Clark has long talked about TripAdvisor.com and how valuable it is for gleaning the collective wisdom from other travelers when you're planning a trip. There's also a site called Yelp.com that similarly culls the reflections of locals on what they know best -- their own neighborhoods. It's especially great for people who want to eat and play like a local when in unfamiliar territory.

The penny-pincher and his wife discovered Yelp during a trip to San Francisco, which happens to be the website's hometown. Whenever the couple wanted to dine out, they simple "Yelped" and got great suggestions on the top local restaurants.

If you want to use Yelp, be forewarned that you'll encounter a lot of foul language in the user postings. Yelp tends to attract younger, hipper posters who favor 4-letter words.

The New York Times reports there are 4 million reviews on Yelp from all around the country. When Clark was in Portland before a flight, he got a bad case of bagelitis and wanted to find the best local bagel shop. Yelp directed him to an unassuming, counter-culture kind of place that he normally wouldn't frequent. He was rewarded with the best bagel he's had outside of New York City.

The Times article also reports that food snobs and high-end chefs are up in arms about Yelp. It turns out they resent ordinary people reviewing their restaurants!

Clark is perhaps the last American who still loves going to an airport and flying. Right now, the penny-pincher wants to share some tips if you're planning to travel by air this holiday season.

Come Thanksgiving, we should have family-only lanes at many of the nation's airports. This is part of a new system in place with self-selection lanes at security. This system borrows from the ski system to mark beginner, intermediate and advanced trails.

The green lane is for beginning travelers who may not know the drill at security and for slow-moving families with children; the blue lane is for intermediate-level travelers who have some familiarity with the security process; and the black diamond lane is for veteran travelers who could go through security with their eyes closed.

If you only travel once a year during the holidays, a lot has changed since last year. All the nation's airlines -- except Southwest -- have become feeing monsters. You'll generally pay $15 to check a first bag and $25 to check a second bag. There are also fees if you want an exit-row seat; if you want to stand-by on an earlier flight; or if you want to cancel a ticket.

However, the good news is that demand for air travel is down. That means airports should be appreciably less crowded this holiday season. As a result, the delays -- barring bad weather -- should be significantly reduced because there are fewer flights. Of course, you can still expect major crunches if you're traveling directly on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving or on the Sunday or Monday after the holiday!

Outside of Thanksgiving and Christmas, fares are going down, down, down. For example, Southwest just wrapped up a sale that featured fares from $98 to $298 round-trip on travel from the beginning of December to mid-February.

Like having an empty seat next to you? Clark has a special tip for you. If your flight is not full, book a seat on the last six rows of the plane. That's where you're likely to hit the sweet spot of empty seats. And remember, Clark does not check a bag -- ever!

Looking for a silver lining in the slowing economy? Airlines may be parking planes in the desert and raising ticket prices, but hotels and resorts are really hurting. That's great news if you want to stay at a hotel!

Clark books 95% of the hotels he stays in through Priceline or Hotwire. With both sites, he only knows the star-level of a booking and doesn't find out the brand until after he pays non-refundable money. His latest deals on 4-star hotels have been in the $49-$59/night range. He won't even touch the 1- or 2-star hotels because both sites inflate their ratings of hotels.

If you're not comfortable with booking "blind," you can always use Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. All 3 of those sites still offer really good fall sales and some perks like free gasoline with your stay. You'll pay more than on Priceline or Hotwire, but at least you'll know where you're staying upfront.

If you choose to go the Priceline route, check BiddingForTravel.com, which is a forum where travelers help each other and share knowledge -- including tips on how to bid multiple times a day.

For Hotwire, check BetterBidding.com for an equivalent service.

To figure out what hotel you might get on Hotwire, follow these steps: Select the dates you want to go; click on the "build a package" option for a rental car (even if you don't plan on renting one); and then they'll show you what hotels would come with the car rental. This trick will work about 80% or 90% of the time. Just remember it is non-refundable once you buy!

Clark is back from a wonderful European vacation with his wife. They got an airfare sale to Copenhagen, Denmark, and traveled much of Scandinavia and over to Estonia.

In Copenhagen, Clark rode some of the city's many free, ad-plastered bikes. Biking is a way of life there. More people commute via bike than via automobile in Copenhagen. And how many overweight people do you see there? If you guessed none, you're correct.

There's a whole different mentality in Denmark and elsewhere in Scandinavia. They aren't caught up in the suburban quest for a bigger house and a fancier car. City living is all about cramped apartment flats. So the Danes may have to sacrifice lifestyle, but they use less energy per person than in any other developed country.

Clark also had the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Estonia -- the birthplace of Skype! Getting to Estonia via Finland was quite an adventure; the Finns like to take cruise lines to Estonia just to party. Clark's never seen such public drunkenness aboard the cruise ships since college!

It's no surprise that the airlines are feeing us to death. Clark recently saw a story where a reporter called all the full-fares and asked if they would ever consider charging for bathroom use. All six emphatically replied in the negative. But that fact that it even made the news makes you wonder…

About 2 years ago, Clark predicted that airlines would soon be charging you to check a bag. Did he have the gift of prophecy? Not really.

He had just flown Ryanair and was forced to wear 3 levels of clothing so that his suitcase would be light enough to be considered a carryon. So Clark wore 3 pairs of pants, 2 shirts and a sweatshirt over that while flying! His wife even has the pictures to prove it.

Have you been watching the Olympics? Clark's 9 year old was obsessed with the opening ceremonies and his 2 year old is enthralled with equestrian sports.

The penny-pincher himself finds communist China to be very confusing. For those who are wondering, Clark calls it communist China to differentiate from Taiwan (aka the Republic of China).

Clark first visited communist China 25 years ago when it was truly under the sway of Chairman Mao's legacy. At that time, he found it to be a totally rural country that looked positively feudal. He particularly recalls being at a border crossing where there were 3-story high fences and gunmen up in towers to keep the citizenry in the country.

11 years later, he visited communist China again and stopped at that same border crossing. The towers remained, but the guards were gone. The citizens of communist China now enjoyed a new level of freedom -- including freedom of movement and non-political expression.

Yet today, communist China still remains a paradox. In fact, a British reporter was just beaten while covering a Tibetan demonstration in Beijing.

Many Americans fear the economic power of communist China. The Financial Times of London reports they'll soon surpass us in manufacturing. But consider this: Clark would rather they lob a DVD player at him than a hand grenade or a nuclear weapon. They're no longer the fierce, violent opponent of ours that they were during the Korean War.

So don't be angry that they will soon out-manufacture us. Instead, let's look inward and see what we can do to improve our production.

Remember several years ago when Internet cafes were all the rage? Over in Europe, some of these cafes were huge and occupied multi-floor buildings.

The last time Clark was in London, however, he saw one formerly popular cafe that was reduced from 500 terminals to about 75. What happened? The marketplace changed. Free wifi became wide-spread and suddenly everyone could access the Internet from their cell phones.

Likewise, the Internet will increasingly be anywhere you go. Delta Airlines will have high-speed connections on all its flights by 2009. The price for access will be around $10 for a few hours or around $13 or $14 on longer flights. Delta's system will not be compatible with Skype.

Meanwhile, what you surf on is undergoing a transformation. A new class of ultra-lightweight mini-laptops -- called "netbooks" -- is all the rage. Many of them are Windows based.

Clark recently (over)paid for one Hewlett Packard model at $599. Lenovo's S10 ThinkPad is going for $399, which is not much for a fully functional mini-computer. Expect a big marketing push for netbooks this holiday season. People will be snatching them up for themselves and their favorite road warriors.

Speaking of traveling, there are new TSA-approved computer bags available where you don't have to unpack your laptop at security checkpoints. The TSA can actually check your laptop while it remains in the bag.

The latest oil trade just reached close to $115/barrel. By the time you read this, it may have topped the $115 mark. We're also paying an all-time record high for gas, adjusted for inflation. That makes this the perfect market for low-cost luxury bus service to expand around the United States. Companies like Mega Bus, Bolt Bus and others run city-to-city throughout the Midwest, the Northeast/New England and on the West Coast. On-board amenities typically include hi-speed Internet, HDTV and comfortable seats. The Wall Street Journal reports that business is up 137% in the Midwest for one company.

