BestAdvice Travel

Dust off your comically over-sized sombrero and load up on your favorite color of Zinka sunscreen; spring break is just around the corner. While the ideal destination of this vacation usually involves soaking up sun on the beach, coming up with the money to make such a trip possible is a serious challenge for your average college student.

Begging mom and dad and scraping couch cushions for change are always options for assembling the necessary funding, but they'll only get you so far. If you're dead-set on doing something special this spring break without spending a small fortune, try a few of these cost-cutting tips.

1. Use Your ID
See how far you can get on your student ID. There's no harm in asking a hotel or rental car company if they offer an additional student discount. Also, don't be shy with your ID when you're out of town. A student discount should apply to any student, no matter what state you come from. Check out this list of 81 student discounts for a few ideas.

2. Shorten Your Stay
Traveling mid-week is almost always less expensive than traveling over the weekend. Instead of booking from Saturday to Saturday, schedule your spring fling between Tuesday and Thursday. This means less spending on airfare and accommodations and still allows a few days of free time to tackle homework assigned by unsympathetic educators. Read more

The Federal Aviation Administration stopped collecting taxes Friday due to a partial shutdown, so logic dictates that should mean a reduction in airfare considering those taxes make up nearly 20% of flight cost. Not so fast, my friend. U.S. carriers leaped on the opportunity created by lawmakers' failure to extend the agency's operating authority. By Monday, most U.S. airlines raised their fees to cover the difference, with the possible exceptions of Alaska, Spirit and Hawaiian airlines. Virgin originally bragged it wouldn't take advantage of the tax holiday, but joined the opportunistic crowd by Monday. Frontier Airlines followed suit.

So what's a traveler to do? Here are 15 ways consumers can reduce airfare costs and avoid those pesky added fees:

1. Shop Consolidators
OneTravel.com and Hotwire.com are just two websites that consolidate the lowest fares available. But check the terms carefully as there might be some semi-hidden restrictions.

2. Book Mid-week
Airfare prices are at their lowest in the middle of the week, according to FareCompare.com who claims Tuesday afternoon offers the best value and selection of low cost flights.

3. Weekend Layovers
Business travelers know it's actually cheaper to extend their visit over a weekend to save on airfare. That's because many plane tickets are sold for weekday round trips. Read more

While summer is always the big travel season in the United States, Americans are changing the way they take vacations. For example, look at the new partnership between Groupon and Expedia. They're following the increasingly popular deal-of-the-day model and offering significant discounts on travel packages that can include airfare, hotels, activities, car rentals and more.

That's not the only way to get to your destination for less, though. Try using these 9 thrifty travel tips to save some money on your next vacation.

1. Discover Off-Peak Destinations
With nearly four-million square miles of land area, the U.S. is a big country. This means there are nearly unlimited places to travel. Destinations in California, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are some of the most popular spots, but they're also the most expensive. If you think outside the box, you'll find some really cool locations to have a unique vacation without the crowds.

2. Shop at Auctions
Is your heart set on luxurious accommodations, but your bank account doesn't match up? The auctions at travel sites like LuxuryLink.com can help you find accommodations, spa credits, meal vouchers and free drinks for as much as 65 percent below the typical retail price. Auction king eBay also offers a variety of discount vacation packages in their travel section. Read more

With gas prices at the highest average ever for this time of year and airlines enacting new booking and travel fees, getting away from home and taking an affordable vacation seems difficult, if not impossible. With some planning and researching you can prepare to save some money while traveling on a budget so that you don't have to forgo your vacation.

Use apps to your advantage: There are many apps that can save you money. Whether it be GasBuddy to help you find the cheapest gas near you or ATM Hunter which allows you to avoid fees when withdrawing money.

Brown bag it: Make an effort to make your own lunches or breakfasts when traveling. It's cheaper to stock up on fruit, snacks and cold cuts than eating every meal at a restaurant. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it so that you're not constantly spending money on pricey beverages.

Take advantage of deals: If you're a member of organizations that offer discounts, look into where you could be saving money. AAA offers its members a variety of savings which range from discounts to attractions to local restaurants. Read more

Horrendous airport delays make headlines every holiday travel season. Sadly, not even the most carefully planned travel itinerary can help you survive flight delays, cancellations and other snow-induced shenanigans.

Until now.

After undergoing my own 36-hour airport nightmare last summer, I understand the sheer frustration of being bumped time...after time...after time. I know what it's like to curl up on a concrete floor or contort into a deceptively uncomfortable chair. Pulling from my experience as an airport refugee, I've put together this brief prep list and extensive tick-tock guide of what to do, where to go, and how to remain sane during a 36-hour vacation at the concourse. It's going to be a wild -- if stationary -- ride.

The Situation

Weather is obviously the biggest factor leading to terminal limbo, but a combination of unpredictability, bad timing and high commuter volume really turns a rosy-cheeked getaway into an extended bout of humbugging. According to stats from the Federal Bureau of Transportation, last December saw the highest percentage of delayed flights and twice as many cancellations as the 2009 average. Both trends extend back more than 20 years.Read more

Everyone is watching his or her wallet. Travel, especially for a college football game, is considered more of a luxury than a want in recent years. However, Nicole Hockin, Travel Expert at Hotels.com's blog, www.TravelSmartBlog.com has some economical recommendations for those on a budget. With these tips, financially strapped college football fans who want to get away – even for a long weekend – can do so without breaking the bank.

1. September and October are great months to catch a game in the Northeast in cities such as Boston. With Boston and UMASS nearby, take some time to take in the autumnal display of foliage.Read more

Hurry up and wait. That's the modern ethic for the frequent (or even infrequent) air traveler. Get to the airport a few hours early to ensure you have all the time you need to get through the security line.

Then, you take off your shoes, take all the change out of your pockets, take out your laptop, take off your belt and anything else that might possibly set off the metal detector, take your ID out of your wallet, walk through the metal detector, set it off with the cell phone you forgot to take out of your pocket, wait patiently while you get scanned by the wand that makes the Star Wars light saber noise, and then put everything back only to find out your flight is delayed for another few hours.Read more