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              How to Save Hundreds on Your Upcoming Travel Plans.

Airlines have slashed schedules, crimped services, added fees, and parked planes in the desert to cut operating costs. As a result, flying is not only more crowded but also more expensive.

If you plan on traveling anyway, don’t despair. “Airfare is up, but not everywhere,” says Genevieve Shaw Brown, an executive with Travelocity.com, the online travel site. “Travelers who are flexible with their destinations should search these spots for travel deals and book vacation packages to save even more money.”

Here are 5 secrets of saving big on travel now:

1. Buy tickets on Tuesdays. Not only are Tuesdays and Wednesdays the cheapest days to travel, they are also the best days to book your travel, even if you can’t travel those days.

When major airlines announce a special airfare deal, they usually do it on a Tuesday. That also makes Wednesdays a good time to shop for fares as other airlines scramble to match the discount.

2. Book airfare and hotel together. It pays to bundle your travel buying, says Shaw Brown. “Despite higher airfare, travelers can still enjoy great deals on travel. We see typical savings of up to $525 for people who simply book their flight and hotel together,” she says.

One good place to look is the “Top Secret Hotels” list at Travelocity.com, which posts offers up to 45 percent off published rates.

3. Let the deals come to you. It’s easy to do. Simply sign up to receive special airfare discount alerts by e-mail. But you won’t get these from the airlines themselves.

The best places to sign up for such alerts are travel websites that keep constant watch on what’s happening across the entire travel universe. Site such as Kayak.com, Orbitz.com, CheapTickets.com, AirfareWatchdog.com, Yapta.com, and Lastminute.com all offer this service.

4. Consider alternative airports. For example, five airports serve the Los Angeles area. Flying into Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, or Orange County instead of LAX can save as much as $200 per ticket. For a family of four, that’s more than enough savings to make a little longer drive worthwhile.

The car rental cost might also be lower at these smaller airports (not to mention easier to access).

5. Add a stop. Most travelers prefer non-stop flights. But if you’re willing to part with a little extra time to reach your destination, including flight itineraries with a stop or change of planes can put money back in your pocket.

Happy savings,


Michael Berg
Editor, The Franklin Prosperity Report