So what about the price? A Washington Post reporter went from Washington D.C. to midtown Manhattan for $1.50! Of course, there are only a limited number of seats at those kinds of prices. Other seats can run up to the $20 range. But taking a plane or your car would definitely be more costly. This new breed of bus lines also attracts people out of their cars by avoiding traditional crime-ridden bus terminals. They instead pick up in high-income commercial districts and drop passengers off at other high-income areas at end of the line. The irony is that Bolt Bus is owned by that parent company that owns Greyhound. They were obviously smart enough to ditch the Greyhound reputation and go with new branding and a new fleet of buses!

As the economy slows, there will be bumps along the way in the travel industry -- along with some opportunities. Aloha Airlines, a full-fare airline that served Hawaii and parts of the United States, has gone out of business because it could not survive against a discount airline called go! Fares went down from about $200 one way to $49 one way because of go! We may see more full-fare failures in the industry as the discounters continue to offer appealing rates. One caveat: Those who bought their Aloha tickets with cash or a debit card (and haven't yet used them) lost their money. So be safe and only buy tickets with a credit card.

A new report finds that air travel is really softening in the United States, which means there will be great deals available. Richard Branson's V Australia opened a route between Los Angeles and Down Under and was offering a $777 roundtrip special before it sold out. Meanwhile, the open skies policy will open up new flight routes between America and Europe, which will also mean lower fares. Clark will update you again in the coming weeks on summertime travel deals to the Old World. On the domestic front, the decreasing demand for travel means airlines can't raise fares willy-nilly just because of high oil prices. So watch out for the gotchas, such as baggage-handling fees or high charges for bringing your pet onboard.

Airlines are parking hundreds of planes in the desert, and car rental companies are dialing back on new purchases for their fleets. But hotels are sitting ducks during this travel recession. After all, you can't just stop production on a hotel that's been in the pipeline for several years.

All the extra room inventory means that what you pay for a booking will be going down. Marriott is just one chain that's reported soft bookings.

4-star hotels and below will respond to these market conditions with cuts in price. Fancier hotels, meanwhile, will offer package deals instead of outright discounting. In general, you should also look for weekend rates to be expanded from Friday-Saturday to Thursday-Sunday.

In addition, the growing number of parked planes has really hit cities like Las Vegas, Orlando and other vacation destinations.

When you do fly, you should only do so with a carry-on. Four of the Gang of 6 full-fare airlines now charge you $15 from the moment you check in your first bag!

And don't go over the weight limits with bags you do check in. Christa and her family almost faced an $80 fee for being 5 pounds over the limit -- until she opened up the suitcase and started taking things out!

Be sure to get a standard FAA-approved carry-on and don't remove the FAA tag. A couple of the full-fares have "revenue-enhancement officers" who watch passengers with non-standard carry-ons and force them to check the their for a fee.

Recently, Clark discussed safety issues on cruise ships.

The cruise industry has been so focused on Congressional hearings that would require standardized crime reporting among the carriers. The industry's focus historically has been on covering up crimes and not cooperating with investigators.

California had a push to put police on all ships that touch a Golden State port. While the effort passed in the state senate, the industry shot it down in the house. It's a shame because Clark thought California was on the right track.

Mind you, the penny-pinching guru does not want you to think that cruises are dangerous by their very nature. In fact, they're generally a safe form of vacation travel.

But the cruise industry is uniquely poised to crack down on crime -- their ships are controlled environments, after all -- and they're not doing it. If they need a model to follow, they should look to Disney World and its safety procedures.

Are you going on a cruise soon? Here are a few pointers Clark wants to share: Don't take nice jewelry on the ship and invite theft. And when you make port, don't buy from the local jewelers recommended by the ship. The cruise lines have kickback arrangements with these usually overpriced merchants, especially in Caribbean ports.

Again, if the cruise lines think they've been painted unfairly, Clark invites them to come on the show and rebut his comments.

The Internet is truly going to be everywhere. Chrysler is putting a wireless Internet service called UConnect Web in all its cars. The hope is that people won't create a road hazard by surfing while they drive!

This idea of the Internet in vehicles became popular with the high-end bus services that operate on city-to-city routes throughout the Northeast. The bus carriers put in wireless Internet capabilities in a bid to attract business travelers.

Meanwhile, American Airlines is testing Internet for it fleet of planes. AA is using strategically placed towers -- similar to cell phone towers -- to implement the technology. Clark expects the market price will be around $10 a flight.

Boeing lost money when they tried equipping their planes with Internet capabilities using a satellite-based technology. Their price point would have been around $30 a flight.

Some travelers see airplanes as the last sanctuary away from work, but Clark would like the ability to surf the 'Net at 30,000 feet -- if the price is right.

Looking for a great deal to Hawaii this summer? Clark was looking at VRBO.com for a relative who wants to go to the Aloha State. This site -- offering vacation rentals by owner -- was surprisingly packed with availabilities at great prices.

Why Hawaii, why deals? Recall that both Aloha and ATA Airlines failed this past winter, so that drove up the cost of air travel to the Islands. But fewer travelers has meant less demand for accommodations. Fortunately, the drop in price of hotel and resort bookings is outpacing the rise in the cost of air travel. So you can still win on a weeklong vacation in the long run -- even if you are paying more for the flight.

Try finding a fare on Kayak.com, SideStep.com, FareCompare.com or Mobissimo.com (for international travel). They are all "screen scrapers" and search hundreds of sites to find the best deals. You'll probably find better deals than you would on Orbitz, Travelocity or Expedia.

Kayak is now testing an option to calculate the true "fly-out" price for a ticket. Their beta actually factors in baggage handling fees, the price of an in-flight beverage if you select that option, etc.

But what if you're driving rather than flying to your vacation destination? Some hotels are offering free gas card deals. You may, however, still be better off with a condo or a cheaper room rather than opting for the lure of a free gas card.

So for those who can afford a vacation, they are more affordable. Clark's golden rule is when you see a deal, grab it. Then figure out why you want to go there!

Every so often, Clark talks about a particular topic that offends a segment of his listenership. Well, here's another one.

The cruise lines are covering up crimes -- robberies, assaults and even murders -- that take place onboard. Unfortunately, they're not required to report crime statistics.

Meanwhile, the industry is fighting tooth and nail in California over a bill that would put police officers onboard every cruise in the Golden State. A $3/person passenger fee is being eyed to fund this proposal.

But dirty money speaks in legislative halls. Just look at the 2 U.S. senators who got Countrywide's so-called Friends of Angelo VIP loans -- a reference to Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo. One of those senators is Christopher Dodd, who is now expected to help determine the path of possible foreclosure rescue legislation for our nation.

With the Dodd scandal we're talking about money, but with the cruise lines we're talking about passenger safety. Congress has dawdled for years on the issue of enforcing basic crime reporting on the cruise lines.

Up until now, the cruise companies haven't had much incentive to reduce crime on their ships. But if crime stats were published, then people would take notice and avoid those lines with severe problems. That would force them to clean up their act.

So the next time you hear or see a news story about cruise crime, that's your signal to not go on a cruise until the industry takes concrete steps to make it safer. If the cruise lines think they've been painted unfairly, Clark invites someone from CLIA -- the official industry trade organization -- to come on the show and rebut his comments.

Clark aims to provide you with great service on his show. Yet in some sectors of the service industry, it seems that they only want to nickel and dime you to death. Airlines are one example of an industry that has alienated American customers more so than any other sector of the travel business.

Clark recently saw an editorial cartoon that depicted passengers clinging to the wing of an airplane -- that's the only seat they could get without paying a fee. But the pilot was leaning out of the window to say there's a fee for gripping on to the wing!

In response to the fee-happy trend, Southwest Airlines has launched a new ad campaign that promises "no surprise fees." They're obviously on to something; they're the only airline making a profit right now, and they carry more customers on domestic routes than any competitor. They also won't charge you a fee if you need to change your ticket, check up to 2 bags or talk to a human.

The Dallas Morning News recently did a comparison of the full-fare airlines on the fee front.

Among the highlights: American Airlines charges you to redeem frequent flyer miles online and will begin charging you $15 to check a bag; Delta charges a $100 fee each way for an unaccompanied minor. There's also a $100 fee to travel with a small pet onboard; United charges $150 to change a nonrefundable ticket; and US Air charges you an additional fee if you want an aisle or window seat.

Christa has long called Southwest one of Clark's 2 "girlfriends" -- the other being The Wall Street Journal. In fact, he made a bold prediction that they'd become the largest airline in the U.S. some 17 years ago in a newspaper column.

The reality is that Southwest runs an efficient operation, unlike the Gang of 6 full-fare airlines. The Gang of 6 flies too many different types of aircraft, which require too much training for too many mechanics. In addition, Southwest had the presence of mind to buy fuel futures years ago. So they're paying up to a third less for fuel today than any of their competitors.

