American Airlines is experimenting with a business model that was first introduced by Air Canada.  The Canadian carrier has been using an a la carte pricing system.  This means that passengers must pay extra for anything beyond their seat on the airplane.  While industry-watchers consider this strategy a necessity, many passengers consider it a step too far.  Paying to check a bag is one thing, but making passengers pay for a drink and snack on the plane, that’s just cheap.

Other passengers disagree with the majority, saying that the extras are unnecessary and only serve to increase the overall price of tickets.  A la carte pricing allows a bit of respite from those added charges.  However, some airlines are able to offer comparable prices without having to resort to charging passengers for all the little things.  Southwest Airlines is known for its cheap fares and has, thus far, not charged passengers for in-flight refreshments or checked baggage.  They have not been known for their in-flight service, but now seems to be an industry leader, at least as far as domestic flights are concerned.  As competition increases, American Airlines might have to consider dropping the pricing scheme and reverting to the old ways.  However, for now, it seems that it, like many other major carriers, is merely trying to keep its head above water until the sour economy turns sweet again.

Meanwhile, low-cost carriers like Southwest, though also struggling, are poised to take a bigger chunk of the market.  They are banking on the pricing practices of major airlines to cause passengers to become so disappointed that they will be hungry for other options.  Some LCCs, like AirTran and Frontier Airlines, have banded together, code sharing, promoting each other’s routes and sharing gate and hangar space.  They hope that together, they can earn a bigger share of the market than they could if each operated independently.

Loyalty clubs, rewards points and other purchasing perks continue to be valuable marketing and branding tools for companies in nearly every industry, and now Hotels.com is joining the trend with its recent launch of a travel rewards program. The online booking site now allows travelers to collect rewards on every hotel reservation completed through the site; after booking 10 reservations within the year, travelers can enjoy a free night’s stay at any one of its 45,000 partner hotels. It’s an incentive-based program that may help Hotels.com become a leader in the competitive online travel booking industry.

The rewards program from Hotels.com is a simple way to rack up rewards while managing standard monthly and yearly hotel expenses. Points can be earned on any type of hotel or resort – bargain-priced motels, high-end resorts and the business trip extended stay all accumulate one point under this program. Travelers can earn free nights at any partner property, and the ‘no restrictions’ clause mean that even the typical blackout dates are included.

The official name is the welcomerewards™ program, and after signing up for a free account or calling the customer service department, travelers can start earning point and credits for their free night. All points can be redeemed for any Price Match Guarantee property on the Hotels.com website.

The new launch of the rewards program is one incentive for travelers to head online to book hotel stays and choose Hotels.com exclusively throughout the course of the year. While popular sites such as Expedia.com, Hotwire.com and Travelocity.com also offer low-priced hotel rates and packages for travel that may include flight and car options, Hotels.com remains competitive by honoring a Price Match Guarantee. The rewards program may be enough to entice travelers to stick with Hotels.com entirely for booking hotel reservations and enjoy a free night’s stay at any approved property in the network.

The next few months are some of the best times to visit botanical gardens around you (or around the regions where you might be traveling).  Many of the gardens offer great hands-on opportunities, educational experiences and a relaxing and calming atmosphere.  Spending the day “smelling the roses” can offer the perfect experience for the whole family.

Louisiana - Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, Louisiana is 250 acres of landscaped and natural beauty.  You will get to see a wide variety of plants and even a number of wildlife species native to the region (including alligators, deer and raccoons).

Maine - The Coastal Main Botanical Gardens is located on 248 acres of waterfront property in Boothbay.  There are landscaped gardens, native wildflowers and amazing views.  You can also enjoy the walkways and stonework around the gardens.

Maryland - Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County is a 50 acre public display garden.  It includes several landscaped garden (an azalea, rose and children’s garden along with many others).  One of the best features is that admission is free.

Massachusetts - Heritage Museums & Gardens is tucked away in Sandwich.  The area offers a number of things to do and to see.  Enjoy one of the many museums or a ride on the Carousel.  The gardens are located on 100 acres and are spectacular when in bloom.

