Vacation Planning

I discovered a really great resource in my Alaskan research, and before you make one plan for a visit, you should explore the Alaska Toursaver. This travel coupon book offers hundreds of “2-for1″ savings on everything: tours, accomodations, dining, attractions, shopping, and more! It seems a bit pricey at $99.95, BUT, even if you use only one or two coupons, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Some examples:

Purchase at least a 6-day RV rental from ABC Motorhomes, and get three of those days free! There aren’t even any blackout periods. RVs are great ways to explore the country.

Purchase a 1/2-day Salmon Fishing trip from Alaska Trophy Fishing, get the 2nd person’s trip free. You’ll save over $200 on this coupon!

Purchase a 3 day/2 night Fishing Adventure from Alaska Big Five Fishing Lodges, and receive an accompanying trip for free. That alone saves $2475!!

The list goes on, so be sure to check it out if you’re planning a visit to our 49th state. The coupons include boat tours, museum fees, lodge stays, dining, helicoptor tours, and much more.

Anchorage offers a list of special travel deals, so you’ll want to check out their Web site if you’ll be traveling in that area. 

Most of the major cities offer visitors guides and some even offer coupon books, so check the local chamber where you plan to visit for other money-saving deals.

Dining options in Montgomery vary greatly - as does the quality and the price. I’ll list a few of our favorites here, and if anyone else has favorites, please share them in the comments.

As mentioned in Monday’s post - Chris’s Hot Dogs. This diner on Dexter Avenue downtown is a landmark, and has been in operation for over 90 years. It’s a MUST on a Montgomery visit.

Another long-standing restaurant is Peking Palace on 2380 E. South Boulevard (that’s the loop that runs around the town, and at various places has different names, but is just referred to locally as “the Boulevard.”) The staff has been around almost as long as the business and they treat regulars like family. The food is fresh, flavors perfection. Prices are very reasonable too, with many lunches under $5, and dinners under $10.

The favorite seafood place in town is Jubilee Seafood on Woodley Road. A must on the menu - sauteed crab claws. Their regular menu varies to provide the freshest selections possible, so inquire about the specials on your visit.

Three locations for BBQ - all are franchises, but have good food. Country’s, Jim & Nick’s, and Dreamland (of the famous Tuscaloosa franchise.)

The east side of town has flourished in the last couple of years, and restaurants are popping up all over. From fine dining to comfy and casual, you’ll find almost any kind of food you crave. The Montgomery Convention and Visitor Bureau provides a lengthy list of options, and as mentioned in Monday’s post, you can pick up a map that highlights numerous restaurants at the Visitor’s Center at Union Station.

We’ve only touched on Montgomery this week - I’ll share more about Alabama in later posts.

I’m interrupting our weekly focus on Alabama because I just got this press release and thought some of you might be interested. It looks like so much fun!

Around-the-World Travel Adventure Competition Looking To Crown The World’s Greatest Travelers

SANTA MONICA, CA - 19 November 2008 - Ever sit on the couch watching The Amazing Race, and say: “I could do that!” Well, now you can participate in what Outside magazine calls, “… one of the most amazing trips in the world!” But could you win the real life around the world travel adventure competition?

The buzz in London last week at the annual World Travel Market’s get together among global travel professionals was: Who are The World’s Greatest Travelers? Travel writers, tour guides, travel agents, former reality TV contestants? None of the above–at least not yet!

Many of those travel pros and regular Indiana Jones-types have participated in the international challenge known as The Global Scavenger Hunt, but so far, the winners of the annual around the world travel adventure competition have just been wonderfully resourceful and instinctive travelers, not travel professionals.

The 5th annual three-week international travel adventure competition that will visit at least 10 nations on 4 continents begins again next April 19th, 2009, and the field of 25 two-person teams is filling up fast.

“We had some good chuckles in London,” says Event Director William D. Chalmers, “The challenge has been made that’s for sure. Travel agents always claim they are the best travelers, but someone in London said many were more a kin to high school guidance counsellors–they tell you where to go but have never personally been there themselves. We’ve had travel writers compete previously thinking they were the greatest travelers–but this is no fam trip, no press junket–it is a serious competition and they seem to wilt under the marathon-like pressure of actually having to do scavenges themselves. And then there are the professional tour operators who think they are the best travelers because of their ‘niche experience’. Well, their narrow experience doesn’t seem to prepare them for this worldwide event,” laughs, Chalmers a previous winner of an around the world race and travel book author.

