35 Hot Tips for Summer Savings (page 2 of 3)

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Fly away Book early and follow these tips for cheaper flights, says Tom Parsons, founder of Bestfares.com :

• July is one of the busiest travel months, making bargains a scarce commodity. Opt instead for a late-- summer trip. And remember, summer includes 21 days in September -- and plenty of deals.
• Check for web-only specials, updated weekly on the websites of most major airlines and on Bestfares.com.
• Search for double connect deals. Instead of booking a round-trip ticket from Duluth, Minnesota, to Orlando, Florida, consider buying two round-trip tickets: one from Duluth to, say, Indianapolis, and one from Indianapolis to Orlando. This combo idea can save $163 per person over the direct flight.
• Kids ages 2-11 may qualify for discounted fares -- as much as one-third off on Alaska Airlines -- just so long as they're each traveling with an adult. These deals are not always easy to find online, so check with the airlines or with a travel agent.

And if your kids are flying alone, Anna Tolin, experienced traveler and mom, prefers Southwest Airlines. "I've never had them assess a fee like some airlines," she says. JetBlue and Delta's new airline, Song, skip the chaperone fee too. Compare that to Northwest Airlines, which charges $45 each way for direct domestic flights. Double check each airline's maximum age for a minor. It can range from ages 11 to 14.

Road trip! Before hopping into the car, check GasPriceWatch.com and GasBuddy.com. They post prices for thousands of stations, so you can find the best deal in your neighborhood, or for wherever you're headed.

Theme parks The big news this year: Disney World has revamped its ticketing packages. If you're visiting for fewer than seven days, you'll probably pay more this year than last, says Robert Niles, founder of ThemeParkInsider.com. "But if you buy for seven or more days, and take the tickets -- never -- expire option, it's actually a price cut, which is unheard of for Disney World." You can save $8 per ticket. Many theme parks are offering annual passes when you buy a one day admission ticket. The earlier in the year that you buy them, the cheaper the thrills. An added bonus: They're often good for other parks owned by the same company. Beware, though, says Niles, "the price is different at each park. So it's cheaper to buy one, say, at Sea World in San Diego than to buy it at Sea World in Orlando." But terms may vary, and you may need to first activate the pass at the location where you bought it. Even if you're only going to visit a park for a day or so, you can still save:

• Stop at a grocery store nearest the park, and head to the soft drink aisle first, then the bread aisle and yogurt section. Look for specially marked labels that give deals on theme park tickets when you buy the product.
• Check eBay for coupons and unused passes.
• Scan the parks' own websites for last minute discounts.

Ask your employer When Rick VanderKnyff worked at the University of California, San Diego, he got deals that saved anywhere from $7 off adult Disneyland tickets to a whopping $24 off Six Flags Magic Mountain.

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• The Organized Traveler's Checklist
• Step-by-step guide to vacation preparation.
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• Securing Your Home While You're Away
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• Travel Smart: Dollars and Sense
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• Health Tips for Trips
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