Used to be, you didn’t have to sell Hawaii - people would simply come.

But that was before airfares started creeping upwards - and Jeff over at the Beat of Hawaii website tells us that “seats, and travelers are down over 20%.” In response, tourism officials are launching a $4.5 million marketing campaign, to lure visitors back.

A lot of the focus will be on “vacation packages” at what are said to be deeply discounted prices.

We have already been hearing about some nice hotel deals there - and the same goes for hotel deals in Las Vegas, another popular destination that’s facing some painful airline capacity cuts.

Maybe nothing will come of this - or if something does, it could still be years away, but - this is not a bad idea.

It seems the founder of the now defunct Columbus-based Skybus has been trying to create a carrier called Jet America, and he’s looking for a home for it. One potential home-site: Cincinnati.

But not so fast: Cincinnati airport officials say, the airport board cannot offer any incentives to Jet America - or, any other airline.

Too bad. An acquaintance of mine who regularly “flies to Cincinnati” actually does no such thing - he flies to Dayton or Columbus or even Indianapolis - because, he says, airfare to Cincinnati is just too expensive.

In my latest ABCNews.com column, you’ll read all about how some of America’s most popular vacation spots are feeling the “squeeze” of route cut-backs. And they’re not the only ones hurting.

Too busy to read the whole column? Then let’s hit the highlights:

• Orlando will lose about 12% of its flights (including direct service to 8 mid-size cities including Allentown, PA)
• Las Vegas loses 12 flights from Southwest, and more than 70 from US Airways
• Gambling revenues were down in the first four months of the year, and hotels profits fell as well
• Metro NY loses direct service to Bangkok, Bucharest and Bologna and more
• Direct flights from NY to Tucson? Not this year

I also talk about how some smaller airports, like Kansas City, are fighting to keep their customers, by offering coupons for a day of free parking, and more. And hotels are experimenting with miles and discounts to hang on to their business.

Are you a snowbird who loves to leave the slush of New York behind you to head to Tucson each winter?

Well, you can still go - it’s just going to take you a lot longer. We did some research for Crain’s New York Business “Airlines cut flights out of NY”and I was surprised at the amount of cutbacks, especially to warm weather destinations. Tucson is one of the cities that, by year’s end, will lose non-stop service from New York - along with Huntsville, Alabama and Daytona Beach, Florida.

And when I say New York, I mean JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.

The legacy airlines are dropping around 10 cities each (other than Northwest).

On the international side, you can forget flying non-stop from New York to Bangkok, Bologna and Bucharest.

You know what this is all about - money and the cost of fuel. The airlines are cutting capacity to keep their planes full and bring in as many bucks as they can. And of course, with fewer flights, there’s less competition which breeds higher prices. Leisure routes are hurt the worst because airlines can’t make money on full flights and leisure airline ticket prices.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you expect to be flying during the holidays this year, start shopping NOW.

Why Chicago? Why not. It’s a great city. But when I think of Labor Day, I think of the ocean or bucolic picnic spots or…well, I don’t think of Chicago.

However, according to Hotwire, Chicago is #1 — for the third year in a row. That’s based on the number of the site’s hotel bookings. Here’s the full Hotwire list (and last year’s ranking is in parentheses):

1. Chicago (1)

2. Boston (5)

3. New York City (2)

4. Seattle (26)

5. Las Vegas (8)

6. San Diego, CA (9)

7  New Orleans (7)

8  Los Angeles (11)

9  Toronto (14)

10 Atlanta (3)

Well, we should find out which state has the very best travel website very soon. Voting closes tonight.

Voting? Sure — this is the “Great Travel Website SHOWDOWN” — brought to you by the intelligent and entertaining folks at Travel 2.0.

Here’s the “Final 8″ state websites — the websites that were in contention as of June:

Ohio vs. Michigan
North Carolina vs. Oregon
Hawaii vs. Virginia
New Hampshire vs. Illinois

And now — it’s down to just 2: Michigan and Virginia.