And so, The Global Scavenger Hunt is now looking to fill the final few open slots with highly-motivated globetrotting adventurers who think they have what it takes to go on A Blind Date With The WorldT, compete against other travel savvy competitors trying to overcome the event’s numerous challenges and win the title of The World’s Greatest TravelersT. Travelers will race from Los Angeles to New York-the really long way!

One former participant said the travel competition was, “…like Survivor, The Amazing Race and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with MUCH more cultural interaction!”

“The Global Scavenger Hunt is all about allowing real travelers to compete in a real travel adventure competition, for all the right reasons–the love of travel, trusting strangers in strange lands and giving something back to the planet,” continues the Event’s Director, “Some have called our annual event the ‘Olympics of Travel’, some refer to it as A Blind Date with the World because our travelers won’t have any foreknowledge as to what countries they’re going to until they’re onboard a 747 bound for parts unknown, and some have even called it a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. I like that one!”

A cultural immersion at its best, the travel competition event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race. The object is to test each Team’s ability to combat not only the inevitable jetlag, but language difficulties, cultural differences, their appetite for strange foods, logistical snafus, and Team dynamics in the atmosphere of a well organized competition. Truly the ‘Olympics of Travel,’ couch potatoes and armchair travelers need not apply. This real world travel adventure competition is only for the hardiest and most curious travel savvy Type-A globetrotters. GreatEscape2009 is for those who crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, real competition and world-class fun while being a roaming travel ambassador.

But there is much more to this event than riding elephants, swimming with sharks, visiting the great ancient bazaars of the world and witnessing Sahara sunrises and Himalayan sunsets–there are lives to change! The event is a global travel-a-thon that has participants traveling a million kilometers for the $1 million goal to raise money for life-changing organizations. Last year’s event helped scores of families with micro-loans and helped construct and fund three elementary schools in Niger, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone in conjunction with organizations like Kiva, The Nomad Foundation and Free the Children. Funds raised also support Doctors without Borders, Partners in Health and CARE, among others.

The Global Scavenger HuntT is limited to 25 two-person Teams (singles may apply). The entry fee of $9,900 per person covers all international airfare, 23-nights in First Class hotels and about 40% of meals. Teams are interviewed for suitability. Visit and apply online or call 310.281.7809.

For years, I’ve explored the idea of all-inclusive vacations - and eventually I’ll take one. The two biggest draws for me are the ease of planning an all-inclusive, and the final budget of knowing exactly how much we’ll spend. I was trying to think of the two biggest reasons NOT to take one of these vacations - and I haven’t come up with any! Have you experienced an all-inclusive before? Share with us some of your own thoughts below.

As you research, keep a few things in mind. First, you’ll need to decide what kind of vacation you want. Resorts offer a variety of options, and some of the things you’ll need to decide upon are:

Who are you traveling with? Family-friendly resorts are available if you’re taking the kiddos. But if you’re traveling as a couple, check into the Couples Only resorts. Be sure to check the ages allowed - there may be minimum age requirement at a few of the locations.

What activities do you enjoy? Golf may be included at some resorts, while skiing or scuba diving is offered at another. Some offer a little of it all. Some have spas, sports, casinos, numerous dining options, special activities for children. Explore all the options offered to make sure what’s included best fits your idea of vacation.

Where do you want to go? Is there a particular location you’re wanting to discover? Search for all-inclusives in the area you’d like to go.

Depending on the time of your travel, it’s a good idea to invest in travel insurance. Some of the resorts offer it themselves, but I’d check with a travel agent or do a search online and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Check your chosen resort for their Hurricane Policy, too, if applicable.

Some companies have “add-on” fees for some activities, or events, or meals, or drinks, while others do not. Be sure to check the fine print, and ask any questions you may have before you make the reservation.

Look for the specials offered by each company. Some have seasonal specials, single-parent specials, or discounts for special events. If your schedule is flexible, plan your vacation to fit the deals.

Planning a wedding? Check into all-inclusives for special options. Some include a free wedding when you book the honeymoon!

Here are a few Web sites to help you get started:

Beaches - these all-inclusive resorts cater to families, with special activities planned for different age groups.