But the bottom line is that they make money by serving the needs of their customers. JetBlue and AirTran would do well to follow Southwest's lead and eliminate their fees for changing a ticket.

Are you shell-shocked by the weak dollar and looking for alternatives to expensive travel destinations? Forbes has some suggestions both at home and abroad. As the old saying goes, "When a door closes, a window opens." Below are a few of their picks:

• Thinking about Barcelona? Try Buenos Aires instead.
• Looking at Italy? Consider Portugal.
• Want to sip wine in Napa? Get your vintage on at Santa Ynez Valley.
• Headed to Dubai? Visit Jordan instead.
• Eager to relax in Hawaii? Go to Barbados.
• Phuket breaking your budget? Look at coastal Vietnam.
• Prague too expensive? Warsaw is cheap!

For domestic travel, this is going to be a year of deals on hotel stays. The hotel business has overbuilt and created too much inventory. On top of that, people are staying home for "staycations." So look for bargains on Hotwire and Priceline.

The run-up in price for a barrel of oil has created terror in the travel biz as more and more people opt for "staycations." That's when you're off from work yet you stay home to save money. To offset sluggish sales, some chain hotels and independent proprietors are offering free gas -- a 35-year old tactic not seen since the first energy crisis in 1973. Clark recalls that Days Inn locations actually had their own gas pumps on premises! SmartMoney.com reports that Hilton, Holiday Inn and Marriott are among the chains reviving this promotion at select locations only.

Want to save even more? Hotels that once snubbed Hotwire are giving the website their inventory as bookings soften. Look for deals on 4-star hotels because Hotwire inflates its ratings. You may even find some steals on accommodations in elusive New York City. Some people don't like Hotwire because the site doesn't disclose where you'll stay until after you pay a non-refundable deposit. Check BetterBidding.com to vet the hotels you're likely to get and TripAdvisor.com for user-generated reviews of the hotels. Finally, try using Priceline if you're willing to do the work of bidding. Visit BiddingForTravel.com for additional resources. Clark finds that he saves about 50% on car rentals and between 30% and 45% on hotels when using Priceline or Hotwire.

If you've traveled on a full-fare airline recently, you know that you have about a one-third chance of flying what Clark calls a wind-up toy propeller plane. For many years, these smaller planes were routinely overbooked because the airlines weren't required to compensate passengers who got bumped. Now that's changing. The compensation for being bumped will apply to any flight that has more than 29 passengers. You can get a maximum of $800 in compensation, however the exact dollar amount with be based on the actual fare you paid.

The latest oil trade just reached close to $115/barrel. By the time you read this, it may have topped the $115 mark. We're also paying an all-time record high for gas, adjusted for inflation. That makes this the perfect market for low-cost luxury bus service to expand around the United States. Companies like Mega Bus, Bolt Bus and others run city-to-city throughout the Midwest, the Northeast/New England and on the West Coast. On-board amenities typically include hi-speed Internet, HDTV and comfortable seats. The Wall Street Journal reports that business is up 137% in the Midwest for one company.

So what about the price? A Washington Post reporter went from Washington D.C. to midtown Manhattan for $1.50! Of course, there are only a limited number of seats at those kinds of prices. Other seats can run up to the $20 range. But taking a plane or your car would definitely be more costly. This new breed of bus lines also attracts people out of their cars by avoiding traditional crime-ridden bus terminals. They instead pick up in high-income commercial districts and drop passengers off at other high-income areas at end of the line. The irony is that Bolt Bus is owned by that parent company that owns Greyhound. They were obviously smart enough to ditch the Greyhound reputation and go with new branding and a new fleet of buses!

The airline industry is in the midst of a transformation. Everybody knows that the public hates the travel experience. So now the inevitable question arises: Will the creation of a worldwide airline resulting from the Delta/Northwest merger (and partnership with Air France) be the answer to the public's woes? The reality is that we have 6 dysfunctional full-fare airlines and many discount ones right now. Clark hopes that mergers will create well-planned airlines, instead of unethical businesses that levy all kinds of ad hoc fees on passengers.

People, of course, want to know what the Delta/Northwest merger will mean to their wallets. Clark does not see fares going up as a result. There are so many discounters out there that competition remains alive and well for domestic travel. But it's the business travelers who are going to continue getting clobbered by the full-fares. Why? Big companies tend to do overpriced contracts with the full-fares. It's those ticket prices that are most likely to go up. For leisure travels, there should be no change.

One thing that will be changing: Frequent flyer miles will be even more worthless after the merger than they were before. Talk about Confederate money for the modern age! If you're a leisure traveler, don't chase the miles -- chase the bargains. As to the question of service, Clark actually expects it to improve. He even vows to eat a paper airplane on air 2 years from today if he's wrong!

Ultimately, you can't lose sight of the fact that deregulation made it possible for everyone to travel the world -- not just the fabulously wealthy. The airline industry's awkward adolescence in the wake of decades-old deregulation should yield stronger, more stable airlines. That's the reality of what will happen as our full-fares have to compete on the world stage against overseas airlines such as Emirates Airlines and Singapore Airlines with newer fleets and great service.

After traveling recently in Europe, Clark was reminded how expensive it can be to call back to the United States. While in Venice, Italy, he overheard an American woman telling her friend how she got ripped on calls back home. She was charged $68 for a 5-minute call to family and $10 for a 1-minute call to check her voice mail. Clark told the woman he was only paying 5.8 cents a minute and offered to let her use his cell. She probably thought he was another con artist, and she definitely didn't take him up on his offer!

So what's Clark's secret? He heeded a listener's advice and used a service called Pingo.com. There's a charge of about a dollar a month to be a customer, but the payoff is in the great rates. Clark even found an online coupon to receive bonus minutes when he first signed up. Meanwhile, Clark also has an unlocked world cell phone that he bought on eBay. He's equipped it with a SIM card from GoSIM.com that's been saving him big bucks. Remember, your wallet will be destroyed if you use your standard U.S. cellular from one of the 4 main carriers while traveling overseas.

Travelers are facing so much tumult and chaos right now. We lost 3 airlines in a little more than a week as the price of jet fuel has just eaten up the industry. The latest failure is Skybus, a copy of Europe's highly successful Ryanair. Other airlines haven't been helping to fly stranded passengers home; they're no longer required to by law. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has chartered aircraft to fly stranded travelers by the 1,000s back to the mainland.

In related news, a respected study called the Airline Quality Ratings reveals that industry standards are the lowest they've ever been since the survey launched. So who did a good job in 2007? AirTran is tops, followed by JetBlue and Southwest Airlines. Who's doing the worst? In last place, the worst airline in America is US Air, followed by Delta and American.

Finally, leisure travelers will steal deal after deal this year because demand for travel is soft. Who's going to get the short end of the stick? Business travelers. With many full- fares reinstituting Saturday night stay policies, they're facing a double whammy -- Bad service and much higher fares.

Clark recently spoke about the failure of Aloha Airlines and warned how those paying for their tickets with cash or a debit card got burned. Of course, those who used a credit card are eligible to get their money back! Now another airline that frequently flew to Hawaii has failed. ATA left thousands of Hawaiians stranded on the mainland and thousands of mainlanders stranded on Hawaii -- can't really have too much sympathy for the latter group, can you? More airlines will fail if the price of oil stays high. Aloha and ATA together flew 3.5 million people from LAX to Hawaii. That has the governor of Hawaii in a panic about loss of tourist revenue.

As the economy slows, there will be bumps along the way in the travel industry -- along with some opportunities. Aloha Airlines, a full-fare airline that served Hawaii and parts of the United States, has gone out of business because it could not survive against a discount airline called go! Fares went down from about $200 one way to $49 one way because of go! We may see more full-fare failures in the industry as the discounters continue to offer appealing rates. One caveat: Those who bought their Aloha tickets with cash or a debit card (and haven't yet used them) lost their money. So be safe and only buy tickets with a credit card.

A new report finds that air travel is really softening in the United States, which means there will be great deals available. Richard Branson's V Australia opened a route between Los Angeles and Down Under and was offering a $777 roundtrip special before it sold out. Meanwhile, the open skies policy will open up new flight routes between America and Europe, which will also mean lower fares. Clark will update you again in the coming weeks on summertime travel deals to the Old World. On the domestic front, the decreasing demand for travel means airlines can't raise fares willy-nilly just because of high oil prices. So watch out for the gotchas, such as baggage-handling fees or high charges for bringing your pet onboard.

