Just a few tips to make sure your online travel bookings doesn’t go wrong:

Speak with a human being. Sometimes airline and travel agents can find routings and fares that aren’t placed into the computer. Often the front-desk clerk at a hotel can tell you about vacancies that aren’t listed online or with the 800 reservations number.

Match up dates against a calendar before you reserve travel.
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Whenever I think about dirt cheap airline tickets, George Hobica comes to mind right away.

George is what you would call an airfare detective!

The long-time travel journalist created Airfare Watchdog, a new travel Web site, which has quickly become a favorite destination of travelers which publishes sometimes rock-bottom, unadvertised airfares.
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In a time of international travel, suitcases of clothes, toiletries and souvenirs could end up anywhere, perhaps Turkey, Denver or even Addis Ababa.

But even though most lost airline luggage is successfully returned to its owner, the remainder, more often than not, finds its way to a far more improbable location — a small town in Alabama.
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Now that you’ve made it to the airport and located a parking spot, only to find yourself staring at a long security line.

Here are a few things you can try to help speed your way through airport security checkpoints.
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by Erin Richards

Make a good first impression

“In some cultures you hug, in others you shake hands, and in others you kiss,” says Cindy Post Senning, a director at the Emily Post Institute. “It’s easy to disrespect locals if you aren’t familiar with how to greet them, both formally and casually.”
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Just a few tips that should work no matter where you plan to travel:

1. If you plan to travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, you’ll probably find space, but nothing at great bargains.

2. Getting flights back on the weekend of Jan 5-6 will be difficult—it’s the busiest weekend in the season. If you can return after Jan. 5–6, it opens a lot more possibilities.
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When a company needs to have an important document or package hand delivered, it might hire a courier to handle it.

As a courier, you give up a portion of your check-on luggage allowance, which the company uses for its cargo. When you arrive, you deliver the package to the shipping agent’s representative and your job is done.
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If you plan on traveling it is always important to ask about possible fees in advance. Asking can save you from the headache of paying extra for unnecessary service as well as help you plan and prepare for your trip.

Below are a few hidden fees you need to look out for while traveling.

Fill the Tank
Upon returning a rented vehicle make sure to refill the gas tank since companies can charge up to double the local price per used gallon of gasoline. Make sure that the tank is full before you leave and ask a rental attendant to fill it up if necessary.
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If you want to reduce you risk of getting sick from hotel germs, here are some suggestions.

Use your own bedspread. That’s typically the most germ-laden item in the whole room.
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Over 20 million travelers will be getting early gifts delivered by the post office this holiday season: an announcement from a New York federal court about the possibility of refunds for some of the foreign currency exchange fees they paid while using a Diners Club, MasterCard or Visa ATM, credit or debit card between Feb 1, 1996, and Nov. 8, 2006.
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Just a few behind the scenes secrets airline management keep.

Airline Complaints: Management cares a lot about the company’s image, and the most serious airline complaints are sent right to the top with threats of talking to the media or the Department of Transportation.

Most of those complaints are handed off to someone, whose job is to make you feel like a ‘valued’ customer—which can mean free tickets, if management is in a good mood that day.
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