Sandals - Same company as beaches, but these resorts cater to couples only. Locations include Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas.

All-Inclusive Vacations - a “mega-store” for all sorts of all-inclusive vacations - an “online travel agency” for discounted vacations. This is a great site to do research on MANY types of vacations. I’ve never used this service, so I can’t offer a recommendation one way or the other, but their Web site is loaded with information to help you make wise choices for your vacation.

Club Med - You’ll find a variety of options here, including short stays, last-minute deals, and even a “7-Day Weekend.” One interesting note I discovered on their Web site - they work with Carbonfund.org to help reduce their carbon footprint. ClubMed resorts are located worldwide, and they even offer a Club Med cruise line.

SuperClub Resorts - These resorts include Breezes, Grand Lido, Hedonism, and Starfish.

Palace Resorts - Locations throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

This is more than enough to whet your appetite for now. I’d love to hear a trip report if you’ve been to an all-inclusive, so share it with us!

Several destinations were mentioned this week, so I’ll give you just a few ideas for dining in some of the locations. If you know of others - or discover others as you travel - keep us posted!

Plimouth Plantation, Plymouth Massachussetts:

This outdoor museum offers four dining options for Thanksgiving dinner. At Thanksgiving in the Courtyard, you’ll enjoy a full, traditional Thanksgiving dinner from turkey to cranberry sauce, desserts a la carte. Dinners are $16.99 for 2008, and no reservations are taken. Museum admission is required.  

For a less traditional meal, you can stroll the museum, and just pick up individual items that suit your fancy. Items such as clam chowder, deli sandwiches, hot cider or cocoa, and a full cocktail bar, are available a la carte throughout the day.

Reservations for the Thanksgiving Day buffet can be made as early as June each year, so two of the seatings are already sold out. You can still make reservations for the 11:00 a.m and the 6:00 p.m. seatings. The $64.95 price includes admission to the museum. Museum members will only pay $45.95.

A true Victorian dining experience is sold out for Thanksgiving Day, but if you don’t mind celebrating on Friday, reservations are still available. The $85.95 includes museum admission, and promises to be an experience you’re not soon to forget.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

Talk of food in Philly isn’t complete without talk of the cheesesteak. I love the city of Philadelphia - I could actually imagine myself living there, as long as I lived right in the middle of the historic district. I’ve sampled all of the “major” players in Philly, so I’ll share my own assessment - realizing that all of this is subjective to each individual:

People-watchers or celebrity-spotters will enjoy Jim’s Steaks, 400 South Street. Expect to stand in line on the sidewalk, but it moves quickly, and it’s part of the experience. Celebrity photos cover every inch of wall space. Head to the back and take the stairs up for more seating options.

Geno’s Steaks, 1219 S. 9th Street, has a great reputation, and the ordering process is incredibly fast. Know what you want to order - exactly - before getting in line. No indoor dining, but plenty of picnic tables under awnings. They’re open 24/7 so if you get a craving, you’re in luck.

Pat’s King of Steaks, ”where 9th Street crosses Wharton and Passyunk Avenue,” is my favorite, with onions and Cheese Whiz. Truly a gourmet meal! They’re opened 24/7, closing only on Thanskgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. There’s usually a crowd gathered around the order window, but don’t let it scare you away. The wait is short, and well worth every second.

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

I’ve explored Chattanooga several times, and it remains one of my favorite places, too. Here are some of my faves:

Aretha Frankenstein’s - funky, fun place with a unique menu.

Chattanooga Southern Belle River Boat - festive, romantic, fun adventure, especially during the holiday season.  They offer several different options from November to January: Thanksgiving Cruise, Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises, Tis the Season Luncheon Cruises, and two special cruises for New Year’s Eve - an early bird dinner cruise, and the Gala cruise with light hors d’oeuvres.

The Station House Restaurant at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo: Steaks are delicious, and the servers are fun and talented - they entertain diners with a lively show, between service to your table. Talent and food are top quality.

Today, I’m going to provide a roundup of cruise lines who offer special deals or events during the holidays, and share a little about each one. Feel free to leave comments about your experiences with any I list, or any I leave off. The topic of cruising could take all week - and I’m already planning a full week of cruising info - but for now, here’s just a tiny taste to get your started planning your next vacation.

