MONEY TALKS

Travel

188. Go off-season. You can save 10 to 60%. In general, the best travel deals will be found from November 1st to December 15th.

189. Shop around. Airlines offer the most complicated fare structures ever devised. But the advantage is that there are often bargains to be found if you're willing to look. The Internet can be a big help. Most major airlines now offer last minute seat auctions, so check the web sites of the ones that serve your city. Name-your-own price websites like Priceline can also save you money, as can auction websites like EBayor Sky Auction. If you travel a lot, a membership site like www.bestfares.com can quickly pay for itself with hundreds of bargains on air, rental car and hotel discounts.

190. Hotel high jinx. I never pay the asking price of hotels (well, unless everything in town is sold out.) Hotel rooms are like highly perishable food: if they're not used that day, they're wasted. You can almost always get a better deal just by asking, but do it with a nice smile face-to-face when you check in, or with friendly calls direct to the hotels you're considering. It won't work if you just call national 800 numbers, because they can't negotiate. So call area hotels and pit them against one another. (“Gee, I'd rather stay at your place, but the Holiday Inn is $20 cheaper! Can't you match their rate? Pretty please?”) If nothing else, you can often get a free room upgrade just by flashing a winning smile.

191. Get hostel. A hostel is a budget traveler's dream, especially if you're the social type. A hostel is a cross between a dormitory and a hotel, and you can find them in most major cities in the world. Quality of accommodations vary widely, but you can often find a place to lay your head for as little as $5. Drawbacks? Sometimes you could end up in communal sleeping and bath arrangements, with boys segregated from girls. Others are more private; you have to call to find out the particulars. You can find current hostel guides at the local library, or check Internet sites like Hostel.

192. Bed and Breakfasts. These can sometimes save you money, but almost always offer more charm and personality than hotels. The more expensive the city you're visiting, the more money you're likely to save by staying at one. You can find B&B guides online at Internet sites like Travel Data and at the library.

193. Use consolidators. Hotel and airline consolidators can save you serious money, since they buy in bulk. You can often find them in the travel section of the Sunday paper, or by doing an Internet search. Drawback? They may not offer as much flexibility in flight times or hotel locations.

194. Fly free! You can actually fly very inexpensively or even free if you're willing to be a courier. A courier is someone who uses their luggage allowance to transport a package for a courier company. While it may sound a bit shady, it's totally above-board, providing you're working with a reputable company. You can find one by traveling to the Internet and going to Courier or Air Courier. You can routinely find deals like London for $100 round-trip or Mexico City for $50. But be aware, there are major catches. For example, it's very rare for two people to be able to courier together on the same flight. In addition, you'll often have a very limited time in the country you're visiting. And the best deals are last minute ones. So courier flying is best for people who like to travel alone and are willing to fly anywhere at the drop of a hat.

195. Use travel agents. These guys can often get good deals, especially if you're in the market for a vacation package or cruise. When you plan a vacation, see what you can do on your own, but before you book, see if a local agent can beat the deal you found yourself.