Save Big on Airfare, Rental Cars and Lodging

April, 3, 2007 — -- The cost of a family vacation or business trip can add up quickly if you don't know where to find the lowest prices -- particularly for the major expenses like airline tickets, rental cars and hotels. Try these tips to get more for less on your next trip.

The drawback is that you cannot select the specific rental car company, and your reservation is prepaid and nonrefundable. Your credit card is charged if your bid is accepted, and then you will see which company you rented from. However, if you are sure of your travel plans, using these sites can save you a great deal of money. I used Priceline.com to rent cars during two recent trips and was very pleased with the quality and price.

For example, I went to Detroit and was quoted $72 a day for a Hertz, then bid $20 a day on Priceline and happened to get a Hertz car. Although I reserved a smaller midsize car, that size was not available when I arrived so I got a nice midsize SUV for the $20 a day price.