This tidbit is 4 travel auctions!!!  Europe from 99 cents? That was the starting bid on a new auction Web site from Contiki Holidays that went live today.

The tour operator, which specializes in travel for 18- to 35 year-olds, is auctioning off a 14-day European Discovery trip through London, Amsterdam Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Paris, valued at $2,200 a person. Bidding ends Dec. 15. Just two hours after the auction opened, the bidding had jumped to $1,260.

Auctions like these have been gaining popularity as tour operators seek new ways to dispose of unsold inventory amid the recession.

Take Abercrombie & Kent. It held a six-hour online reverse-auction in February in which starting bids were lowered an additional 5 percent every half hour until the discount reached 60 percent or the trip sold out. The sale was so successful it’s hosting a similar sale Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. E.S.T.

Travelers can also bid on vacations at sites like Luxurylink.com and FloridaVacationAuction.com.

This is a very interesting concept I will have to watch and see how good the deals are.  Let me know what you think .

Safe and Happy Holiday Travel

Jaye