Michigan - The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is more than just a garden - it is an experience.  You will likely need four to eight hours just to enjoy the trails, landscaped gardens and amazing sculptures.  There are also a number of events held in the gardens throughout the year.

Minnesota - The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska is on a mission to be a world-class landscape arboretum.  It is well on its way with more than 1,000 acres of gardens, landscapes, and natural areas for your browsing pleasure.  Take a stroll through the 12.5 miles of paths and trails or enjoy a drive or bike through some of the areas.

Mississippi - The Crosby Arboretum of Mississippi State University offers a chance to see native plant species and natural landscapes.  The Arboretum manages seven associated natural sites that total around 1,000 acres.  You can enjoy a self guided tour of the 104 acre Interpretive Center is made even more pleasurable by the trail signs along the paths.

During this season of renewal, take some time to “stop and smell the roses” or just enjoy the beauty that nature has been hiding for the lonely months of winter.

As the nation continues to experience rising gas prices and chooses ‘staycations’ in order to save money, the changes are taking their toll on flight options.  USA Today reports that a number of busy airports that cater to domestic flights are even cutting back departures this Fall by reducing domestic air service to various cities.  The October airline schedules show a 10% decrease in domestic air service options compared to the October 2007 schedules, and this may only get worse with the increase in oil prices and energy costs.

Major carriers including American Airlines, United and Delta are all reducing their flights by 10-14%, say the reporters at USA Today.  Some of the smaller airlines will also start cutting back.  Major cities and airports that will be most effected by the change include Honolulu Oahu, Oakland, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Houston and Santa Ana.  Even Chicago Midway airport is reducing its flights by 12.3 percent, according to the OAG-Official Airline Guide.

Airlines are also cutting back on staff and reducing investments in new carriers and jets as the season progresses.  This means fewer flight options not only for Fall 2008, but possibly into the Spring and Summer of 2009 – especially if fuel costs continue to increase at a steady rate.

Americans are already responding to the changes by turning to alternative vacations and getaways to escape the daily routine.  Instead of booking flights for their vacation, many are resorting to buses and trains for transportation, or skipping the vacation altogether and staying near home.  Still, even public transportation costs are increasing to accommodate the fuel increases; some train and bus operators are considering adding fees and increasing the rates of ticket prices for many of the nation’s top destinations.

Those who do choose to board a flight this Fall may find it difficult to book a non-stop flight from the favored destination, and will likely see fewer passengers than usual at the airport.

Rising gas prices are putting a damper on many of the travel plans for the summer and holidays through out the summer season.  Not only are people concerned about paying the price at the pump, many are also worried about what those rising prices are doing to every day costs (like groceries).

The news reports in print and on the small screen are not helping the concerns.  They regularly report doom and gloom about the things that are still to come.  It is no wonder people are closing up their pocketbooks and turning away from the traditional family vacation.

Some people are just looking for vacation options closer to home.  The idea is that if they can save on the travel expense then they can still afford to enjoy a getaway – although the getaway may not be as far as they originally planned.

The travel industry is scrambling to try and entice people to come their way.  Some locations are offering tax rebate specials to lure vacationers.  Others are just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

Concerns will only continue to grow if the prices at the pumps (and the stores) continue to rise.  Those consumers who were planning for shorter vacations or vacations closer to home may decided that costs are just high.  Then again, many will just adjust their plans once again to take into account the fuel costs.

Between the increased warnings and the actual increased prices of gasoline, people are traveling less this season.  How much damage that will cause the travel industry is yet to be seen.  It may be that local “tourists” manage to balance out the equation and in the end the industry is not as damaged as some may suspect.  In the long run, the fuel “crisis” may turn out to be less of a problem than the experts are predicting.

