Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: discounts for Paris attractions and European hotels, and offers for Caribbean beach resorts.

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With gasoline prices moving upward, budget travelers want value for every gallon purchased. Have you considered a scenic drive?

Because you have to spend so much at the pump, these scenic drives should be free!

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Many North Americans think about South American travel in terms of Brazil, Argentina or Peru. They look at the cost of air travel and cross South America off their wish lists.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: spring break discounts from BedandBreakfast.com, Carnival cruise deals and March vacation getaways with JetBlue.

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It's not exactly the stuff of gold statuettes and red carpets, but the Better Business Bureau has released its Top 10 Scam Awards for 2011. At No. 1 is a phishing scam that targets small business owners. An email arrives announcing someone has filed a complaint against you with the BBB. Click on the links or attachments in this email and you'll download malware "that finds your bank information and transfers money."

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If a trip to Europe is a special occasion for you, why would you want to have that experience in the off-season? Costs can be lower at such a time -- sometimes significantly lower.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: Los Angeles discounts, a sale on trips to spring training venues and a deal on tickets for Las Vegas Blue Man Group performances.

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You may vote once every 24 hours until the voting phase closes March 21.

Read more about all the budget travel finalists:

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You may vote once every 24 hours until the voting phase closes March 21.

Read more about all the budget travel finalists:

Read Full Post

You may vote once every 24 hours until the voting phase closes March 21.

Read more about all the budget travel finalists:

Read Full Post

Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: airfare sales for South America and Turkey, as well as discounts on cruises and vacation packages for the Caribbean.

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I have heard of people who want to visit every U.S. state or every country on a given continent. But there are also people content to visit the closest theme park and enjoy a nice day with the family.

There is nothing wrong with either plan.

Theme parks such as Six Flags are like every other destination in that you can easily pay too much for entertainment and food. You can spend too much time standing in line, too.

It's possible to cut back on the ticket line times -- and the prices you'll pay for admission -- by ordering your Six Flags admissions online from home before you depart for the park.

More about Savings at Six Flags

I have heard of people who want to visit every U.S. state or every country on a given continent. But there are also people content to visit the closest theme park and enjoy a nice day with the family.

There is nothing wrong with either plan.

Theme parks such as Six Flags are like every other destination in that you can easily pay too much for entertainment and food. You can spend too much time standing in line, too.

It's possible to cut back on the ticket line times -- and the prices you'll pay for admission -- by ordering your Six Flags admissions online from home before you depart for the park.

More about Savings at Six Flags

Let the voting begin!

Vote for your favorite frequent-flier program, U.S. budget airline and international budget airline. You may vote once every 24 hours until the voting phase closes March 21.

One change this year: voting requires login, either through About.com or Facebook. You may also login by submitting a valid email address.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: a pair of cruise offers, a "leap year sale" on bed and breakfast gift cards, and discounted resort rates.

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When you arrive in Orlando, you'll notice it is a place that focuses on travelers.

It's not a tourist trap. I enjoy visiting the area. But there are some travel mistakes you can make here that will cost you time as well as money.

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When tourists become targets of crime, word spreads quickly.

The problem is that many would-be travelers are so focused on such stories that they either avoid the scene of the crime or spend their precious vacations constantly looking over their shoulders.

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Where is it written that quality attractions always must charge an admission fee?

Examples: a visit to the Smithsonian, a drive along the rugged California coast or a weekend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: Expedia.com discounts in Florida, a pair of train-related sales and a special offer for flights to London.

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Ever get a great airfare but cough up the savings for an expensive ride from the airport?

It's not hard to do. In many major cities, a cab ride from terminal to downtown is $50 or more.

But some of those same cities offer airport trains at a small fraction of the cab or shuttle bus prices. Granted, the ride might not be quite as comfortable, and you might do a little walking, too. But if you practice one-bag travel, these small sacrifices can add up to big savings.

Take a look at 12 North American cities where rides on airport trains cost less than $10. Climb aboard and save.

Do you have plans to visit SeaWorld in the near future? If so, it pays to buy your tickets before you leave home.

You can also combine SeaWorld admissions with other theme parks. Take a look at the SeaWorld discounts that are possible simply by using your computer to make a purchase or two.

More Theme Park Savings

Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: hotel discounts for Paris and Las Vegas, and a sale on gift certificates from Restaurants.com.

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Why not explore Latin America? It can be a budget travel paradise, but many are hesitant.

Some fear crime or language barriers. Others wonder if they can be comfortable there. A few think the distances from home to Central America or South America are too great.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: discounts on Entertainment Books, a sale on room rates in New York City and a pair of cruise offers.

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U.S. budget travelers who have been shopping for airfares recently might think prices are getting ugly. What happened to those enticing low prices?

New U.S.D.O.T. Passenger Protection Regulations require posting the sum of airfare+taxes. The idea is to curb sensational fare advertising that doesn't include taxes and fees until the consumer has entered the booking process.

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Anybody ready to start thinking about Spring Break?

As January draws to a close, it's only natural to start thinking about spring. The pessimists among us will remind us of seven winter weeks that stretch across the calendar before spring officially arrives.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Winter Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: discounts on trips to Mexico and the Caribbean, an airfare sale between New York and Delhi, and senior discounts from Rail Europe.

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Face it: some places are just less expensive to visit than others.

That doesn't mean the expensive places aren't worth seeing. But why not build some economy into your itinerary by choosing destinations where meals, hotels, admission fees and transportation will cost less? The minute you commit to a visit, you're already ahead of the budget travel game.

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