Vote for you favorite. And tell me why it’s your favorite. By the way, no prizes — just bragging rights.

I got a chuckle over Jaunted’s amusing take on the “Super World Travelers Babies” — meaning the spawn of “Brangelina”. Oh, in case you’re wondering, that baby on the left is not one of the celebrity twins — I didn’t have the $14 million to pay for real pictures, as People magazine reportedly did.

Anyway, the Pitt-Jolie clan does seem to fly all over the globe (the twins were born in France, another child was born in Namibia, etc.).

Fortunately, they seem to do most of their traveling on private planes. Helps cut down on all those first and second checked bag fees.

The credit card company Visa has just completed a survey that shows Americans who like to travel — are still going to travel.

Or they plan to, at any rate.

The survey, done in May, found that 2/3’s of Americans who had traveled outside in the U.S. in the past 3 years were as eager — or even more eager, to do it again. And within the next year.

The weak dollar, and rising airfares just doesn’t seem to matter to them. Though some said they might not travel as far as they used to. Which makes sense when you consider the most popular destinations listed by those surveyed were Canada and Mexico.

The next most popular destinations? Coming right up, so keep reading…

Delta is already doing it…and more airlines will soon be joining in. I’m talking about a new phenomenon: ads on your boarding passes.

These are “destination specific” ads that will provide “useful information for [your] journey”. You will start noticing these ads in the coming days and weeks when you go to print out your boarding pass.

Now some people might consider these ads “clutter” and my first reaction was:

I guess I’ll have be changing that colored ink cartridge on my printer more often.

But hey, if it helps the airlines any, I’m all for it.

BAD NEWS: Just when we had something of a mini-airfare war going on with Hawaii routes (started by Continental, and United quickly followed), instead of expanding these ridiculously low prices a major increase has been fired out (the skirmish might stick on those few city pairs for a few more days).

In other words, Continental has just increased roundtrip fares to Hawaii from $60 to $203. Yep, the war is over; but let this be a reminder to you: if you SEE great fares, JUMP on them. They do not last.

Continental has also increased airfares for thousands of other city pairs by $40 to $60, mostly in what was once tip-toe territory — low cost airline cities.

GOOD NEWS: Delta is dropping airfares (by $34 to $60 roundtrip) to Anchorage, the greater Denver resort cities area and Cincinnati.

Going on vacation this summer? Going to fly? You’re going to need this:

1. Make a Plan

Sounds obvious, right? But a lot of us DON’T plan, and this year, more than ever, it’ll pay off to plan and plan early. Fuel surcharges are only going up; the sooner you make a plan, the sooner you will “lock in” the price — and save.

2. Be Flexible on Destinations

Want to go “Destination A” but it’s just too expensive? Then don’t go to “Destination A”! Seriously, summer travel pricing is going to be very sensitive to where you live; some cities will get clobbered (smaller towns without low-cost airline service) and some cities will see higher-than-usual prices (bigger cities without low-cost airline coverage). Look for a cheaper alternative — or, be prepared to pay more than you want. The choice, after all, is yours.

3. Try Florida

Keep reading and I’ll tell you why — and give you the rest of my tips.

The weak dollar: bad for us, good for them — “them” being, international visitors.

And for the 2^nd year in a row, the U.S. attracted a record number of visitors in 2007 (almost 57-million, and they spent more than $120-billion).

But the Travel Industry Association (TIA) says, “where are the high-roller tourists?”

I’m going to need your comments on this one, so please, keep reading…

Let’s see, you’ve received the wedding invitation, bought the gift, rented the tux. What else?

My Trips!

My Trips was made for matrimony–especially when the ceremony involved a lot of guests. There will be a lot of wedding this season (figure at least 100,000 of them in Vegas) and you’ve got to be there.

Let me tell you how to do it cheaply…and show you the most popular wedding months, and, most popular wedding destinations!