Leaving pets at home while traveling isn’t always practical, and many airlines accommodate for pets by offering carriers and special passenger areas for animals – all at a fee, of course.  Still, as Americans try to balance the budget for regular roundtrip and one-way airfare, many are realizing that pet travel fees are also on the rise.  Major airlines across the country are hiking up pet travel costs in addition to baggage handling fees, the cost of food and even imposing restrictions on ticket purchases.

Fees for traveling with pets can be as much as $100 each way, and while these include baggage handling and food costs, they don’t help the budget-sensitive traveler looking for ways to cut expenses at every opportunity.  Airlines such as JetBlue, Continental Airlines and U.S. Airways are just a few major carriers that are imposing higher fees this summer and Fall, and even charging extra for kennels and other pet carriers.

Still, some airlines are taking the lead on making air travel more pet-friendly with incentive programs and bonuses to help travelers make the most of their trip.  Continental Airlines offers a PetPass Program that allows travelers to earn rewards based on miles traveled with their pets; this can offset some of the fees and costs associated with pet travel, and make it easier to stick with just one airline in order to cash in the rewards at a later date.  Midwest Airlines runs a similar program with its Premier Pet Program, offering free trips for frequent travel and allowing pet owners to rack up travel miles on each trip.

For pet owners that insist on only the best, Virgin Atlantic Airlines offers an exclusive specialty package for all pets; their ‘welcome aboard’ pet package provides a special passport, a Virgin collar tag and even pet toys to keep pets happy and satisfied throughout their trip.  Pet programs may not be the ultimate solution for lowering pet travel costs, but do make it easier for pet owners to enjoy freebies and attractive options for future travel.

The rising cost of gas prices has many consumers rethinking every aspect of their lives – from what they eat to where they work and live.  Everyone is struggling to find new and inventive ways (or old tried and true methods) of saving money at the pump.  Family vacations are some of the first casualties of this finance war.

Instead of pushing the vacation on to the back burner, why not use some simple methods to have a great vacation even with higher gas prices.  There are a number creative ways to keep the vacation plans from breaking your bank.

 1.      Check with hotels in the area you want to travel.  Some are offering vouchers for gasoline to get you to stay at their locations.  You would be able to save the cost of the gas to get your vacation underway.

2.      Make a few budget adjustments to compensate for the higher fuel costs.  You can take out some of the activities that you planned to do or maybe downgrade your hotel to something a bit less costly.  Getting a location with a kitchen would allow you to cook in instead of eating out and that alone could save you a fortune.

3.      Stay closer.  Most people plan vacations for far away when there are many great activities and events right in their own back yard.  Search your community and state tourisms sites to see what great things you can do without going to far from home.

4.      Make it a group trip.  Traveling will cut all the costs because you will be dividing them among the group.

There are a number of ways to plan a great vacation even with gas prices climbing to record highs.  Instead of staying home, get creative with your getaway.

If you’ve been putting off travel plans until gas prices subside and ticket prices become more affordable, you may have missed out on a ripe opportunity that many Americans are already cashing in on – volunteering overseas. 

Many volunteer opportunities are available to U.S. citizens who want to make ad difference while experiencing a new culture or environment, and these programs also offer free board, lodging and in some cases, even cover the costs of that flight. 

From working on an organic farm to teaching English in Sudan, Matador.org recently listed their top ten volunteer opportunities.  Here are just a five exciting projects that might help you travel for free:

1. Appalachian Trail Conference.  This U.S.-based organization attracts volunteers from around the globe to build and maintain the Appalachian Trail to preserve the environment and endangered species.  The organization does pay for food and basic accommodation for its recruits, and can be a valuable way to explore nature at its best.
2. United Nations Volunteer program.  The UN offers several positions for volunteers who want to experience an extended stay abroad; they work with projects in health care, economic development and education in thousands of third world countries around the globe.
3. Conservation Volunteerism in New Zealand.  If you’re an active environmentalist, the Conservation Volunteerism organization in Australia and New Zealand is the place to promote eco tourism, work with teams to protect and clean up area habitats – and have meals and lodging taken care of.
4. Willing Workers on Organic Farms.  Organic farms around the world are searching for volunteers who will work on farms in exchange for food and lodging.  These opportunities are suitable for adults and teens who want to live and work in a completely new environment.
5. Sudan Volunteer Programme.  If you want to flex your teaching skills, you can teach English at schools and universities in Sudan, a country that is always looking for skilled teachers and volunteers to help with various community efforts.  Volunteers are provided with a monthly stipend, food and lodging, but are responsible for their own airfare.

