I watched from an airport coffee shop as bag after bag shot up the conveyor belt and into the cargo bay. It occurred to me that I was watching money deposit into the airline coffers, because many of these bags incurred a charge from some traveler's wallet.

Budget travelers want to shoot for one bag carry-on travel. It's important to minimize airline baggage fees. To do it, you'll have to make the most of that one carry-on bag.

With that in mind, why not invest in some accessories that could help you save on baggage fees?

Airlines are determined to increase these fees and make you pay for heavy baggage. You should be equally determined to travel with one carry-on bag as your main piece of luggage and leave the heavy stuff at home.

Travel Accessories to Save on Baggage Fees originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 21:40:42.

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Many budget travelers approach big cities by planning visits to individual neighborhoods. Establishing bases in popular, pleasant areas can add much to your experience and to your knowledge of a destination.

In Boston, the Back Bay area is among the best choices. It offers world-class shopping, great eateries and a proximity to both Public Garden and the downtown attractions. Unfortunately for those of us who watch our budgets, Back Bay is also among the most expensive places to stay in Boston, a city where the average two-star room (if you can find one) approaches $200/night.

Against that backdrop, the Taj Boston's "Stay & Play" offer has a lot of appeal. This five-star former Ritz hotel at the corner of Newbury and Arlington streets offers room rates from $219/night through Oct. 31. With that rate you also receive discount coupons for eight exclusive area boutiques, a full American breakfast each morning and complimentary valet parking. Should you arrive by air, the Arlington subway stop is just one block away. A ride to the airport is $2.

The entrance to the Public Garden is directly across the street from the hotel and you aren't far from Boston's theater district or the Freedom Trail.

Read details for Taj Boston's Stay & Play offer or take a look at more information about Taj Boston.

Taj Boston Offers Stay & Play Through October originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 17:32:56.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals. 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. For deals that aren't quite so fleeting, check out Summer deals. This week's deals include $25 restaurant.com certificates for $2, a third rail pass for free from Rail Europe and free summer nights from Travelocity.

Deals for the Week of July 26 originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 15:37:41.

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It should come as no surprise that Venice turns up on the wish lists of so many budget travelers. You navigate Venice on foot or by boat. It's a city unlike anyplace else on earth. These pleasing qualities often come with higher prices for food, lodging and transportation. But with planning, there is money to be saved. Here are 10 step by step tips for saving money on a visit to Venice. If you're willing to put some thought into the unique challenges of this popular destination, you'll be well on your way to an affordable visit.

How to Save Money on a Visit to Venice originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at 21:34:42.

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Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals. 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. For deals that aren't quite so fleeting, check out Summer deals. This week's deals include a Delta airfare sale, a beach guarantee from Travelocity and half-price rides on the Heathrow Express.

Deals for the Week of July 19 originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at 16:19:36.

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I recently arrived in the lobby of a Milan hotel after a two-hour stay on the tarmac that followed an airport mishap. Following this disrupted flight, a pleasant surprise awaited: I had been upgraded from a regular room to a deluxe suite. This really never happens to me--and consider that the reservation was a Priceline "name your own price" deal. I got a deluxe suite at a central hotel in a major European city for $95 USD/night plus tax!

Of course, we know that not every Priceline transaction ends this happily. Days earlier, I encountered a few hotel clerks who denied simple requests, citing Priceline policy that doesn't exist. Read more about Priceline reservations and your rights as a "name your own price" guest.

Hotel Clerks and Priceline Reservations originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at 16:05:21.

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Did you know some budget travelers actually plan to stay overnight in airports? Trying to sleep in such a place can be a challenge, and it's certainly not something anyone can recommend with confidence for all situations. It is fraught with potential security problems and in some places it could be against the rules. But all of these negatives don't stop some people from actually giving it a try in order to save money on lodging costs. If you're willing to take the risks (think carefully about this one), here are some strategies for finding a place to sleep in the airport.

Sleeping in Airports originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 00:08:24.

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There are hundreds of scenic drives across the world that would singlehandedly make your travel day complete. Some involve visiting a national park and paying a fee. That fee is usually well worth paying. But most of us enjoy scenic routes that are free of fees or tolls, like these 10 free scenic drives that add value to your trip without costing a dime.

Scenic Drives for Free originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 00:06:41.

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Exchanging money is one of those expenses for which you receive very little satisfaction. So why not try to keep this expense to an absolute minimum? Before you go to a marketplace, make certain you've paid as little as possible for the local currency you'll spend there. Here you'll find answers to common questions, some budget travel strategies for exchanging currencies and reader-submitted exchange tips.

Exchanging Money on a Budget originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 00:02:33.

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Saving money in Disney World is about packing as much value into each hour as possible. I recently spent a hot summer day at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. Despite the heat, it was a great day of fun with my daughter, who enjoys the more intense and popular attractions. With that in mind, it struck me that all of us should be counting minutes as well as dollars at Disney. So take the plunge and look at a step by step approach to saving money at Disney World in Orlando.

How to Save Money at Disney World originally appeared on About.com Budget Travel on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at 00:12:00.

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