Cheap tricks for summer trips

HOTELS

CHECK RATES WITH HOTEL

Hotel-booking websites such as Hotels.com aren't always your best option. Sometimes you can get a better deal by going to the hotel's website or calling the hotel directly.

SHUN THE 800 NUMBER

Don't call a hotel's 800 number to make a reservation; you'll likely be directed to the national center. Call the hotel directly and ask for the manager on duty, who is motivated to fill rooms, and begin negotiating for a discount.

BEWARE OF SPECIAL DEALS

That "third night free" offer could be more expensive than a regular booking, for instance.

CALL AT THE LAST MINUTE

Hotels with open rooms may discount rates. A trick: Secure a room at an inexpensive chain that allows cancellations. A day or two before arriving, call the swank hotel you really want to stay in and ask for their lowest rate. If you get a good deal, cancel your first hotel.

ASK FOR DEALS

If you're staying through the week, ask for a weekend rate for the entirety of your stay. If you're a member of groups such as AAA, ask for a discount.

From Peter Greenberg's "The Complete Travel Detective Bible."

AIRFARE

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BOOK

The more you understand the market, the better your odds for finding the best price because you'll know a deal when you see it. For a quick education, log onto www.farecast.com to view charts that show past price trends for a particular route and predict when prices will be lowest in the future. A watchdog site can also help: www.airfarewatchdog.com sends out alerts about most bargain fares from a given airport; www.travelocity.com and other booking sites will send e-mail alerts when airfares on chosen routes drop or rise significantly.

JOIN AIRLINES' SITES

More airlines are using promotional rates and e-mail offers to lure traffic to their websites. By signing up for e-mail alerts at your commonly used airlines, you get notice of these fares.

LOG ONTO META-SEARCH SITES

My favorite is www.kayak.com, which checks almost all airlines' fares and presents them at a glance, along with charts that show the price trend for that route. It also offers an option to check rates three days before and after your preferred dates. Flying legs of a journey overseas? Check out www.dohop.com.

GET AND USE YOUR MILES

Northwest is among airlines that are enticing its members to use frequent flier miles to offset the price of a ticket. For nearly a year, Sun Country has also offered a frequent flier program.

From Chris Welsch, Star Tribune travel reporter.

BE FLEXIBLE

Be flexible about when and where you go: Midweek flights, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are often cheaper. Connecting flights cost less than direct. Be open to off-season destinations.

From Beth Caulfield, editor-in-chief of AOL Travel (travel.aol.com).

EUROPE

RETHINK WHERE YOU TRAVEL

Skip Rome and London; opt instead for Florence, Italy, or Krakow, Poland. Eastern Europe or small cities can save big money.

BUY A GUIDEBOOK

Guidebooks help you know when museums don't charge an entrance fee and which parks offer the best free people-watching.

From Tom Meyers, founder of www.eurocheapo.com.

SAY 'SI' TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Every major airport has efficient money-saving alternatives to taxis. Most train, metro and bus services will take you from baggage claim to the city center in about 30 minutes, saving enough cash to cover dinner.

RETHINK WHERE YOU SLEEP

Skip fancy hotels. Stay in a family-run hotel or guest house, which can offer double the cultural intimacy for half the price of a hotel. Other options include hostels and budget-chain hotels, whose simple rooms cost the same for singles or families of four, making them a bargain for traveling families.

ATMS ARE YOUR FRIEND

Cash comes cheaper and faster via a credit card than travelers checks. While ATMs give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees. Minimize these by making fewer and larger withdrawals (and then safely tucking the cash in your money belt).

From Rick Steves, guidebook author and founder of www.ricksteves.com.

ROAD TRIPS

TRAVEL THE SPEED LIMIT

Gas mileage plummets at speeds higher than 60 miles per hour. Assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 30 cents per gallon for gas.

PACK LIGHT

An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your miles per gallon by up to 2 percent.

From www.fueleconomy.gov.

LOG ON TO FIND CHEAP GAS

www.gaspricewatch.com or the gas price map at www.mapquest (click on the "gas prices" icon in the upper right-hand corner) can help you find gas stations with the best prices.

STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE

Skip the enticing bags of Cheetos for 99 cents at the gas station. Stock up on larger bags at the grocery store instead. Bringing your own lunch helps, too.

From Kathleen Crislip, student travel reporter at www.about.com.

AMUSEMENT AND NATIONAL PARKS

PACK YOUR OWN LUNCH

Don't buy food at amusement parks if you can help it. Many allow you to pack your own food and beverages. At national parks, skip the restaurants; you're there to enjoy the outdoors, anyway, so why not picnic?

AFTERNOONS DELIGHT

Many amusement parks have discounted tickets after a certain time, usually 3 or 4 in the afternoon. The afternoon is a great time to visit parks because they can be less crowded, and many offer nighttime shows.

GO LOCAL

Local and regional parks -- with reasonable entrance fees -- can give you the same kind of experience you might have been looking for in a national park or theme park.

From Beth Caulfield, editor-in-chief of AOL Travel (travel.aol.com).

BUY ONLINE

Tickets are often cheaper online, online coupons are cropping up more and more and, anyway, you'll save time at the gate by avoiding lines.

From www.smartmoney.com.

COMPILED BY KERRI WESTENBERG