1. How can I find my options? Although it is common to use travel websites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Hotwire for domestic, CheapTickets and Vayama for international flights, not all airlines may show up in the results. These sites are a great starting point, but I suggest going to the airlines websites to see what other flight choices may be available. Sometimes paying a little extra may be worth having a direct flight or shorter layover.
2. What information is needed? The full names of the passengers as shown on the identification, gender and date of birth, as well as frequent flyer information. Also necessary are the details of the form of payment.
3. Can the tickets be put on hold? In some cases, the option is available. (Note: If you book with a travel agent/agency, they may be able to set up the tickets with extra time to make a decision.)
4. What is the cancelation policy? You may have up to 24 hours to cancel or change your flight at no charge (such as with Delta and Continental). In the case of canceling a flight, there is a certain amount of time an airline will allow you to use the funds for a future flight. Cancelations should be made before the scheduled flight time, otherwise the money may be forfeited. See the airline’s policy for their terms and conditions.
5. What are the change fees? Although you may not anticipate the need to switch flights, emergencies or unforeseen circumstances could happen. In the case of business travelers, the fees should be taken into consideration when choosing a flight.
6. What are the baggage fees and size requirements? Check out the rates so you will know how much more you will have to pay if you check luggage.
7. What are my rights as a passenger? If the airlines changes or cancels your flight, you may want to know what your options will be. Take a copy with you so you can be well prepared and can make your case to an agent if they don’t know how to proceed.
8. Why is it a good idea to have an airline’s reservation or customer service phone number? Program them into your cell phone in case your flight is canceled or changed. You can call them while waiting in line to get faster service. (Another good reason to have the information handy is if there are issues with your boarding passes and are getting short of time before your flight.)
9. What if I am flying with children or someone that needs assistance and can’t find seats? If you need help reserving seats together or need to be in a certain location on the plane, call the airlines. They have been known to block out rows just for this purpose.
10. Can I get a group rate? To qualify, you will probably need at least 10 passengers taking the same flight itinerary. There are many benefits for people traveling in a group – discounted prices, only deposits required with initial reservation, blocked seating, options to change passengers and more. Check back soon for an article being written with details.
11. Is there a way to be notified if the price drops below a certain amount? There are websites such as AirfareWatchdog that will send you messages when prices meet your criteria.
12. Can you get a refund if the price goes down after you have purchased your tickets? Possibly. In the past, Southwest and United Airlines have refunded my clients the price difference.

My recommendation – if the cost is the same, book your flight directly with the airline. You will get better customer service and will avoid additional fees. Subscribe to my newsfeed or check back for upcoming travel articles with my tricks on getting the best prices and other travel advice.

Discount Airfares : The Insiders’ Guide, How to Save Up to 75% on Airline Tickets 2nd Edition

Below is a list of places which may show up in a web search, but others will take a little more effort.

1. Official websites – Check them first because they may have exclusive web specials. If you have time, sign up for their newsletter to have their promotions delivered to your email. Also, you can compare their prices to others that you find.
2. Activity sales websites – Search Viator for pricing on attractions and activities.
3. City guide websites – Check your destination’s site for information and offers.
4. Visitor and convention bureaus – They can have exclusive offers for visitors. For example, the San Diego Convention & Visitor Bureau has had the best discounts for Legoland in the past.
5. Hotel lobbies – Near the check-in area are usually stands that have flyers. Sometimes they will have discounts and specials for restaurants too.
6. Hotel package deals – If you are staying in a hotel, look for package deals that include tickets. Compare prices with hotel only and with tickets to see if you are getting a better price overall. It would also be convenient as you wouldn’t have to wait in line to buy tickets at a booth.
7. Vacation package deals – It may be cheaper to purchase a vacation package vs. booking individual components of your trip. Even if the price comes out to be the same, some suppliers will include free amenities just for booking with them.
8. Airport information desks – If you are flying, check the information area for flyers and local advertisements.
9. Grocery stores – You may find discounts with in-store promotions or on products such as cereal boxes and soda cans.
10. Fast food restaurants – McDonalds, Carls Jr., Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme, etc. can have coupons to local attractions.
11. Local newspapers – Look through the coupons in the Sunday edition of area newspapers. Also, free magazines inside and outside retailers may also have coupons.
12. Local mailer and online advertisers – Check your mail for PennySavers or search their online version at PennySaverUSA.com.
13. Associations and membership clubs – Visit your credit union, AAA or Costco to see if they offer discounts for what you are looking for.
14. Entertainment books – Consider buying the local edition to where you will be traveling as you may save money with restaurants or other things related to your trip.
15. Attraction ticket bundles – If you are going to visit many attractions in one city, you can save money by purchasing a package. One that I recommend is CityPASS for the following cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto.