Clark is back fresh from a European family vacation that coincided with his middle child's spring break. The penny-pinching guru used frequent flyer miles and had to comb over a map of Europe and check ticket availability -- day by day and city by city -- in order to travel for free. They would up going to Venice, Italy, among other places. Clark never realized how much an 8 year old would love the picturesque canals and boats of Venice. He even sprung for that old tourist rip-off: A gondola ride for 70 Euros, which is equal to $110 U.S. dollars. Clark nearly fell in the canal when he heard that price!

The weakness of the U.S. dollar was a recurring theme throughout the trip. But there are ways to beat the slump. For example, Clark used Priceline to book the beautiful Venice Hilton for about $136/night. When you travel outside of the United States, you really have the chance to see how poorly our economy has been mismanaged. The dollar is like a Third World currency. In Switzerland, Clark and his family stopped at a McDonald's restaurant, where a Happy Meal, a combo meal and a burger and drink for his wife was $29.70! Meanwhile, there was not a bad meal to be had in Italy. Clark was even floored by the affordable and delicious food on a train between Italy and Switzerland.

Switzerland was soooo cold, and the snowflakes were the size of ping-pong balls. Clark loved visiting Lucerne, which had been the site of a massive street party when he and his staff went there a few years ago. It was difficult to explain the incredible history of the place to his child, who just wanted to catch snowflakes on her tongue! By the way, Clark got a hotel in Zurich for $85/night on Priceline. He and his family only ate out twice day instead of 3 time; they bought food at local markets for their third meal. That's another way to overcome the weak U.S. dollar when you travel abroad.

A few weeks ago, Clark told you about some trouble he had with Orbitz during a recent trip to visit his affiliates at WDBO in Orlando. After he went on the air with the story, he realized that he hit a nerve with people who have had trouble booking travel online. The Orbitz customer no service experience prompted Team Clark to take a look at Travelocity and Expedia. Clark's producer Kim had to contact Expedia 8 times to get a response. Travelocity answered promptly, but here's the sad truth about Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity: None of them have real travel agents answering the phones. They outsource customer no service across the globe to people who may have never left the borders of their own country. Why would you pay these companies a service fee to book with them when you can't get an experienced travel agent to help you?

Clark and Christa were recently in Milwaukee visiting affiliates at WTMJ. Clark was reading the Financial Times of London and there was an insert about Mauritius. That's where Clark's initial call to Orbitz was bounced. During the call, he spoke to a lovely woman with an intriguing accent who wasn't really able to help resolve his issue. That's symbolic of the problem with customer service at these online travel sites. Know that if you do book with these big outfits, they all deliver major customer no service. After all, there aren't any actual employees or actual travel agents available to help you!

Clark always talks about spending less, but here's something it might be worth to actually spend some money on. The Clear program -- which appeals to frequent travelers -- puts you through a supposed Homeland Security background check where you're fingerprinted and have a retinal scan. The cost is about $100 or so, and those who pass the screening are issued a smart card with a chip that stores your info. When you get to the airport, you pop your card in a machine, have your palm scanned and then go through an expedited security area.

The Department of Homeland Security has been reluctant to do a trusted traveler program like they do in Israeli. Clark recalls traveling from Zurich to Israel when there was a security issue with his flight. All the passengers were taken to a bunker, partially strip-searched in private rooms and all carry-ons and bags were searched. That's real security. Here we are 7 years after 9/11 and we still don't have real security. But Clark believes the Clear program is a start. It will allow TSA workers more time to deal with people who aren't in the program.

Then there's the whole question of profiling vs. legitimate questioning. In Western Europe, travelers can be interrogated repeatedly to expose behavioral tics like sweating and shifty eyes that may give away a potential terrorist. No system is perfect, but we need to be smarter about security because we're spending billions and not getting the job done. Oddly enough, it's many of the full-fare airlines that are opposed to background checks. They must have amnesia about 9/11.

One of Clark's girlfriends -- Southwest Airlines -- has strayed from her ethical behavior. The nation's largest domestic air carrier had people playing it cute with aircraft maintenance and there's no excuse for it. Southwest flew planes without properly testing them for airworthiness. Former FAA employees employed by Southwest weren't living up to the rules of inspection and the whistle got blown. The airline has now been fined $10 million, but that's nothing compared with the damage to its reputation. The reality is that Southwest will probably bounce back as a safety beacon now that it's under a microscope. The CEO has managed the situation well, but the scenario still leaves a stain behind. As an aside, Clark realizes he could never run an airline; people would assume that he'd want to cut corners on safety like Southwest because he's so cheap!

Southwest's legacy includes being one of the first airlines to prompt deregulation and create a marketplace where everyone can fly instead of just the wealthy. The result is that travel is not the joyful experience it once was. Clark is celebrating his 10th anniversary at Milwaukee affiliate WTMJ today and getting there was not a fun experience. Clark and his executive producer Christa had to wait forever to go through security and the TSA employees treated people like cattle. It just solidified in Clark's mind why airport security should be privatized.

There is a real market demand for cheap, reliable and safe city-to-city bus transportation. If you're thinking of a Greyhound terminal in a seedy part of town, boy, have things changed. Greyhound has launched a new line called Bolt Bus with 8 daily trips between Washington, D.C. and New York. Online fares start at $1 and on board amenities include free wifi. The push for cheap fares among big cities really started with bus lines running in the Washington D.C./New York/Boston corridor that were geared toward ethnic Chinese customers. There's also a European player in the game called Megabus with service in the Midwest states of Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee; and out West in Nevada and California. Any of these options offer great alternatives to flight delays and high gas prices the next time you have to move around.

Were you one of those cruise customers who got hit with a fuel surcharge fee after you booked on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity? Florida's attorney general has reached a deal to refund this rip-off surcharge to customers. The cruise industry is controlled by a small number of players who act in utter arrogance, so Clark is pleased to see this latest development. He completely supports the right of any business to jack their rates to whatever they want before a sale. But to tack on bogus fees after the fact is disgusting. While the attorney general deserves kudos, where was the FTC on this issue?

Gripes about air travel are very common. But what if you could know fares and the quality of flights before you booked? That's the premise of a new website called InsideTrip.com. You can shop fares and learn about the load factor on flights, leg room, the age of the fleet, the rate of baggage loss and much more. InsideTrip.com offers Consumer Reports-type rankings with a system of little circles and a numerical ranking. The consistent No. 1 airline seems to be Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines, while United Airlines is usually the worst. Little surprise there!

Through the years, people have had the attitude that you get what you pay for. But the opposite seems to be true among the airlines. It's a real paradox; the full fare airlines often offer less service for your dollar than the discount ones. For years, the full fares used their clout in Washington D.C. to block Virgin mogul Richard Branson's efforts to launch an airline in the U.S. market. So finally Branson reduced his role in Virgin America and now the airline is making waves on the West Coast. As with all Virgin-branded products, Virgin America offers ultra classy and extra thrifty service. He's brought elegant back to first class and near-elegant service back to coach. The Los Angeles Times is even reporting that the discount airlines are feeling the hurt from Branson's move. Look for Virgin America to expand if they're successful on the West Coast.

Need another reason why gift cards stink? Back in June, Clark was given a $25 gift certificate to an ice-cream store for his birthday. When he recently went to redeem it, the store was out of business! That's the big risk with gift cards. Similarly, Sharper Image has announced they won't be honoring gift cards as they re-organize through bankruptcy proceedings. Retail and restaurants are very sensitive to the economic slowdown, so you may see these scenarios play out elsewhere.

Mid-priced eateries are under severe pressure trying to maintain the volume of business. Several chains have begun putting glossy ads in the newspaper. BOGO offers on meals are unusual in the mid-priced sector. This trend tells Clark that the restaurant sector may face some door closures. So you may want to rethink buying that gift card at an eatery. When it comes to retailers, try to use existing gift cards before they're no good any longer. Clark and Lane have a bag full of them and are trying to use them before total depreciation.

Meanwhile, financial writer Pamela Yip has discovered that using a debit card to rent a car opens you up to a whole world of hurt. The rental counter will pull a credit report on you and drastically lower your score. Why? They're protecting themselves against auto thieves that love to use debit cards as a low-risk method to get rentals to steal. Use your real credit card instead!