Cruises make a fun and romantic gift for couples to give each other, and they make a great family tradition for a yearly getaway. For some cruise lines, the holidays are considered their “Value” or “Economy” season, for others, it’s considered “Peak” so be sure to shop around for the best prices.

Another fun part of cruising is choosing the type of ship you want to sail. Here, I’m providing you with a variety from the luxurious cruise liners, to the stately 5-mast sailing ships, to the good old-fashioned paddlewheel boat, and more.

Here’s a sampling of what’s available:

Star Clippers: Cruises on these ships are sure to be memorable.  Passenger limit on these boats is less that 250, so the trip will be intimate and simple. But the amenities aboard are luxurious, and include an elegant dining room, spa and fitness center, piano lounge, library, and a tropical bar, so you’ll probably not want to go home. Destinations vary, too, so you’ll have your choice of itineraries in the Caribbean, Far East, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, and Ocean Crossings.

photo courtesy of Star Clippers

American Cruise Lines:  This small cruise line offers a number of unique voyages along the East Coast. Cruises are offered in Florida, New England Islands, and at several points in between. Their 14-day East Coast Inland package includes stops in Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  

Majestic America Line: A paddlewheel trip up the Mississippi - about as Americana as you can get. When I was a girl, the Delta Queen docked in my hometown, and it was an amazing sight that I will never forget. As I grew up, and read about Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and then eventually studied Mark Twain, the Mississippi River grabbed hold of my heart, and continues to hold a special place there. This year, they are retiring the Delta Queen - and I never got a chance to sail on her. A holiday vacation on one of these magnificent boats will be a memory your family will cherish a lifetime.

 photo courtesy of Majestic America

Royal Caribbean: From November to January, several cruise ships in their fleet pull out all the stops, with special activities, decorations, religious services, events, and menus to commemorate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s.

Disney Cruise Lines: Disney creates a memorable experience both on land, and at sea, and this cruise is sure to be a pleasure boat for your entire family. With age-specific programming geared for children of all ages, families will find something for everyone. But it’s not cheap. One of the sites I gave you earlier this week will come in handy on the Cruise Line, too: MouseSavers.

And just for a fun night of festivity: The Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, in the Pacific Northwest, has been in existence for 59 years. Their fleet of 45 ships sail within Puget Sound during the holidays, stopping at various communities for bonfires, caroling, and other special events. If you’re in the area, this is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Other Cruise Lines to Explore:

Celebrity Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Other Resources:

Cruises Only

Cruise Deals

Vacations to Go

We’ll talk more about cruises in the coming weeks. Be sure to let us know if you book a holiday cruise! We want to travel with you!

The next few days, I’m going to toss out some ideas for fun destinations during the holidays. I’d love to know some of your favorite spots, too, so please share them with us in the comments.

New York City - Okay, the Macy’s Day Parade is the ultimate Thanksgiving experience, but it may be too late to get a room at this late date. The economy may radically affect attendance, though, so check out this comprehensive list of parade route hotels, and make some calls. You may be surprised at the rate - either way.

Tip: Before you call the hotel, check some of the travel conglomerates online, and see what they give as their “lowest” rate. Then call the hotel directly. Many times, you’ll get a better rate speaking to a live person, especially for last-minute travel.

Williamsburg, VA - This is my dream location. I’ve wanted to spend the holidays here for many years for a variety of reasons, but still haven’t made the time to do it. I keep saying “someday.” But this year, I found a large house for rent on VRBO that would be affordable enough that both our sons and their families could come, and we’d have plenty of room - so now we’re trying to schedule everyone for next year!

There are three great sites to explore to learn more about Williamsburg:

Williamsburg Online

Colonial Williamsburg

Visit Williamsburg

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Seems an odd choice, I know, but Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights is absolutely magical and one of my very favorite destinations. The drive up Lookout Mountain just as the sun has set begins to put you in a festive mood. Fog settles in around the mountain, and as you park the car and head towards the entryway, Christmas carols fill the air. Over a million lights decorate the walking trails and 25 different scenes - and one of my favorite parts - pets are welcome! Our doggy loved walking through the area with us, exploring all the sites and sounds.

And Chattanooga is a fun city to visit during the day. The famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo, shopping, Chattanooga Aquarium and Imax, Civil War sites - all of it creates a fun destination any time of year, but during the holidays, there’s just an extra layer of excitement.