If you know of other places to look, please leave a comment on this article. Thank you!

Not sure how to choose a luggage scale? Different types are available for purchase. Find the one that meets your needs and budget.

• If you are short on money, decide how much you are willing to spend. How much is one worth to you? Consider the fees you will have to pay if the bags are overweight or oversize. Check with official airline websites for information. Each one has their own policy, requirements and fee schedule depending if the type is a carry-on or checked bag.
• Decide on the type of luggage scale: hand held manual, hand held digital and floor models. The hand held manual ones are basic and cheapest. Stop and lock types will record the weight before you set a bag back down. If you don’t have someone around that can read the scale while you are holding a bag, this is a must. As bag and box dimensions are things that are examined by the airlines, one with a tape measure would be helpful since it serves more than one purpose. The digital styles are easier to read and may have a more accurate reading. The floor models can weigh bags by placing them on the scale vs. having to pick them up and holding them in the air.  (Click for examples: hand held, digital and floor model.)
• Read the reviews. Some online vendors have buyer feedback on the pages that have the products they wish to sell to you.

If you are concerned that you will be over-weight on the return, you may want to pack the luggage scale too!

• Medication – pain relievers, allergy pill and prescriptions (may need a doctor’s note).
• Change of clothes – something to wear in case your luggage is lost or stolen.
• Toiletry bag – for small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion and toothpaste (3 oz. maximum), along with a toothbrush if you are stranded at some point.
• Jewelry – especially anything personal and special to you.
• Camera – not only because it has monetary value, but losing pictures and videos from your trip would be disappointing.
• Cell phone, computer or electronic game cords/chargers – some airports now have charging stations or outlets near waiting areas.
• Your airline’s phone number and your rights as a passenger – missed connections and canceled flights are not uncommon. It’s better to try calling while standing in line to make other arrangements. If you booked your ticket with a travel agent, you may also call them for help. By the time you get to a gate agent, you may have missed an opportunity to catch the next flight out. You will also want the information handy if your bags make it to your destination before or after you.
• Empty water bottle/container – save money by filling it on the other side of security. Usually airports will have a drinking fountain near restrooms.

Many airlines restrict how much you can carry onto the passenger section of their planes. Usually, they will allow something for personal items (such as a purse, briefcase, computer bag, diaper bag, duffle or backpack) and one piece of luggage. Be careful as something advertised as a carry-on size may have dimensions over what is allowed. There may also be weight requirements. There is no standard for any of the carriers. Prior to packing, check with your airline’s policies to find current information.

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Below are some steps you can take to help you find and sort out the information that is available online.

• As a starting point, visit CarRentals.com to find which car rental companies have the best prices for your destination.
• Go to the rental company websites directly and look for internet discount codes, such as dollars off for a weekly rental, free weekend day, last minute specials, etc.
• If you have a Costco or AAA membership or an Entertainment Book, write down their codes so you can compare rates. However, don’t assume they will have the best prices since sometimes the best available rate without a code is cheaper.
• Reserve at least one vehicle when you know your dates of travel. If you are unsure of the rental type (budget, economy, midsize, full size, minivan, SUV, etc.), book one of each that you are considering. You can always cancel and most companies do not require a credit card.
• Sign up to receive membership benefits and email specials. It’s free and can save you time at the airport or rental office, as well as keeping you informed of the latest coupons and promotions.
• If you know a good travel agent, give them the details and compare prices. Sometimes they can get you a better price since they may have special promotional codes not available to the public.
• Most importantly, keep checking the rates as the dates get closer. When you are about 2 weeks or less from your trip, look for last minute specials. You may save a bundle through suppliers like National and Alamo.

Vehicle rental rates can vary widely between companies as well as pick up and drop off locations. Oftentimes choosing an off airport location will be much cheaper and have more available types available. If the rates are high or the type of vehicle you want is sold out, consider renting from a location near your hotel and take a shuttle or taxi to get there.

Do you know how much you will ultimately pay when you book a hotel or resort? Find out if it will end up costing you more than you think before making a reservation.