Saw an interesting item about entering Canada with a DUI conviction, from the always interesting Los Angeles Times Travel Editor Catharine Hamm.

You can see her story here; essentially, someone wrote in asking if having a DUI on his record would make it difficult for him to cross the border into Canada.

Difficult?

Short answer: yes.

More about this, and what you might be able to do to change your record, coming up.

Remember the song, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”? It was a hit for Peter, Paul and Mary when it was released in 1969, and it’s a perfect anthem for the so-called Baby Boomers.

Why? Because boomers love to travel.

And that’s one of the few characteristics you can ascribe to this group of unique and adventuresome individuals (a group that includes Brad Pitt, Jimmy Buffett, Courteney Cox and Madonna).

If you’re a boomer (born 1946 through 1964), I need your help: tell me where you love to travel to (and please keep reading for details).

Did you know that some of the most gorgeous views of Manhattan are available to you from the Staten Island Ferry?

I am talking about “Wow!” views of the Statue of Liberty, the New York City skyline, and more.

And did you know, the Staten Island Ferry is free? Well, it is for now, anyway.

Better keep reading…

I just read 2-great articles with 2-different takes on how international travelers can stretch their dollars this year.

Economizing is travel author Rick Steves’ theme: he suggests staying at B & B’s and hostels; using public transportation instead of rental-cars, and ATM’s instead of travelers’ checks. See more of his ideas here.

Travel + Leisure touts going where the dollar isn’t so weak, including Eastern Europe, the Bahamas, Brazil, Vietnam and New Zealand. More suggestions here.

Planning is key. So is saving on airfare; use our Email Alerts.

I’ve got some great tips for those of you who are thinking of taking a vacation during the upcoming Spring Break.

There’s not much time left (as I’m sure you know).

But you’ve come to the right place for cheap airfare sales info ; check out these great tips here.

Liked this story? Check out all our great deals, here.

THE FARECOMPARE.COM LIST

Top 12 INTERNATIONAL Travel Tips (Trans-Atlantic Focus)

Virgin America comes to San Diego.

What kind of effect will Branson’s baby have on competitors, and what new luxuries can passengers expect?

Usually when the major airlines lower prices significantly (airfare sales), they tend to highlight the large hubs and most popular destinations they’re offering deals for.

It’s rare that our airfare processing system notes new airfare deals to some of the “really” small airports out there.

It was fun to see on Halloween that United Airlines has seen the light (or the darkness as it were) and has offered savings ranging from $20 to $300 on new 21-day advance tickets to/from some of the smallest airports in the U.S:

Poor Pittsburgh. Well, maybe that’s going a little far; after all, they still have the Steelers, and Forbes magazine recently called them one of the world’s cleanest cities.

But its terrific airport is not doing so well. In fact, in an informative USA Today column, the situation is referred to as “the death of an airline hub.”

A lot of the problems stem from the recent announcement by US Airways that it is again pulling down its capacity at their “moribund” Pittsburgh hub. It’s been reported that this US Airways’ hub lost $40 million in 2006. Surprising, when you consider that just a few years ago, the airline and its affiliates were operating over 500-daily departures; now that figure is less than 250-departures, and soon, it’ll be less than half that.

I was just reviewing the 10am EDT domestic airfare distribution feed and noticed that United Airlines raised prices across the board to Honolulu by $20-$25.

It is pretty unusual to see a single city targeted for an increase system wide, but it does happen from time to time…

Our friends over at Gadling.com surprised and delighted us with a terrific review of FareCompare’s “Getaway Maps”. What was especially nice was that Gadling really “got it”; they understand what a terrific tool these maps are for those who are looking for, say, a mini-vacation weekend in a great spot at a great price. When you click on the maps (on FareCompare’s home page–you can’t miss them), you see all the cheap flights available from YOUR town. Makes it easy to get on a plane and go!