When you’ve done your homework for finding the best deals on hotels and flight packages, there are still savings to cash in on from the car rental. Car rental costs can become an outlandish expense if you turn to the wrong company or sign up for a package you don’t really need. Add mileage expenses, too much insurance and other fees, and you may be left with a bill that costs more than your hotel stay. When you’re working with a tight budget – or just want to travel smart – use some of these strategies to save on extra car rental costs:

1. Don’t pick up the car from the airport. Track down an actual office of your preferred car rental provider to avoid hidden surcharges, airport fees and higher-than-average rates. In many cases, you’ll be able to find a car rental company only a few blocks form the airport.
2. Shop online before calling the car rental company. Whether you prefer Hertz or Avis, go online to find discounts and deals from travel websites before you call the rental company. Few rental companies match the fares posted on budget travel sites and search engines, so it’s up to you to locate the best price before you get a quote from the service provider.
3. Fill up the tank before you drop it off. Most car rental companies will charge you an exorbitant mile-per-gallon rate for topping off the tank after the drop off. Head to the nearest gas station before dropping off the car so you can pay the average price of gas, and give the car rental company the receipt.
4. Review insurance coverage options. Most car rental companies offer a set of different types of insurance, but will ‘recommend’ one of the most expensive. If you have homeowner’s insurance, you may be covered for rentals as well. Take the time to consider your options, and avoid overpaying for coverage you don’t really need.
5. Book a package. If you’re using an online flight booking service, take a look at package options where the flight + car or flight + hotel + car options are all rolled into one. This can reduce fees and extra booking charges, and may even help you get a better rate for your trip.

Everyone would probably see the world if they could find a way to travel for free. Although it might cost you a little to get from point A to point B, there are some secrets to staying for free (or a very minimal cost) once you arrive.

1. The idea of staying in a group environment may not seem like the ideal experience, but it will definitely be one of a kind. Group hostels are a great alternative to traditional hotels or motels. While they are not free, they can be incredibly cheap. You will be expected to bring your own towels and even bed sheets (most hostels don’t allow sleeping bags) so don’t expect the amenities you may get some where more expensive. Basically, you will be paying for a place to sleep (and maybe bath) and not much more.

2. Monasteries and Convents are places of quiet and seclusion. In the past, outsiders were not often welcomed. Today, many of these facilities host world wide retreats and other activities. You can still find room at the inn (or Abbey) for a small price that will usually include meals. Electronics are not a part of their lives, so don’t expect a television in your room – or anywhere else on the premises.

3. Hook up online. There are several websites that are helping travelers find hosts or hostesses for their trips. Usually the accommodations are in the homes of others and the host will often provide guided trips around the city. Even better, you can usually chat online or by phone before you make any arrangements to stay. If you want, you can even open your home to weary travelers through sites like couchsurfing.com.

4. Many churches have small dormitories attached to the main building (either for housing schools now or in the past or for use with ministry). Often these are available to members of the denomination for a minimal price. If your travel is for mission purposes the cost can even be free. Sometimes meals will be included, but not always. Check with your local church, state denomination, or over the internet to see what you can find.

5. The best way to go anywhere for free is to find relatives (or friends) and stay with them. In today’s society where the family is often spread out from coast to coast, this is not that difficult of a task. Be sure to contact the host ahead of time to be sure they are accepting of the idea – particularly if you have children or pets.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. If you step out of your box and stretch your imagination you can find plenty of places where you can stay for free – or very close to that price anyway.