Family ski vacations can be a really good time, but the cost can make you dizzy sometimes. For what you can spend on accommodations, lift tickets, lessons, equipment rental, gear and meals, you could easily get a nice used car.

Booking early and going off-peak can help lower costs. So can skiing close to home. Better yet, book an extended stay at one of these Homewood Suites and shave a little off your dining budget as well.

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Now that the a la carte pricing model has been fully proven by the low cost carriers and adopted by the legacies, fees are the new great annoyance in airline travel. Depending on the airline, there are fees for almost every creature comfort including leg room, snacks, early boarding or even water or overhead bin space. It’s enough to make the casual traveler sick with disgust, or at least lose all faith in an industry that was once so great.

The airlines have to do what it takes to survive though, and if that means nickel and diming customers then it’s the price that we have to pay to fly across the country at 600 MPH.

If you’re hell bent on fighting the system though, there are a few loopholes that you can often work to avoid paying part of the fees.

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With fall already in full swing and many of our travel schedules starting to wind down, now’s a great time to look at your annual travel (and paid time off) budget to see whether one last jaunt out of your home territory can fit into the picture.

Fun fact: Realizing that I had four days of PTO remaining for the year, I snagged a dirt cheap ticket to India last week and will be spending a wonderful long weekend in Bombay this November. The absolute best use of my hard earned money? Maybe or maybe not. But the best use of my time away from work? You bet.

Ready for some Columbus Day inspiration then? Great.

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Travel planners know that it’s never too early to start making summer vacation plans. Well, it goes without saying that summer plans don’t really need to be hammered down before Christmas, but the vagaries of air fare, deciding where to go, and what to do at a chosen travel destination are important to consider. Travel planning is best when we’re not rushed, but can instead take the time to research our travel desires. Finding great vacation deals and packages along the way is also an important element of well thought-out family travel plans.

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