Best Strategies!

You might have heard over the years that "travel tip" is a relative term at best and an oxymoron at worst. What's a hot tip one season might not be the best advice the next, and what might be a smart choice for one traveler might be another's worst nightmare.

Here are three strategies that can save you money:

1. Book Tickets Separately.
If you are booking two tickets on the same flight, first try booking them together (choose "2" from the "number of tickets" menu), then try booking one ticket two times (choose "1" from the menu, then repeat). Depending on how full the flight is at the time - the fewer seats available, the more likely this move will pay off - you can save anywhere from 25 to 75 percent just by booking the tickets separately.

The reason for the savings is that when you book two or more tickets the computer automatically searches for consecutive seats in the same air fare class, such as the A and B seats in row 25 of coach class, for example. If two consecutive seats in one air fare class are not available, the seats offered will be in the next higher air fare class. But in that same row 25, the A and C seats might be open, but are not offered as an option. In this case, you'd be better off booking the two lower-price tickets separately and then working with the gate personnel or with the flight attendant to finagle two seats together.

2. Check Out Last-Minute Package Deals
This next tip is most useful when you are booking a last-minute airline ticket. Many booking sites offer package deals or last-minute deals that pair a hotel room or a rental car (or both) with a flight, sometimes at an unbelievable discount. Last month, the best Web deal to be had on three days notice for a ticket from New York City to Orlando was $340 round-trip.

But a package deal at Expedia offered the same itinerary with a rental car for $260 -- a savings of 25 percent just for taking a rental car! Also, the return flight on the package deal was a nonstop flight, making that deal all the sweeter. You can find these deals on other travel sites and sometimes on the airline sites as well.)

3. Beware Affinity Group Discounts
You may belong to what's known in business parlance as an "affinity group," an organization or club -- such as an auto club, a retiree organization, or a wholesale shopping club -- that offers its members discount rates on hotels, rental cars, airline tickets, et cetera. Usually you'll save anywhere from 5 to 20 percent off the standard rate by taking advantage of your affiliation with these groups.

The tricky part is that the standard rate changes from one day to the next - in some cases, from one hour to the next - so the discount rate you are receiving might not always be the best rate available to you. To make sure you are getting the best deal, try booking without identifying yourself as an affinity group member, and then inquire again using your discount. Depending on the time of year and the demand. Slower travel times, such as the lull between summer and fall, are when standard rates drop substantially; you might save money by not using your affinity group discount.