1)  Be flexible when planning your destinations.  Search for airfares from your home city.  Look for deals and discounts.  Searching in reverse can lead to great savings.

2)  Automatically upgrade to first class on flights with a Y-Up fare.  There are restrictions, and Y-Up fares are not available on international flights, but you can book them through a travel agent.

3)  Travel on Tuesdays Wednesdays, or Saturdays for less congestion at airports.  On other days, try early mornings.

4)  To avoid long lines at coach check-ins, try the business class check-in.  You can ask if an upgrade had been applied.  Even if it didn’t you’ll be ahead of the game at the business class check-in counter.

5)  When calling hotels for rates and reservations always wait to see what the best rate the hotel representative will offer.  Once you’ve received the best rate, ask if that is the absolutely lowest rate available.  Also ask if there are any special discounts that are available.  You’ll usually come up with an even lower rate than was originally offered.

6)  Check if your hotel offers free WIFI.  Don’t pay $10 - $30 extra per night just for internet.

7)  Avoid overseas ATM fees.  Check with your bank in advance to see if there are no-fee ATMs available.

8)  Check for taxi rates at your destination in advance.  Call the hotel to ask for advice on taxi fares.  Don’t get ripped off once your sitting in a taxi.

9)  Save money on overnight hotel stays by travelling between cities at night, and sleeping on the train.

We’ve recently seen posts on various blogs and sites comparing the cost to travelers of booking their hostel accommodation on some of the leading websites, including Hostelling Interntional, Hostelworld, Hostels.com, and Hostelbookers.  We’re happy to note that HostelTraveler.com remains the cheapest and the best bargain for the budget traveler.

One post objectively states that HI charged 5% deposit plus 1.92 euro booking fee, claiming that this was the cheapest of a comparison made.  Nevertheless, while HostelTraveler.com was not included in this particular comparison, HostelTraveler.com was even cheaper than the winner.  Here’s why:

HostelTraveler.com’s typical pricing is 8% deposit plus $0.75 per bed. In Euro terms this equates to 8% deposit plus 0.52 Euros. This means that for a 1-2night stay and a hostel bed at 20-25 Euros, HostelTraveler.com is cheaper for the traveler than the HI example above.  Check it out for yourself.

The economy is leading travelers in the USA to take shorter, yet more frequent vacations. There are many places to plan a cheap weekend getaway in the South region of the United Stated. Here are our top ten recommended spots for fun and affordable short vacations in the South.

1) Dallas, Texas

2) Atlanta, Georgia

3) Captiva/Sanibel Island, Florida

4) Louisville, Kentucky

5) Delaware’s Brandywine Valley

6) Charlotte, North Carolina

7) Little Rock, Arkansas

Memphis, Tennessee

9) Washington, D.C.

10) Charleston, South Carolina

Surcharges are those hidden costs that a youth hostel or hotel can charge you for seemingly simple services, like making phone calls or accessing the internet. In the hostelling and hotel industry, surcharges are a huge moneymaker. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, U.S. hotels earned $1.6 billion from miscellaneous surcharges and fees last year, up from $550 million in 2003. This year that

number is likely to be more than $1.75 billion.

As hotels and hostels creatively find more ways to make you pay more, it’s important to be informed before planning your travel.

Here’s how to save on extra surcharges and fees at your hotel or hostel:

Lodging taxes can add a lot to your bill, depending on what region you’re staying in. In New York, for example, you can end up paying 8.75% on top of the nightly rate, plus a 5% hotel tax. This can add $10, $20, $30 to the cost of your stay.

So-called “resort” or “hotel” fees may cover use of facilities like a pool or fitness equipment. However, itemized charges can be tacked on for extras like landscaping and housekeeping, holding your luggage, tipping, or mini-bar restocking. The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association now encourages its members to impose an energy surcharge. If you stay at a hotel in Canada, you may pay a 3% “destination marketing fee” to promote its tourism industry.

Before you travel, call and ask questions. When booking on the telephone or online, make sure you understand the total cost, including “total fees and taxes” Tell the hotel or hostel representative you want to know the absolute total you will be paying. HostelTraveler.com rates typically include all fees and surcharges, but sometimes taxes will be added on during your stay. Make sure you read the full listing information in advance to know how much your total cost will be.

After your stay, hotel and hostel staff are frequently reluctant to remove charges from your bill. If you’re not planning on using the specific services or facilities, request that they eliminate those expenses before you check in. Check out early, settle your bill in advance, so that you have ample time to review your bill thoroughly. Once you move on to the next city, the chances of obtaining a correction are much lower. And remember, if the hotel representative can’t tell you exactly what costs are included in your bill, make sure you obtain clarification from a manager before you pay. This will avoid disputes later.