If you plan on flying this summer, youll find that airfares have gone up yet once again, so youre summer vacation is going to cost more than you planned for. As a matter of fact, domestic flight prices rose by 10.6% during the early part of 2006. With jet fuel at an all time high prices are only going to get higher.

If youre counting on last minute deals --- dont bother. Airlines arent underestimating demand any longer, and there are no deals to be had.

However, there are things that you can do to say a bit of money on airfare like shop around and book early. These days you should book your flight early not only to save money, but also to guarantee that you get a seat. You should also shop around. There are many websites like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz that will give you the latest deals on air travel. If you see an exceptionally good deal, take it immediately. Prices can change for better or worse within a matter of minutes. Individual airline websites should not be ignored, because some companies dont publish fairs on sites like Travelocity, Expedia or Orbitz. There specials are listed on their website only. You can ask to be put on their mailing list and be alerted when a good deal comes up.

You also need to be willing to travel during off times of the week or off-seasons at various locations. For instance, if you want to take the kids to Disney, you get much lower airfares if you go during the summer months. Keeping this in mind, if youre taking a family vacation, youll probably need a hotel room and rental car. Book these the same time you book your flight, and youll save more money.