[December 19, 2012]

LowFares.com 2012 Travel Survey Reveals 40% Increase in Holiday Travel Plans Despite Concerns over the 'Fiscal Cliff' and Personal Financial Situations

LowFares.com^TM, the travel comparison search site for great deals on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages, released results today from an online survey of its U.S.-based email subscribers. The results revealed that 66% of those surveyed plan to travel during the 2012 year-end holiday season as compared to only 47% who did so in 2011. This represents a significant 40% year-over-year increase in holiday travel.

The survey results also revealed the following details about key factors influencing 2012 year-end holiday travel plans:

• For the second year in a row, the survey found that 36% of respondents are not making holiday travel plans due to their personal financial situation
• Some 16% of respondents were concerned about the "Fiscal Cliff," causing them not to travel in 2012.
• 23% of those surveyed have not yet decided if they will travel during the holidays.
• 37% of the survey respondents, who were planning year-end holiday travel to New York, New Jersey, or New England prior to Super Storm Sandy, have cancelled their year-end holiday plans because of the storm's impact.

"Our year-end holiday travel survey shows signs that the travel industry is continuing to recover and has remained strong from initial improvements seen this past summer," said Raj Beri (News - Alert), General Manager of LowFares. "However, the survey also indicates that personal financial situations continue to keep a significant number of people from making holiday travel plans far in advance. As a result, we expect that consumers will look for "nearcations" and search online for last minute travel deals."

Quick Tips for Stress-Free Travel

With the significant increase in holiday travelers, the travel professionals at LowFares.com have compiled some tips for stress-free travel:

• Send holiday gift packages ahead to your destination. Whether in checked or in carryon baggage, gift wrapped packages are usually opened and checked. If you must take gifts with you, pack them unwrapped and pack a few gifts bags to use at your destination.
• Consider giving gift cards because they are easy to pack, do not require checking, and are always enjoyed by recipients.
• If you are flying to your holiday destination early, check out nearby shopping centers on your mobile device and do your shopping once you have arrived at your destination.
• Keep the mobile phone charger with you. Communicating during travel is essential and recharging is now easy at most airports.
• Make a list of what you need to take on your trip. While this seems mundane, it's a great help at a time when travelers are juggling so many things.
• If you're staying with family, ask if you can borrow the hair dryer or other staples instead of packing them. This way, you can travel lighter.
• When flying, follow the TSA rules so that the security check can go smoothly. Lots of good tips on their website; http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/helpful-hints-holiday-travelers
• Keep smiling. Everyone is stressed, especially when flights are delayed or cancelled. Stand out from the crowd by being polite. It may even diffuse some of the stress for those around you.

Oversee's Travel Vertical consists of consumer price comparison and destination information websites that include LowFares.com, FareSpotter.net, AboutAirportpParking.com and AirportParking.com. With more than 4.2 million unique visitors per month, these properties allow consumers to make informed travel purchase decisions while at the same time funneling high quality, pre-qualified consumer leads to brand name advertising partners.

About Oversee.net

Oversee.net® is a leader in online performance marketing. Using proprietary technology, it helps advertisers acquire valuable, pre-qualified leads. Its DomainSponsor® business unit pioneered the monetization of direct navigation traffic in 2002 and now operates one of the largest PPC and CPV traffic networks in the world with over 250 million unique visitors per month. Oversee's owned and operated lead generation websites in the travel, retail and consumer finance verticals produce over 14 million high-converting leads per month for advertisers by providing users with the information they need to make smart purchase decisions. Oversee also owns DOMAINfest®, a conference series for domain investors and online marketing professionals. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Oversee has offices in New York City and Frankfurt, Germany.

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