CheapTickets.com Memorial Day Cheapometer Reveals Alternative Destinations Offering Savings Up to 60%

Summer Sale Eases Price Crunch with $50-Off Three Night Vacations

CHICAGO, May 12 -- Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer, and whether aiming for a holiday weekend spent shopping in the big city, hiking the mountains or lounging on the beach, travelers have ample choices. Staying on budget is top-of-mind as summer approaches, and in response, CheapTickets.com is announcing their annual Summer Sale(1) and Memorial Day Cheapometer(SM) for 2008. A pricing guide that reviews where travelers can maximize their money, the Cheapometer suggests top alternatives to some of weekend's most popular retreats, revealing savings upwards of 60 percent.

Offering $50-off qualifying flight + hotel packages of three or more nights using the promotional code SUNSALE50, CheapTickets' Summer Sale allows for savings on top destinations such as Denver, Tucson and Chicago. Travelers must book by July 6, 2008 and travel through August 31, 2008.

"In the current economic climate, travelers are acutely aware of the bottom line for their summer travel plans," said Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for CheapTickets. "While travelers will find good deals in many of these popular destinations, such as New York City, Los Angeles and Sedona, don't discount some of these alternative picks that have similar appeal to their popular counterparts."

Memorial Day 2008 Cheapometer:

CheapTickets focused on a range of popular travel regions -- including big cities, mountain towns, Southwest hotspots and beach retreats. CheapTickets then identified top-notch alternatives offering significant savings this Memorial Day Weekend.

            CheapTickets' Top Alternatives for Memorial Day 2008

  Destination             Average     Alternative        Average  Savings(2)
                        Daily Rate                      Daily Rate
  Sedona, AZ              $208.64     Tucson, AZ          $80.17     62%
  Jackson Hole, WY        $164.94     Denver, CO          $76.23     52%
  Los Angeles, CA         $148.00     Orange County, CA   $83.00     45%
  New York City           $207.58     Chicago, IL         $124.29    40%
  Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $116.32     Mazatlan, Mexico    $69.24     40%
  Myrtle Beach, SC        $154.61     Virginia Beach, VA  $122.80    20%



  Top Memorial Day Alternatives:

For those flexible about their destination -- but not their experience -- CheapTickets' top alternatives are a Memorial Day weekend must. Example packages (for travel May 23 - 26, 2008), utilizing CheapTickets' Summer Sale, highlight the great summer deals to be had ($50 savings have been applied).(3):

Tucson, AZ - Late May is the perfect time to explore the Southwest. Prices have dropped for the season, but travelers can still beat the peak of summer's heat. Tucson hotels are offering more than 60 percent savings compared to their Sedona counterparts, and the Tucson Pops are hosting a free Memorial Day concert as a beautiful tribute to servicemen past and present.

Fly from Seattle to Tucson and stay 3 nights at the 3-star Palo Verde Inn & Suites from $483 per person.

Denver, CO - For fresh mountain air, Memorial Day travelers should head to Denver, where prices are 52 percent less than in Jackson Hole, WY. At the 10th Annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival this Memorial Day weekend, travelers can enjoy a free peek at the works of Colorado's best artists.

Fly from Chicago to Denver and stay 3 nights at the 3-star Red Lion Denver Central from $211 per person.

Orange County, CA - Hitting the best beach retreats can also be a hit to the wallet during summer months. However, hotel costs in California's Orange County are 45 percent less than in Los Angeles. Newport Beach is hosting a Food & Wine Festival Memorial Day Weekend, and visitors can toast summer tasting a variety the world's best wines, ports and cognacs.

Fly from Chicago to Orange County and stay 3 nights at the 4-star Costa Mesa Marriott from $497 per person.

Chicago, IL - For big city splendor without a big price tag, travelers should consider Chicago over New York, where they can find a 40 percent savings on hotel stays this Memorial Day. The Chicago Memorial Day Parade is a must -- considered among the largest of its kind in the United States -- featuring marching bands, drum and bugle corps and beyond.

Fly from Minneapolis to Chicago and stay 3 nights at the 3-star Allerton Hotel from $314 per person.

Mazatlan, Mexico - Heading south of the border for Memorial Day? Mazatlan is offering 40 percent savings compared to Puerto Vallarta, which makes for a convincing argument. Explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau declared the Sea of Cortes the "world's aquarium," and travelers can experience the region's best during a sailing eco tour around Mazatlan's islands.

Fly from Dallas to Mazatlan and stay 3 nights at the 3-star Las Flores Beach Resort from $656 per person.

Virginia Beach, VA - Families will find Virginia Beach offers a little bit of everything: beautiful beaches, countryside and discounts (20 percent hotel savings compared to Myrtle Beach, SC). Virginia Beach's Pungo Strawberry Festival, held Memorial Day Weekend, features 50 different ways to eat summer's sweet treat. Kids will delight in the pie eating competitions featuring, yes -- strawberries.

Fly from New York City to Virginia Beach and stay 3 nights at the 4-star Cavalier Hotel- On the Hill from $436 per person.

For more information on CheapTickets' Summer Sale, visit: http://www.cheaptickets.com/

  Terms & Conditions:
  (1)  Book a qualifying flight + hotel vacation package between May 12,
       2008 and July 6, 2008, for 3 nights for travel between May 12, 2008
       and August 31, 2008, via CheapTickets and instantly receive $50 off
       your purchase through the use of the promotion code.  To display
       qualifying vacation packages, click "I have a promotion code" and
       enter the promotion code, then look for vacation packages marked with
       the icon "COUPON."  Limit one discount per hotel room and one
       promotion code per purchase. Discounts are not redeemable for cash
       for any reason. Any attempt at fraud will be prosecuted to the
       fullest extent of the law. Void where prohibited, taxed or
       restricted. CheapTickets reserves the right to change or limit the
       promotion in its sole discretion.
       Promo code: SUNSALE50
  (2)  Percentage savings were calculated on 4/30/2008 by taking the average
       price for all 3-star hotel bookings in the listed city purchased on
       CheapTickets.com for travel over Memorial Day Weekend 2008 (arrivals
       5/22-5/24) and comparing them with the average price for all 3-star
       hotel bookings in the listed alternative destination purchased on
       CheapTickets.com during the same time period.
  (3)  Sample rates shown were accurate and available on CheapTickets.com on
       5/7/2008 on the dates specified and may not represent current prices
       because our real-time pricing booking engine is constantly updating
       prices and availability. Vacation package prices shown are for one
       adult, based on double-occupancy, include applicable taxes and fees,
       and will vary by selected day of departure, departure city, length of
       stay, hotel selected, hotel room category, and availability. $50
       promo code savings have been applied to package costs.

  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 brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) .