By Anna Davies, REDBOOK


Taking a summer break doesn't have to blow a hole in your bank account, says Emily Kaufman, author of The Travel Mom's Ultimate Book of Family Travel. "If you're prepared, realistic and flexible when it comes to vacations," she says, "you'll have a lot more control when it comes to lowering the price." Here are her favorite ways to cut travel costs.

1. Plan way ahead: Book your trip early so you can use airline miles or hotel points. Also, cruises are often discounted if you pay six or more months in advance.

Related: How to Land Summer Travel Deals

2. Or wait until the last minute: If you have some wiggle room on your departure date or destination, book your trip just a few weeks before you want to go. Often you'll find lower rates for hotels and airfare. Log on to lastminute.com for deals.

3. Go directly to the source: Low-fare airlines (such as Southwest Airlines or AirTran) may have rates that don't appear on major travel search engines, so be sure to

Procrastinators, take heart. You can make your escape as soon as this weekend-without blowing your bank account. Here's how. By Susan Stellin

See More: How to Save On…

Hit the road (on the cheap). If booking a plane ticket is too pricey, try taking the bus. (Yes, you heard us right.) New "premium" coach companies, like Megabus.com and BoltBus (boltbus.com), combine low prices with amenities such as onboard Wi-Fi. Travelers can land fares for as low as $1 (!) for a one-way ticket from New York City to Boston or Washington, D.C., though $15 to $20 is the average.



See More: 10 Ways to Spend Smarter

Embrace the new. Recently opened hotels typically reduce their rates to attract customers. Check out Hotelchatter.com, a daily webzine, for information on the latest bargains.



See More: Your Guide to Saving Money

Go where the deals take you. Want to take off somewhere-really, anywhere-next weekend? Go to farecompare.com/dealfinder (a ticketing and travel-advice

By Travelista Renae Virata for GalTime.com

When I traveled to Europe for one month, I was SO glad that I had packed light! Running up and down hundreds of steps to catch the only train to my next destination with a heavy bag... let alone more than one... would have seriously cramped my style. At the end of the day, I ended up with a medium-sized piece of luggage and one medium carry-on!

To be honest, I wasn't thinking of the crowded subways, the cobblestoned streets and lack of elevators in most major thoroughfares when I planned my trip wardrobe and how much luggage to bring. I was more concerned with the flight to and from (and extra baggage fees!). But my obsession with versatile and creative dressing forced me to bring as little as I possibly could without feeling like I'd forgotten something. So, how did I do it?

1. I WORKED AROUND BASICS. My everyday style lives by this rule, so it was easy to translate for a trip. And 'basics' does NOT mean boring - don't just

Sometimes you don't want to go on a leisurely, relaxed vacation on the beach where you just sip big tall cocktails with little straw hats. Sometimes you want to cheat death, feel an adrenaline rush, and push your body to the max on your traveling adventure. That, of course, requires major muscle, and there's a gaggle of wacky festivals around the world that provide the perfect excuse to yank your free weights out from under your bed and buy a new pair of running shoes. If you're thinking about partaking in any of the most physically challenging festivals the world has to offer, as RuPaul would say: "You bettah work!"

These are some of the best festivals that require toned arms, lung capacity, and legs built for endurance.

Click here to see all 10 fit vacations!

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With airline baggage fees, confusing security measures, and grumpy passengers, air travel is getting trickier every year. As a professional organizer and frequent traveler, I know these organizing strategies will help you enjoy your trip as much as possible - and get there in a good mood!

• Think through your trip. Consider each activity and decide what you'll wear now instead of throwing several pieces in and hoping for the best. Assume you will get at least two wearings from each pair of pants or skirt, and choose a basic color scheme. Wear your bulkiest shoes on the flight, so you can save room in your suitcase. Related: Best Ways to Pack for a Trip

• Start with the right suitcase. Make sure carry-on bags meet size regulations to avoid disappointment, hassle, and expense. You are allowed one large bag, which must fit in the overhead bin, and one smaller bag, which must fit completely under the seat in front of you, as well as a laptop - though hopefully you won't be

I'm an escape artist. It's what I do best. Every time something in my life falls apart, I run. It's the only therapy that truly works for me - although my therapist tends to disagree.

I once read that the best way to get over a broken heart is relocation. I may have taken it a bit too literally. The first time things ended with the love of my life, I quit my job and ran to Boulder for three months, then San Francisco for a month. When I returned to New York City, my insides still in pieces, I swiftly got on Craigslist and found an apartment swap opportunity with a woman in Paris. I left the day after New Year's and spent the next six weeks in a foreign city, where I'd never been, alone. And as I awoke every morning in the mostly empty, several hundred-year-old apartment that lacked a television and even a box spring for the mattress, I felt healed. The neighbor across the way was a composer, and when I fell asleep to the sounds of his piano and the chatter of the French artists

By Sarah B. Weir(Photo: Getty Images)
More from Green Picks blog

While most people can not get sunburned through a window, that doesn't mean that glass protects you from all of the harmful effects of the sun. Glass commonly blocks UVB rays, but untreated windows do not shield you from dangerous UVA rays.

Despite many health organizations' efforts to clarify the difference between UVB and UVA rays, people are still confused and believe they're safe and healthy as long as they don't get a burn or stay outdoors too long.

UVB and UVA rays: What's the difference?

UVB rays cause sunburn. It's easy to tell if you've been overexposed by the redness and pain. The effects of UVA rays are more insidious and cause damage over the long term.

They don't impact the skin right away -- instead, after years of exposure, UVA rays increase signs of visible aging such as wrinkles and brown spots, and can also lead to skin cancer, including melanoma, the most deadly form. While UVB rays can also lead to

For more family travel tips, visit Babble.

Plus check out Babble's complete 2011 summer guide!

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