Planning your travel: On-line travel agencies and discounters

I have booked airfares, hotels, rental cars and packages with many of the on-line travel sites. I've been consistently satisfied with their service and have never encountered a problem having a reservation honored. I've even received free upgrades on discounted room and car reservations.

The sites I've used are: Orbitz, Hotwire, Expedia, Kayak, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Hotels.com and Priceline. I prefer Orbitz and Expedia because they usually offer the best selection of hotels at my favorite destinations. Although Priceline's package deals are sometimes lower, I resort to it last because of its total non-refund policy, even on non-bidding reservations. I do not bid for travel services because I prefer to know all details before I book.

How I generally search for bookings

Time is money. Wading through the huge selection of Internet travel booking sites can easily overwhelm you. I find it simpler to accept the best price from among the larger sites. The amount you save with any other lowest-priced method will likely be negligible.

• Comparison Shopping: To browse a huge number of hotels or airfares for one destination, try Kayak or Hotels Combined.
• Air-only: Check discounters first to find the airline with the best fare and/or most convenient schedule to your destination, then check that airline's website directly. If the airline's price is the same, book directly with the airline. In some cases doing so might give you more rights and benefits.
• Low Cost Airlines: Search Southwest and Allegiant Air separately. These low cost leaders do not share their lowest fares with third party Websites, such as online travel agencies or meta search engines. They're also frequent issuers of promo codes, which are redeemable only on their sites. Southwest also has the lowest extra fees.
• Packages and Vacations: This is where the discounters can offer big savings. I've found amazing bargains on hotel plus airfare packages from Hotwire, Orbitz and Expedia, often with airfare plus three nights hotel charge hardly more than the published airfare. Have a three to seven-day domestic trip in mind? Check the package options by clicking the Orbitz, Hotwire or Expedia logos in the lower right column.
• Weekend Specials: Check airline websites directly or sign up for their weekly last-minute e-newsletters. They often include excellent hotels.
• Foreign Vacations: Use the major discounters or agencies that specialize in your destination or interest.
• Cruises: CruiseMates has an excellent overview in their section Before you Sail.

Rule 1: Always consult indepent hotel reviews

Check the hotels in package deals by consulting independent reviews. Hotels are the single biggest source of travel disappointment. Never book a hotel you're unfamiliar with before researching it first. Here are some sites with independent traveler reviews:

• Trip Advisor   •   Real Travel   •   TravelPod   •   Travel Post

More Tips

• Beware of new or unfamiliar travel discounters. If you've never heard of them, wait until they're better known before you buy from them.
• Before redeeming frequent flyer miles for a free first-class ticket, check with the airline to determine the lowest upgradable coach fare. Upgrades are often bargains.
• If you've made your air reservation with the airline's frequent flier credit card, you might be eligible for preferred check-in even if you're not flying first or business class.
• Don't forget that first or business class seats may entitle you to use of the airline's preferred member club even if you're not a member.
• Searching for a hotel bargain in a major city? Stay the weekend at hotels that cater to business travelers. They often include Friday and Monday nights in their weekend discount rate packages.
• Major cities continue to add reliable and affordable airport transit lines to their public transit systems. Always check your destination airport's Ground Transportation Web page. Would you rather pay $30 for a cab or $5 for a convenient train or bus ride?
• Airport hotels can cost considerably less than a chain's downtown branch. They pose little inconvenience where there's reliable rapid transit from the airport to the city center. Many also have free shuttles.
• Don't rely on the discounter's hotel star ratings. Check the hotel's website directly for amenities and pictures, then check one of the review sites listed above.
• Pack half of what you think you'll need. Remove a third of that just before you depart.
• Lost luggage avoidance system: Carry-on. I have been to Alaska, Hawaii and Europe with only carry-on baggage. Do it!
• Avoid currency exchanges in airports or other terminals. Their rates are often less favorable than the fees your bank will charge for an ATM cash withdrawal. Use ATMs only at large banks or National banks in your destination country to avoid unexpected surcharges.
• Always make the effort to greet people in their own language. As soon as they hear your accent, they will likely switch to English and speak it much more competently than you can speak their language.
• Bon voyage. And don't forget to send a postcard!