Yesterday Clark revealed the customer-no-service problem he's been having with Orbitz. To recap, Clark had a hotel booked through Orbitz that proved to be a dump. So he checked in and then quickly turned right around and checked out. He then had to contact Orbitz to get his money back. Upon calling them, he went through 7 customer-no-service reps with no resolution. He also sent 2 e-mails and got no response. Then he went on the air yesterday to discuss what was going on.

Within 3 hours, he was tracked down at home by an Orbitz mucky-muck who fell all over herself trying to accommodate him because he was a premium member. Clark politely informed her there was nothing she could do to help him. He wouldn't accept a refund because they probably wouldn't have been trying to help him if he were just any John Q. Orbitz customer. The money would have been coming from unclean hands and only because of his status as a nationally syndicated radio host. In short, he values his integrity more than he values his wallet.

Clark did request that Orbitz improve its customer service experience. He and the woman had a pleasant yet tense conversation. The rep revealed that Orbitz out-sources 100% of its customer service overseas. It turns out that most major online travel sites out-source like Orbitz. Maybe that's why they all have customer service problems. He was assured that Orbitz's out-sourced reps are authorized to solve customer problems, but that definitely was not his experience as his call got bounced around all over the world with no solution.

Clark has a longstanding beef with his nephew David, who is addicted to frequent flyer mileage programs and jumps through all kinds of hoops to accumulate miles. Here's what David doesn't understand: There's an industry-wide trend of airlines devaluing frequent flyer miles. U.S. Airways is just the latest example; they're making the miles tougher to redeem and earn. Having a stockpile of miles is like having a reverse savings account -- the value leeches out of them everyday. What if you use a credit card that earns frequent flyer miles? Clark would prefer that you ditch it and get a card that pays you cash instead. With cash, there are no restrictions on when you can use it. Clark's producer Kim is one of those people conned by the mileage programs. She once redeemed miles and had to fly to the wrong city, while changing planes 2 times to get there and 2 more times to go home. That's a lot of work to take a "free" trip. So what should you do with your mileage balances? The full-fare airlines are adding international routes all the time, so look for new service announcements on their websites and jump when you get the opportunity.

The airline industry repeatedly ranks as one of the least respected in commerce. The airlines have had a tough adolescence following deregulation. They're trying to figure out what you should get for the price of your ticket. You may have heard that United Airlines is testing the waters with a $25 fee for checking more than one bag. This is part of the process of unbundling what you get when you buy a ticket. The actual product airlines offer is the kerosene to fly you from point A to point B and some semblance of a seat. Remember the old skit about Straphangers' Airline? It was a standing-room only airline where you just got a strap to hang on to like in the subway. Thankfully, nobody is proposing that yet!

Clark thinks people shouldn't be fired up at United. The cost of hiring baggage handlers is a true cost, not to mention the hassle and trust that's lost whenever a bag goes missing. From a bottom line perspective, the airline's bean counters would love it if no one could check a bag. Of course, United's flight attendants would hate having to deal with all those carry-on bags in the cabin. So you should become familiar with UPS and FedEx if there's a lot you have to take when you fly. Try shipping your stuff instead of paying the baggage charges. It's more likely to get there! Isn't it funny that the sophisticated airlines don't have the simple package-tracking capabilities that UPS and FedEx have had for years?

The United move shows that more a la carte fees are coming in the airline industry. Clark recently had to pay $1.50 for a soft drink while flying in the Hawaiian Islands. The full-fare airlines just have to be careful not to get too fee happy. The only justification for flying a full-fare was that you got full service; now that's changing and it seems like you're just paying more money than going through a discount airline.

Clark is often billed as a consumer advocate, but in some ways he's different than most others in this field because of his business background. For example, many consumer advocates are upset with President Bush over his plan to charge airlines for runway space based on peak times of arrival or departure. But Clark loves the idea. Here's the scoop: There are certain times of the day when there are no delays (barring weather or a catastrophe) at the airports. But most airlines ignore those times and instead schedule their flights around when business travelers want to leave and arrive. Over-booking that crunch time is partly what causes passengers to be stranded on the tarmac for hours at a time. Clark thinks Bush is right in saying that a runway slot at 5 p.m. is worth more than at 2 in the afternoon. The benefit of his model is that people won't have to sit on runways in queue forever.

Clark recalls a good-weather flight he took out of Newark this past summer. Take off was set for 5:45 p.m., but they didn't get off the ground until 8:15 p.m. The captain announced that they were something like 37th in queue for departure! Clark looked out the window and saw a line of planes that looked like it stretched from Newark to Hartford! So if airlines have to pay more to fly during peak hours, they'll start juggling their schedule around and alleviate the crunch. Or, those that can afford the 5 p.m. flight will take it. Either way, you let the marketplace decide who uses it at what time based on price. It's not only most consumer advocates who are against Bush's plan, but the airlines themselves. Such a plan would probably eliminate those little dippy regional jets that hold 50 people. You'll see the airlines start to run more jumbo jets because they carry more passengers for the same runway price. If Bush's plan comes to pass, Clark will be adjusting his schedule to whenever he can catch the cheapest flight!

In the past year, Clark took well in excess of 100 flights and had almost no problems with delays or other horrors that routinely plague travelers. He never checks a bag, so he never has to deal with lost luggage. Discount airlines and full fares alike had meltdowns in 2007. Everyone remembers the American Airlines fiasco, but JetBlue, Skybus and United also went on the fritz. JetBlue responded by creating its own Passenger Bill of Rights that is the best in the world, according to Clark. But this is an arrogant industry and many others have been slow to embrace the idea of putting the customer first. New York recently passed its own air travel protection act for flights leaving or arriving in the state. Airlines at JFK are required to provide water, refreshments and clean toilets if passengers are stranded on the tarmac for 3 hours. Many of the full fare airlines went to court to fight this act. Thankfully they lost. Here's Clark's take: If the full fares want to move business operations to a third-world country where there are no working toilets and clean water, go right ahead. But this is America and here we have first-rate standards of hygiene. Now when will Congress get around to passing its own comprehensive Passenger Bill of Rights??

Note: Clark is broadcasting remotely for his Christmas Kids 2007 initiative. You can donate online.

Clark's executive producer Christa is back from her Bahamas vacation. She and her family stayed at a timeshare where they got a great deal. Of course, they had to get pitched on the sale of a timeshare as part of the deal. But by bringing her 2 year old son to the pitch, she was able to expedite things! Meanwhile, Clark's latest travel story involves the hoops he had to jump through to his redeem frequent flyer miles. Clark had 1 million miles through Continental Airlines' One Pass program; 500,000 from American Airlines; 400,000 through Delta; and smaller amounts on a variety of other airlines. He used every trick in the book to find a Clark Smart way to redeem them. So now he and his family will be flying coach to Venice, Italy, and returning from Zurich, Switzerland, in business class. It only took him 2.5 hours to nail down the itinerary! If you're flying domestically, try redeeming your frequent flyer miles for first class tickets, not coach. That may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes it's easier. One final thought: Stop using your airline frequent flyer credit card! Frequent flyer milers are like fool's gold. Get a card that gives a cash dividend.

There's a lawsuit in California right now that's concerned with junk fees not being revealed until after you get to the car rental counter. This makes Internet comparison shopping very difficult. The lowest price you see online may be fake because it doesn't reflect junk fees. With airfare, the actual price is usually about 20 percent higher than the advertised price. What kind of junk fees are most common? For air travel, the passenger facility charge (PFC) is a biggie. This is where the terminal charges you for walking their halls -- a completely bogus charge that they convinced Congress to approve. Then you have a charge per flight segment, a federal security service charge and others. When Clark rents a car, the junk fees are sometimes higher than the price for the car itself. Rental companies charge a fee for the rent they pay at an airport. In fact, local governments see out-of-town business travelers who rent cars as sitting ducks for being taxed without representation. On the hotel front, you need to know if there are any daily facility fees before you book. The reality is that the pricing environment is unfair, and there's not a lot you can do about it. So your job when shopping is to know what the ultimate price will be before you book. Expedia does good job at showing the base rate and then what you will really pay.

There's been much talk about the possibility of a merger between two full-fare airlines: Delta and United. We have about a half-dozen full fare companies, while there are many more smaller discount airlines working the skies. One out of every 3 flights in the United States is on a discount player, and Southwest Airlines is one of the largest. So we have a situation where the industry can't profitably support 6 full fare airlines. Keep in mind that companies almost never merge out of strength -- they do it out of weakness to avoid becoming unprofitable.

