Downtown Hotels Beckon

Going to a major city for some holiday shopping? Many budget travelers find a suburban room near a big mall. They believe this is a cheap alternative to the downtown business-class hotels.

This time of year, there are bargains to be found in the city. With business travel down, many upscale chains offer shopping weekend rates that are extremely attractive. They want to fill those rooms with paying customers.

Staying downtown could also save you parking hassles and gasoline. More>

Going, going, gone!

This is a good time of year to visit online auctions--not just for gift-buying, but hotel reservations, too.

Priceline will be trying to move that inventory of rooms the business people usually reserve. But other online auctions should not be overlooked, either.

There is no end to the combinations -- some of them quite unusual -- that are offered here.

One example: Priceline.com offers a long list of discounted Thanksgiving (U.S.) and December airfares. You might not get the precise day you seek, but with some flexibility there is money to be saved.

Similar auction deals are possible on packages, hotels and airfares. More>