(August 25, 2011) SAN FRANCISCO (PRNewswire) — Hotwire.com, a discount travel site, has released a new monthly Hotwire Travel Savings Indicator, which features the top five cities in North America where hotel, air and car rental rates have dropped the most.

Expanding on the Hotel Rate Report, the Travel Savings Indicator uses the same extensive pricing research to cover the three most popular travel products. The new report helps guide travelers to the best destinations to maximize their travel dollars each month. The spotlight is on Hawaii for August, where price drops across all three categories are coming at the perfect time to inspire end-of-summer travel. 

"Over the past year we've seen travel costs rise higher, and finding great deals takes a bit more skill and know-how," said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. "So at Hotwire, we decided to create an all-in-one, monthly tool that helps travelers pick great destinations where they can find the best hotel, air and car rental bargains. That way, customers will get the most out of their travel budget and may even have the opportunity to fit in more trips."

Topping the hotel list this month with a 12 percent decrease is Santa Fe, N.M., where news of area wildfires and summer temperatures has weakened tourist demand to this cultural hub.

Meanwhile, travelers to Springfield, Mo., should consider staying in nearby Branson, which makes its debut at the number two spot with an 11 percent price drop due to a competitive hotel pricing environment. Known as the "Live Music Show Capital of the World," Branson's location at the center of the U.S. makes it less than a day's drive for one-third of Americans.

Those seeking ideal leisure destinations should consider Oahu, which is the third largest island in Hawaii, and this month's hottest overall deal market. Hotels are pricing quite competitively in Oahu, especially at the 4-star level. Napa, Calif., is another great getaway destination that is currently experiencing lower than average group travel, and is therefore reducing prices by five percent. Rounding out the top five for the first time since 2010 is Atlantic City, where a softer summer demand this year is affecting prices.

When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price reductions for August 2011 include:

Weaker demand and stronger supply are driving rates down for the five air markets with the biggest fare decreases this month. Burbank, Calif., with a 10 percent average price drop, is a great alternative to Los Angeles International Airport, which is the third busiest airport in the United States. Hawaii continues its claim as a hot deal market as well, with flights into Kailua Kona down by five percent.

This makes for a great opportunity for leisure travelers to island hop with inexpensive inter-island flights as well. Rounding out the top five air list for August is Dallas, where new low cost carrier routes are driving prices down with the launch of Virgin America and Spirit.

The Hotwire Travel Savings Indicator runs results during the second week of each month. Results are calculated by looking at Hotwire booking data for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year.