Clark has been interviewed extensively about the merger news and there's one question he's faced repeatedly: Will the union of Delta and United drive fares up? The answer is no. Business travelers will soon be able to use inexpensive private jet companies that fly directly to destinations many of the full fare airlines would not. Meanwhile, don't look for an answer to the Delta/United merger question in six months; Clark thinks we could be discussing this question 5 years down the road. Mergers of this size require the skills of real diplomats -- it's difficult to get two different sets of employees to mesh. When two companies tie the knot, there's no honeymoon in an airline marriage. As an aside, Clark was recently in a meeting where he was asked about Spirit Airlines. It seems that Spirit charges for everything when you fly. So Clark put on his best poker face and told a few people that you have to pay a dollar to use the bathrooms on the plane. They believed him! Boy, does he feel sorry about having pulled their legs!

Singapore Airlines undertook a historic flight today when the A380 -- the largest commercial aircraft ever built -- made its inaugural flight from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. The airline auctioned all the seats for charity, and some people paid more that $100,000 per ticket! A Chicago Tribune reporter filed live in-flight reports during the trip. First class passengers enjoyed their own rooms with a full-sized bed, designer sheets, china, crystal and more. The average first class ticket price on a regular flight will be $22,000. But both business class and coach seats offer much more legroom than the 747 -- previously the largest commercial aircraft. Clark remembers when the 747 went into service in the late '60s. The original ones even had a piano bar up in the front that was quickly replaced by extra seating. Flight is an amazing thing that still intrigues Clark. He's visited every continent except Antarctica -- there are never any bargains going there! When Clark's father passed away in 1988, it was his last wish to fly on the Concord. Clark, of course, has never flown the Concord because it's too expensive.

When it comes to buying a second home or a vacation home, it's best to know the cycles of the market where you want to buy. There are certain times of year that are better to buy than others -- and it's all based on your desired location. The best times of year are generally the opposite of peak season. For example, try looking between the summer and the fall if you want a vacation home in a mountain state that has winter ski activity. But conversely, midwinter is the best time to buy in the Great Lakes, the Northeast or Canada; hardly anyone else will be looking and you may meet up with a desperate seller. So if there's a particular lake, ski resort, beach or mountain that you want to own on, study the rhythms of the local market and know when to strike. Knowing the calendar could save you tens of thousands of dollars.

It's been 28 years since Clark checked in a suitcase when he was traveling on a plane. That was 1979. Clark doesn't like the process of watching the carousel go 'round and 'round and hoping to see your bag. He was recently on a flight where the attendant had a sense of humor and announced, "You can claim your bags on carousel whatever and they should be there by tomorrow." The loss rate of baggage has more than doubled over the past few years. In fact, people now ship their luggage via UPS in advance of their trip to ensure it gets to where they're going. Some ultra high-end hotels now are used to getting UPS packages with people's belongings; they even hang their clothes up in the closet before they arrive. Clark and his wife both used carry-on luggage when they went to Montana recently. His wife was able to fit her cowboy boots, several pairs of shoes and eight days worth of clothes in her carry-on. If you do decide to check in luggage the next time you travel, be sure you don't pack anything the airlines deem to be valuable or they won't cover it in the event of a loss. So don't check in jewelry, electronics, computers or medication that you need on a daily basis. Always keep one change of clothing in your carry-on in the event that your luggage is lost. And bear in mind that you're also allowed to bring a computer bag or purse in addition to a standard carry-on case.

During Clark's recent trip to Montana, he was talking with a waiter who is engaged to a Peruvian woman and went down to Peru to meet her family. The waiter found that his cell phone worked in Peru so he used it as he normally would. When he got back to the U.S., he had a cell-phone bill of $800/day! Clark just discovered a service called MAXroam.com that could have helped the waiter. MAXroam sells a SIM chip that's compatible with unlocked T-Mobile and AT&T world phones -- it doesn’t work with Verizon or Sprint phones. You just put the chip in the back of your phone, and then you can travel anywhere in the world and enjoy rates that are about one-fifteenth of what U.S. companies charge you overseas. Please note that you have to be 90 days into your contract with T-Mobile to get them to unlock your phone, while AT&T requires you to have completed your initial contract. If you're in the market for a world phone, check eBay and try to get one for about $50.

Clark also provided an update about his FCC inquiry regarding AT&T's compliance with the $10 DSL deal. AT&T is contractually bound to provide $10/month DSL for customers in a 22-state region as part of its takeover of Bell South. But the problem is that AT&T keeps unethically hiding the deal on its website. Clark asked the FCC to look into this, but they didn't give him a straight answer. Later this year, AT&T will be required to offer naked DSL. Let's see if they're more forthcoming with that deal.

Clark and his wife recently took a trip to Montana with another couple. Why Montana? Because the tickets were on sale and it was a great airfare deal. Clark loves the beauty of our country's entire mountain state region. He and his wife got to do so many wonderful outdoor activities, including fly-fishing, hiking and horseback riding. The latter was done at the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, which is owned by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. Clark and his wife also had a great time in Yellowstone Park, where they saw bighorn sheep, buffalo (aka bison), grizzly bears, coyote, prong-horn antelope, moose, whitetail deer and elk. In fact, Clark was just a scant 270 yards away from a grizzly at one point! He also enjoyed seeing one of Ted Turner's ranches, which had buffalo by the millions. The ranch's scenery reminded him of the film A River Runs Through It. Look for pictures from the trip on the site soon!

Of course Clark had to fly to get to Montana. So many people are upset at the airlines and their recent mistreatment of passengers -- including leaving them stranded on the tarmac without food, water or clean toilets. And talk about the delays! Clark was recently at Newark Airport waiting to flying to Atlanta and his flight had to taxi around for longer than the actual flight time. Congress is holding hearings on the over-scheduling problem, but the solution needs to economic. Why not charge airlines higher landing fees if they insist on creating runway gridlock by over-scheduling multiple flights for business travelers? Maybe that would encourage them to spread their flights out and reduce the crunch.

It's no surprise that air travel delays are the worst they've ever been since recordkeeping began. Instead of addressing the problem, both the industry and Washington D.C. are pointing fingers at each other. The real issue here is that our air traffic control system dates back nearly 50 years ago to when Clark was in grammar school. This is one of the biggest reasons why we have so many delays -- we are using technology that predates computers and satellites! And isn't it ironic that our country is a beacon of free enterprise, yet the Federal Aviation Administration is government run? Business Week recently did a cover story about the political realities of why the FAA has its hands tied. We need to follow the lead of other countries and privatize the FAA, while charging the National Transportation Safety Board with the responsibility of making sure everything runs smoothly. Alaska Airlines is a great example of the independent use of modern technology to allow better landings, less delays, increased safety and improved fuel efficiency. Finally, Clark thinks the full-fare airlines have to stop dedicating so much energy to destroying private plane operators like DayJet and POGO that are competing with them for high-end business travelers. That would go a long way to help freeing up more resources to address the time delay problem.

There's good news and bad news on the passport front. The good news is that the state department finally has processed the backlog of passport applications that fouled up so many hopeful travelers. The bad news is that it took about $700 million in extra taxpayer dollars to do so. The state department had to bring in employees who are normally stationed abroad and provide temporary housing and per diem salaries so they could work 12 hours/day playing catch-up. Clark says now is the time to apply for a passport because most people won't begin doing so again until March. The projections for next year suggest that the demand for passports will be double what it was this year. So get in early and you won't have to pay an expedited fee or worry about if you're passport will arrive in time for your travel plans. When you apply for your passport, try to have your passport picture taken at a warehouse club where you'll get a great price. Be sure you also have your original birth certificate or a certified copy with you when you apply. If you're getting a passport for your child, both parents have to be present; if that's not possible, download a statement of consent for the absent parent and have it notarized.

Clark goes nuts when he has to wait at a red light when there's no traffic in sight. It drives him bonkers that in 2007 we're still not using advanced transportation management techniques on a large scale. "Smart" lights -- which sense the flow of traffic and allow lights to stay green for longer if there are no cars around -- are one example of advanced transportation management. Not having more "smart" lights leads to wasted fuel and air pollution, as motorists unnecessarily sit at red lights when they could safely be traveling.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the city of Orlando is getting ready to spend $10 million to install "smart" traffic signals, plus a staffed bunker to monitor traffic following major concert and sports events. The staffers will help keep the lights green as needed to prevent buildup. This move will ultimately save a fortune. Of course, you don't want to be that unlucky motorist who comes up on a side street when the people in the bunker are trying to improve traffic flow on a major road. Orlando also plans to put signage on surface streets telling motorists where to go when there are traffic tie-ups. These simple techniques are great for tourist areas where there's already a lot of traffic. Florida also frequently alleviates traffic by building overpasses at the intersections of busy surface streets, not just freeways.

