Tripsync, (TripSync.com.) enables you to search and book air, car and hotel right from your PDA or Smartphone. This way, when your flight gets canceled, you can rebook your reservations and get on your way before everyone else. Additionally, you can use TripSync Mobile to modify your existing reservations, receive Flight Alerts, view Security Wait-time, view Weather and Airport Information, and view Departure / Arrival Information.

If I a plan on arriving at a hotel late in the evening, I make sure to call them in advance and let them know of my late arrival. That way, they know I am still going to show and will (hopefully) hold a room for me.

1. Check in ahead of time. Unless there is bad weather. If you have a boarding pass – only rarely will you get the dreaded SSSS on the boarding pass. And, you can always ‘lose it,’ and have them print it again – without the SSSS. Seriously. Unless the SSSS line is short – and you do not mind waiting or being felt up.

2. If the weather is forecast bad – do NOT check in ahead of time. Once you check in, most airlines have systems that make you go to the airport to have the reservation changed. I had a flight canceled – and the phone res agents could not help me because I was already checked in. Certainly make sure you have a seat assignment, but do not check in until you get to the airport in times of forecast bad weather.

3. Never believe an airline about connections or arrivals of inbounds. They lie. They mislead. If you see the pilots – ask them “Do you know when our EFC time is?” They may not know – but at least they’ll realize someone on the flight is paying attention. If ‘waiting for a flight to arrive,’ use the arrivals board, cross check the gate, then use that blackberry or laptop to see what time the FAA ATC systems states the flight will arrive. If it is too late – go raise a polite stink and do NOT accept ‘ the weather is bad, your connection will be delayed as well, unless the delay is at a hub airport.

4. Pay extra for a nonstop. Fewer risks to you, your bags and your pysche. Drive to a hub city to take the nonstop – a 3-4 hour drive to a hub will ALWAYS take less time than a connection through a hub.

5. Also – SCAN the front page of your passport in color and save it as a PDF file. I know a person who was let back in the country with that scan since the ICE officer could machine read the scan . . . . and cross verify it with a drivers license and other ID. Save it on your computer that you travel with.

Hotels:

1. Call the hotel directly for the reservation after checking a- their online rates and b- their competitors. You can snag a lower rate simply by asking – or get an upgrade. I stayed at a 5 star hotel – and got an upgrade to the concierge floor saving us $50 a day by not having to buy breakfast, afternoon snacks or alcohol. I offered to pay their online regular room rate. If you do not ask – the answer is always no.

2. If you got a really good deal – always call the specific hotel directly to reconfirm the reservation – then ask them to tell you the rate.

3. Do not stay in hotels – condos and apartment rentals save you hundreds.

Car Rentals – this is hopeless- if they try to impose additional fees or change the rate – say no and ask to speak to a manager right then and there. Get it fixed – you have no leverage if you are not in their face.