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Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 61 G roup travelers already have some advantage over solo travelers when it comes to making the per- person cost of trips more affordable. But booking a group tour isn't the only way to stretch your travel dol- lar. Here a few other ideas. Hunt for Bargains: Get on the Internet well before your departure date and search for deals on airfare, hotels, vacation packages, ground transportation and attractions. Call the hotel directly and ask about its "best available price," and the availability of special rates for military personnel, veterans, AARP and AAA members and other groups. Go in the Off-Season: High demand equals higher prices for travel destinations. You can score some great bargains by traveling to the Caribbean from May to mid- December – if you don't mind a little extra summer heat or a nighttime nip in the air during the winter – or head- ing to a ski resort in the summertime. Pick a Site With Great Sights: Choose a destination where the main attraction is the great (free) outdoors or part of the architectural landscape that you can explore on a self-guided walking tour. A visit to the mountains, the beaches, a riverfront park or a historic neighborhood can help fill up your itinerary without emptying your wal- let. Lighten Up: If your aching back didn't provide enough incentive to learn how to pack lighter, now come those hefty airline baggage fees. Paring down to a lighter load will save not only money but fuel for the vehicle you're traveling in. The Web site http://www.gogreentrave- lgreen.com offers dozens of smart packing ideas and links to even more. Load Up on the Freebies: Look for museums, factory tours, historical attractions, art galleries, concerts, art fairs and other attractions in your destination that offer free admission either some of the time or all of the time. Then maybe you can afford to splurge on one or two special attractions while you're there. Buy a Card: If your "must see" list is substantial, find out if the visitors bureau offers a discount card that's good for multiple attractions. But before you buy, make sure you're actually going to do enough to realize the savings promised. Remember, the all-the-you-can-eat buffet is no real bargain for someone with a tiny appetite. Give Up the Wheels: Save on gas, car rental and hotel parking fees by using public transportation, from light rail to bus lines to free downtown trolleys, to get around your destination – or pick a place with lots of attractions near the hotel and within walking distance of one anoth- er. Take the Train For groups of 20 or more, Amtrak offers discounts of up to 20% off for each paying passenger. Seniors are eligible for an additional 15% off, and chil- dren can travel for half-fare. Also, be sure to check out the changing special fares online. Eat Like a Local: Book a hotel with a kitchenette, then shop at local markets and prepare some of your own meals. If you don't want to go totally DIY, look for less expensive alternatives to the hotel restaurants and famous tourist haunts, like neighborhood restaurants and street food vendors. Have it All: All-inclusive resorts – with one price cov- ering room, meals, drinks, tips, hotel transfers and onsite activities – can offer significant savings over what you would pay for those things separately. Of course, the more eating, drinking and being merry your group plans to do during your stay, the more value these resort pack- ages will have. Look for off-season promotions to increase your savings. With a little investigation, you're bound to come up with more ideas for cutting travel costs. Pick up the phone, go online, or poll your group members and other veteran travelers. Good luck and happy trails! SONYA STINSON 10 WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR TRIP BY SONYA STINSON