The airlines are behaving so badly these days. Continental is often thought of as delivering the best customer service, yet something might be going wrong judging from the slew of recent horror stories Clark's been hearing. First there was the tale of Continental's sewage-filled flight from Europe to New Jersey. Apparently there was a malfunctioning toilet that wasn't fixed before takeoff. It spilled raw sewage up and down the aisles all across the Atlantic. The company's response to that incident was lame at best.

Now there's been another Continental snafu that's caught Clark's attention. This one concerns a passenger revolt that took place on a grounded Continental flight, and it was first reported in The Baltimore Sun. About two weeks ago, a flight from Venezuela to Newark, N.J., was diverted to Baltimore because of bad weather. Once the plane touched ground, it sat on the tarmac for five to seven hours. Worse still, the passengers had no food, no water and no working toilets or toilet paper. So some travelers began rhythmically clapping their hands in protest while others beat out an accompaniment on the overhead bins. The unrest caused the pilot to radio the police, who put the passengers in a hallway with what some have called an "attack dog." Continental doesn't even deny the facts. The airline only says that the airport couldn't make proper arrangements. But the airport denies this version of the story. What this all points to is the need for a federal passenger bill of rights that guarantees food, water and working toilets during a delay, plus the provision that after a plane is delayed for three hours on the tarmac the passengers will be brought back to the terminal. So far only JetBlue has even come close with its own passenger bill of rights that promises to pay customers if there are any delays.

Back in the dinosaur days, Clark used to be a travel agent. For a while it looked like travel agents themselves were going the way of the dinosaur, but recently Clark was surprised to read in the NY Times that travel agencies are starting to grow again. When airlines stopped offering commissions on ticket sales with the advent of the internet, it was assumed they wouldn't be needed anymore. But it turns out this industry won't be affected as much as predicted, because people have discovered that when the chips are down, the internet can't help you. Travel agents are there, though, because they work for you. 64 million people per year are booking with travel agents. Depending on the trip, it just may be worth an extra $20 to book with an agent -- you'll have to make that call. But with international travel, especially, agents can often find deals you can't find yourself. You could save you more than you spend on their commission. However, if you're going on a cruise, Clark always recommends you book it with an experienced agent, since there are so many traps there.

Not very long ago, Clark mentioned that people from the United States are now going to Mexico for dental care. That discussion sparked some unfriendly response. Now London's Financial Times has done a report about the medical tourism trend. People are going overseas to Thailand and India to save money on surgeries. The number of Americans going overseas is rising 20 percent per year, according to the report. The savings can be extraordinary -- up to 75 percent. The big question is, "What kind of care will you get overseas?" While the quality does vary, many third-world countries have first-rate hospitals that cater to foreigners. The Financial Times reports that Singapore is the best place to go for overseas medical care that is roughly equal to American care. You'll still save substantial amounts there -- up to 50 percent off -- and have a private nurse for 24 hours a day. While Clark admits that he is a medical idiot, he does believe that if you are grappling with the cost issue alone you should consider this option. There are now medical tourism businesses that handle accommodations, finding doctors and all the other logistics of getting care abroad. Be sure to vote in our new poll when you visit our homepage and tell us what you think about this emerging trend!

It's a great time to vacation at the beach -- not just because it's summertime, but because it's really a renter's market right now. Many owners are stuck with second homes on the water they can't use. So they're trying to rent them in the summer market at deep discounts. The Boston Globe recently reported that Cape Cod is now a great renter's market. For years the Cape has been a notoriously hard place to find a decently priced rental. But now due to the lack of people willing to rent, owners are offering their places at discounts of up to 20 percent. Just be aware if you're going to do a summer rental up north that the beach season there is shorter than it is elsewhere.

So what's the best way to take advantage of this soft market for rentals? Clark recommends a website called Vacation Rentals by Owner. As the name suggests, it helps you rent directly from owners -- whether it's a home, condo, cabin, villa or apartment! For extra value, be sure to look at "fill in the gap" deals where you rent accommodations that are available in between other renters. But be wary of pictures supplied by the owner. Photography can cover up a lot of sins, as Clark says. He recalls when he was in the travel business and someone showed him a brochure with a picture of a hotel next to a picture of a beach that was nowhere near the hotel! Meanwhile, if you're renting an older property, look to see that it's been renovated within the last three years. And don't be shy about asking for more pictures from the owner. What you get initially may be misleading, so watch out!

There is a meltdown underway within Northwest Airlines. Each day their problems get worse and worse. Northwest has been canceling huge amounts of flights, upwards of 10%. Pilots are allowed to fly only a certain amount of hours in a month and Northwest doesn't have enough pilots. This means at some points in the month, they don't have enough pilots to fly their airplanes. If your flight is going to be canceled by Northwest you want to push them to book you on another airline. If you don't, you could be stranded somewhere for a long time. Don't bother using the phone to reach them either because they won't answer. Try using the web and don't get stranded.

Clark has talked in the past about the horrible treatment of airline passengers over the past few months. On at least four occasions, passengers were basically held hostage on planes or left abandoned in airports because the airlines didn’t have their acts together. United, American and JetBlue have all been exposed. So, the idea of having a passenger “Bill of Rights” has come up again. Congress is meeting this week to discuss the possibility of establishing a written code of conduct for airlines. Well, it’s not that hard to do. JetBlue created its own “Customer Bill of Rights” after its debacle last year. The document says what they’ll do if there is a delay, an overbooking or a stranding. It also outlines what you will be paid for this. For example, if you are delayed on arrival for an hour or more you get $100. If it’s two or more hours, you get a voucher for future travel or $100. And, three or more hours gets you a free round-trip ticket anywhere. Clark thinks more people need to follow in JetBlue’s footsteps. It’s really pretty simple. Tell people what you are going to do if you mess up.

Have you heard of easycruise.com? Clark is a big proponent of traveling by sea – instead of air – when getting around Europe. The company charges ultra cheap fares on very basic cruises. For example, a week on a cruise around the Greek islands is $200 on easycruise.com. Think about how much it would cost to stay in a hotel for a week in Europe. But this is your accommodation and your transportation. When you think about travel in Europe, keep easycruise in the back of your mind.

The cruise industry is struggling these days. The industry just wants to cover the most basic expenses in what they charge you for the room. That’s because the real money is made once you get on board. Shore excursions, drinking and gambling are just a few of the activities that will cost you much more on a cruise. But, with all the bad press of late, people aren’t cruising. As a result, companies are heavily discounting cabin costs. Ten-night Caribbean cruises are as cheap as $75 a night, according to the Miami Herald. Ocean-view rooms are minimally more for ten-day and weeklong cruises. So, if you’ve never been on a cruise, this could be your chance. If you’ve never gone on a cruise and have minimal knowledge of the industry, you may want to pay a bit more and sit down with a cruise travel agent. If you’ve been before, have at it. For more information and to hear beefs from other cruisers, check out cruisecritic.com. You’ll get an earful.

How empowered would you feel if you were trapped in an aluminum tube and you couldn’t get off? You are basically a prisoner for nine hours and given no food or water. Then, without explanation, you’re let go. That happened to JetBlue passengers a few weeks ago. A similar story occurred on American Airlines a few weeks before, when people were stranded on 120 airplanes. The difference is that JetBlue’s executives have apologized profusely and have even created their own passenger Bill of Rights. American has done nothing. Under current law, they don’t have to. Airlines are within their rights to hold you prisoner because of any reason it sees fit. In Europe, airlines must pay for meals, hotels and they give customers a compensation check. Sometimes, costs are as much as $750. Wouldn’t you know that European airlines have figured out how to prevent these mishaps? And, they’re making money to boot. It’s time for the American Congress to pass some kind of legislation and stop giving into the airline lobbyists wishes.

Some people prefer driving because they don’t like to fly. But, overwhelmingly, people fly when traveling long distances. As you’ve probably heard, Delta and Northwest are “in talks” regarding a merger. Delta did not respond well to the America West/US Air offer, and Clark agrees that would have been a bad idea. America West hasn’t run its own airline very well, so swallowing up Delta would be a nightmare. If Delta and Northwest come together, however, it would be a very powerful airline. Some reports have said it would be detrimental to consumers, but that is not true at all. Fares won’t change. In fact, it may spark even more mergers, which would decrease fares even more. The only way you might get hurt is in the frequent flier realm. So, if you have miles, use them!