I’ll have more destinations tomorrow, and on Friday, we’ll do another food round-up, so be sure to check back for restaurant recommendations.

It’s Money Monday again, and this week, we’re exploring vacations during the holidays. Here are some tips for saving your hard-earned dollars while providing your family with a memorable vacation:

SkyAuction.com – I discovered SkyAuction.com back in 1999 and have used it several times over the years, and I’m surprised when people tell me they’ve never heard of it. They’ve changed some since they first started, but you can still get great deals.

We once rented a 2-bedroom chalet in the Massanutten ski resort in Virginia for only $250 – for an entire week. It was the early season, but it still provided us with enough snow for our wants and needs. It made a great base for seeing the area, and we had all sorts of amenities at our disposal. Our bid was less than $50 – the rest of the $250 went for taxes that we had to pay regardless of what we paid for the stay.

We also once purchased a roundtrip ticket from Atlanta to London for $250 – again, our bid was low, and the rest was the requisite taxes.

The options at SkyAuction are good, too. You have the option to look for lodging options only (timeshares, hotels, apartments, condos), airfare, cruises, and entire packages. The lodging items are available in a “Bid Per Night” or “Bid per 7-Days” – depending on the particular item up for bid, and some auctions include incentives like free tickets to attractions or cultural events.

Just remember to figure in the taxes required for each offering – they will be added to your winning bid.

Newsletters – if you have a destination or even an area or particular state in mind, check online for specials. Many places offer e-newsletters with coupons or bargains from local merchants. Before a recent trip to California, I discovered a Web site for a restaurant in one of our destinations and signed up for their newsletter. The coupons they sent out included “Buy one lunch meal, get one free.”  Check with the local Chamber of Commerce as a starting point to find these type of deals.

Vacation Rentals – consider renting a house with several families. You like being together for the holidays, and a large house would allow all of you to be together, share food costs, and see some new sites. Decide in advance how to split the costs involved, so that everyone gets a fair deal.

For example, here’s one I just found on VRBO. This pet-friendly, Outer Banks house has 7-bedrooms, 8.5 baths, and will sleep 15 people. It has a pool, hot tub, game room, fireplace, and ocean view. It rents for only $1000 a week until December 31st, 2008, and only $1175 during the holiday season next year (Oct. 3 – Dec. 31, 2009). If you rented that with one or two families, you could still spread out, have plenty of room, and spend less that $500 per family!

Ski Resorts – some ski resorts, depending on location, have early season deals between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The snow may not be at prime for avid skiers, but for families just wanting the experience of the snow or are just learning to ski, these early and late seasons are a great time to visit.

Here’s another example from VRBO, this one from Colorado. This log cabin offers several different pricing structures: you can rent it during their “economy” season – November  9th – December 18th – for only $500 a night. During their peak season, Dec 19-24th, this same property rents for $700 a night, and during the holiday season, December 25th-January 3rd, it rents for $1000 a night. But it’s a 5-bedroom, 5.5 bath house – all master suites, so you could literally share this property with four other couples/families, and a week’s stay could cost as little as $600 per family. The bedding varies from kings to bunks, with some sleeper sofas, too, so the logistics are flexible for all family sizes, and sleeps 14-18. Hot tub, game room, fireplaces, and more, located near the main tourist area, and only a short drive to several ski resorts.

Disney World – if you want to take your family to Disney World, but you’re not sure if you can afford it, check out these sites for ticket prices: Undercover Tourist, a Disney-authorized discount ticket outlet,  and MouseSavers (they have an e-newsletter, too.)

Don’t be afraid to check the prices of Disney’s “on-site” resorts. With AAA, you get a 20% discount, and you get free transportation anywhere in the parks. Sure beats having to pay the $12/day parking fee.

We’ll discuss more specific holiday destinations during the coming week. If there’s a particular place you’d like me to explore, be sure to leave it in the comments.  

I have. The vacation I won was INCREDIBLE, and I hope to post some pictures and some of my journal here in the coming weeks, but today, I’d like to talk about the actual winning of the contest, rather than the vacation itself.

I was so excited to get the notification that I’d won 2nd place in this particular contest. The prize was roundtrip airfare for two, and a 7-night stay in a luxury hotel in Venice, Italy, breakfast included! I could hardly believe it at first - but after verifying my address they overnighted me all the paperwork and affidavits to complete, and told me how to book the trip.

