File under More Good News in Travel: Travelocity reports steep declines in Memorial Day airfares. The data show a dramatic drop in international fares for the holiday. A recent USA Today story by Marilyn Adams outlines the bargains that can be had for domestic fares.

Two key points:

 - At $295, average domestic airfare is under $300 round trip

 - At $610, international airfare is lower than 2005

I approached the podium cautiously. I knew my chances weren’t good. But I had to try.

It was nearing midnight in the Las Vegas airport and I was waiting with the huddled masses to board a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C. The flight was overcrowded, and I’d been stuck with—you guessed it—a middle seat. Normally, I just grin and bear it in these situations but not tonight. No. Tonight I really, really didn’t want a middle seat. And I was going to do something about it.

So I approached the podium. The gate agent looked up at me. “Can I help you,” she asked.

I took a deep breath. Took my ticket and put it on the counter in front of her. Putting on my most pathetic expression, I asked simply, “is there any hope”?

“You’ve got a middle seat, right,” she asked me. I nodded.

“You know this flight is completely booked,” she said sternly. I nodded again. “Okay,” she said. “Let me see what I can do.”

When I read the article on the attitude of Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit Airlines, in the New York Times business section this weekend entitled Don't Come Crying To This Airline I was blown away.  How brazen.  The word the article used was outrageous.

This morning, I did a radio interview on a topic that continues to get a ton of press coverage: declining airfares. It is true that we've seen significant year-over-year decreases in the cost of airfare. Our spring data report showed a 10 percent decline, and we're seeing similar story looking ahead to Memorial Day.

In the interview, I was asked about the fare sales that have been launched over the past couple of weeks. Since the beginning of the year, we've seen a bump in the number of sales carriers are launching. On Friday, American Airlines launched a sale promoting roundtrip fares as low as $98.

For years, Las Vegas has maintained its ranking as THE top destination in the world. While it’s still at the top of the pack, the economic downturn is hurting the mega-destination. Last week, Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport reported a 15.2 percent year-over-year decline for travel to-and-from the airport in February. Of course, capacity cuts are a contributor to the decline, with 11 percent fewer seats available.

But, anecdotally speaking, many travelers are holding off on a trip to Sin City simply because they end up spending too much money when they get there. Siting this particular reason, several people in my own circle of friends tell me they are cancelling their annual guys getaway.

The last time I went on a cruise, I was sporting alternating pink- and purple-colored braces on my teeth and spent most of my time in the teen club sipping virgin strawberry daiquiris. So when Carnival Cruise Lines invited a group of travel agents to try out their brand-new ship, the Carnival Splendor, I couldn't help but say, "Anchors aweigh!"

The Carnival Splendor is the newest, largest, and most innovative ship to date for the cruise line and boasts state-of-the-art onboard amenities like a top-deck mini golf course, a luxurious spa with a Thalassotherapy pool, a big-screen, open-air theater, a Twister waterslide, and the Serenity adults-only lounging area. I was treated to a balcony cabin for my two-night cruise out of San Francisco, and most of the wining, dining, and amenities were included so we could really enjoy the ship.

Welcome to the first TWS Deal of the Day entry! This is a brand-new feature highlighting the best travel deals available.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Ben the Grate.

TWS DEAL OF THE DAY

Best of Barbados: Get up to $600 air credit, free nights, free breakfast daily and more  when you book your 5 or 7-night stay Barbados vacation by April 10, 2009 for travel May 1 to July 15 or September 1 to December 20.

Participating hotels and resorts include:

Almond Beach Club - All Inclusive

Almond Beach Village - All Inclusive

Almond Casuarina - All Inclusive

Barbados Beach Club - All Inclusive

Beach View Hotel

Bougainvillea Beach Resort

Colony Club Hotel

Crystal Cove Hotel - All Inclusive

Please don't use the "S" word in my presence. You know the one. Starts with "S" and ends with "taycation." It positively chills me to think about would-be travelers staying home. Like, in their houses. Watching TV and eating chips or something. When they don't have to! People, I don't know if you've heard, but a close friend of yours (me!) coined 2009 the "year of the travel deal." You see, I have insider information, so I'm allowed to make such statements.

photo courtesy of IgoUgo member RobAA

Ah, Colombia: perfectly preserved colonial cities, a salsa beat for every street, a vibrant mountain capital, vine-covered jungles, and pounds and pounds of that white...sand.

I just got back from the South American country, and any remnant worries of a drug-laden danger zone were shattered the moment I landed in Cartagena’s balmy Caribbean embrace. As I traveled around for 11 days, reminders of the troubles that make American news reports were few and far between, and proof that Colombia deserves its nascent reputation as a traveler’s paradise was everywhere. And I felt safe 100% of the time.

Whenever someone asks me how I keep costs down while traveling, a lot of my answers (much like my life) revolve around food: book a hotel where breakfast is included, treat lunch as your main meal of the day, pack a picnic, ask a local shopkeeper or taxi driver for his favorite restaurant. And since this economic downtown began, I’ve been hearing more and more that travelers are choosing to eat at BYOB restaurants.

Bringing your own bottle to dinner is certainly a great way to save cash, and it affords you the added pleasure of exploring local groceries and shopping for local wines. And if you’ve already picked up a bottle or two on your trip, drinking them at a restaurant guarantees you’ll have zero chance of them being confiscated when you try to smuggle them home.