Clark admits that he’s willing to accept lower quality for a cheaper price. As a result, people often tell him that he’ll “get what he pays for.” But isn’t it great when you pay a lower price AND you get a better product or service. It happens right now in the airline industry. Several studies from academic institutions and private firms show that people get better service from the discount airlines. According to J.D. Power & Associates, JetBlue was head and shoulders above any other airline. Close behind were Southwest, AirTran and Frontier. Then, the gap behind Frontier and the full-fare airlines was huge. Continental was the only one anywhere close to the discount airlines. What were the airlines evaluated on? Scheduling, check-in and in-flight amenities were a few of the categories. Airline fares was not one of the categories. So, despite the low rates, the discount airlines were better overall. Employees at Southwest make more money than those at the full fare airlines, which speaks to the management. When there is good profit and good morale, it’s usually because of small, efficient management. Clearly, the full-fare airlines need to catch a clue on how to run a business.

Caribbean cruises are the weak spot in the industry right now, and it could mean great deals for you. Onboard fires, outbreaks of sickness and crimes onboard are part of the negative publicity that cruises have gotten. Some people will get scared off by this. But those who aren’t bothered by this will get a steal. Summertime is a more pricey time in the cruise industry. So, a 7-night cruise to the Caribbean in June, July and August will be $600 to $800. But as soon as Labor Day hits, you’ll find cruises in the $400 range. And many will give cabin upgrades and other spiffs. So why is September cheaper? First of all, there are hurricanes and that scares people. But more importantly, the kids are back in school. Alaska cruises, especially, will be hot, with prices in the $600 range. That is a great deal. Also consider a cruise between Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are great deals around this time.

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If you want to take a vacation, there is no better time. Because of the labor unrest and bankruptcy situations at Delta and Northwest, these companies are having trouble selling seats to business travelers. When an airline is having trouble business travelers do what’s called “booking away,” meaning they look for other airlines to fly even if it’s less convenient. As a result, those two airlines are discounting fares for vacation travelers. Of course, with these great deals, there is always the chance that the airline could go belly up and you’re stuck with a ticket. So, it’s important to know how to play the game. If you are a nervous traveler, don’t buy vacation travel on either of these two airlines. But if you roll with the punches, go for it. Just be sure to buy that ticket on a credit card. You are offered protection and can at least dispute the charge that way. And don’t buy tickets that coincide with a cruise you’ve booked or are planning to take. That’s just not smart. Also, if you’re at your destination and the airline shuts down, other airlines are required to carry you on a standby basis.

About year and a half ago, Clark talked about a discount cruise line that started up in Europe called EasyCruise. The company does Mediterranean cruises at about a fifth of what they would normally cost. And the company is now sailing in the Caribbean, with stops in spots like St. Lucia, Barbados and Martinique. The costs are per night/per cabin and some nights are as cheap as $12 a night. That’s for two people sharing a cabin! Most cruises cost at least $100 per person, per night. These are very basic ships with the noticeable orange everywhere. And food and drink are not included. But if you want to visit these destinations and stay for less, this is your ticket. You have a floating hotel room just offshore in areas where rooms normally cost outrageous amounts. You are at port for 21 hours and then you mosey on to the next spot. EasyCruise will be docked in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, in addition to its Mediterranean ports, according to recent news reports. There are also Easy flights, hotel rooms, Internet cafes and cell phone deals.

The Transportation Safety Authority is finally doing away with some of the silly rules it established in the wake of Sept. 11. You won’t have little scissors and clippers seized anymore, and there are going to be a number of items that you’re allowed to carry. A list will be added soon to the TSA Web site, tsa.gov, according to reports. So keep checking. In addition, there will also be a new way of tagging people for additional screening. Clark was at the airport last night and he couldn’t come up with any rhyme or reason for it. But let’s hope it involves creative safety improvements. The good news is that someone taking over an airline in flight is next to impossible. Another thing to remember is that airlines are coming up with all kinds of ways to charge extra for baggage. Rumors are spreading that airlines are giving kickbacks to employees who snag people with excess baggage. The airlines are starved for revenue right now, and they’re trying to come up with ways to make extra money. Some of these charges can add up to more than the price of a ticket. Also, make sure that you’re checked in 45 minutes before the flight is scheduled to leave. That includes time spent waiting in line. So, the onus is on you. Kiosk check-ins are a real convenience for this reason.

Are you planning to go visit family members for the holidays? If so, you’ve probably seen that ticket prices have increased quite a bit for the holidays this year. Most sources say prices are up between 25 and 30 percent compared to the rest of the year. Christmas and New Year’s are both on Sundays this year, so prices are extra pricey. When those holidays fall on a Tuesday through Friday, airfare is much more affordable. Fares to Florida are going to be extra high and hard to get, despite the fact that many airlines in Florida are now discounters. So, is it hopeless? No! You can still find deals, especially if you can be flexible on your travel days. As for Thanksgiving, flying on either Thanksgiving Day, or the Friday or Saturday after is the way to go. If you’re not planning to be with family this year, the holidays are a great time to visit convention cities and business centers. San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Washington D.C. and Atlanta are all great deals the week between Christmas and New Year’s. No matter where you go or what you do, remember that baggage rules have changed. Airlines now weigh everything because they make a ton of money on overweight baggage. So, weigh your luggage beforehand and make sure it’s within the airline’s guidelines.

One of Clark’s all-time favorite airlines is going away. Song, a discount subsidiary of Delta, will only be in the air for another couple months. The airline had a great hip factor with its colorful planes, televisions in seatbacks and comfortable seating. Clark enjoyed each of his trips on the airline. But Song was a distraction for Delta, which is now in bankruptcy. At the same time, discounters are adding planes left and right and are growing exponentially. Discount airlines now sell 30 percent of all airline seats sold out there. They’re headed to “owning” the entire business.

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In other airline news, the trend of electronic tickets and online check-in is exploding. Continental Airlines reports that 85 percent of its passengers now check in online. The idea of e-tickets was started by Morris Air, which originated in Salt Lake City, and was bought by Southwest Airlines. The man who started the company also started JetBlue. It’s saving the companies ton of money and passengers a ton of time. Also, remember to be careful how much baggage you bring on during the holidays. You may want to mail gifts via FedEx ground or UPS and insure them. It will save you a lot of time and money in fees if you bring too many bags.

You’ve heard the news about Delta filing for Chapter 11, but what does it mean to you. Although most of the news has concerned the effect on individuals, Delta’s bankruptcy will also influence businesses. People just want to know what happens. So, Clark is here to tell you that nothing happens. Airlines have had a long history of seeking compensation and protection from bills when they file for bankruptcy. This is just another chapter. If you’re holding flights on Northwest or Delta, your flights are fine. The only caveat is that holiday travel can be severely disrupted when an airline files for bankruptcy. So, Thanksgiving and Christmas this year may be tough. It’s common for airlines to eliminate 15 to 20 percent of their aircraft when it happens. So Clark recommends reconfirming your schedule a month and then a week before you go. You should also break your addiction to using Delta’s and Northwest’s frequent flyer programs cards. You never know what could happen with these programs, so stop trying to earn miles. If you have miles, use them! Also, people are speculating that Delta could be absorbed by bankrupt Northwest. But that is pure speculation. Employees are going to get eaten alive. There will be paycuts and layoffs, just as there were at USAir and United. This is the unfortunate part. Employees always get hit the worst. But for consumers, it will simply mean better service. Just don’t buy into the speculation about buying stocks. The stocks are worthless, and that is just bad advice. Clark hopes the employees of the companies end up okay, but it’s going to be tough before it gets easy.

The current strike at Northwest Airlines is a great example of the changes happening in the airline industry. The airline has done something unprecedented by breaking up the union responsible for the mechanics and cleaning of the planes. Anytime one of these unions has gone on strike the airline has shut down. But Northwest wasn’t having it. The company kept flying even though it spent about $20 million to break the strike. It’s the clearest sign yet that the American people control what happens in the airlines. Consumers have taken a stand about how much they want to pay and airlines are finally listening. The downside is that workers are negatively affected. Employees either take a massive pay cut or they lose their jobs. But the airline has reduced its prices in order to stay in business, and it’s worked. The consumer is winning out. The FAA is monitoring how planes are being maintained, which is good from a safety feature. But when no one expected Northwest to fly through the strike, it did. It means eventually there will be no distinction between “full-fare” airlines and “discount” airlines. Ultimately, all airlines will have to reduce their prices or go belly up.