That’s when the trouble started.

The contest was being co-sponsored by a particular airline, and a particular hotel chain. The airline offered a set number of miles and the hotel had a particular destination in mind because they were promoting their latest renovations to this property to help make them one of the top lodging options in Venice.

Funny thing was - the airline didn’t fly to Venice. And the mileage they offered wasn’t enough to get us there.

We were in discussions for days with the contest coordinator, and finally, the airline agreed to provide enough mileage for a roundtrip to Milan, but then we had to fork over the cash for roundtrip train fare to Venice.

Okay, so we agreed upon that part, and then it was time to book the flight. The miles given to us as the prize were the kind that required us not to have a direct flight. I’m not sure why that was, but we were stuck. When we finally got the reservations made I decided I needed an assistant to keep up with it. Here was our journey:

Atlanta to Los Angeles - yeah, and with a lengthy layover, too!

Los Angeles to Frankfort

Frankfort to Paris (we overnighted for 24 hours there because the layover was going to be so long, so at least I got to see my Eiffel Tower!)

Paris to Milan

Then, train from Milan to Venice.

Our return trip was cut short a day because we had a family emergency. The airlines told us we could come on and they’d put us on standby. Originally, our return trip was a mirror-image of the above list. But being on stand-by, here was our route instead:

Train to Milan

Milan to Frankfort - where we had to spend the night in the airport

Frankfort to Paris

Paris to Chicago

Chicago to Atlanta

Our return trip on standby took less travel time than our original reserved trip!

So, your travel tips for today are:

• When you win a prize, make sure you get all of the details - pay attention to any of the fine print, and be prepared to negotiate to make the trip worth the win.
• Try carry-ons only. Thankfully, we had no checked baggage - we traveled light - and our carry-ons stayed with us at all times.

A word of caution - there are many travel scams out there, so just be cautious. If you have to pay anything to get your prize, it’s probably a scam.

Now, a little something extra because it’s the weekend, which I always try to make FUN.

Here are a few places where YOU can enter to win your own vacation:

Sandra over at About.com always has a great list of Contests and Sweepstakes, and she categorizes them. Here’s the link for the Vacation page.

Susan at About.com also has a Travel Contests list.

The Travel Channel is giving away a Trip-A-Month, and you’ll have to answer some travel and/or show related questions to enter. (The contest for the trip I won was a trivia contest, so I love these!)

Have you ever won a vacation? Tell us about it!

As I’m planning, growing, and developing this blog, I’m thinking of ways to give you the best “take-aways.” So, for awhile, we’ll run a new column on Mondays entitled “Most for Your Money” to help you get the most vacation out of your hard-earned dollars.

Today, I’ll provide a list of money-saving tips, and a list of links that will help.

First, three money-saving tips for your vacation planning:

1) Travel off-season. This is the biggie, but it’s not as simple as it may seem. Off-season for some regions mean their selling season, not the time of year. What may be off-season for you, in your area of the country, may be peak season in the area you wish to vacation. The good part of that is this - the opposite is also true. Totally lost? Here’s an example: you think of Florida, sunny beaches, summer vacation, and think it would be peak season. Some parts are, but there are many parts of Florida that declare summer their off-season, because the snowbirds all head north.

2) Shop around for airfares and hotels. You can use the big sites like expedia and Travelocity, but also check with the individual hotels and airlines - sometimes they run specials for consumers who call them directly. And be sure to check the list below - over the past couple of years, the practices of some of the biggie travel sites have left consumers searching for other options, and I’ll list them below.

3) Consider the various lodging options. Compare prices of hotels, but also consider vacation rentals of homes, and even house-swapping. I’ve included some links below and in the right column.

4) Try a stay-cation instead. We’ll post a more detailed article about stay-cations in a few days, but in a nutshell - you stay at home, immediately eliminating lodging costs, but you become a tourist of your area for a few days. Explore attractions you’ve never seen, eat at the new restaurant you’ve just been dying to try. If you have kids, pick some kid-friendly activities that are fun and/or educational. If you’re married, be sure to incorporate at least one or two nights of romance for you and your spouse - a babysitter and pizza will be vacation for the kids, too.

Here’s a list of links that may help you save some moola:

CheapOAir

SideStep

Home for Exchange

Home Exchange