are all about and what we strive for each and everyday of our existence.

If you are interested in a good value, the offers presently running for Almond Beach Resorts in the Caribbean are some of the best I have seen in a while. They are well positioned on two beautiful islands, Barbados and St. Lucia, both of which are very popular right now and if you bid on these all-inclusive stays, I know you are going to get a deal that would impress the most prudent amongst us!

Check these out before these deals are all bought up!

Click here to see all Almond Beach offers.

A very common question (and complaint) we get is:

Why do you all have “Hidden Bid” auctions?  Why don’t you just show us the current bid price?

We really wish we could just show you the price, as we know you (our customers) do not like it.  I was not happy about developing “hidden bid” auctions because I knew we were going to get complaints about it.  However, we do not have a choice, because this is the only way our suppliers will allow us to auction these outstanding products at such low prices on our site.

We only use “hidden bid” auctions on products that have very specific restrictions from our suppliers to NOT show the current price.

Why, you ask?  Because most of the hidden bid auctions are for premium products
that we are selling for less (usually WAY less) than the supplier’s minimum price. You are going to get a great deal on these items because we always beat our competitors “guaranteed lowest price“.  The suppliers do not allow anyone else to sell it at the price we do!

The current bid price has to be “hidden” so that search engines do not pick up the price and so that our competitors still think they have the lowest price and do not complain to our supplier.

You’ve probably seen similar things on shopping sites, like Amazon, that say
“Click here to see the price” or “Add to cart to see price”, and the concept is similar on our site.

For our auctions, there are two easy ways you can get the current price:

1. Bid a really low amount (like $1) and if you are not the winner, you’ll get a message on what the current bid price is
2. Add the offer to your AuctionWatch

I recommend the second option, because if you are logged in and have an auction watch on the item, you will always see the current price.

We know the hidden bid auctions are slightly inconvenient, but we are sure the amount you will save will more than make up for it!

Gary Doughty
Chief Technology Officer
SkyAuction.com

Over the course of our tenure we have been really blessed to work with some fine suppliers in all aspects of our business.  None is more important to us than Occidental Hotels.  It has been a pleasure for us to offer these properties on our site because of the extremely high customer satisfaction rate they enjoy.  Why?  If you haven’t tried Occidental or any “All Inclusive property” you might not be aware of the superior value this kind of vacation represents.  It is basically a pay one price option that can fit almost any budget.

What the “All Inclusive” means to me:

Vacation time is precious so I never want to go anywhere were part of the daily regimen is worrying about where to go to eat or to socialize and when that is going to take place and how are we going to get there.  I want to relax and have all of the basics, (bar included) close by and easily accessible for whenever I decide to partake.   That is what makes all inclusive resorts like Occidental so valuable to me personally.  They are very well located in beautiful destinations, they offer excellent service, friendly staff, good meals and an all round great vacation value.   So if you are “vacation lazy”, like I am, or just like great value for the money you spend, I wholeheartedly recommend a trip to any one of the Occidental Resorts we offer.

Right now we are offering some very special deals on these vacations so I recommend that you check it out as soon as you possibly can. 

View the Special Offers

(I think I will ask my wife if she wants to go back to Royal Hideaway in Mexico which is one of our all time favorite vacation spots!)

My thanks to everyone who has read and written into our blogs in the first few days online.  I can speak for our entire management team in saying we are learning a thing or two from all you have had to tell us.  (I am also hearing, “I told you so” from many of our staff members)  We are trying to respond to every single comment and suggestion so please keep’em coming! Today is Tuesday and I am caught in the flux between winter and spring here in NYC.  I am reviewing some of our new products and one that caught my eye was our offer on several new products from the RIU hotel group.  I asked Carla, our Caribbean template publisher to give me a blurb on the properties.  As follows:

Skyauction.com is now proudly offering RIU Hotels and Resorts in exciting Mexican destinations such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Playacar and the Riviera Maya.  Located on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, these all inclusive RIU Hotels and Resorts are renowned for supreme quality and service with heart. In addition, RIU Hotels are offered in “categories” to suit every traveler’s taste: The Classic RIU Hotels are the chain’s signature properties, offering unforgettable service in an amazing setting. The RIU ClubHotels are all about cheer and fun and awakening the senses!  The RIU Palace Hotels are all about the luxury, where relaxation becomes an intense experience.  Whatever your travel style, Skyauction.com has an all inclusive RIU vacation just right for you.

Check out all of the latest RIU Hotels and Resorts offers on SkyAuction.

Wow, she’s good at writing this stuff, and I can tell you from the prices these are going off at, the value is spectacular!  So I encourage you strongly to take a look at these offers because there is no telling how long they will be around if they keep selling like they have been. On a side note, I have it on word from Don that we are going to have a special deal on Holland America’s Rotterdam June 10, 14 day sailing from Harwich.  The prices are too low to put on the site so you will need to call us at 866-636-7245 to get in on this one! Thanks again for your business and keep those comments coming.

I understood from the very beginning of Skyauction.com that we would become a favorite for value junkies everywhere!  Now that we are in our tenth year I am convinced that for many of you, there simply isn’t any other way to buy travel.  As someone who has been around the travel industry for 20 plus years, I can attest to the fact that even I have become jaded by the outstanding and even dare I say exciting deals we offer on a daily basis.  Is it any wonder that we have a religiously devoted customer following some of whom have purchased hundreds of trips from us over our tenure?  These good people are at the very core of why we do what we do everyday at Skyauction.com.  We love deals too!  We love bringing value to you and we work each and everyday to find the next exciting flight, cruise, hotel room, spa, restaurant, attraction, package that will be your next vacation!

As COO I was the guy who has wanted to have blogs for quite some time.  I like to write and I want you to write to me because it can’t just be one-sided if we are all going to learn something from each other.  I did pull a fast one on my colleagues because I kept the topic that was the most exciting (Deals and more) for myself.   I mean, I could write all day about this stuff.  I remember back in the day, Michael Hering and I used to comb all of our products to come up with what we considered a good deal for our customers.  Now, it seems like we are uncovering the very best values either of us has ever seen in our travel careers.  Call it fate or call it structural over capacity (fancy industry term) we call it just flat out great for our customers.  The best part is, even if you have been with us for years, we are always introducing something new that we hope will interest you to come on in and bid.

Now onto the deals.  I am not going to tell you that I have been everywhere and done everything, but I do get around.  The deals below are either new and cool or they are being discounted because we want them off the shelf.  Either way, that is a good thing for you.

Ok so you like Spam?  (I did when I was a kid) This has nothing to do with that other than the name Spamalot.  Well we have tickets in New York and Las Vegas so come and get them.  We also have many other Broadway shows and restaurants all over the United States so come and get a nice dinner and a show, really, really cheap.

Hey Dude, like the outdoors?  I can’t say that we see many horses here everyday in NYC (we do have a few)   but these ranches are some of the best of the best.  These places aren’t cheap and discounts are hard to find so if you like this kind of stuff best throw in a bid and rope yourself a deal!  Do a search on “Dude Ranches” and if it ain’t here, then you will be paying too much.

I love Cruises.  Ever since I went on my Honeymoon (25 years this year) I have been going back over and over again.  Now, you know we have all of lines worth sailing on both at auction and on our cruise engine but what you might not know is that we do our own little, what we call, ”value added promotions” that you won’t find anywhere else.  I can guarantee that this deal will make you feel like a “Celebrity” by saving you $400!  You are going to have to stay in a balcony cabin or better and sail to Alaska but we all have to make some sacrafices, right?  Do a little searching on Celebrity Cruise Lines Alaska offers and I am confident you will like what you see.