Cheapflights.com Re-ignites Olympic Torch with Visits to Past (and Future) Host Cities

BOSTON (April 8, 2008) – In just four short months, the world will anxiously watch to see who captures the coveted gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Not everyone will get the opportunity to witness the Olympics live. Cheapflights.com wants to give supporters suggestions on visiting five North American locations that have hosted the Games previously—but won’t cost a brick of gold to get there.

“If you can’t make it to this year’s festivities overseas, don’t forget that some of the greatest Olympic moments took place in our own back yards,” said Carl Schwartz, chief travel officer for Cheapflights.com. “From the Rocky Mountains of Canada to the mighty Mississippi River, consider these former and future host cities for a money-saving Olympic experience you’ll always remember.”

1. Lake Tahoe/Squaw Valley: This spectacular region on the California-Nevada border played host to the 1960 Winter Olympics. With an abundance of ski resorts for wintertime fun and the second deepest lake in the U.S. offering a variety of aquatic activities during the summer, outdoor enthusiasts will never get bored. Visitors from Texas looking to don skis (water or snow) can visit this adventurous wonderland for under $225 by booking tickets from Dallas or Houston on Cheapflights.com.

2. Calgary: Home of the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary is well-known as a destination for winter sports and ecotourism. In the city’s Olympic Plaza, built specifically for the Games, the Soviet Union was presented with 132 medals—the most won by any participating nation that year. Visitors to the Plaza should see the Legacy Wall, which features plaques commemorating medal winners from the Games. Thrill-seekers from Arizona, one of Calgary’s sister cities and a state many Canadians flock to in the winter, can take a quick flight from Phoenix for less than $300. Consider visiting in July during the Calgary Stampede, which bills itself as the “greatest outdoor show on Earth.”

3. St. Louis: St. Louis made history by being the first American city to host the Summer Olympics in 1904. Visit the auspicious Francis Field location on the Washington University campus or take a walk through nearby Forrest Park. The park is the second largest inner-city park in the country and home to the St. Louis Art Museum, History Museum and Zoo, among other attractions. Travelers flying in from either Los Angeles or New York can find cheap deals on Cheapflights.com for less than $200 round trip.

4. Vancouver: Grab your inunnguaq (the Inuktitut word for “friend” and the Games’ official mascot) and head to Vancouver (and nearby Whistler) before the crowds arrive to celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympics. This will be the first time British Columbia has hosted the event, beating out PyeongChang, South Korea and Salzburg, Austria. Chicagoans can catch pre-Olympic fever with a cheap flight to Vancouver for as little as $300 on Cheapflights.com.

5. Los Angeles: Home of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, the City of Angels is one of the few to host the Games twice. It was during the 1984 Olympics that the women’s marathon was introduced. That year, America’s Joan Benoit took the first gold medal in the new category. Bostonians looking to take a break in the west can leap over to L.A. for less than $250.

Cheapflights.com gives Olympic aficionados who are flexible with their travel schedules the opportunity to win golden deals. The site’s unique destination-first search model uses a simple “From” and “To” start mark—no need to worry about hurdles such as specific dates and times to slow you down.

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