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."

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.