A la carte pricing is a phrase that has recently encroached upon the travel lexicon – a phrase with serious implications. Loosely, it means that instead of charging you for one complete experience, travel providers are now increasingly charging for each experience piecewise. Your plane ticket to Orlando, for example, may cost $300, but adding bags will cost another $50, and peanuts and soda might run another $10. It’s a tricky way for providers to make a few extra dollars from the uninformed traveler and a major headache for many a tight budget.

Like it or not, a la carte pricing is a part of traveling in today’s volatile economy, so it’s best to be informed about its ramifications before hitting the road. Let’s break it down by the two biggest industries: airlines and hotels.

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The following post is by a special guest blogger: Sharlene Earnshaw, Trekaroo’s Blog Editor.

I remember the first time I ever flew without my mom and dad like it was yesterday. I was 12 years old and my little brother and I were flying up to Seattle to stay with my aunt for a couple weeks. I felt a mingling of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of doing something without my parents.

On that first flight, I had no idea that my nerves were probably outmatched by those of my mom and dad. After all, they were sending their babies up into the sky alone. It turns out our experience was a great one and led to many more journeys up north sans parents.

This past summer, I had a chance to experience the other side of the coin. My 11-year old niece and 13-year-old nephew flew from Texas to California, and I suddenly became the aunt on the receiving end. We live in a post-9/11 world and it was not as simple as just walking up to the gate and picking up the kids anymore.

Luckily, as long as you know what to expect and follow a few simple rules, things can still be easy. Here are my tips on how to make that first flight a great experience for both parents and children.

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In the “hospitality world”, technology is king. Good technology makes every aspect of your stay more comfortable – whether it is behind the scenes at the front desk, or part of your in-room entertainment system.

Best of all, hotels understand that not every guest wants to be knee deep in high-tech gadgets, so technology is designed to be simple and unobtrusive.

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Did you know that the wireless signals sent between your computer and an unsecured Internet connection can be intercepted by anyone with a computer and a piece of free software? In fact, every single piece of information you send over the airwaves is prone to eavesdropping, including emails, passwords, Twitter messages, files and more. Thankfully, there are several ways to protect yourself and your data.

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