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.

Save on Airline Tickets

Use a travel search engine to find the lowest fare airline, but then go directly to that airline's Web site to make sure you are getting the lowest fare available. Some search engines' prices are slightly higher to cover service fees (which can be $10 per ticket). For example, I found the airline that offered the lowest fare with a search engine, then checked with that airline's site directly and saved $10 per round trip ticket ($40 total savings).

Try to be flexible about dates (one or two days on either end), and select the "flexible date" option when shopping for flights to get the lowest price.

Consider nearby or alternate airports to get lower fares.

If you plan a last-minute weekend trip, look at weekend Web deals on your airlines' Web sites to take advantage of rock-bottom last minute fares.

Save on Rental Car Costs

Use a travel search engine to find the lowest price, and then check the rental car site directly to find special promotions or coupons.

For refundable rental rate discounts, AAA or AARP members may qualify for a discount. If you belong to Entertainment.com, check for discounts via its site's car rental section. Visit airline Web sites to check for lower rates via their rental car partner links (you do not need to fly on the airline to book the lower rate).

If you are willing to reserve your car rental on a nonrefundable basis, you will save dramatically using a site like Priceline.com. where you can name your own price. This sites allows you to select the specific location where you need to rent the car, the dates you need it and the car size you require.

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.

Save on Lodging Costs

If you are traveling with family on vacation, hotel alternatives such as extended-stay hotels with kitchens and free breakfast, condos, or houses will offer more space and save money on meals.

Sites like Vacation Rental By Owner (www.vrbo.com) offer bargains because the owners are not paying management company fees (typically 40 percent of the reservation cost). Private owners may also provide savings tips to renters such as local coupon books, restaurant recommendations, and tips to get discounted tickets for local attractions.

If you need a fully refundable hotel reservation, use a search engine to find multiple hotel prices, then call the hotel directly to see if they offer discounted rates for AAA, AARP or Entertainment members. When planning my recent trip to Detroit, I used a search engine to find the lowest price for a hotel in the area I needed to stay for $94 per night. I then called the hotel directly and requested the Entertainment rate, which was available, and was only $49.50 per night. The Entertainment rate was not available online, so taking the time to call was worth the savings.

If you are sure you will be traveling and don't mind paying less for a nonrefundable hotel reservation, use Priceline.com to name your own hotel price. You can select the specific location and quality level (up to 5 stars) then name your price. I recently traveled to downtown Chicago and found a nice hotel for $138 per night with a search engine. When I used the "Name Your Own Price" feature at Priceline.com, I bid $70 a night with Priceline and was able to get a reservation at the four-star hotel that I wanted.

Don't be fooled by Priceline. When you select a location and star level, you may get a message on the site that says, "Be aware that the average rate for a four-star hotel in downtown Chicago is $229." My rule of thumb is to bid 50 percent off what the lowest available search engine rate is. Of course, room availability will also determine whether or not low-priced bids will work. Booking as far in advance as possible will raise the odds of getting your bid accepted. In my case, the $70 bid for the $138 hotel worked.

Stephanie Nelson shares her savings tips as a regular contributor to ABCNEWS.com. You can find more of her tips in her book "The Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom" and on her Web site at Couponmom.com