1. Don’t book that great deal until you know the actual costs. If it sounds too good to be true, it just might be!
2. When comparing rates, calculate your total cost for your stay. Some websites might quote lower prices, but add on a booking fee before check out.
3. Be sure the rate is refundable, unless you are going to take that trip no matter what or if you have travel insurance. Sometimes you can get a great rate, but if something comes up, you will lose all of your deposit and maybe more.
4. Review the cancellation policy. Note the date and time of the change/cancel deadlines. You may end up paying for one night’s stay (or more) if you wait too long to cancel.
5. Check to see if there is a parking, resort, extra person, roll away and/or safe fee. You may be required to pay more for your stay than you realize.
6. Do not eat or move the food or drink they have in the room. There can be sensors on items stocked in the room. If not, the cleaning people will note any missing items. Unless they specifically say something is included, be prepared to pay inflated prices.
7. If it is a condo or vacation rental property, see if there is a cleaning fee. This could be an additional charge that you were not expecting.
8. Beware. You may be getting a special rate because you are required to go to a timeshare presentation. If you do not attend, you may end up paying a higher rate or a fee at check out.
9. Sign up for the hotel or hotel chain’s reward program. If you are an elite or preferred club member, you may be able to avoid paying fees if you cancel or change dates after the deadline. Oftentimes you will receive additional benefits such as a free newspaper, coupons, gifts or special promotional rates.
10. Read the reviews of the property. If there are hidden fees, you will likely find comments by upset customers. A great website that has this type of information is TripAdvisor.com.

Note: It is recommended that you book directly through the hotel’s website or with a travel agency. It is possible that you will lose your reservation if the hotel is sold out and you had made your reservations through another supplier. A benefit of booking through a travel agent is that if you are bumped or have a discrepancy with a rate, you will have a contact person who can help you resolve the problem. And if you need to find another hotel, they will be able to assist you in searching for other options.

While waiting, you may have noticed creative ways some people make their bags stand out. One easy thing to do is to tie a piece of brightly colored yarn to the handle. Another is to have a band that not only makes items easy to spot, but also secures suitcases from opening through the airport system. There are also luggage tags that can catch your attention, but they can be hidden from view. (Victorinox makes a tag with a tracking ID and lost bag recovery program. According to the manufacturer, if someone finds your bag and calls the number on the tag, the lost luggage can be picked up and delivered free of charge.)

If you have kids, you can make a game to see who can find the bags the fastest. It can be a fun way to start your vacation!

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Over the years, I’ve learned that I needed to be well prepared for our trips. Here are some ideas that may help you reduce the negative emotions that can end up ruining your trip.

1. Arrange for a ride: friend, family, shuttle, taxi or limo – this will allow you to relax on your ride to the airport and will eliminate the need to park your car
2. Reserve a parking spot – if you don’t know where to park or are looking for cheaper alternatives to airport parking (AirportParkingReservations.com)
3. Stay overnight in an airport hotel – not only will you be close to the airport, some have packages that include parking which may be cheaper than leaving your car at the airport, often with free shuttle service (ParkSleepFly.com)
4. Consider having a meal before flying, in or near the airport – if you are going to eat before, plan to leave at least an hour earlier (additional benefit – you will not be hungry when boarding the plane)
5. Check-in online – this will notify the airline that you are planning to be on the flight and you may not need to go to the counter if you’re not checking luggage (Please note: if you bought a vacation package and received paper documents, check to be sure what they are for. For example, Southwest Vacations mails what appear to be paper tickets, but they are only used to get through security. You must bring them with you to the airport, otherwise you will need to purchase new tickets. If you don’t go to the ticket counter, you will need to exchange them at the gate.)
6. Print out boarding passes – if you don’t need to check luggage, you can go straight to the security check point
7. Check gasoline level in your car – you may need extra time to get some gas or you may not have enough time if you need to stop on the way
8. Print out a map of your route – if you need to find an alternative route, a GPS may not be able to help you (Google Maps, Mapquest)
9. Pack activities for the kids – the less distractions, the better
10. Be prepared to leave early – unforeseen events can happen along the way
11. Check your flight – you will want to know if it is on time, delayed, or rescheduled
12. Check the traffic report – online (Sigalert.com – in the Los Angeles area) and on the radio
13. Check the weather report – especially important if you have a long drive to the airport (AccuWeather.com)
14. Consider checking bags at the curb – it will save you time if there is a long line at the counter and is convenient
15. Have a backup plan if you miss your flight – if you know your options prior to arriving at the airport, you will know what to do if something happens

Careful preparations will make for a more enjoyable trip. If you have anything to add here or on my other articles, please leave me a comment. I am always looking for new ideas. Happy travels!