Bungolow: New Private-Sale Site Debuts

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com, a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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Bungolow is the latest private-sale site to check in with me, and it looks interesting. The idea, says operator Scott Bird, is to concentrate on “just one hotel at a time,” allowing it to be “more vigilant” about having a “great price.” Bungolow does reasonably well on my current try. The featured hotel is the Hotel Be Playa in Playa del Carmen, Mexico; the sale rate of $123 plus tax is better than the Expedia rate of $156 plus tax for a standard room; the sale window runs through January 16, and the sale rate is available most dates through June. A welcome feature on Bungolow is a display of the all-up rate, including taxes and fees, along with the more usual base rate.

Bungolow says its focus is on “hip and upscale” hotels in Latin America. It’s not all Mexico; the next sale is for what looks to be an interesting “retreat” in Chile.

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