by Tracy Morrison

Created on: November 04, 2009

The explosion of the internet has all but killed the travel agent profession. Sad as it sounds, consumers have been lapping up low cost vacations for years more and more since we've all been able to book our own gigs from home.

There are literally thousands of so-called Super Saver websites to book low cost vacations. Knowing where to go and what to look for is 99% of the battle. Packing your suitcases is the other 1%!

http://www.travelzoo.com/

Travel Zoo is fun site that can save you big bucks on unsold packages and tickets if you're looking for spur of the moment travel. Travel Zoo buys up unsold spots on airlines, cruises and in hotels, and then sells them off dirt CHEAP. If you're open to flying to Orlando next weekend for $99.00 per person round trip, give them a spin!

http://www.cheaptickets.com/

Much like Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz, Cheap Tickets offers everything from left over seats to Vegas this Friday night to 7 day cruise packages anywhere you can think of.

http://www.kayak.com/

These guys are a little newer on the travel scene. Started in 2004, kayak.com, like other comparison travel sites, runs a travel search engine seeking out hotel, airfare and car rental for the best price possible.

http://www.priceline.com/

This travel site is quite a bit different than the other guys. Priceline.com was the first of its kind with a name your price bartering set-up that allows you to make an offer on what you're willing to pay for travel transportation, accommodations and amenities. The way Priceline works, you set up a login account (for free), set up a credit card for purchases and begin your search!

To make an offer on hotel accommodations for instance, you enter the city you wish to stay in, the dates you need and any other add on services you may need such as a rental car. You then choose what level of comfort you're looking for. Normally hotels have STAR ratings as 1 star all the way up to 5 stars (the best). You may choose a 3 night stay at a 5 star hotel in your destination city. You may also be asked to choose several other variables such as a smoking or non smoking room, king size bed etc. After picking out the specifics, you then make an offer on what you are will to pay per night for this stay and click GO.

The Priceline system then hopefully matches you up with the level of hotel you're wanting for the days you need. If they are able to locate vendors willing to offer you what you are offering, they then charge your credit card and email you the details and itinerary. So, you just landed a 2 night stay at a 5 star spa hotel for $75.00 a night next weekend that had been unsold. Most 5 star hotels charge $200.00 a night plus on a normal reservation. If you're willing to take the risk and accept whatever airline, hotel, cruise line or car rental they can locate you based on your offer, you can save up to 70% on travel!

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